Join us for an inspiring journey with Joe O’Connell, founder of Creative Machines – one of the world’s largest art design and production studios led by a single artist. In the first half of this talk, Joe shares the 28-year story of his team’s growth with unique insights into managing a creative mission-driven company. Joe touches on all the real challenges facing creative companies: the devaluing of creative work, the need to educate and empower clients, the challenges of cash flow, and the steps toward long-term profitability in a field that tends to chew up and spit out idealists. In the second half, Joe talks about an exciting new venture he’s involved with and the opportunities of non-profit entrepreneurship.
Founded by Startup Tucson in 2015 and hosted every November in Downtown Tucson, TENWEST Impact Festival is a celebration of the growing innovation, creative and entrepreneurial ecosystems in Southern Arizona. Unique in its cross-industry approach, TENWEST showcases the connectivity between technology, entrepreneurship, creativity, culture and impact, uniting attendees to gain the knowledge and inspiration they need to innovate within their own careers and communities. The weeklong event welcomes thousands of diverse attendees to participate in a multi-day conference, Street Fest, nightly xEvents and numerous partner events and experiences.