Meeting 1: Brainstorming Session - Friday, January 22, 2016 at Gateway Bank
For the very first meeting of Talking Heads, we gathered together to brainstorm challenges that we were currently facing. Members shared some of the obstacles in their roles, and shared about what they feel they’re an expert on. We kicked off the year asking members what they wanted to hear about, and crafted the following meetings to address those topics.
Meeting 2: Social Media Strategy & Content Creation Presented by Jason Hurst & Frank Avery - Friday, February 26, 2016 at LifeSouth Community Blood Centers
One topic that was identified as high-demand was Social Media Strategy & Content Creation. Jason Hurst spoke about social media automation and a few of the software platforms and tools he utilizes. Then Frank Avery presented on how to create high-quality videos for your company on a budget. We ended with discussion and brainstorming and revealed a few of the topics for future meetings.
Meeting 3: Time Management & Organization Presented by Ginny MacKoul - Friday, March 25, 2016 at Liquid Creative
Talking Heads GNV Co-Founder Ginny MacKoul presented on Time Management and Organization for our third meeting. She shared some of the tools she utilizes to get it all done! Some of the programs included Trello, Asana, Basecamp and more. She also shared some time management tips and “time hacks” to staying organized.
Meeting 4: All About Interns Presented by Scott Costello - Thursday, May 5, 2016 at Lifesouth Community Blood Centers
For the fourth meeting, Scott Costello, CEO of Advantage Publishing, spoke to our group about his experience with interns. He shared some do’s and don’ts and covered some of the legal logistics to running a successful intern program. He also gave us an inside look into how his organization utilizes interns effectively, without pouring too much time, training and energy into a typically high-turnover group of temporary team members.
Meeting 5: Relationship Management Presented by Mike Biagini - Thursday, May 26, 2016 at Cox Communications
Mike Biagini, Business Developer with Scherer Construction, spoke about maintaining existing relationships while also creating new ones. He covered some of the software CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools his organization utilizes to stay organized and connected. He also shared some of the ways he has established effective ways of communication with his existing and potential clients.
Meeting 6: Communications: Planning and Implementation Presented by Kevin Coulson - Thursday, June 30, 2016 at Waymaker
Kevin Coulson presented to our group the topic of communications, specifically in the areas of planning and implementation. He reviewed some key factors that can lead to greater rates of success and impact. He also touched on defining goals, and objectives, formulating a strategy, developing tactics to achieve those goals, and organizing activities for your day-to-day.
Meeting 7: Leadership Lessons Presented by Deborah Bowie - Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group
Deborah Bowie shared leadership lessons she’s learned during her first year as the new President and CEO of United Way of North Central Florida. She shared her story, and how she got to where she is today, along with some of the trials and tribulations she’s faced in her personal and professional life. She also shared a bit about how she was able to overcome those obstacles and how it’s benefit her as a person, as well as her organization.
Meeting 8: The F Bomb in Branding Presented by Chad Paris - Thursday, August 25, 2016 at Parisleaf
What is branding? Is it a logo? Or is it how your customers experience that first impression? Is branding the expression of a company's soul? What if we don't have a soul? How do big brands...brand? How do you brand? Why does branding matter? What's the ROI on branding? For this session, CEO and founder Chad Paris, explained everything branding, because branding is everything.
Meeting 9: Legacy on Purpose Presented by John Spence - Friday, September 30, 2016 at United Way of North Central Florida
International Business Speaker and Author John Spence's latest program called Legacy on Purpose focuses on your current leadership styles and how to further explore ways to identify your real potential as an effective leader. He spoke to our group about some of the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way throughout his impressive career, and spoke about how we all should continue the pursuit of growth and learning in our leadership styles.
Meeting 10: Leadership Lessons Presented by Sarah Vidal-Finn - Friday, October 28, 2016 at The Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
For our tenth meeting, the City of Gainesville Community Redevelopment Director Sarah Vidal-Finn shared about her story and experience. She shared some of the lessons she’s learned during her professional career and some of the campaigns her and her team successfully achieved in the community as well as the impact and impression it had on the community. She also shared about her hopes for the future for the organization and her approach and success with thinking outside the box.
End of the Year Social - Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at World of Beer University
To wrap up an amazing year, we gathered together at World of Beer and celebrated together with a few snacks and beverages. We shared our gratitude for the support of our members and our community and shared some of the exciting things to look forward to in 2017.
