Calendar

How to Present Your Business Plan

mattmikula — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:45:47 -0500

When:
5 - 6:30pm Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Where:
30 Exchange Terrace
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

This interactive presentation will feature one of the region's most respected business consultants who has worked with companies throughout New England on growth, turnaround, and acquisition strategies.
The workshop will provide insights, tips, and suggestions on how to present to investors, highlighting what works and what doesn't in business plan presentations.

Free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.

How to Write a Business Plan

mattmikula — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:41:30 -0500

When:
5 - 6:30pm Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Where:
30 Exchange Terrace
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

This workshop will be led by Sixcia Devine, regional director of the RI Small Business Development Center at Johnson & Wales University. A small business owner, Sixcia was named the 2008 Business Women of the year by Providence Business News, and in 2007 was cited as one of 40 Under 40 Young professionals of the year by the Providence Business News. As a consultant and business coach to entrepreneurs throughout Rhode Island, she has counseled entrepreneurs from a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds on developing business plans.

Free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.

How to Develop Financial Projections

mattmikula — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:16:32 -0500

When:
5 - 6:30pm Thursday, January 15, 2009

Where:
30 Exchange Terrace
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

This workshop will be led by Larry Davidson, principal of Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd. and a CPA with more than 35 years of experience in public accounting, including extensive experience serving clients in venture capital and private equity.
Free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.

DC401 January Meeting

mattmikula — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:47:11 -0500

When:
5:30 - 7pm Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Where:
115 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

We don't have Mitch Altman in town this January, but we're still going to do a kit build anyway. We've got 15 Conway's Game of Life Kits coming in along with all the right angle connectors we need to hook them all up together. Once they're all put together we'll hook them up and get some good pictures and video of them. Ideally, it would be cool if people marked them with their names and left them for a couple of weeks so we can install the whole thing in the gallery window on the street.

NewBCamp 2009

mattmikula — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:23:55 -0500

When:
9am - 2pm Sunday, February 8, 2009

Where:
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

What is a NewBCamp? NewBCamp is a conference - or better yet, an 'unconference' - that brings people together to learn from each other about technology. The inaugural NewBCamp was held February 23, 2008, and the next NewBCamp will be Sunday, February 8, 2009.

RI Linux January Meetup

mattmikula — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:18:29 -0500

When:
11am Saturday, January 10, 2009

Where:
2480 Post Road, CT Building, Room 231
Warwick, RI 02886
Google Map

Join us for the monthly RILug meetup!

Email Marketing

mattmikula — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:28:20 -0500

When:
6 - 8pm Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Where:
10 Abbott Park Place, Taco Center
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

Online communication is important in today's business world. Learn the benefits of email marketing and get tips to help you take better advantage of this cost effective tool. Discover best practices and winning strategies in email marketing. Find out how to get and keep quality subscribers. Discuss how to increase deliverability and open rates. Receive tips for writing compelling content. Included in this class are case studies to show you real world examples of business that have leveraged email marketing to its full potential. Fee: $ 60.00

Copywriting for a New Era: Free copywriting and branding clinic

mattmikula — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:23:37 -0500

When:
6:30 - 8pm Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Where:
438 East Main Road and Forest Ave.
Middletown, RI 02842
Google Map

Facilitated by Gail Glanville of Change Bistro. “All too often,” Glanville explains, “entrepreneurs miss the point that today’s conscious consumers are looking for a different message. What was useful and unique last year won’t be perceived that way in 2009. Our customers have changed dramatically; our copy approach needs to change too.” “New market research shows 80% of consumers are now feeling exceptionally high levels of anxiety and distrust. The first thing I look for is Copy that Connects v. Copy that Lectures. Plus, it helps to know the four top ways to wrap your product or service in confidence and give it the flavor of long-term value.” Bring your promotional materials for Gail to review. For reservations, call 401 849 5900, or for information go to www.changebistro.com. Please bring non-perishable food for the Martin Luther King Center.

Pulse: Database Support for Efficient Query Processing Of Temporal Polynomial Models

mattmikula — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:08:00 -0500

When:
2pm Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Where:
115 Waterman Street (3rd Floor)
Providence, RI 02912
Google Map

This thesis investigates the practicality and utility of mathematical models to represent continuous and occasionally unavailable data stream attributes, and processing relational-style queries in a stream processing engine directly on these models. We present Pulse, a framework for processing continuous queries over stream attributes modeled as piecewise polynomial functions. We use piece-wise polynomials to provide a compact, approximate representation of the input dataset and provide query language extensions for users to specify precision bounds to control this approximation. Pulse represents queries as simultaneous equation systems for a variety of relational operators including filters, joins and standard aggregates. In the stream context, we continually solve these equation systems as new data arrives into the system. We have implemented Pulse on top of the Borealis stream processing engine and evaluated it on two real-world datasets from financial and moving object applications. Pulse is able to achieve significant performance improvements by processing queries directly on the mathematical representation of these polynomials, in comparison to standard tuple-based stream processing, thereby demonstrating the viability of our system in the face of having to meet precision requirements.

How to Start and Grow Your Small Business

mattmikula — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:50:59 -0500

When:
8pm Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Where:
315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101
Providence, RI 02908
Google Map

A must seminar for future and current business owners. Learn what is needed to start a business and how to prepare to develop a business plan and get an introduction to business financial statements.

Cost is $25(tax deductible) and seats are limited. Register today! Contact Victor Barros vbarros@riedc.com or 278-9137.

Providence Web Development Lunch Hour January Meetup

mattmikula — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:30:05 -0500

When:
12 - 1pm Thursday, January 8, 2009

Where:
250 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

Code monkeys, pixel pushers and web heads unite! Join us each month for an informal get-together to discuss web development trends, tools and techniques. These lunch-hour meetings, hosted at Providence area restaurants, will give you the chance to examine such topics as web design, semantics, standards, accessibility, usability, servers, clients (as in software or as in people), popular trends, and any other topics that our members are interested in.

RI Film, TV and New Media: Past, Present and Future

mattmikula — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:39:29 -0500

When:
5:30pm Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Where:
270 Broadway
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

AGENDA:
Speakers and special guests will lead a discussion of the industry in The Ocean State, followed by a Q&A

WHAT TO BRING:
Business cards; head shots; any promotional materials about your business

COST:

FREE!!

We'll even provide plastic bags for all the information you'll collect.

The concession stand will be open if you wish to purchase snacks.

RSVP: rifilm@arts.ri.gov

Please rsvp with your name, company if applicable and occupation

code4lib

mattmikula — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:49:32 -0500

When:
Monday, February 23 - Thursday, February 26, 2009

Where:
5 Avenue of the Arts
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

The fourth annual code4lib conference, hosted by Brown University Library, will be held in Providence, Rhode Island at the Renaissance Providence Hotel during February 23-26, 2009. Anyone who is interested in helping to plan and organize the conference, and/or stay informed about conference activities and events, should join the conference planning discussion list, which can be found at http://groups.google.com/group/code4libcon.

code4lib2009 registration is OPEN! Early registration ends on January 29th, but it's unlikely there will be spots open till then, so reserve yours soon...it's $125 for 4 days of learning, collaborating, and fun.

3rd Annual Rhode Island Economic Summit

mattmikula — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:17:35 -0500

When:
Friday, January 9, 2009

Where:
315 Harborside Boulevard
Providence, RI 02905
Google Map

This economic conference has been set up to provide a unique opportunity for the business community to have a dialogue with our elected leadership. Over these past two years, the conference met with elected leaders and devised an agenda that would help small business community. This year provides a more unique opportunity to have a discussion with our elected leadership, particularly in light of the current state fiscal crisis. Nearly 80 small business owners have signed up for the 2009 Rhode Island Economic Summit, which will again be held at the Johnson & Wales University Culinary Museum. I would strongly suggest that you respond to this request immediately as we are limited to 150 participants.

Navigating Rough Seas

mattmikula — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:56:31 -0500

When:
6 - 8pm Thursday, January 29, 2009

Where:
185 Meeting Street
Providence, RI 02912
Google Map

$15 BFE Members
$25 Non-Members
Students/Sponsors Free
(however on-line registration is still required)

Even the most successful business can encounter turbulence. Maybe you've run afoul of market changes, or your company is experiencing a steady downhill slide, or an unexpected crisis puts you into a tailspin. Whatever the reason, you need to recognize the warning signs, properly evaluate your prospects and take action to turn things around. In this Forum, you'll hear about some of the lethal combinations that can spell trouble and the steps you can take to avoid them. You'll also learn what measures can make your business more agile and resilient because, believe it or not, it's entirely possible to emerge from hard times stronger than you were before.

RIRUG December Hackfest

mattmikula — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:06:29 -0500

When:
6pm Monday, December 15, 2008

Where:
131 Wayland Avenue
Providence, RI 02906
Google Map

You can show up anytime between 6-7 PM. Go to the side of the building and you will see some glass doors with a small BatchBlue sticker on them. Do not go to the top floor as that is Working Planet; BatchBlue is in the basement.

There are no special details for the hackfest and just one simple rule: no “day-job” work allowed. Come and work on your own projects and scratch an itch. Bring your current Ruby, Rails, Merb, Sinatra, Python, Perl, or even Erlang project (.NET developers need not apply) to hack on with others. Have a hardware project you are working on, that’s cool too. Sick of coding and just want to hang, perfect.

If you do come, bring a few bucks for some chow as we hope to have pizza and drinks on-site. Please RSVP below in the comments or on the RIRUG Google Groups mailing list so we have a decent idea of how many folks to expect.

Silver Linings: Innovation and the Demographics of Aging

mattmikula — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:26:33 -0500

When:
8am - 6pm Thursday, February 26, 2009

Where:
1 Sabin Street
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

Once again, the baby boomers are changing the world. This time around, their wealth and experience will make high demands of the market as they age: this generation does not intend to "go gentle into that good night." From living environments to the future of health care to the role of design, this full-day conference will convene visionaries, researchers and entrepreneurs who are seeing ahead of this giant crest to help shape a better future for the boomers and beyond.

Keynote speakers
Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD, AgeLab, MIT
Dean Kamen, DEKA Research & Development Corporation
Patricia Moore, MooreDesign Associates

Query Processing On Obscured Data

mattmikula — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:46:19 -0500

When:
2pm Monday, December 15, 2008

Where:
115 Waterman Street, 4th Floor
Providence, RI 02912
Google Map

In modern database systems, the representation of data is often degraded or obscured either artificially (for security and privacy) or inherently (because we do not have perfect knowledge, e.g., sensor and scientific data). Indeed, there is an intrinsic connection between privacy and uncertainty as studied recently [A08]. We say that any such data is obscured if it is not in its clear or definitive form. Accordingly, obscured data falls into two categories: one that is fully recoverable (e.g., by obtaining the decryption key) and one that cannot be fully recovered. Obscured data poses a great challenge for query processing. For example, to address the case in which the server is not trusted to decrypt the data, we have devised efficient algorithms that use a homomorphic encryption scheme which allows us to answer aggregation queries on the ciphertext [GZ07b]. The goal of this work is to understand the fundamental techniques that would be needed by a query processor for obscured data and to have a workable architecture for query processing in the two kinds of obscured data.

Entrepreneurial Wheel

mattmikula — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:30:06 -0500

When:
8 - 10am Friday, December 12, 2008

Where:
10 Abbott Park Place, Taco Center
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

Let us show you how to evaluate your business idea and get traction with your new business. Too many entrepreneurs try to do it alone, but there's no need to reinvent the wheel - we've already developed an Entrepreneurial Wheel to help you focus and succeed! Leverage our wisdom and take the next step in your business journey. You will leave this workshop with a vision, some cool new ideas, a back-of-the-napkin business plan, and a clearly defined action plan.

Speaker: Wendy Hanson
Fee: $ 60.00

Providence PHP January Meetup

mattmikula — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:46:31 -0500

When:
7pm Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Where:
186 Fountain Street
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

Please join us for our regularly scheduled discussion of all things related to PHP.

Power Hour Seminar Series: "Small Business Resilience"

mattmikula — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:40:41 -0500

When:
8 - 9am Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Where:
30 Exchange Terrace
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

The current economic crisis has many companies wondering how they will survive. It is situations like this and similar events on the horizon that will make or break companies. With each of these problems is also huge opportunities if you possess the process to look beyond the surface. Join Fred Presley, consultant with the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center and owner of Resilient Network as he discusses the key points of the Resilient Futures process and how this thinking can be used by companies to enable them to flow with ever changing conditions and prosper.
Please note: Cancellations within 48 hours of program will not be refunded. No-shows will be billed.

Making Smarter Robots

mattmikula — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:34:35 -0500

When:
9 - 11am Friday, January 23, 2009

Where:
321 Harborside Boulevard
Providence, RI 02905
Google Map

For those 9-12 year olds who have completed at least one of the other classes
$20 PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

In this class, we'll learn how robots use sensors to gather information about their environment. A hands-on class for students who already understand the basics and are ready to move beyond "point and shoot" robotics.

Introduction to LEGO Robotics

mattmikula — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:32:25 -0500

When:
9 - 11am Thursday, January 15, 2009

Where:
321 Harborside Boulevard
Providence, RI 02905
Google Map

Ages 9-12
$20. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Students use a pre-built robot to learn key concepts in programming and problem solving. A hands-on class for girls and boys with little or no prior experience in LEGO robotics.

Creative Problem Solving with Robots

mattmikula — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:29:11 -0500

When:
9 - 10:30am Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Where:
321 Harborside Boulevard
Providence, RI 02905
Google Map

Ages 6-8
$15. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Students use a pre-built and programmed robot while developing their creativity and problem-solving skills. A hands-on class for girls and boys who LOVE to build with LEGO elements and want to explore the next step- LEGO robotics. (6-8 year olds who have taken my classes before are welcome to attend this one-the content is similar but not identical to past classes.)

Introduction to LEGO Robotics

mattmikula — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:24:45 -0500

When:
Monday, December 29, 2008

Where:
401 Elmgrove Ave
Providence, RI 02906
Google Map

The morning session is for grades K-2 and has a fee of $45. (This fee is for one full day of camp, it includes your choice of a different class in the afternoon.)

The afternoon session is for grades 3-6 and has a fee of $45. (This fee is for one full day of camp, it includes your choice of a different class in the morning.)

Pre-Registration is required for both sessions.

RI Nexus Open Coffee

mattmikula — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:20:43 -0500

When:
8 - 10am Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Where:
729 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Google Map

RI Nexus Open Coffee is an informal get-together of technology entrepreneurs, a bi-weekly chance to talk shop, swap resources and connections, and get caffeinated. Whether you drop in for 15 minutes or are the last two at the tables, you'll get a unique chance to spend quality time with the best and brightest in the City-State startup community.

RI Nexus Open Coffee

mattmikula — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:19:20 -0500

When:
8 - 10am Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Where:
729 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Google Map

RI Nexus Open Coffee is an informal get-together of technology entrepreneurs, a bi-weekly chance to talk shop, swap resources and connections, and get caffeinated. Whether you drop in for 15 minutes or are the last two at the tables, you'll get a unique chance to spend quality time with the best and brightest in the City-State startup community.

FIRST LEGO League Demonstration

mattmikula — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:15:29 -0500

When:
7 - 9pm Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Where:
2500 Post Road
Warwick, RI 02886
Google Map

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) hosts a FIRST LEGO League demonstration on Wednesday, December 10, from 7-9 PM at New England Institute of Technology (Student Center), 2500 Post Road, Warwick, RI. Admission is free and a light dessert will be served.

Four FLL teams, two teams from Martin Middle School in East Providence and neighborhood teams from both Lincoln and Providence, will demonstrate the robots they've designed for the FIRST LEGO League CLIMATE CONNECTIONS Championship Tournament. Each team will also talk about the research projects they've working on for this year's competition.

Robert Morris of SME will offer a brief history of the FLL in Rhode Island. Mary Johnson, Co-Operational Partner for the RI FLL, will talk about this year's competition and how folks can help get kids excited about engineering, science and technology with the FLL.

Each team has been working since October on the CLIMATE CONNECTIONS Challenge, building a robot from a LEGO Mindstorms NXT or RCX kit. In competition, the robots have 2.5 minutes to earn points by completing missions on a game board related to the CLIMATE theme. For example, this year's robots will: construct and test levees, extract an ice core sample, and insulate a house. (More detail here: http://firstlegoleague.org/community/fll/game.aspx)

They've also been learning about Rhode Island's climate, identifying a problem related to the climate, and proposing an innovative solution to that problem. (More detail: http://firstlegoleague.org/community/fll/project.aspx)

Forty-eight teams will compete in Rhode Island's CLIMATE CONNECTIONS Championship tournament, hosted by Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, on January 10, 2009 from Noon to 4 PM.

The FIRST LEGO League is a global program designed to get kids excited about science and technology. Geared for ages 9-14 (up to 16 outside of the U.S. and Canada), FLL utilizes theme-based Challenges to engage kids in research, problem solving, and engineering. The cornerstones of the program are its Core Values, which emphasize contributions of others, friendly sportsmanship, learning, and community involvement.

Providence Entrepreneur January Meetup - Evening

mattmikula — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:56:50 -0500

When:
6:30pm Monday, January 5, 2009

Where:
170 Westminster Street, 3rd Floor
Providence, RI 02903
Google Map

Continuing from last month's discussion about warm-calling, we'll continue with building a qualified list, research, and also start ot discuss the importance of branding.

Providence Entrepreneur January Meetup - Morning

mattmikula — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:53:40 -0500

When:
9am Monday, January 5, 2009

Where:
209 Douglas Ave
Providence, RI 02908
Google Map

Continuing from last month's discussion about warm-calling, we'll continue with building a qualified list, research, and also start ot discuss the importance of branding.