Local business leaders discuss innovations on “Main Street”

Locally-owned shops have long made up the fabric of living on the mid-Peninsula. How these stores can survive and thrive is the focus of Creating Meaning and Money on Main Street: A Reverse Panel Discussion with Local Business Leaders on Wednesday, Jan. 5th from 6:00 to 9:30 pm.

Silicon Valley Innovation Institute and Hometown Peninsula are sponsoring the event. Panelists include four Menlo Park based business people – Clark Kepler (Kepler’s), Gary Entwistle (Roger Reynolds Nursery),  Kathleen Daly (Cafe Zoe) and Steve Eichler (Eichler Designs), along with Steve Rasmussen of The Milk Pail in Mountain View. They’ll share information about their legacy businesses, and as members of the Hometown Peninsula Alliance, how they are collaborating to embrace innovations.

Then, the panel will be reversed to engage the audience as a group of innovators who have insightful ideas about keeping vibrant businesses healthy. The discussion will be focused to address local business owners’ questions and to brainstorm solutions.

The event, which will be held at the Bay Cafe, 1875 Embarcadero, Palo Alto, is part of the Silicon Valley Innovation Institute’s First Wednesday Dinners. It’s open to non-member but registration is required. More information and online registration is available on the SVII website.