Networking 101 at Operation Hope NOLA Tonight!

Archive for March, 2010

Networking 101 at Operation Hope NOLA Tonight!

March 30th, 2010, by Sloane Berrent. 4 Comments »

I’m excited to be giving a talk tonight to the local chapter of Operation Hope about networking and basic skills to get the most from your networking. I’ll be posting my slides from the talk later this week, but if you’re in New Orleans and want to come out tonight:

Details: Free seminar: Key to Networking-Make the Most of Your Contacts
Date: Tuesday, 3/30 @ 5:30 pm
Address: 1215 Prytania Street, New Orleans, 70115
RSVP: (504) 309-6153 x4

Follow Operation Hope NOLA on Twitter.
(more…)

NOLAlicious Logo Contest – Enter Today!

March 29th, 2010, by Sloane Berrent. No Comments »

My weekly newsletter about New Orleans, NOLAlicious, is running a contest that ends tonight and I wanted to share the details.

Here’s what’s up. We’re stepping it up! We’re going big. To do that, we are looking first for a spanking new logo. After that we’ll be revamping our website and starting to include select advertisers into the site, as they make sense to our content. We’ve been fielding requests, and we wanted to get our ducks in a row first, and plus grow our base, before taking this turn.

So what’s up with the contest? Honestly, Carl, Taylor and I all have design experience to varying levels, but we wanted to make this collaborative and inclusive. After all, all three of us have struggled and continue to grow into our own careers but aren’t that far away from the tooth and nail of getting your name out there. So we thought a logo contest, for an up and coming artists or a small firm would be great exposure. Or an introduction to us to possibly reward the website redesign.

I posted before about website work and the post was successful in awarding the website redesign to two design firms.

For today’s logo contest, reminder it ends tonight. Here’s the deal:

* Send all submissions in .jpeg or .png format to editor@nolalicious.com. Submissions close Monday at 5pm CST. It’s an open platform and we’re looking for a creative and fresh take on what you see when you think “NOLAlicious.”
(more…)

Upcoming Conferences On My Radar

March 28th, 2010, by Sloane Berrent. 2 Comments »

I wanted to share three upcoming conferences on my radar. Except for Global Pulse, which happens online, I won’t be able to attend the other two, but thanks to Twitter and other online services, I’ll be able to catch highlights and see what conversations develop. Which can be just as valuable as attending them in person.

Global Pulse 2010
Happening March 29-March 31, 2010, Global Pulse 2010 is a 3-day, online collaboration event, that will bring together individual socially-engaged participants and organizations from around the world. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is sponsoring the Global Pulse 2010, in partnership with the Departments of State, Education, Commerce, and Health and Human Services.
(more…)

Explore Your Hometown

March 27th, 2010, by Sloane Berrent. 2 Comments »

As I set off to explore New Orleans this weekend, I first was looking through old photos from my first few weekends here and thinking about how much has changed. Not only have I moved from the Lower Garden District to the French Quarter, but I’m a bit more worn around the edges. The core is the same. The same adventurous spirit. The same desire to get out and see all there is to see.

The difference?

In my definition of “all there is to see.” After all, last year this time, as I had just arrived in New Orleans, I wanted to do and see it all! Every festival, every fair, every opportunity to get out there and absorb New Orleans and her environments for all they were worth. This year, I’m a little bit more guarded. I want to spend time with me, I don’t want to give away all my energy. I want to explore on my own, or with a few friends, instead of going where the masses are.
(more…)

GNO 2.0 The Economic Evolution

March 26th, 2010, by Sloane Berrent. 4 Comments »

As the economic evolution of New Orleans continues, I in turn, continue to be amazed by all of the advances made by the hard working men and women that make up this community. The video above (made by local firm Deltree) was made for GNO, Inc. (Greater New Orleans) for their annual board meeting to show the shareholders the main economic drivers of New Orleans and highlight the community. (Yes I do make an appearance myself at the 2:40 minute mark). What’s incredible is how each person here is not just working for themselves and their families, but for the community at large. That’s a hard couple of tasks to juggle.

The debate continues. After all, if we (and I’m using we, but it’s more of a THEM or YOU as I’m still so new here) travel and leave New Orleans, we’re evangelizing but we’re not here adding to the day-to-day life. If we’re here, than the insular attitude of New Orleans continues. Being “the best kept secret for starting your business” isn’t where anyone wants to be anymore.

For a prime example of a company defining the future of New Orleans, look no further than FSC Interactive (disclosure: I work here part-time). The women-owned and women-operated boutique firm received two PRSA awards last year and is growing at an accelerated and impressive rate. Founder McKenzie Coco, along with being a member of the local EO chapter and frequent speaker on online marketing was just named CMO of Idea Village’s Entrepreneur-In-Residence program, which in turn is leading this week’s Entrepreneur Week, an initiative to bring entrepreneur’s and top MBA programs to New Orleans to learn from each other and showcase the entrepreneurial eco-system happening in New Orleans. Many local companies are helping to make the week a success, including the superstars at Bond PR who are spearheading all communications for Entrepreneur Week (no small feat and yet they make it look seamless).
(more…)