The Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection (GMPC) will host the 2019 Georgia Innovation Summit on Wednesday, February 20^that the Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center in midtown Atlanta. GMPC, one of the nation’s premier small business mentoring programs, has partnered with the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Entrepreneurship & Small Business Team, the Georgia Centers for Innovation and the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute to host the fourth edition of the groundbreaking conference. Sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company, Southern Company Gas, Grady Health System and VDart Digital, the Summit will feature dynamic presentations from corporate executives, small business owners and industry experts focused on how to effectively implement innovation in businesses large and small throughout Georgia.

The Summit is designed to target primarily small business owners, ranging from startups to emerging firms and established entrepreneurs. The theme of the day is The Innovation Mindset - Leadership, Talent, and Technology - as the focus this year turns to practical application of innovative concepts in the day-to-day culture of a business. One of the thrusts of the yearlong curriculum of the Mentor Protégé Connection is the necessity of innovation if a company wishes to remain competitive in a dynamic marketplace. Program participants are paired with a corporate mentor for a year, where they may explore best practices, technological trends, systems infrastructure and other enhancements that can increase the corporate readiness of program participants. The day will feature an impressive lineup of more than 20 speakers, panels of experts, and a new forum known as an ‘InnoTalk.’ Two of the day’s noteworthy speakers are Duriya Farooqui, the President of the Georgia-Pacific Point A Center for Supply Chain Innovation, and Cathy Hackl, the #4 Top Voice in Technologyon LinkedIn and the Lead Futurist at You Are Here Immersive Labs. Attendees will walk away with a wealth of insight on how to translate vision and innovative concepts into business practices, product offerings and new revenues. 

The State of Georgia, ranked among the top states in the nation for technology deployment and entrepreneurial climate, remains one of the top destinations for business, in large part due to a booming technology and innovation sector. The information to be presented at the Georgia Innovation Summit is vital to the agility and long-term sustainability of any small business in the state. The Summit – scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – will include breakfast, lunch and all resource materials for the various activities throughout the day. For registration and additional information, visit www.gainnovationsummit.com. For more information on the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, visit www.georgiampc.org