Program & Events

Wednesday, September 2nd

• 4:00 - 6:00 pm · Registration at Millennium Harvest House Hotel
• 6:00 - 8:30 pm · Awards Dinner
  Join 400 of your colleagues to celebrate the successes and build the Spirit of Community at the Opening Night Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Enjoy wine, beer and a fresh, organic dinner donated by local farmers and natural products producers. Then sit back and enjoy an inspirational evening highlighting the Rising Stars of the industry with special recognition of our Lifetime Achievement Award winner and their moving story of helping to build this industry.

Thursday, September 3rd

• 7:00 - 8:30 am · Registration at Millennium Harvest House Hotel
• 8:30 - 8:40 am · Welcome to Attendees - Linnea Simons, Naturally Boulder President
• 8:40 - 9:30 am · Keynote Address - (speaker t.b.d.)
  Driving Through Turbulent Times
  The current economic uncertainties have greatly impacted, and in many cases reduced, the willingness of entrepreneurs to 'boldly go' in new directions with new opportunities. On the other hand, our Natural Products industry has always approached challenges with an energetic, creative, 'can-do' spirit of optimism and success. In our keynote session for Naturally Boulder Days 2009, our keynote speaker will address and explore these dualities as we 'Drive Through Turbulent Times' to create a bright future.
• 9:30 - 9:45 am · Break
  Enjoy coffee, tea and snacks donated by local natural products producers.
• 9:45 - 10:45 am · General Session - "Leading Retailers Tell It Like It Is."
  To paraphrase an old saying: "All Roads Lead to the Grocery Buyer's Desk." Retailers are the gatekeepers and the stewards for nearly all purchases that consumers make, natural products or otherwise. In our General Session, three leading retailers discuss what they see as key retailing trends going forward, and what natural products companies need to do to succeed in the current retail environment.
• 10:45 - 11:15 am · Networking Break
  Enjoy coffee, tea and snacks donated by local natural products producers.
• 11:00 am - 2:30 pm · Vendor set-up at Product Fair
• 11:15 am - 12:30 pm · Morning Breakout Sessions
  • "Which Way is The Compass Pointing?"
    In the current uncertain economy, the need to look forward to anticipate future trends is more vital than ever. The uncertainties make forecasting difficult. Listen as a leading economic thinker and a leading market research firm discuss future trends for both the economy at large and the Natural Products industry.
  • "The 'Necessary Revolution' - Local / Regional Food Systems"
    Some say "Local is the New Organic." Others say it can never feed us all. Still others say it is vital for both sustenance and the quality of the foods we will need in the future. In this session, three experts in the development of local / regional food systems will teach you how it's done and why it matters.
  • "The Entrepreneurial Spirit"
    Are entrepreneurs born, or can they be developed? In this session, the leader of a nationally-ranked university entrepreneurship program offers his wisdom, as does the leader of a new business incubator, where new entrepreneurial ventures are where new entrepreneurial ventures are developed and launched.
• 12:30 - 2:00 pm · Mentor Lunch
  Join us out at the Pavilion in the beautiful Harvest House gardens for an eco-friendly box-less, box lunch and an opportunity to lunch with a Legend. Take in this outdoor setting while sitting at one of 10 mentor tables. You may also choose a "Topic Table" to network with people in your field, or a "Chill Table" to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
• 2:00 - 3:15 pm · Afternoon Breakout Sessions
  • "Social Media Frenzy - What's Hot, What's Not"
    Whether Blogs or Tweets, Facebook or Second Life, Social Media has rapidly emerged as one of the key drivers of the digital economy and the LinkedIn consumer. Learn how you can tap into the immense power of social media to generate awareness, create a brand community and build your company.
  • "Preparing Your Company for New Investment"
    At some point, every company in Boulder (and elsewhere) will undergo an investment of some type. It could be a sale, a new investment partner or any number of scenarios. Regardless of the investment type, it's vital that entrepreneurs know key facts about the investment process. In this session, you will learn from a company which seeks out and invests in smaller natural food companies, also from a smaller company which successfully sold itself recently, and finally from a private equity investment banker who makes it all happen.
  • "Creative Reinvention in This and Other Times"
    Winston Churchill once said: "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." We all undergo reinvention, in this as in other times. Learn from an expert what it takes to creatively reinvent oneself, and hear the real-life experiences of folks who have done it.
• 3:15 - 5:30 pm · Product Fair
  Slow down and enjoy meandering through the Product Fair booths out on the Millennium Harvest House lawn. Take a moment to sample the newest products in natural and organic. Plus meet new companies that are interested in supporting and servicing your business growth.
• 3:15 - 5:30 pm · The "Biz Doctors"
  Sign up for a one-on-one, 20-minute session with an industry veteran. In this intimate session, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions specific to your business and career, and hear how this successful entrepreneur met significant challenges.
• 5:30 - 7:30 pm · Closing Reception and Entrepreneur's Pitch Slam
  Close the day by enjoying heavy hors d'ouevres and cocktails donated by local farmers and natural products producers. Then, don't miss the ever-popular Entrepreneur's Pitch Slam. In this lively and interactive event, entrepreneurs are given a forum to present their business ideas and plans to a unique panel of judges who offer their advice and guidance. One entrepreneur will pull away as the winner with a valuable package of prizes!