Clarence E. Harris Entrepreneurial Forum
2012 Entrepreneurial Forum - Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Welcome from the Dean of the College of Business, Robert Dooley
Breakfast Kick-off Speaker: Charlie Brock, FourBridges Capital, Chattanooga Renaissance Fund, CoLab
8:30-9:45 a.m. Breakfast Session, Tennessee Room of University Center
9:45-11:30 a.m. Panel Discussions
- Entrepreneurship 101, The Lessons I Have Learned, UC Auditorium of University Center
- Mary Eastman (Eastman Construction), Rick English (Boston English Properties LLC), Rich Mak (Snapfon), Jerry Sterling (Sterling Business Solutions, LLC)
- Lessons from The Early Stages of a Start-Up, Chattanooga Room of University Center
- Zach Goldstein (Rocket Link Mobile), Adam Kinsey (Track 29), Monica Kinsey (Track 29, UnFoundation), George Yu (Variable Technologies, LLC)
Guest Speaker: Charlie Brock, FourBridges Capital, Chattanooga Renaissance Fund, CO.LAB
Charlie Brock is the CEO of CO.LAB, a Chattanooga organization that serves as the “Entrepreneur Center” in Southeast Tennessee and runs the summer Gig Tank accelerator program.
Mr. Brock balances his time at CO.LAB with his responsibilities as a managing director at FourBridges Capital Advisors, a Chattanooga-based boutique investment bank started in 2007. FBC provides M&A advisory and capital formation services to lower-middle market companies throughout the Southeast.
Charlie also serves as a general partner of Chattanooga Renaissance Fund, a local angel investment group that he co-founded in 2010. The $3.2M fund invests in early-stage companies in Chattanooga and the surrounding area. Additionally, Charlie is a partner with the Tennessee Angel Fund and TNInvestco, where he serves as a member of the investment committee.
In 1998, Charlie Brock helped to establish Foxmark Media and grew it into one of the nation’s largest mall advertising companies, operating in more than 35 markets. As the CEO and largest shareholder, he structured two rounds of private financing before selling the company in 2006 to Australia-based EYE Corp., one of the world's leading out-of-home media companies and part of Network Ten Holdings, a publicly listed company on the Australian stock exchange.
Prior to Foxmark, Brock held marketing and sales positions with Brock Candy Company and its successor, Brach and Brock Confections. Brock Candy Company was a fourth-generation family business that went public in 1993 and was sold in 1994 to EJ Brach Company.
Brock is an organizer and director of CapitalMark Bank and Trust in Chattanooga. CapitalMark opened its doors in March 2007 following a successful capital raise of $35 million – the largest capital raise in the history of the state for a de novo bank at that time. Since its opening, CapitalMark has been one of the leading de novo banks across the country in asset growth and profitability.
In addition to CapitalMark, Charlie serves on the board of directors of several companies, including publicly traded The Dixie Group, Park Media Software and Banyan.
Mr. Brock is an active member of the Entrepreneurs Organization, a worldwide network of more than 7,000 entrepreneurs. He serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and Outreach Haiti, a local mission organization supporting a community in Haiti. He is also the head of the Endowment Committee at Good Shepherd Church. Charlie has a B.A. from the University of the South.
Charlie and his wife Lisa are the proud parents of Lesley, Taylor and Laura, all of whom are currently in college.
About The Clarence E. Harris Entrepreneurial Forum
The Clarence E. Harris Entrepreneurial Forum is conducted every year by the Harris Chair to promote dialogue and interaction between students, faculty and entrepreneurs. Each year since 1996, a group of 9-12 entrepreneurs is invited to campus for a half-day program. Participants both interact informally with students and faculty, and conduct a panel discussion.
This event is scheduled in the Fall semester and draws nearly 500 students annually.
The breakfast kick-off session is designed to provide one-on-one interaction with the entrepreneur at breakfast. After the breakfast, entrepreneurs participate in panel discussions with varying themes. This aspect of the program promotes a comparison in entrepreneurial perspectives and some lively discussion among the panelists. Students and faculty are welcome to ask questions and participate in the debate.
Students should RSVP through their classes using the sign-in sheet provided to your teachers. Non-students should RSVP to Brandon-McAndrew@mocs.utc.edu by Wednesday Oct. 31st.
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