SPEAKER: Scott Franklin

Founder, President and CEO of Clean Energy Solutions, Inc

Scott Franklin is the Founder, President and CEO of Clean Energy Solutions, Inc and its two subsidiaries: Lighthouse Solar and LUMOS.

 Before launching his solar business, Scott was a world renowned professional rock climber setting new standards in American climbing. He was the top ranked competitive climber from 1990-1994. As an entrepreneur in the outdoor industry,

Scott founded Franklin Climbing Equipment in 1995 and later sold it to Black Diamond in 2000. In 2005 as an industrial designer Scott won the Volvo International Design Award for product design. He holds three patents. In 2006, inspired to “Be part of the solution” he left a successful career in the outdoor industry to devote himself to renewable energy. Lighthouse Solar currently has franchise offices in Boulder, Colorado; Austin, Texas; New Paltz, New York, Laguna Beach, California; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Scott Franklin is a NABCEP certified Photovoltaic Installer.

MODERATOR: Joy Milkowski

Founder of Access Marketing Company

Joy Milkowski is the Founder of Access Marketing Company where she specializes in bringing search engine marketing and web marketing intelligence to her clients in a way they can understand and measure. She has over a decade of marketing, sales and professional copywriting experience in a variety of areas including tech, industrial, direct to consumer sales, commercial real estate ventures, professional and collegiate athletics and Internet-based marketing. In addition, Joy trains small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to leverage the power of search engines as an advertising tool to reach their audiences.

PANELIST: Brian Destarac

Founder of Cobalt Business Solutions

Brian Destarac’s professional experience and background encompasses many different levels in business management, systems development and ownership. An entrepreneur, he has been involved in franchise operations and developing companies for 19 years. During which time he acquired knowledge of franchise operations and business management to develop the principals used to successfully manage multiple businesses.

As an owner of Pressed4Time, Brian was involved in the evolution of the company and its resulting success as the largest franchise within the country. Brian then expanded his skills to his second company while concurrently working with the original. He created management, training and production systems to ensure the companies' success.

Brian enjoyed considerable success as an owner of a variety of companies. However, he became interested in taking that diverse experience to help others enjoy greater success in their endeavors. With a clear picture in mind, Brian went in search of a company where he could fulfill that dream. Brian, one of the founding members of Cobalt Business Solutions, is now successfully living that dream.

PANELIST: Cindy Rayfield

Franchise Consultant for FranNet

Cindy Rayfield has a history of helping people build and grow their businesses. Since 2001 she has been a business owner, operating a website and copywriting company in Denver that helps small businesses, churches and non-profits with marketing and communication projects.

Cindy acquired an interest in franchising shortly after college when she dove in feet first in an attempt to purchase an expensive retail franchise with no money, no education, and no guidance. Later on, she learned about franchising through various marketing projects and has a passion for helping others learn the right way to invest in a franchise business.

As a franchise consultant for FranNet, Cindy works with clients in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. She also conducts free franchise educational seminars throughout the region. Seminars are conducted in partnership with career transition agencies, Small Business Development Centers, SCORE offices, regional libraries and community colleges. Cindy is active in local chambers of commerce and with Cancer League of Colorado. She is a graduate of the University of Denver, School of Communication.
 

PANELIST: Steve Baker

Senior Fellow, Business Advisor and Author

Steve Baker is a small business advocate with a passion for business and a drive for success. As a founder of successful companies, a corporate executive and business advisor, he has over 25 years of experience developing and launching new businesses. He has led companies in every phase of business cycle from startup to exit in both private and public sectors. He guided one of his startup companies through a successful public offering of stock (IPO) and achieved revenues of $500 million.

Steve directs business development and strategic marketing, and has taken companies from startup to millions of dollars in revenues in such diverse industries as international travel, financial software, franchising, manufacturing, ergonomics, medical devices, migraine headache treatment, and an international medical wellness resort.

As a small business advocate, Steve thrives on the challenge of solving problems that impede business growth and success. As a Senior Fellow at the DaVinci Institute, a futurist think-tank, he enjoys helping entrepreneurs succeed. He is the author of the award winning book Pushing Water Uphill With A Rake and is a frequent public speaker to business groups and university students, discussing entrepreneurship and ethics.

HOST: Brian Tsuchiya

Founder of Startup Guru

Brian Tsuchiya is an authority on crowdfunding, after spending the last 8 years researching a variety of methods he has unique experiences with crowds. Including having a company entirely funded with "sweat equity" from over one hundred people. Managing that many shareholders is unique for a privately held startup. Brian also has raised over $2M of private equity.

Brian is the founder of StartUp Guru and started his entrepreneurial journey 18 years ago and has since launched ten startups. Startup Guru is the culmination of this extraordinary journey. He has openly shared for the first 40 years of his life he primarily served himself and lived a life without purpose.  Then in June of 2006 he read a book that would change his life forever.  He embarked on a journey that connected his life purpose with his entrepreneurial career.  Through this work he understood his patterns and defined his life in a way that revealed his purpose.  Forged in him was the way of the entrepreneur.