Get to know Geoff:

President and Founder of 352 Inc., Geoff Wilson is a tech entrepreneur, investor and mentor who found his passion for business at an early age. After starting a successful computer store in high school, Geoff began building websites in his college fraternity house room and 352 Inc. was born. 20 years later, his digital product development agency has grown to 70 employees with offices in Atlanta, Tampa and Gainesville, FL.

As 352 grew, Geoff began to focus on the powerful impact of lean and agile methodologies. Geoff implemented these principles into 352 by reorganizing the agency into cross-functional teams and turning managers into servant leaders. Free to focus on a single project at a time, his teams’ quality of work, productivity and morale dramatically increased. Good client relationships became great ones, and 352 began down a path of unprecedented growth. Geoff calls his management philosophy "Barely Manage to Lead" and speaks at conferences about how this approach can improve any type of business.

Geoff and his wife, Kim Wilson, also have built and sold a highly successful digital product, SocialNewsDesk. SocialNewsDesk is an online social media management platform for newsrooms, and is currently being used by 85% of the television newsrooms in the United States to manage their social presence. SocialNewsDesk was acquired in 2014 by a Fortune 500 company, Graham Holdings. Geoff has also Co-Founded several other successful startups, including iLS Network and novi AMS.

Geoff's success lead him to be named one of America’s Top 30 Young Entrepreneurs by INC Magazine, and the University of Florida Warrington College of Business’ Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Your Moderator Mitch Glaeser:

Mitch Glaeser has founded 11 start-ups. Known throughout the world as a serial entrepreneur, community leader, philanthropist and mentor, he was recently named CEO of The Emory Group Companies. Mitch now runs a family owned group of companies including information technology, publishing, hospitality, apparel, and real estate development among others.

He received his real estate license at 18 and became a real estate broker soon after. He worked for the New York Times Company for eight years, attaining the highest level of sales volume by anyone in a given year and continues to hold that record today. Glaeser is also a motivational speaker, traveling the world for several years teaching others how to build strong business relationships.

He is a past president of Crime Stoppers, Guardian Ad Litem, The Exchange Club and Junior Achievement. He has previously served on the American Red Cross board, is a member of the Leadership Gainesville Alumni Association, co-founded Alachua County Emerging Leaders and has been chair of the Gainesville Community Foundation. He is also a past board member of Keep Alachua County Beautiful and the Realtors Board of Directors. He is past chair of the Counsel for Economic Outreach and two-time chair for the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce. Mitch currently serves on the Gainesville Airport Authority. Recently, appointed by the Mayor, he chaired the City of Gainesville’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Community Competitiveness.

While receiving numerous awards over the years, he has recently been awarded the LGAA Leader of the Year Award, the James M. Parrish Community Leader of the Year Award and is the only citizen to receive two Keys to the City presented to him by two different Mayors.

About Startup Talks:

Startup Talks is a monthly event in Gainesville that brings together the tech and startup communities. To learn more about upcoming and future events, please contact us at hello@gainesvilletech.org.

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