Innovation Affinity Group

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About the ProVisors Innovation Affinity Group

The Innovation Affinity Group is a collaborative forum for like-minded members to discover and exchange ideas and business opportunities at the cutting edge.

We think about Innovation as the creation of new economic value from the application of better solutions. We look at the entire process of identifying a problem or opportunity, developing ideas, creating the solution, and bringing that solution to market. Innovative solutions can take the form of more-effective products, processes, services, technologies, and business models.

Our group consists of a carefully curated roster of ProVisors members who strive to be relevant to the above mission and to deliver innovative value to their clients.

Quick Reference Links below.

Scroll down for the past and future events calendar.

Troikas

Submit troika requests via this form at least 1 FULL business day BEFORE the meeting starts (so, typically by EOD the prior Thu.)

Programming Suggestions

Please submit your ideas and requests here for future group meeting topics and programming

PVIAG Help Page

Check this page for answers to common technical issues

Virtual Troika Activity Ideas

Spice-up your virtual troikas with the fun ideas on this page (and add your own to the list!)

EC Application

Ready to bring more to the table? Apply to join our EC!

Feedback Form

We welcome your feedback on our group structure, meeting format, meeting topics, and anything else that's on your mind!

ProVisors DEI Resources Library

The link above will take you straight to the DEI resources library published by ProVisors

Future Event Calendar:

May 12, 2025: Agentic AI demo + discussion

Michael Paul @SwiftChip and Bruce Hoffman @OptimizePros will team up to demonstrate some powerful new AI tools and stimulate a thoughtful discussion. Expect to be impressed and come prepared to learn!

registration link here

Jun 9, 2025: What is Neuroscience-Driven AI™?

w/Kate Bradley, founder of Lately.ai

Lately is the next generation of Generative AI that enables brands to key into the ideal messaging to reach their audience, then automates social posts by drawing from any longform content (podcasts, case studies, blogs, etc.)

Kate, Lately's CEO, used to be a rock 'n' roll dj, broadcasting to 20 million listeners a day for Sirius/XM! Her specialty was turning listeners into fans. She also wrote social copy for Walmart that got them 130% ROI YoY for three years, turning customers into evangelists.

Her specialty is understanding how thoughts, perceptions, emotions, motivations, decisions and actions can be influenced by music, the spoken word and the written word. Lately leverages numerous parallels between the brain and behavior of reading and listening to do what Kate did for their customers too.

Come ready to engage in an insightful and energetic discussion about Neuroscience-Driven AI™...no chatGPT required!

registration link here

Jul 14, 2025: TBA

registration link here

Aug 11, 2025: TBA

registration link here

Sep 8, 2025: TBA

registration link here

Oct 13, 2025: TBA

registration link here

Nov 10, 2025: TBA

registration link here

Dec 8, 2025: TBA

registration link here

Past Event Details:

April 14, 2025: AI-powered social commerce technology, Terrific

Terrific Innovation LTD. was founded in Israel, has been dominating in LATAM, and is now entering the US market. Learn about their AI-powered mobile-first ecommerce solution that leverages actionable intelligence to deliver 5x sales performance to brands through live social selling.

registration link here

meeting RSVP list available here

Mar 10, 2025: ExitBoost®: an Innovative Exit Planning Assessment for SMB's

Kevin Berson, President of Kinected Advisors, will introduce us to ExitBoost®, an accelerated exit planning process innovation his firm developed to help owners increase the value of their business and attract buyers willing to pay a premium for it.

Download a copy of the presentation deck here

registration link here

Feb 10, 2025: Present Your Business Ideas from December's Troika Challenge

If you attended our December 9, 2024 meeting and participated in a troika, this is your chance to present your new business idea to the everyone else for feedback and fun group discussion!

If you missed December's meeting, don't fret - your feedback and participation is just as important in the lively group discussion that will follow each brief presentation.

Everyone is invited to put your curiosity, creativity, and collaboration skills to the test in what promises to be a very fun + unique exercise. :)

registration link here

Jan 13, 2025: Open Interpreter - A New Way to Use Computers (with AI, of course!)

The robots are coming for your job - on your own computer!

Part fascinating and part terrifying, our very own Steven McKeon will run us through some live demos on "how to turn your computer into an AI bot to help you and your business."

registration link here

Dec 9, 2024: The Origin Story for The Innovation That Won the War!

The Jeep isn’t just a car, it’s a cult: inspiring clubs, meetups, even its own “Jeep Wave.” From cameos in M*A*S*H to Mean Girls, the Jeep’s been ranked the most patriotic brand in America for 20-straight years (sorry, Coke). But did you know that Jeep actually started as a group project? Learn how three fiercely competitive rivals came together for some emergency teamwork to help Allied Forces win WWII, how a freelance designer almost didn’t get the credit, and how its name was (maybe) inspired by a mythical character from Popeye. Jeep isn’t just the world’s most epic 4x4… it literally saved the world.

Interactive meeting structure & content produced by our very own, Dr. Frumi Barr!

Creative Zoom Background Challenge: Come to PVIAG prepared! Change your Zoom background to something that represents innovation in your field and get a bonus minute of airtime to tell the rest of us about it. ;)

registration link here

Nov 4, 2024: An Attorney, COO, and CPA walk into a room...

Michael Liebowitz said, "TWAGD" about today's meeting (That Was A Good Discussion - about using acronyms in the workplace).

Collaboratively produced by:

registration link here

Oct 18, 2024: In-Person Social event at Cosm (immersive multimedia dome experience)

More info here!

Oct 7, 2024: A case study in action on brand marketing framework

Michael Liebowitz and Mark Wald will walk through a real life case study in action - how brand identity and messaging frameworks can direct business model innovations

registration link here

Sep 9, 2024: The AI copilot for post-acute elder care

This month we'll get an exclusive first look at an innovative new technology startup just about to emerge from stealth mode...presented by a seasoned technology innovation pioneer, serial entrepreneur, and investor. The suspense is killing me - can't wait to learn more!

registration link here

Aug 12, 2024: Innovative new connections

This month we'll be getting to know each other a bit better, gravitating around our shared interest in innovation. What does innovation mean to you and your business? What draws you to collaborate professionally with other innovative thinkers? What draws you to attend and participate in PVIAG meetings?

registration link here

Jul 8, 2024: Predicting Startup Success Scientifically, Based on Personality Types

We all know that startup personalities are "special"... Let's explore the science behind it!

In our session, Annemarie Penny from Dreamore will take us through a recently published academic study of 21K founders and startups on Crunchbase.

We'll discuss two key insights from this research:

entrepreneurs are wired differently based on specific clusters of personality traits
success is predictable with the right mix of personalities more than ANY other factor

Just for fun, we'll share some other conclusions from the study related to startup success (and failure).

Lastly, we can focus on what really matters: what are the opportunities to take this data and make it actionable and measurable.

Annemarie is applying methodology based on her 30 years of startup expertise. We're excited for our PVIAG meeting attendees to come up with other ideas/applications during our interactive sessions too!

(presentation slide deck here)

--
registration link here

Jun 10, 2024: Innovation workshop!

registration link here

May 13, 2024: Innovative Approach to Managing Employer Healthcare Costs

Everyone knows medical insurance is vital - a "necessary evil" that we all interact with on a daily basis.

What insurance is not: transparent, user friendly or innovative.

May 13th, Sirena Dimas and Amy Evans will share innovative ways employers can craft their employee benefits packages while staying compliant with regulatory alphabet soup. We'll save plenty of time for an engaging Q&A, so please come prepared to engage! Copy of their PPT deck here.

registration link here

Apr 8, 2024: PVIAG Strategic Vision Workshop

produced by Mary Falvey

This month we'll participate in an innovative group exercise and discussion about strategy, vision, data, organizational structure, and value. Should be fun and insightful!

registration link here

Interactive Exercises

Mar 11, 2024: How ClimateTech Company, Mangrove, is Helping Homeowners Save Money while Protecting our Environment

85 million homes in the US were built under the false assumption that energy and water will be abundant and cheap, while natural disasters would be kept to a minimum.

Serial entrepreneur and McKinsey alum, Liron Brish, founded Mangrove to help homeowners save money on utilities while protecting their homes and the environment. Mangrove leverages key data points to assess a home's efficiency and resiliency, identifies ROI-positive upgrade opportunities, then connects homeowners to the right partners to implement the recommended solutions.

Feb 12, 2024: Navigating the AI landscape: Oversight and Legal Perspectives

produced by Sirena Dimas, w/participation from Morvareed Salehpour

Let's talk about how AI is being used to make healthcare determinations! What that looks like in theory, what’s happened in practice, and the importance of human oversight. Sirena will also cover information about laws that have been enacted (or will be enacted) to hopefully protect consumers, some things to look out for, and avenues folks can navigate to remedy the situation.

registration link here

Jan 8, 2024: QR Codes + Other In-Person to Digital Bridges

Do you still bring paper business cards to in-person networking events? What do you do (or not do) with the stack of business cards that you've collected at the event? How have you used digital tools to stay organized and enhance your downstream engagement with others? What needs and pain points do you have that we can discuss as a group?

Please come prepared to learn from each other and share your own favorite tools + strategies for bridging the in-person to digital communication channel!

registration link here

Dec 11, 2023: A conversation with Peter Agelasto, co-founder of Starchive, an AI-powered media management platform.

produced by Peter Malick

Peter Agelasto believes that we (business owners/entrepreneurs/service providers/team members) are all part of the Creator Economy. In the course of running our businesses, we create content. Starchive is an archival platform that transforms and repurposes your content with AI. Starchive connects to Web3, Metamask, and HyperNatural, a text-to-video creation platform. Join the conversation and reimagine yourself as a creator.

contact peter@starchive.io for a special promotional offer made exclusively for PVIAG group members + guests.

Tuesday, November 28th from 4-7pm:

PVIAG 2023 Social: Mini R/C Car Derby!!

Invite your friends and family, we have plenty of space and fun for everyone. Food + drinks will be provided.

in person @Expert Dojo in Santa Monica, video and more info here

PV Hub registration link here.

Nov 13, 2023: A conversation with Cheryl Bayer, CEO and founder, of augmented reality company Living Popups

Produced by Neeta Shah

Let's learn about innovation at the intersection of education and technology, from the founder of an augmented reality startup!

Living Popups unleashes the power of augmented reality to transform stories into experiences. The AR experience provides educational prompts that guide and entertain students’ learning as they read. In the moment data collected from AR popups supports teachers by enabling them to provide targeted instructions where it is needed most.

Contact Cheryl@livingpopups.com or Ann@livingpopups.com to follow up with questions, helpful offers, etc.

Oct 9, 2023: Tapping Your Alumni Network for Fundraising

produced by Belle Walker

Entrepreneurs often underestimate the untapped potential of their alumni network as a goldmine for innovative fundraising. Leveraging alumni connections can be a game-changer. By nurturing these alumni relationships, entrepreneurs can access a vast pool of resources, financial and otherwise, while simultaneously strengthening the bond between their venture and their alma mater.

Our guest presenter this month will be Anh Tran, who is currently writing her dissertation on fundraising. She was the former Chief Program Officer at the Cal Alumni Association at UC Berkeley overseeing half a million alumni, and has been fundraising for over 20 years.

Sep 11, 2023: Learn directly from the CEO of a leading cybersecurity defense company!

(event produced by Frumi Barr)

We're excited to have James Castle lead a discussion for us this month that touches on his experience & expertise in cybersecurity, cyber defense, communications, intelligence, operations, quantum technologies, data center operations, and cyber defense manufacturing.

James is a visionary leader and innovator in the realm of cybersecurity and defense. As the CEO and Chief Security Officer of Terranova Defense Solutions, a renowned defense leader with dual Canadian and USA operations, James has been at the forefront of safeguarding corporations across North America from a multitude of threats, both physical and digital.

His expertise lies in the domain of cyber defense and post-quantum technologies, where he has orchestrated ingenious strategies to combat evolving challenges in the digital landscape. Through his leadership, Terranova has enabled the seamless flow of global commerce, ensuring access to critical sectors like healthcare, fintech, and digital freedoms on a global scale.

James Castle's accomplishments extend beyond the business realm. He holds the distinguished position of Canadian Ambassador to the EU Commission, a testament to his influence and expertise. He has been recognized with numerous awards in various sectors including security, defense, quantum computing, emerging technologies, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities. James also contributes significantly to mentoring youth programs, nurturing business development, education, and event management.

One of his notable initiatives is the leadership role he holds at Cyber Security Global Alliance (CSGA), a Canadian non-profit he founded in 2021. This remarkable endeavor has grown into a major player in the global cybersecurity arena, encompassing a diverse array of professionals and experts spanning 17 countries on 6 continents. Under his guidance, CSGA has become a beacon of cybersecurity excellence, offering services, education, and consultation to combat threats ranging from cyber-attacks to online scams and even cyberbullying.

Aug 29, 2023 from 4-6pm PT (POSTPONED)

Flying Trapeze! (in-person social event)

The TSNY trapeze rig on the Santa Monica pier has temporarily closed while they renegotiate their lease with the City of Santa Monica...so our event will unfortunately need to be postponed until that's resolved.

Following the engaging "Growth & Succession Planning Workshop" discussion we had this past May which focused on the TSNY Los Angeles trapeze school, our social event this year will be an opportunity for you and/or your +1 to experience what it's like to fly through the air while taking in a totally unique view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean!

We'll have ample food and drinks for the minglers, plus trained instructors and OSHA-approved safety gear ready for you and/or your +1 to feel supported and secure while participating in the exhilarating experience.

TSNY Los Angeles is a decades-old attraction located on the Santa Monica pier in sunny Southern California, with 4 sister locations spread across New York, Chicago, and Washington DC. There may be some big changes coming soon for TSNY (including a possible relocation to another site that does NOT have an ocean view) so don't miss this opportunity!

Aug 14, 2023: FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV)

Join us to learn (from our very own Lauren Cole of Cole Media!) how this emerging category of entertainment and information has evolved as the industry is changing in response to new consumer viewing trends.

Lauren will tell us about what types of companies are involved in the ecosystem, and why. She'll also look into her crystal ball to imagine how this area may evolve based on potential trends in the industry.

Jul 10, 2023: Member-Produced Event

Our July 2023 meeting was an intimate discussion among members and guests where we got to know each other more deeply on a professional level. Sorry if you missed this one, it was a great session!

registration link for this event was here

Jun 12, 2023: Innovation Brainstorming & Word Clouds

Today's meeting consisted of a series of breakout sessions and collaborative group discussion to accelerate the know > like > trust dynamic between PVIAG members and guests. You can review the results of our work here and you're invited to continue the collaborative sharing and discovery process here. ;)

registration link here

May 8, 2023: Innovative "Growth & Succession Planning Workshop"

The TSNY Los Angeles trapeze school is a decades-old attraction located on the Santa Monica pier in sunny Southern California, with 4 sister locations spread across New York, Chicago, and Washington DC. The owners/founders are ready to retire and want to leave a lasting legacy by passing down ownership to the local management staff of each individual location.

With the planned transition, opportunities abound to level-up their approach on all fronts, ranging from marketing, branding, strategy, pricing, partnerships, legal, real estate, insurance, finance, HR, banking, investments, tax, and more.

Our guest this month will be Kenna Stevens, General Manager of the Santa Monica, CA location, and this document outlines some key areas to kick off a lively discussion.

Come flex your professional expertise, make new connections, and potentially earn a new client engagement by participating in an innovative "Growth & Succession Planning Workshop" to help TSNY navigate through the transition and come out the other end better & stronger than ever before!

Apr 10, 2023: CXO Accelerator Workshop

This month's meeting will include a presentation on "Innovation and Finance" by Aditya Dehejjia of Journey CXO. Sneak preview in Adi's latest blog post here; please come prepared with your questions and comments to make it a lively discussion topic!

Mar 13, 2023: What the heck is a Startup Preccelerator?

The Preccelerator™ Program is an accelerator for early-stage startups. Come learn from Len Lanzi, Executive Director, about how the program accelerates early-stage innovative ventures and how you can get involved.

Feb 13, 2023: Collaborative Innovation Workshop Exercises

Producer/Facilitator: Frumi Barr, MBA, Ph.D. of www.ScaleUpAdvisors.biz & www.barrbusinessschool.com

Workshop discussion topics:

Emerging technologies: Consider the latest advancements in technologies such as AI, VR/AR, IoT, and their potential applications to improve business processes, increase efficiency, and create new revenue streams.
Sustainability innovations: How can we make businesses more environmentally friendly, reduce waste, and improve sustainability.
Employee-centric innovations: How can we improve employee engagement, productivity, and overall well-being in the workplace.

Jan 9, 2023: Asset Based Innovation

Title - Asset-Based Innovation: Leveraging your client's existing assets for their growth.

Presenter - Eric P. Rose, President of Pinnacle Product Innovation, Inc.

Synopsis - Companies are often challenged to grow their businesses organically with minimal investment. This talk shares three case studies of small and mid-sized companies that were able to leverage their existing assets for revenue growth with innovative new product offerings. One such case study will explain how a California tech company turned a $35K investment and a strategic partnership into a multimillion revenue stream. Some assets for innovation which will be discussed include Plant & Equipment, Human Resources, Sales & Distribution, and Intellectual Property.

You will come away with a new perspective on how to help your clients look at their assets differently to create unprecedented business growth.

Dec 12, 2022: Twosense: AI-Powered Continuous MFA Security

Continuous Multifactor Authentication, no phone, hard token, or webcam required.

Twosense continually monitors biometric behavior to provide zero-interruption MFA and take action any time the wrong user is behind the keyboard. Come learn about the high-stakes business problem facing BPO call centers, and the solution that Twosense developed to address it, based on machine learning algorithms which model human behavior. Attendees will engage in thoughtful discussion about how & why this bleeding-edge tech is necessary, how Twosense is bringing it to market, and how it may be relevant to you and your clients.

Nov 14, 2022: Mirza: Childcare Subsidy Platform for Employers

Inadequate childcare costs businesses on avg. $1,150 per working parent, and childcare cost is working parents' number 1 stressor!

Hear from Mirza's cofounders, Mel Faxton and Siran Cao about their startup and participate in an interactive discussion about their innovative approach to flexible employer benefits.

About Mirza: Mirza helps companies hire and retain the best with our end-to-end childcare solution. Their platform integrates a "wallet" for smart childcare subsidies, personalized financial education/support, and the complete flexibility to pay both "in network" providers and the "out of network" providers that employees choose. Mirza even offers the capability to set accrual/vesting schedules and handles all related admin/compliance for the employer.

Next on Mirza's roadmap: FSA/HSA integration, to become your employees' one-stop-shop, eldercare & summer care, so Mirza grows with your team.

Oct 10, 2022: PVIAG Network Acceleration Session

TBA

Sep 12, 2022: Innovations in Identity Access Mgmt.

Eli Farhood, founder and CEO of Katsh Digital ID, will give an overview of Identity Access Management and discuss their product that makes personal information useless to scammers.

Aug 8, 2022: Panel Discussion: Innovations in Medical Services Industry

This month we'll hold a panel discussion between two startups that are innovating in the healthcare space, MagnaBid and Pulse Protocol, moderated by our very own, Kim Miller-Hershon!

Anita Sabeti, MD and Ben Mansouri, cofounders of MagnaBid, will provide their perspective on how price transparency in both human and animal medical industries could help save thousands of dollars annually for consumers.

Robert Page, CEO & founder of Pulse Protocol, will share a different perspective on innovating in the global medical services industry.

Link here to the event page on PV Hub.

About Robert & Pulse Protocol:

As the CEO of Pulse, Robert Page has been at the forefront of global health innovation since 2000. A relentless enthusiast for quality control, transparent pricing, and patient advocacy, he has co-authored 3 industry guidebooks, spoken at dozens of digital health and medical travel conferences, and led two different medical travel facilitator companies, MedToGo and MedRepublic.

A graduate of Amplify LA’s prestigious accelerator program, MedRepublic was selected among the top 25 new tech companies of 2016 by Tech Crunch Disrupt. Robert's newest company, Pulse is a B-to-B software and marketing platform that equips both medical and business professionals with the tools to instantly plug into the industry and generate predictable monthly revenue.

July 11, 2022: Improving Pet Care via High-Tech

John Kennedy, Co-Founder and CTO of Scollar (www.Scollar.com) will discuss using AI to customize pet care.

June 13, 2022: Drones & AI to help Wineries?

During his talk, Mike Sloan, Founder and CEO of Simple Labs will discuss how drones, images, and AI help wineries improve the quality of the farm, the grape and ultimately the wine.

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

May 9, 2022: Latest Innovations in LegalTech

Ali Shahidi, Chief Innovation & Client Solutions Officer at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP will provide an overview of the latest tech innovations in global legal industry. Join us for this intriguing dialogue.

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

Apr 11, 2022: Innovation as a Process ("Innovation Series" 3 of 3)

Many entrepreneurs see “process” as the antithesis of “innovation” but the truth is far more complex. Effective and ongoing innovation for any organization actually relies on effective processes, rather than defying them. Of course, to overcome the very real challenges that gave rise to the anti-process sentiment, Innovation Processes must be carefully designed and implemented. But what does that really mean? How can an organization boost innovation with a well designed process?

Join Belle Walker for the 3rd installment in our Innovation Series to explore the 3 Process Enablers of Sustainable Innovation. If you’ve joined the first two installments of the series, you’ve got the soft skills, you’ve got the framework, so let’s get you the process to kick start your client’s innovation journey!

Plan to arrive early, we'll have a special new collaborative experience take place in the Zoom room this month from 11:45am PT leading up to the 12pm PT normal meeting start time. (standard networking from 11:30-11:45am PT)

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

Mar 23, 2022: Chocolate Tasting Experience! (5-6:30pm PT)

PVIAG is having a social! Join us amazing innovators for a Virtual Chocolate Tasting: THE BEST CHOCOLATE IN AMERICA Experience! You will never eat chocolate in the same way after this! We promise a tasting adventure curated by the Gourmet Boutique. Factory sealed craft chocolate bars will be shipped to the address of each recipient in the tasting.

Registration link here for PV Hub.

AFTER you register to attend this event and submit your payment, please complete this form to provide your mailing address by March 4th so the tasting chocolates can be shipped directly to you before the scheduled event here

Mar 14, 2022: Developing an Innovation Framework ("Innovation Series" 2 of 3)

Eric P. Rose, NPDP, MBAour GLA will speak on, “3 Keys to Successful New Products ®”. These will include Marketability, Technical Feasibility, and Protectability. CB Insights reports that 35% of startups that fail, fail because the startup delivers something to the market that the market doesn’t value. Forbes reports that 95% of patents fail to be licensed or commercialized. With these numbers publicly available and well studied, why do the failure rates remain so high? Come join us to hear how having an innovation framework can help your clients to beat those odds!

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

Eric's presentation deck here

deeper dive videos from Eric:

MADIA Tech on Product Market Fit with Eric Rose

Eric Paul Rose | 3 Keys to Successful New Products

Feb 14, 2022: What’s Unsaid and Unseen Drives the Success of any Innovation Project

("Innovation Series" 1 of 3)

Out of the box thinking often initiates the questions that drive innovation. Is an innovative idea good enough to gain traction in today's business environment? What about those “soft skills” that help you recognize what is not said or immediately visible? These intangible skills are what enables an innovative idea to become an entrepreneurial success.

Join Susan Schwartz and Judy Dang for this conversation to explore the three essential entrepreneurial success skills that will equip you to build partnerships, gain customers, and become an industry leader.

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

January 10, 2022: Innovative Blockchain Company: Nuggets

As part of our continual series about Blockchain, Seema Johnson, Co-Founder and COO of Nuggets (https://nuggets.life/) will provide an overview of their blockchain application that is a decentralized, self-sovereign ID and payments platform.

Nuggets product demo video here

Nice overview article here

Trusted Transactions Report here

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

December 13, 2021: Art Therapy Insights To Expand Your Innovation Capabilities! (PVIAG social event)

During this session, Pamela Malkoff Hayes, Certified Art Therapist, will provide an overview of Art Therapy, its benefits, and will take us through a learning exercise. Come join us to see how art therapy can expand your innovation capabilities!

This will be structured as a (virtual) social event for participants to deepen their personal connections with one another.

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

November 8, 2021: An Introduction to Blockchain & Cryptocurrency

As a follow up to our September's presentation, Michael Paul (of Swift Chip) will provide an introduction to blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

October 11, 2021: New Innovations in Autonomous Vehicle Industry

In this fascinating conversation, Pez Zarifian, a systems manager at Toyota Autonomous Vehicle Group (previously with Uber Autonomous and JPL) discusses the latest innovations associated with the industry and how it will impact our society.

Produced by Majid Abai

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

Link here to see the presentation

September 13, 2021: NFTs (What They Are, How They Work, What They Mean?)

Speaker: Paul Menes - Digital Media and Entertainment Attorney - Perleberg McClaren LLP

Non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) have been around since 2017. But their popularity has exploded over the last few months, mostly in connection with works of art. But they’re also being used in connection with other types of collectibles, in-game items, event tickets, domain names, and even ownership records for physical assets.

Paul will give a primer on the complicated nature of NFTs, discussing the basics of what they are, how they work, why they’ve become so popular, will they remain so, and the myriad legal and regulatory issues associated with them.

Produced by Michael Paul

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

Thursday, August 26, 2021: PVIAG Social (VIRTUAL 4pm PT)

Join PVIAG for a Unique Cooking & Social Experience: Thursday August 26th, 4:00 PM

Wish you were in Milan? Well, now you can be, in an online experience with the amazing Chef Pietro.

Pietro successfully organized cooking experiences, show-cookings and team buildings for more than 5000 people. When Covid-19 disrupted our lives, Chef Petro was determined to find new ways to deliver his cooking experiences. He has transformed his teaching into a LIVE Online Experience that’s fun with very tasty results! He is a true innovator!

Cooking is more than techniques, it’s also about stories and passions! Come make a new story with us as we tap into a common passion together through this shared experience.

Bring your favorite wine as we learn from Pietro, streaming live from Milan, Italy, about his Nonna Gianna’s secrets for gnocchi. We will use fresh ingredients and slow gestures for pesto. The result will be an unforgettable dish.

Ingredient shopping list (for about 3 people):

500 grams of potatoes (old and floury potatoes are the best) 2.5 cups

150/200 grams all purpose flour – 1 cup ( approx. 7 ounces)

1 egg

60 leaves of fresh basil

50 grams of pine nuts – ¼ cup

60 grams of Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano – 1/3 cup or 2 ounces

30 grams of Pecorino cheese – 1 ounce

1 garlic clove (optional)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

salt

August 9, 2021: De-Risking Your Business with Continuity Planning & Innovation

Is your company ready for the next business interruption? Michael Scherer, a new Provisors member, will discuss the importance of continuity planning associated with people, processes, technology, financial, and facilities.

Produced by Majid Abai

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

July 12, 2021: What's New and Exciting in Fintech?

Presented by Eric Warfel - Eric will introduce you to a working definition of FinTech, show some example of where FinTech is used, and describe how FinTech could help you and your clients.

Link here to event page on the PV Hub

June 14, 2021: Know Your Customer and Increase Revenues

Presented by Majid Abai - During this talk, Majid will discuss on how knowing your best customer and your customer's journey would help increase the revenues for your organization.

May 10, 2021: Cloud-Based Legal Practice Management: The Most Impactful Innovation Available for Law Firms

Join Joshua Lenon, Clio's Lawyer in Residence, as he shows how cloud-based legal practice management has revolutionized law firm operations. In addition to the benefits to law firms, cloud-based legal practice management is also having profound impact on the practice of law.

In this presentation, Joshua will pull back the curtain on the practice of law to show insights unique from Clio.

Learn:

§ The startling number of hours billed daily by lawyers,

§ Technology that is driving client both engagement and revenue,

§ How the public really feels about lawyers, and

§ Which law firms grow and why

Download prior years' copies of the Legal Trends Reports at clio.com/ltr. Contact Joshua directly via joshua@clio.com.

About Clio:

150,000 legal professionals in 90 countries trust Clio to help manage their law firm. 66+ bar associations approve Clio to their members, and Clio has been adopted by more than 150 law schools.

April 14, 2021: No Longer Just Prototyping, How 3d Printing Is Adding Production Capabilities For Businesses

joint meeting w/VDAM group

This meeting will be held on WEDNESDAY, not Monday

Joint meeting between PVIAG and VDAM

Until recently, 3D Printing, which has gone through many hype cycles, has mostly found a home in early product development prototyping. With new 3D printer technologies, material innovation, and better part economics and speed, new opportunities are opening up. Discover how industries like dental, medical, and industrial manufacturing are taking advantage of new capabilities with real-world examples.

Matt Sand, President of 3DEO of Torrance, CA, will share insights with us from his company's expertise in specialty metal 3D printing. 3DEO uses its patented printing technology to fabricate precision metal components in high-volume, serial production. 3DEO sells parts, not printers, and is one of the highest volume metal 3D printing parts manufacturers in the world. Formerly a Communications Officer in the U.S. Air Force, Matt received bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Tulane University and an MBA from UCLA. He is the author of The Agile Startup, published by Wiley & Sons in 2013.

March 8, 2021: International Women's Day Panel on the Importance of Women in the Workforce and Mentorship for the Next Generation

Join us at this panel discussion with three incredible women as they discuss the importance of mentorship at an early age. They'll each share insights from their unique experiences, business-focused leadership roles, and interesting projects:

Annie Ostojic, Stanford Electrical Engineering Student; patent pending inventor on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List
Janis Fratamico, Global Head of Brand Experience at SAP; frequent public speaker; previously held marketing leadership roles at Bloomberg, IBM, PWC and KPMG
Dr. Kristen Alexander, Technical Advisor at Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E), Land and Expeditionary Warfare (US Department of Defense)

Discussion to be moderated by Belle Walker of Belleview Consulting.

February 8, 2021: Getting REAL work done in a VIRTUAL legal environment

Please join us for this panel discussion on how law firms adapt to being virtual and efficient and meet the 3 professionals who help them do it.

Moderated by Colin Dunn, Senior Discovery Consultant, iDiscover. Colin us a litigation support specialist focused on managing the documents in the discovery phase of a case.

Panelists:

Kurt Obermeyer, President/CEO @Legal Management Solutions, provides outsourced CFO and COO support for small to mid-sized law firms.
Erin Giglia, co-Founder/Owner @ Montage Legal Group, provides a carefully curated nationwide network of freelance attorneys.

January 11, 2021: Fireside Chat w/Dec 2020 Shark Tank Deal Winner!

Fireside chat interview w/Kimberly Meckwood, founder of Click & Carry, who won a 6-figure investment deal from Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran on the December 11th, 2020 Shark Tank show. Our own group's AGL, Eric Rose, worked with Kim on the innovative product design several years ago.

December 29, 2020: "High Tech Cooking!"

A casual virtual cooking & cocktail party over Zoom. Members will be sipping drinks, sharing laughs, and cooking together from a crowdsourced set of recipes. A custom engraved smartphone stand will be mailed to each registered event participant as a party favor in advance of the event. Open to PVIAG group members and guests.

December 14, 2020: "Board of ProAdvisors" CEO Roundtable

Registered attendees of this meeting will be invited to post questions in advance of the meeting to an online forum about their own business or that of a client.

Then people will be assigned in advance into smaller CEO Roundtable groups to prepare recommended solutions (before the meeting) and then discuss as a group during break out sessions in the meeting.

Then we'll gather everyone together and discuss the most compelling problems/solutions as a larger group.

Please register for this event if you have a business problem you'd like to discuss with the group, and/or if you're interested to offer innovative and best-practice solutions to other attendees.

November 9, 2020: AI-powered State of Mind and Emotional Mood Analysis

EQ on demand!?!

Empath offers groundbreaking people intelligence, providing states of mind and emotional journey analysis on video content. Empath allows users to analyze any video and instantly understand every person’s state of mind and emotional mood to achieve the desired outcome from human interactions.

Join us as David Dorfman, Co-founder & CEO of Sesh, takes us through a demo of the Empath solution and guides a thoughtful group discussion around the multitude of use cases, opportunities, and risks presented by this groundbreaking application of computer vision and machine learning technology.

Who can use Empath?

sales professionals
market research professionals
training & development professionals
mental health professionals
tele-health professionals
UX researchers
autonomous retail, vehicle & building engineers
social media users
Really, it's anyone who desires to better understand people...

October 10, 2020: 3D Printing Ecosystem & Marketplace

Learn about the history of 3Diligent, a network-driven digital manufacturing services provider offering 3D printing, machining, casting, injection molding, and more. Then open discussion on the future of industrial manufacturing, permissioned access to hardware design IP, repair parts warehousing, and more.

Discussion lead by Cullen Hilkene, CEO. With more than 10 years of entrepreneurship, strategy, and operations consulting experience across all markets, Cullen has achieved entrepreneurial success recognized by the New York Times and Real Dealmagazine. M.B.A., UCLA Anderson. A.B., Princeton University.

About 3Dilligent:

3Diligent provides the infrastructure that delivers the world's most cutting-edge technologies and the world's finest digital-manufacturing craftsmen to meet your every rapid-manufacturing need. Leverage 3Diligent ProdEX's proprietary software, to submit an RFQ through our cloud-based, secure portal to receive project bids from pre-qualified 3D printing, CNC machining, casting, and injection-molding manufacturers.

We ensure manufacturing excellence with 3Diligent Shopsight, a market-leading solution for job shops, machine shops, and service bureau operators. Designed with the modern machine shop in mind, Shopsight accommodates the unique needs of your shop with a collection of features to ensure you get the most from your digital-manufacturing assets.
Founded in 2014, 3Diligent is headquartered in El Segundo, California, just south of Los Angeles International Airport and in the shadow of some of the most innovative manufacturing companies in the world.

September 14, 2020: Braintrust - the Future of Distributed Work

Braintrust is the first user-controlled talent network that connects organizations with highly skilled tech talent. Talent keeps 100% of their market rate, organizations cut out expensive middlemen, and everyone’s incentives are aligned.

Come learn about why Braintrust was born, how it is disrupting the global technical talent market, and what the future holds for businesses looking to augment their internal technical teams or build fully outsourced technical teams.

August 10, 2020: Business Turnaround Success thru Innovation

This month’s discussion will kick off with our own group member, Jeremy Lurey, introducing us to Chris Yount, who will share experience and insights with us about leading his 3rd-generaion family business Fortifiber Building Systems Group Inc. on an innovative journey from $4.5M operating losses to nearly $12M operating profit in 8 years before selling the business to a strategic industry buyer. Mr. Yount will highlight for us how he restructured the business, created a lean approach to production that saved hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, was technically focused and responsive to market trends, created new jobs, and positioned the company for its sale in 2017. He continues adding value to the business community today as an active mentor, advisor, and board member to other companies.

Please be prepared to engage in an active discussion following Mr. Yount’s introductory presentation, with your thoughts, insights, questions, etc., all revolving around the concept of innovation as it’s defined here.

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