Join C-Level Executives* at CBIC’s Next CXO Roundtable:

CEO War Stories: In the Trenches with Bill Walker, President of HemoSonics, Serial Entrepreneur

Learning the Hard Way: Bill's Experiences in Starting Three Medical Device Companies

DATE: Tuesday, October 25, 2011

TIME:  8:30 – 11:00 AM

LOCATION: Virginia National Bank, Pantops Branch (404 People Place, 2nd Floor Board Room, Charlottesville, VA 22911)

COSTS:  CBIC and Chamber Members $0 (no cost); non-members: $50

SPONSORED BY: Hantzmon Wiebel LLP

In CBIC’s new CXO Roundtable series, CEO War Stories, you’ll get inside the mind of this serial entrepreneur. It has often been said that there is no better teacher than experience. Whether true or not, experience certainly teaches lessons in ways that won't be forgotten. There is some insanity in every CEO and every company. Come hear Bill’s tales and perhaps some outlandish secrets. Discover some valuable lessons learned in the entrepreneurial and biotech mine fields.

Bill will describe the background technologies and product concepts that drove each company, while elaborating on his experiences in founding three different companies, each of which presented its own challenges. Each pushing him to grow and learn in new directions. And he’s promised to do his best to be frank about his mistakes with the hope that attendees will be able to avoid some of the pitfalls that have tripped him up.

Discover insights from Bill’s experiences, which is certain to be both informative and entertaining!

About William F. Walker, PhD has 21 years of experience in the development of medical ultrasound technology, with expertise in instrumentation, ultrasound physics, clinical applications, intellectual property, and market assessment. He has been an active founder in three ultrasound-based medical device companies. Walker has been a member of the faculty of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UVA since 1997. He has worked full time at HemoSonics, a company he co-founded, since January 2010. Dr. Walker holds both the B.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University.

About CBIC CXO Roundtables:

CBIC’s CxO Roundtables are offered quarterly as a CBIC member benefit at no cost to members of CBIC and $50 to non-members. This peer-based forum is designed to bring C-level individuals from entrepreneurial and technology-based companies together to discuss topics of interest.  This intimate format stimulates ideas specifically amongst entrepreneurs and those who operate their businesses; therefore, these events are only open to those individuals who hold a C-level position (or equivalent).  All registrations will be reviewed and only those individuals who meet these requirements will be authorized to attend. 

About CBIC:

CBIC is the preeminent private-sector advocate and catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation-based economic development in the greater Charlottesville, VA region. For more than 15 years, CBIC and its predecessor name, the Virginia Piedmont Technology Council (VPTC), has been fostering an ecosystem for innovation in order to expand the strength and vitality of our local economy and culture.  As the voice of the entrepreneurial and high-tech sectors in our region, CBIC collectively supports entrepreneurs and tech-based businesses by providing networking, visibility, promotion, education and advocacy opportunities.  These activities expose entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers to other like-minded individuals and provide opportunities to meet and learn from one another.

CBIC’s Key Action Areas:

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
It takes the right people and critical mass to drive a high-tech economy. By working in partnership with local businesses and our area's educational institutions, the Council helps ensure that the area’s workforce has the appropriate curriculum, training, skills and resources to support future growth in key technology segments such as the area’s burgeoning biotechnology sector.

NETWORKING EVENTS
Intelligent and talented people enjoy getting together to socialize, collaborate, share ideas and form professional relationships, which is a vital component of attracting and retaining a highly skilled workforce. That's why the Council organizes workshops, seminars, lectures, galas, roundtables, and social activities designed specifically for the entrepreneurial and high-tech community.

TECHNOLOGY ISSUES
The operational needs of technology-based companies can be very different from those of traditional industries. Consequently, the Council serves as the tech industry's advocate, educating local and state officials about the unique requirements of high-tech businesses and the issues that affect them.

CBIC’s Two Annual Signature Events:

·         CBIC Awards Gala:  an annual event that gathers more than 200 business leaders, entrepreneurs, government officials, and academia to honor individuals and organizations for their noteworthy contributions to the marketplace. CBIC Award recipients enjoy increased exposure and visibility with the media, business community, and potential partners. 

SAVE THE DATE:  The 14th Annual CBIC Awards Gala will be held May, 24, 2012 at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, VA. 

·         CBIC Tech Tour:  a day-long event to introduce area high school students to our region’s tech companies, designed to expose students to the diverse career possibilities offered by our regional tech community and to help them envision themselves as technology innovators. Chaperoned groups of students spend the day traveling to selected showcase tech companies for a hands-on visit to meet employees and experience the use of technology in unique and specialized operations. This year's Tech Tour will be held October 13, 2011.

…and a bevy of educational and networking programs including:

• CXO Roundtables:  a peer-based forum designed to bring C-level individuals from entrepreneurial and technology-based companies together to discuss various topics of interest such as compensation, strategies and techniques to find, fuel, and fit employees and its new CEO War Stories: In the Trenches with….”:  which features successful C-level executives who share first-hand experiences and perhaps some outlandish secrets so other entrepreneurs may discover valuable lessons learned in the entrepreneurial mine fields.
• Educational Programs and Networking:  solo or in partnerships with organizations such as UVA, the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the Darden School of Business, VaBIO, and other groups, CBIC hosts educational programs with topics including collaboration and strategic alliance trends and structures, executive/employee compensation, corporate structure, IP strategy, risk management and insurance for private companies, financing sources and strategies, and M&A trends.

For more information about CBIC or to join this vibrant Council, please visit http://www.cvillebic.org.  [Please note that CBIC is nearing the launch of a new website, which will provide more current information about the Council’s vision, mission, goals, events, membership, committee and volunteer opportunities, and past successes.]