FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Steve Kaufer
Co-founder & CEO, TripAdvisor
Steve Kaufer co-founded TripAdvisor in 2000 to help travelers around the world plan and book the perfect trip. Under his leadership, TripAdvisor has grown into the largest travel site in the world. As CEO, Kaufer has led the growth of TripAdvisor, Inc., which includes 24 other travel media brands operating in 49 markets worldwide. Prior to co-founding TripAdvisor, Kaufer was president of CDS, Inc., an independent software vendor, and prior to that, was co-founder and vice president of engineering of CenterLine Software. Kaufer also holds several software patents. Over the years, he has won a number of awards for his entrepreneurship and leadership in the travel industry including being inducted into the 2015 British Travel & Hospitality Hall of Fame, as well as receiving the 2015 International Society of Hospitality Consultants Pioneer Award and the 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
David Whitford
Editor-at-large, Inc.
David Whitford was a senior writer at Inc. in the mid-1990s, and recently returned as an editor-at-large, based in Boston. Between tours at Inc., he was an award-winning feature writer for Fortune and Fortune Small Business. He has written three books about sports, business, and politics, the first of which, A Payroll to Meet: A Story of Greed, Corruption, and Football at SMU, was republished last fall by University of Nebraska Press.
AGENDA
5:30-6:30 p.m.
COCKTAILS, TASTY BITES, AND NETWORKING
Take this opportunity to make lasting connections and expand your network with local-area entrepreneurs and business leaders over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
Take this opportunity to make lasting connections and expand your network with local-area entrepreneurs and business leaders over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
6:30-7:30 p.m.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH STEVE KAUFER
During this engaging talk, Kaufer will share how he grew an idea into a $13 billion enterprise— and how you can too!
7:30-8:30 p.m.
CLOSING NETWORKING RECEPTION
Spend your remaining time at the Founders Forum event by conversing with your peers and local business leaders. Grab a bite, enjoy a drink, and continue to make lasting connections while sharing your thoughts on the evening's discussion during this fun and casual soiree.
Spend your remaining time at the Founders Forum event by conversing with your peers and local business leaders. Grab a bite, enjoy a drink, and continue to make lasting connections while sharing your thoughts on the evening's discussion during this fun and casual soiree.