2024 Past Events

You are cordially invited to our FishFund Venture Summit & Presentations
Hear from thought leaders and investors in the innovation space and learn about new projects helmed by Psi Upsilon brothers.

Significant others and guests are welcome!


Wednesday, April 3rd, 2023.
Coffee and Afternoon Sessions 2-5:30
Ticketed Reception and Presentations 6 PM – 9PM.

3 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111

Tickets:
Reception Fee: 
New Graduates (2018+) $30    
♦     Alumni $65     ♦     Sponsors $300

Dress is business attire

Heavy Appetizers & Full Bar
Business Casual

•Oliver V. Smith, Beta Alpha ’93 (Miami University of Ohio)

•Patrick J. Gilrane, Psi ’83 (Hamilton College)

•James T. Volpentest, Theta Theta ’90 (University of Washington),

•Joseph P. Cillo, PhD, Delta ’61 (New York University)

TBA
 

The Power of Humor A Practicum
Presentation by Karen Buchanan
 

About Karen Buchanan, ARM
Public Speaker, Comedian, Workers' Compensation Claims Administrator

Karen Buchanan is a Community Leader, Public Agency Risk Management Professional, Historian, Public Speaker, Actor, History Tour Guide and Standup Comedian. She is very active with many local organizations in the Richmond Community, and is the incoming President of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Museum Association.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-buchanan-arm-08a419b/

AI for Everyday Use: Everyone is talking about AI, but what can it really do for you? 
Presentation by Dr. Tamara Powell & Dr. Jeanne Beatrix Law

Here's what you will get out of this workshop:

1.    Step-by-step methods to use AI to create everything from custom recipes to grant proposals

2.    A robust discussion of the ethical considerations of using AI—ethical sourcing for raw materials and ethical licensing

3.    A foundational introduction to prompt engineering with no coding required!

4. Opportunities to try the prompt strategies and share results

5.    Free physical ribbons (just for fun)

This session will include demonstrations and strategies that you can apply in the workshop and opportunities to take your AI explorations further in future workshops.  Please join us for an informative and interactive session. Please bring your computers

About Dr. Tamara M. Powell
Dr.Tamara M. Powell is a leading figure in the intersection of open educational
resources (OER), technology, and accessibility within higher education. Serving
as a faculty member at Kennesaw State University, her career is distinguished
by a commitment to enhancing educational access and equity through innovative
pedagogical practices and research. With a Ph.D. in American Literature from
Bowling Green State University, Dr. Powell has skillfully merged her expertise
in literature with her passion for educational technology, focusing her
research and professional endeavors on the transformative potential of OER and
digital learning environments.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-powell-39673723/

About Jeanne Beatrix Law, Ph.D.  
Jeanne Beatrix Law serves as a Professor of English at Kennesaw State University, where her academic pursuits span teaching, research, and service with a focus on human-machine writing and digitizing historical civil rights rhetorics. Her research portfolio reflects a deep engagement with digital humanities and the educational applications of generative artificial intelligence. A significant aspect of her scholarly work involves the Atlanta Student Movement, of the 1960s. She has led the recovery and digital dissemination of more than 20 narratives central to the movement, blending technological tools with historical inquiry to illuminate this critical chapter of civil rights history. Her studies on civil rights rhetorics have been featured in Routledge, SIU, and Purdue University presses among others. Her trending work in generative AI includes articles with the University of Michigan Press as well as TheChronicle of Higher Education and broadcast media. This cross-pollination exemplifies her research on the intersection of technology, education, and social justice. Her work has garnered support from the Rich Foundation and The Teagle Foundation among others. She has served in advisory roles for Macmillan Education, the Council of Writing Program Administrators, and the CCCCs Research Network Forum. She has been appointed a faculty mentor for the AAC&U's Institute on AI Pedagogies.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanne-beatrix-law-phd-a05b2391/

Risks, Opportunities, and valuations in the Craft Beverage Distillation sector with a focus on Madrona Distillery
Presentation by Tom Allan IV, Theta Theta 89‘ (Washington)

Redmond, Washington’s first distillery is here!

We introduced our small batch dry gin in our tasting room and select Puget Sound retail and cocktail destinations in February 2024.  Look for regular tasting room hours beginning in mid-March! Current offerings include Madrona Dry Gin and Vodka.
Madrona Distillery is owned by Tom and Anne Allan of Kirkland and Orcas Island, Washington.  The name is inspired by the beautiful madrona trees found growing wild along the shores of Puget Sound, and particularly in the San Juan and Gulf Island arhipelagos. 

As head distiller, Tom leverages more than fifteen years of beverage industry experience and formal training from Scotland’s Heriot Watt University and the University of California – Davis.

About Tom Allan
Tom is an executive leader and strategist with 20 years of experience analyzing, growing, and managing consumer product and technology companies. In addition to his management experience, he has held leadership roles in six M&A deals representing $60 million in transaction volume. His expertise in operational and financial business modelling has been utilized in several industries, from wine distribution to financial services.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomallan4/

The Internet of Experiences: NFC infused clothing and art with and a focus on XtremeSignPost, Inc.
Presentation by Dr. Monto H Kumagai

XtremeSignPost, Inc. has developed methods to store, transfer, and recall information in a mobile setting in a secure fashion. Their radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is used to produce interactive art and clothing. In this process, customers personalize products using near field communication (NFC) cell phones. At a later point in time, they can touch the surface of the items with the NFC phone to retrieve, display, and share memories in the form of photos, videos, and music. XtremeSignPost provides an inclusive environment at live events with their interactive clothing. Their patented technology enables the audience to personalize clothing with memories in the form of photos, videos, and music. As the consumers laugh, dance, and sing they become part of the artistic experience and can capture these special moments in time using wearable technology. Mobile devices allow the participants the ability to disseminate their experiences via messaging and social networks. This process is part of The Internet of Experiences and is called consumer-based advertising. It is the wave of the future. Leave a message. Burn an impression. The issue is sharing experiences.

XtremeSignPost, Inc. was incorporated in the state of California July 20, 2007. It is a biotechnology company that has developed methods to store, transfer, and recall information in a mobile setting in a secure fashion (US patents 7598869 and 7843334). XtremeSignPost’s radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is used to produce and sell personalized, interactive art and clothing. Customers can touch the consumer products with near field communication (NFC) cell phones to retrieve, display, and share memories in the form of photos, videos, and music.

About Dr. Monto H. Kumagai
Dr. Monto H. Kumagai is a graduate of UC Davis and has developed novel methods to produce compounds in plants for use in medicine. He has a background in molecular genetics, biotechnology, and bioinformatics. His research and business efforts involve combining NFC and ai technology together to open up lines of communication in medicine, music, and outdoor recreational sports.