Course Snapshot

Panel Discussion: Insights from Forbes’ America’s Most Promising Companies

Someone once said, “If you want to be a successful business owner, look at what successful business owners have done, and then do what they did.” That advice is oversimplified, of course, but it’s still the philosophy behind Aileron’s newest panel discussion, which features a trio of leaders from Forbes Magazine’s “America’s Most Promising Companies.”

Forbes’ annual list includes those privately held up-and-comers that have compelling business models, strong management teams, marquee customers, strategic partners, and precious investment capital.

This 90-minute panel discussion will feature business owners named to this prestigious list in 2011.

Forbes Business Editor Tom Post and reporter J.J. Colao will also be on hand to lend their valuable perspective and provide a glimpse of what it takes to be recognized as one of America’s Most Promising Companies. Tom wants to hear your questions and learn more about your issues. Aileron President Joni Fedders will help facilitate the discussion.

During this event, you will learn firsthand how these companies became what they are today and gain insights and experiences from some of the most successful leaders in business. This is a unique opportunity to hear about some interesting experiences that will help you avoid mistakes, gain new ideas and practices you can use immediately.

Meet the Panelists:

Smashburger www.smashburger.com

Tom Ryan – Founder & Chief Concept Officer

Tom Ryan has 20 years of experience in marketing, branding, consumer research and concept/product development for package goods and restaurant/retail companies. Tom is also the Managing Partner and Chief Concept Officer of Consumer Capital Partners, where he leads the concept, product and brand development services. Previously, Tom was the President of the Ventures group, Chief Marketing Officer, and Branding Officer at Quiznos. Prior to that he was EVP, Worldwide Chief Concept Officer for McDonald's Corporation, and held the titles of US Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Menu Management at McDonald's. Prior to McDonald's, Tom was Senior Vice President of Business Development at Long John Silver's. He started his restaurant career at Pizza Hut and was an officer in the Marketing, Research & Development and Business Development areas. Tom is known for developing business building concepts, products and marketing programs throughout his career, including Stuffed Crust Pizza and Lovers™ line at Pizza Hut, McGriddles, Big ‘n Tasty, Dollar Menu, and Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits at McDonald’s and Steakhouse Beef Dip, Prime Rib and Sammies at Quiznos. Tom received his Ph.D. in Flavor and Fragrance Chemistry, his Masters in Lipid Toxicology and his undergraduate degree in Food Science, all from Michigan State University.

e-Cycle www.e-cycle.com

Christopher Irion – CEO

Christopher Irion and his wife Tonia have long shared a passion for technology, charitable giving and the environment. Co-founding e-Cycle in 2005, they acted upon a unique opportunity to channel these passions toward a new venture to address an emerging issue of mobile recycling and corporate responsibility. With mobile phone use exploding worldwide, they launched e-Cycle to meet the wireless recycling, data security and environmental protection needs of businesses and major organizations. Today, e-Cycle is ranked the #5 fastest growing environmental services company in the U.S. by Inc. and the #68 Most Promising Company in America by Forbes. Christopher received a B.A. at the University of Miami, Florida and a M.B.A. at Florida Atlantic University. Prior to founding e-Cycle, he worked as a project manager for EMC, Oracle, and Arthur Anderson. He is currently the CEO of e-Cycle LLC and an advisor on the Environmental Sustainability Commission in the City of Hilliard.

CampusBookRentals.com

Alan Martin – CEO

Alan Martin is CEO of CampusBookRentals.com, a web enabled college textbook fulfillment company that rents textbooks to students on nearly 6,000 college campuses every semester. In the summer of 2007, Alan was employed as a contract negotiator (civilian) in the US Air Force, and was nearly finished with a Master’s degree in procurement and acquisitions management when he left to pursue CampusBookRentals.com full time. Through his own experience of buying and selling textbooks online for his previous five years of college, he recognized a pattern and theorized that textbooks could potentially be bought, rented, and then sold, rather than simply bought and sold. It started with a simple idea that Alan had as a college student to a pilot program at Weber State University to now serving customers on close to 6,000 college campuses each semester nationwide. In August 2011 alone, students collectively saved over $10 million by renting their books through CampusBookRentals.com rather than buying from their college bookstore.

To learn more about Forbes’ America’s Most Promising Companies, click here.

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More information:

For more information about this program please call us at (937) 669-6500 or e-mail an Aileron representative.