If you go by the host location names, you would think that the October 2014’s Entrepreneur Night, which took place at the Flagler Beachfront Winery, should have felt somewhat different than September’s event, at the Ice Plant Bar in St. Augustine.
It is simply a matter of ambiance: in Flagler Beach, a low-key hangout that makes its own wine, in St. Augustine, a period piece of a saloon that is housed in, what was, an actual historic early 20th century ice factory.
Entrepreneur Night is, simply, Entrepreneur Night: These events are held on the last Tuesday of the month (with the exception of the months of July, August, and December), and they are held at venues that match the spirit of the event –meaning the venue hosting the event is required to be a small business owned a by a local entrepreneur.
You see all sorts of faces, some familiar, some not, ambitious, hopeful people who’re involved in some aspect of the Flagler business landscape, who have something to offer, while mingling, drinking, and bouncing ideas off one another. It’s the substance.
One such participant was Frances Keiser who identifies herself as a University of Florida master naturalist. She’s been working toward wildlife conservation for 40 years, she says. “That’s my passion.” While it’s no doubt her passion, it’s not likely that this calling is what she’s best known for, at least to most of the public. Keiser is the author of a couple of nature-based book series, the best-selling of which is her fiction series, “The Adventures of Pelican Pete.” It’s sold tens of thousands.
She was inspired to write the books when she went “to show some of our grandchildren some of the wildlife places that we enjoyed going to.” Unfortunately those environments weren’t there anymore, the result of over-development.
Her husband Hugh, a classically trained artist, illustrates her books. It’s a happy pairing. Actually, at Tuesday’s event, they auctioned off one of Hugh’s exquisitely detailed pen and ink etchings, Inside Outside.
“The Adventures of Pelican Pete,” stars a pelican, Pete, who, in an otherwise scientifically-sound series, is distinguished by a blue ball cap.
That small detail initially hurt her chances of publication, she says, when she shopped it around at various science centers that didn’t want anything do with anthropomorphism—the personification of animals.
That all changed when the books began winning awards, earning a reputation for the quality of their science content. She’s won seven national awards, she says, and her books are used often by schools.
Keiser had the intuition to defy the advice of many publishers who told her, because her works were so scientific, she should go the non-fiction route.
“If you’re reading to a child, you don’t pick up a non-fiction book. You read to them something that’s fun to read.” Even if she didn’t always heed their words, she always gleaned something from each publisher she visited.
In an effort to maintain creative control over the content of the books, the educational component specifically, the pair took a further entrepreneurial step—they started their own publishing company, Sagaponack Books and Design, based in St. Augustine. The independent publishing company is dedicated to putting out work, fiction and non-fiction alike, that helps children connect with nature.
Asked if it was tough to find success in writing and publishing with no formal background, she says: “I believe, if there’s something you want to learn how to do, you can do that.” When she got started, she didn’t even know how to type, she says.
Another person from the same industry as Frances was Michael Ray King, another publisher in attendance. King, among other things—he’s a writer himself—specializes in aiding fellow authors get published and then, equally difficult, market their books. Most writers, King says, are not naturally outgoing or truly ready to put themselves and their product out there, something that many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle with. King’s seen many mind-blowing literary talents that will never be published, he says, because of just that—he used to be that way. You have to be able to get out there, on a stage, in front of a crowd, and sell. “A cold book signing won’t do that,” King says.
So keep that in mind, entrepreneurs: being bashful is no excuse, he says.
“You have to get out there and expose yourself to the slings and arrows of your fellow man.”
Now for some non-writers:
Bill McLeod has been living in Palm Coast only for the last three weeks. He moved here from Gainesville, a great place for emerging entrepreneurs, he says, because of all the technological spin-offs spewed out by the University of Florida.
He’s interested to see how Palm Coast matches up. That’s what brought him to October’s Entrepreneur Night, which he had just learned about that morning, after a quick read of the Palm Coast Observer.
McLeod got his start as a Certified Public Accountant and was at the genesis of the office product superstore, he says. That was his first foray into entrepreneurialism, he adds. “By my willingness to accept risk and effectively invest, sway equity and invest hard dollars into businesses—so, yeah, I always consider myself an entrepreneur, just focused on the financial side of the business.”
Most recently he’s been involved with Grooveshark.com, a music streaming service similar to Spotify, again, based out of Gainesville, that allows him to work from home. McLeod, who hints at being older than 50, is by far the senior member of the Grooveshark team. Most of the team members are in their 20s.
Grooveshark is different than its competitors, McLeod says, in its focus on freedom of curation for the subscribers, therefore availing itself to smaller, more independent artists, taking steps to help promote their music. Grooveshark also allows users to create their own radio station. McLeod’s sons are both musicians, he says.
The biggest advantage McLeod sees Flagler has going is, compared with other parts of the state, its large influx of people from other parts of the country. And the varied business experiences they bring with them.
“Through that, you’re just going to see a continued building of opportunities. New businesses or just the proverbial mouse trap of existing need or desire. And as more people come into the area, it becomes a self-sustaining business engine. There’s more demand for services.”
Donna Conlin, who moved to the area from New York just two months ago, is another one of the Flagler neophytes that McLeod is talking about. She just started networking and rebuilding her business—affordable interior decorating—just over a month ago, when she attended her first Entrepreneur Night at the Ice Plant in St. Augustine.
“The first time I came out I was nervous, I didn’t know anybody and everyone welcomed me and in the time of the last event and I’ve met the most amazing people. They’ve helped me, they’ve guided me, they’ve included me. It’s really been just amazing.”
What she means is that the fellow participants at the Entrepreneur Night events Donna attended guided her to others who would be great assets. That doesn’t mean necessarily people in her own field. She’s talking about individuals in otherfields who’d complement what she does: individuals who have resourced ideas with her as to what the best marketing strategies are for the area. “You know, because there are some differences between New York and Flagler,” she says.
Such a move requires adjustments. “And I mean this in a good way. People move a little slower. They’re not as in your face aggressive as they are in New York. People here seem to work as a team. In the month I’ve been networking I just feel like I belong. Like I’ve known everyone for years…”
Below is a video recap of the event:
Entrepreneur Night is a grassroots event for and by Entrepreneurs, which takes place the last Tuesday of each month – except July, August, and December at a different location and venue. It is free to attend. Complimentary appetizers are provided by the venue hosting the event as well as a cash bar. In each event you can expect to meet many new entrepreneurs, investors and service providers; and have meaningful conversations. You can check out the previous Entrepreneur Night events | or RSVP to the Next Entrepreneur Night Event.