Innovation Showcase Program enhanced to illuminate success

Larry R. Evans, executive producer of the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies  and the Urban Animal Regional Conferences, has spent the past 12 years working to bring the companion animal industry together. His vision to invoke a collaborative conversation across the industry and bring thought leaders from all five sectors into one room to discuss the future of the industry was realized in 2006 with the first annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. Today, Larry is directing his attention to the 2014 Regional Conferences and the launching of several new Urban Animal Program elements. InfoStream caught up with Larry on the farm near Crossfield, Alberta. 

InfoStream (IS): The 2014 Regional Conferences are just weeks away, can you tell us what delegates can expect from this year’s program?

Larry R. Evans (LRE): This is the 9^th year of the Urban Animal Program and the 3^rd year of the ‘Engagement’ initiative. Delegates will notice several new programs and enhancements in 2014, however, the Innovative Showcase will complete the first full (18 month) program cycle. The presentation of the Innovation project chosen for replication in each region will be the crowing achievement. The vision to illuminate innovators and seed their innovation in communities across North America is now complete.

IS: We informed InfoStream readers that enhancements to the Innovation Showcase would take place, can you now elaborate on these?

LRE: Certainly. Last year we realized that more funding was necessary to illuminate innovators and seed the innovations across North America.

In 2014, there will be additional funding for the elimination rounds so innovators can be rewarded along the path to the Urban Animal Innovator of the Year. There is also increased funding to ensure innovators can travel and mentor others wishing to replicate initiatives in other regions. The final piece is to encourage those who drive the nomination process by providing funding to attend the awards presentation at Lake Louise each October.

We’ve also tightened up the elimination rounds so that a level playing field exists for Showcase presenters: Innovators will have 10 minutes in the first round, 20 minutes in the second round and 40 minutes when the innovation is selected for replication. A ‘boot-camp’ for innovators is being developed to assist with competitive aspects of the Showcase. Past innovators have volunteered to assist ‘newbies’ in this process.

The Innovation program will now bring 24 innovators into the first round of  elimination, 8 into the second round of elimination and a final 4 in the ‘Replication/Mentor’ round. The Innovator of the year is selected from the final four. While these changes require an increase in funding, the Urban Animal Foundation expects this investment will improve the success of the Innovation Showcase.

IS: I can certainly see why Urban Animal Subscribers will be excited to replicate successful innovations. What advantages and benefits are there for the Innovators?

LRE: I think the big win for many Innovators comes from being recognized by their peers for work they do in the trenches of our industry. The Foundation hopes replication in other communities as well as achieving the status of ‘Mentor’ in the Urban Animal Program will add to confidence, self esteem and career enhancement of the individuals involved. Finally, having the Urban Animal Foundation supply event and travel subsidies will help innovators achieve goals they otherwise couldn’t afford.

IS: Where is the funding for this Program coming from?

LRE: Collaborations to enhance communities and developing future leaders is attractive to organizations, individuals and estate planners. Once we described our vision for the Urban Animal Foundation we began to see interest from those who have funding but need to see an end to end process that can be successful. These sources are outside the sponsor roster that carried the program for the past eight years.

We are very excited about these enhancements. Those who carried the ball for the past eight years can be encouraged to see others stepping forward to expand the program and add acceleration for the future. This is a win-win story for the industry, for early adopters, for industry professionals, for pets and pet owners as well as the communities enrolled in the Urban Animal Program.

IS: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today! May we come back to gather information about the new poster program?

LRE: I would enjoy the opportunity to tell that story.