December 7th, we hosted three speakers who discussed unique applications of entrepreneurial management techniques.
Andrew Fernitz discussed his company, 312 Aquaponics, which develops aquaponics systems for specialty food production, research and educational purposes. The systems produce a 30% faster growth rate in most of the plant species tried, reduce the requirement for fertilizer, energy and water consumed, and allow simultaneous cultivation of farmed fish. Other advantages of aquaculture over traditional farming include shorter shipping distances from farm to table and avoidance of soil depletion.
April Yvonne Garrett, CEO of Civic Frame and host of Amplify Baltimore on TV25, discussed the importance of the social dimension in effective entrepreneurship:
"What you do has to come out of your own situation. And it has to be more than just giving people something--a turkey or toys at the holidays. Many of these people have never been asked their opinion like it matters before. We try to act as a bridge to connect them to the right resources."
Carl Kriss of Edge Productions discussed the production process for "Give and Take", his documentary about New York street musicians, and introduced the local premier of the film to close out the evening.
Left to right: Andrew Fernitz, April Yvonne Garrett, Carl Kriss
Three current students, Adrian Galbraith-Paul, Sean Grant and Reilly Brock presented a panel discussion on being an entrepreneur while still a student. Each had started a business after winning grant support as part of the Innovation Greenhouse / Burton Morgan Business Plan or Concept contests. Galbraith-Paul went on to intern with 312 aquaponics and to build his own aquaponics system. Grant and other members of the Entrepreneurship Club are currently selling panini, smoothies and other items in Gambier as Night Bites. Brock and his partner Jordan Rhyne just finished a season of operation at Last Call Food Cart, the 2011 competition champion.
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