Work(s) in Progress

Coming up for air

I never thought the day would come that I felt like I was too busy to blog. I am not exactly certain what happened.

Fitness: I am holding steady at 13x and 23 to 24% (Omron) body fat. My most recent 3 mile run, at sea level, was done in 27 minutes, pretty much my fastest run ever. I can still run a 10K in about an hour. None of this is bad for a geeky 41 year old but I can do better.

Dating: I'd previously tried two free online dating sites (date hookup and plenty of fish) and went silent after my less than optimal experiences. In late spring, I decided to rework my profile, being very clear about what I was looking for, and put it back out there. I met the person who caused me to delete all of my online profiles on fitness singles (a paid site). I was completely and utterly swept off of my feet on May 16; hmm, last post occurring on May 12, could be related. We've been traveling a bit, check my flickr account for the sites we have seen in Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park.

Random: I keep getting invited to participate in things for which I cannot seem to say no: One last scientific review panel (autoimmune) for DOD; co-chairing a sub-committee on small business development and higher education for the economic development council of the Downtown Denver Partnership; co-chairing a sub-committee on Enterprise programs at the Business School for our annual strategic planning event; co-authoring what may be one of my last pure scientific research papers on work I started back in 2000; continuing on as a scientific collaborator for just a “few” more months; a strategic planning session for my friend's latest non-profit venture (Dani's foundation); and ironically, a few months back I sat on a panel for women in higher education administration about “Making Institutional Service part of YOUR Plan, or How to Say NO and When to Say YES.” I'm not so great at the NO.

Work: On top of those things for which I can't say no, work has been busy. We received 76 entries from across Colorado for our 8th Annual Business Plan Competition. We awarded our winners with a variety of cash and in-kind services from local businesses:

Olomomo Nut Company    1st Place $12,000

The Organic Dish    2nd Place $5,000

VibraLung, Inc.    3rd Place $2,500; Bioscience Award (Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority& We Work for Health) $5,000; Bioscience Award (CoreLogic) $1,000

Also Energy  Finalist $1,000

Global CaféNation  Finalist $1,000; International Award (CIBER & the Institute for International Business) $1,000; Non-Profit Award (The Ward Family) $1,000

Western States Biopharmaceuticals  Finalist $1,000

Larry Nelson of w3w3.com took many terrific pictures at the awards luncheon for our competition. You can view them here (registration required).

Our finalists received a lot of press:

• Healthy Ideas Under One Roof

• Two Boulder Companies win

• Best of the Bard Center

• Nut Company Wins

• DU students take on the world

The Bard Center and our 2009 business plan winner(s) were also featured on KMGH-TV (ABC) channel 7 news. You can watch the segment here: Small businesses finding room to grow

We're already thinking about our 9th Annual Competition on June 10, 2010.

The founders of the Bard Center, Pamela & Richard Bard, recently co-produced a movie, Homecoming, starring Misha Barton & Jessica Stroup. There was a limited release in Denver at the Starz Film Center on the Auraria campus. I was honored to be able to attend opening night with the producers.

On August 1, Jung Park of Metroboom, the 2004 Business Plan Competition Winner, is hosted his annual Enthuse event, a unique social networking event incorporating fashion, music, dance, fine cuisine, & fundraising. I keep trying to get all of my advisory council members (well at least the men) to become customers. I love his custom shirts & suits.

We renovated our Center to better segregate our academic program from our incubator offices. Our renovated incubator spaceat the Bard Center has only 1 vacant office (320H). Our incubator is open to all early stage Colorado companies. Contact me if you are interested.

Our Bard Entrepreneurship Network (BEN) Meetups have grown up: cocktails & content. Join us August 26 at Elevated Third from 6 to 8PM. This month, Justin Perkins the CEO of Olomomo Nut Company & our 2009 Business Plan competition winner will be there to answer questions & let folks taste his products. Jim Kirchheimer, the Director for Economic Development for the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) will be there to talk about the benefits of membership and the resources available at the DDP. RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/Bard-Entrepreneurship-Network-Meetup/

I'm always on the lookout for other opportunities for entrepreneurs in our community.

• Need $100,000 to start your company? The nationally run MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurship Series is open to 21 to 35 year olds. http://millercoorsmues.com/

• My friend Stephen Miller launched a new clean tech incubator and is helping to bring the Clean Tech Open to Colorado. He gotten some great press: Local Clean Tech Incubator opensmore information at www.cleanlaunch.com

• Finally, biotech companies should consider attending or Consider presenting your company at the 1st Annual Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor Conference

Our business school orientation is going virtual. We’ve recorded a segment promoting the Bard Center which can be previewed below.

It's been a busy summer...

Colin Farrell

It's easy to find news of celebrities taking a moment at the holidays to work at a soup kitchen or helping the homeless. I'm not discounting those deeds as any service is  worthy. But there are certain celebrities who seem to treat their service to others as more than just an annual photo opportunity. Colin Farrell is one of these. 

Almost every month, I come across stories of Colin Farrell quietly (or not so quietly) doing for others. Back in September, Colin made news for taking a homeless man, Stress, a man he'd met several years ago, in Toronto on a grand shopping spree.

Colin apparently has a son with Angelman Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. I teach my students about this disease but being able to point to someone whom it affects will certainly have more impact. While I may study such disorders from afar in the laboratory, Colin has been working with the Special Olympics since before his son's birth.

More recently Colin was in the news supporting an Irish child abuse prevention charity.

Thank you Colin, for all that you do.

Funky Winkerbean

I read the comic Funky Winkerbean each morning on the Seattle Post Intelligencer. The creator, Tom Batiuk, has been unafraid to write and draw about difficult issues: teen pregnancy, adoption, alcoholism, divorce and most recently death of a beloved wife and mother (Lisa) from cancer.

Lisa's Legacy Fund for Cancer Research and Education has been established to support the University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

From the Funky Winkerbean website:

The University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center is one of only 40 comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, as designated by the National Institutes of Health. Currently in its 19th year of operation, it is a leading center for patient care, cancer research, and community education about cancer care. One hundred percent of the donations to Lisa’s Legacy Fund will go to cancer research and education at Ireland Cancer Center. Ongoing research includes work on the development of a vaccine for breast cancer, a blood test for colon cancer, breakthrough chemotherapy treatments for all types of cancer featuring new drugs developed by the Center’s clinician-scientists, and new approaches to radiation treatments. Ireland Cancer Center is one of only eight cancer centers in the country to have access to a pipeline of new drugs through the National Cancer Institute for early phase clinical trials.

Batiuk, a cancer survivor himself, said, “Anyone whose family has been affected by cancer knows what a gut-wrenching experience it can be. While great strides have been made in the fight against cancer, there is still much work to do. I’ve received hundreds of letters and emails from people who recognized themselves or loved ones in Lisa’s story. She came to represent the many individual battles against cancer that people fight everyday. Beyond the emotional impact that Lisa’s story has had on people, Lisa’s Legacy Fund will now have a real impact on the continuing fight against cancer.”

You can support Lisa's Fund by donating directly to the Cancer Center or by purchasing Tom Batiuk's new book on Lisa called Lisa's Story: The Other Shoe.

Memory Walk

My cousin's husband is raising money for Alzheimer Disease research by participating in their Memory Walk 2007 Event.

From the walk website:

We are determined to make a difference! By participating in the 2007 Memory Walk®, we have committed to raise money for Alzheimer research and to care for people with the disease.

Currently over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. Unless we find a way to change the course, 16 million Americans could have Alzheimer’s by 2050.

We want to fight this devastating disease, but we can’t do it without the help of people like you. Funds raised at Memory Walk support research that is on the brink of promising new treatments to slow and prevent Alzheimer’s and local programs to improve the lives of individuals living with the disease.

On behalf of the millions of Americans who are living with Alzheimer’s, thank you for supporting our efforts.

If you would like to help support Chris, you can do so here. Alternatively, I'm sure there is a walk in your own neighborhood that you could participate in.

The Limb Preservation Foundation

The Limb Preservation Foundation was founded in 1987 by Dr. Ross Wilkins with the sole purpose of saving lives and limbs. In his own words: When I started my practice over 20 years ago, 80% of patients with bone and extremity cancer died without their limbs. Today, because of the work that has been accomplished by The Limb Preservation Foundation and others, those statistics are completely reversed. But I have to tell you; even though fewer patients die or lose their limbs, this work doesn't get easier. In fact, it is harder than ever to lose these patients and friends.

The Limb Preservation Foundation has a variety of Programs that serve both patients and the community.

• Patient Assistance-so that all people with extremity issues could have access to the best medical care regardless of their ability to pay
• Emergency Distress Fund-a "last resort" fund to extremity patients with health or human welfare issues
• Medical Transport-to assist patients needing travel assistance to a specialized medical facility
• Limb Cancer Support Network-to provide emotional support and resource information to patients, family members and caregivers.
• Education-to promote awareness and prevention of limb-threatening conditions, generally due to traumatic injury, to both the public and medical professionals
• Scientific Research-to develop new therapies for the treatment of bone cancers and non-healing fractures.

My friend Martha is the executive director of the Limb Preservation Foundation. A few weeks ago she hosted a "free" breakfast for the foundation which promoted many of the ongoing initiatives of the organization. This was an incredible event which lasted only about 1 hour. Many people came to tell their personal stories about how they were benefited by the work of Dr. Ross Wilkins and the Limb Preservation Foundation. There were cancer survivors who did not have to lose limbs; parents of child survivors; spouses who got a few more years with a cherished husband or wife; people who had seen the flyer on how to preserve a limb that was removed by injury and were lucky enough to have it reattached. There was not a dry eye in the room. And then came the ask to support the foundation in their efforts. From a business perspective, this was an incredibly well orchestrated event. More than $400,000 was raised at this 1 hour "free" breakfast which was attended by just a few hundred people. Way to go Martha!

If you would like to support the Limb Preservation Foundation, you can do so here.

Songs of Hope and Glory

There are days when I am overwhelmed by news of the horrific: wars, pandemics, hurricanes and earthquakes. I stopped watching television in part to escape from the constant barrage of bad news. This blog is a kinder place, a gentler place, where only news of the good will be collected. I would like this blog to serve as a reminder of all of the good that exists in the world. If I have missed some good news, please send a link my way either through a comment or via email.