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Forward Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Posted on by Taylor Kennedy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 5, 2019

Contact:
Molly Walsh
608-698-5890
molly@forwardfest.org

Forward Festival Celebrates 10thAnniversary   

(MADISON, Wis.)—Community members, innovators and entrepreneurs across all different spectrums will have the opportunity to collaborate during the 10th annualForward Festival, which features more than 50 events, 30 of which are new, taking place Aug. 22-29 throughout the city, organizers announced today.

“Since the start of Forward Festival, we’ve really expanded our definition of entrepreneurship and whom that includes,” Laura Strong, festival board member and clinical development director of Exact Sciences, said. “What makes this festival unique to Madison is that it’s run by our community. The events and what they reflect are meeting the needs of the community right now.”

One example is the Aug. 28 roundtable discussion on how to make Madison the best location to start and grow a business, hosted by Mayor SatyaRhodes-Conway.

To celebrate its 10th festival, a Forward Festival bourbon will be created by J. Henry & Sons and sealed for the next 10 years.

Since the festival began in 2010 with five events, it has seen an increase in yearly attendance to more than 4,000 participants.

The festival’s main event is the Forward Technology Conference, which takes place Aug. 26 at the Wisconsin Union. The keynote panel, featuring LisaCalhoun of Valor Ventures, Donnel Baird of BlocPower and Archna Sahay of SahayConsulting, will discuss how to open access to venture capital funding to more diverse audiences.

Forward Festival is sponsored by American Family Insurance, MG&E, Neider & Boucher, WEDC, Urban Land Interests, M3 Insurance, BDO, Boardman Clark, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Swink and the Wisconsin Union.

For a detailed listing of events taking place during the Forward Festival, please visit www.forwardfest.org.

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Resulting Media Coverage:

How to Communicate to Customers During M&A

Posted on by Taylor Kennedy

INTRODUCTION

According to PwC, the need for effective communication is often overlooked or underestimated in the flurry of activity surrounding a deal. Executing a strong and clear communication strategy is critical to successful integration.

Companies who keep customer experience as a top priority
during an M&A and adopt the customer’s view of the merger as they make important integration decisions, will not only keep current customers but also set the company up for future success.

Continue reading “How to Communicate to Customers During M&A” →

How to (Not) Blame the Victim

Posted on by Brian Lee

INTRODUCTION

Photo by David Goehring

The customer is not always right. Unfortunately, in our litigious society, customers may sue your organization for their own actions, whether due to an accident or their own negligence.

A family is suing Royal Caribbean for the accidental death of their toddler. The toddler’s grandpa put the toddler on the railing of an open window, and she fell through. This is an area that the toddler could not have reached on her own. 

Meanwhile, a toddler sneaked onto a conveyor belt behind a Spirit Airlines ticket counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The mother, who said she looked away from her son “for one second,” has not indicated yet if she’ll sue.

How can Royal Caribbean and Spirit Airlines avoid taking the blame for these situations? 

Continue reading “How to (Not) Blame the Victim” →