The Sunflower Matrix:
Introducing a New Model for Business Success

Meet the Panel

Schedule of Events

1:00-2:00 PM................................................Your Business Idea
Presentation and Q&A by Rob Ryan

2:15-3:15 PM.......................Your Business Idea and Financing
Presentation and Q&A by Joe Graziano

3:30-4:30 PM............Your Business Idea and Implementation
Presentation and Q&A by Dan Floyd

4:30-5:00 PM..........................................................Intermission
Concessions Available

5:00-7:00 PM.................Putting Your Business Idea to the Test
Rob Ryan, Joe Graziano, and Dan Floyd provide on-the-spot feedback to audience members on their business ideas as well as troubleshoot issues with existing businesses; audience members interested in participating will fill out a questionnaire during intermission; business ideas and issues are then selected at random from the pool of questionnaires.

Registration - NEW REDUCED RATES!

• Pay prior to the day of event
  • Fee for 1-7 pm: ONLY $25
  • Fee for 5-7 pm only: ONLY $10
• Pay on the day of the event (price at door)
• Fee for 1-7 pm: $35
• Fee for 5-7 pm only: $15
• Price for students (college or high school / at door or before event)
  • Fee for 1-7 pm: ONLY $10
  • Fee for 5-7 pm: ONLY $5
• Registration opens Tuesday, September 6, 2011
• To register, Download Registration Form or call 406-375-0100
  Discover, MasterCard, and Visa cards accepted

All proceeds benefit the
Bitterroot College Program of The University of Montana

More on the Panel

Rob Ryan is one of the fathers of the modern Internet. He extended Arpanet —the precursor to the Internet—to military installations around the world while at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, built the infrastructure for Internet dialup, authored the Intel portion of the Ethernet, and founded Ascend Communications, the pioneer of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and Point of Presence boxes (PoPs). His innovations allowed Internet Service Providers and their customers to hop onto the Internet with greater ease and economy and set communications standards for digital transmission. Rob allowed Lucent Technologies to acquire Ascend in 1999 in one of the biggest deals of the decade on Wall Street. Rob's current focus is the Sunflower Matrix, the name of his new company, upcoming book, and his patented recipe for success in life and in the business and non-profit worlds. He uses the Sunflower Matrix in his Entrepreneur America facility at his Roaring Lion Ranch in Hamilton, Montana, where he has mentored dozens of promising entrepreneurs by helping them discover their core competencies, focus on product ideas, sharpen business plans and presentation skills and raise venture capital. Rob Ryan is the author of two books: Entrepreneur America: Lessons from Inside Rob Ryan's High-Tech Start-Up Boot Camp and its updated paperback version, Smartups, published by Cornell University Press.

Joe Graziano retired from a long career as a financial executive in Silicon Valley, California. His experience included a total of eleven years (during two terms) as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Apple Computer, Inc., as well as serving as a member of the Apple Computer Board of Directors from 1993-1995. He also served as the CFO of Sun Microsystems, Inc. for two years (1987-1989); the Treasurer of Rolm Corporation (1976-1981); a Member of the Board and Audit Committee Chairman of several public companies including Pixar Animation Studios, Inc. (1995-2007) and Packeteer, Inc. (1996-2007). Graziano is a retired Certified Public Accountant (CPA), holds an honorary Ph.D. from Merrimack College, and was twice named as an All-Star CFO by Upside magazine.

Dan Floyd has been a founder/co-founder of many successful companies ranging from ones in the semiconductor business (VLSI Technology) to insurance (CASI) to boutique hotels (Coastal Inns of Distinction). Initial funding of these startups has ranged from $30,000 to $ 100,000,000. His strength is developing business strategies and overseeing their profitable implementation. Mr. Floyd is also involved as a company doctor working with troubled companies to turn them into viable businesses.

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