Registration Information:
Admission is free; seating is limited, please register early.
Chamber Members: Click on the Register Now button and follow the prompts.  Please indicate the sessions that you plan to attend.
Non- Chamber Members: Email Barbara Laurino at blaurino@provchamber.com or call 401-521-5000 to register.
Registration Deadline: April 26th. No tickets will be sent. All seats reserved at the door.

Parking Information: Metropark is offering a discounted rate of $6.00 per vehicle at its local parking lots for the event beginning at 3:00 p.m. Subject to availability. View lot locations here:
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 Lots P3, P4, P5, P8 and P9 are within walking distance to the RISD, Chace Center. Street metered parking is also an option.
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The Garage is the place to hear from growth companies, share insights, explore industry sectors with immense potential, learn new strategies and create intersections and connections that lead to new products, new ideas, and new economic development in Rhode.  This year’s event will showcase the inaugural program, Inspired Conversation and the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition Finale.

Schedule:
3:00 Registration / Check-in
3:30 Welcome / Set the Stage
3:45 Inspired Conversation
5:00 RI Business Plan Competition Finale
6:00 Networking Reception

Inspired Conversation:
Epic Decade is hosting an Inspired Conversation Series as a part of Commerce RI’s public engagement strategy.The goal of the series is to invite Rhode Islanders to take part in discourse on the topics that matter most to the future of the state.

The Inspired Conversation Series strategically pairs nationally recognized thought leaders with local leaders in key sectors to present, discuss, and open a compelling dialogue with the public. The topic of this first conversation will focus on the "Future of Visualizing Information,"  particularly the space where technology and user-centric experience design enable and impact business growth by finding new ways to communicate, identify and attract customers through storytelling.

The first conversation will feature national guest, Nicholas Felton a designer, entrepreneur, teacher, and artist whose work focuses on translating quotidian data into meaningful objects and experiences. A Rhode Island School of Design alum, Felton is the author of many Personal Annual Reports that weave numerous measurements into a tapestry of graphs, maps and statistics reflecting a year of his activities. He was one of the lead designers of Facebook's timeline and the co-founder of Daytum.com.

Scott Berkey will participate in the conversation as the local thought leader. He joined Dassault Systèmes in 2006 as Vice President of Worldwide Operations within the company’s SIMULIA brand, and was named CEO of SIMULIA in 2008.  Berkey brings almost thirty years of enterprise software experience to his role.

Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, provides businesses and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations.  Powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE® Platform, SIMULIA delivers realistic simulation applications that enable users to explore real-world behavior of product, nature and life.  

RI Business Plan Competition:
The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition, the largest community supported business plan competition in New England, will award prizes valued at more than $200,000 to winners and finalists at this finale event.

Networking Reception:
Come, connect and continue the Garage conversation at our after-party. The reception will highlight, underscore and celebrate innovative minds in Rhode Island including the opportunity to meet the finalists and winners of the RI Business Plan Competition.