MANAGEMENT

MIKE OWEN

Co-Founder, CNO

Mike Owen is one of South Florida's top business networkers.  He is a graduate of Barton College in North Carolina, with a BSc. in Marketing.

Mr. Owen was the previously owned and operated www.GetNetworkingEvents.com, a business networking online portal and magazine. In October 2006 JimmyNetwork.com was acquired by Eventerprise, LLC. His experience lies in producing networking events, seminars and connecting people to business opportunities

He is currently a Chief Networking Officer of Eventerprise Group, LLC, Co-publisher of Business Events Magazine and www.BusinessEventsMagazine.com, South Florida's premier business events.

In addition, he regularly speaks at chambers of commerce, networking groups and expositions on the topic of networking.  Some of the organizations he has spoken to are the Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers, the Dania Beach Chamber of Commerce, Florida Memorial University, the Lauderhill Chamber of Commerce, Arbonne International, and the Minority Chamber of Miami-Dade Dade (Expo). 

He is currently a member of the Greater Sunrise Chamber of Commerce, the Lauderhill Chamber of Commerce and the Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.  He has attended several hundred events over the last few years, and is one of the foremost experts in the area of business networking.  Mr. Owen is currently writing his first book on business networking.

OMAHAR K. STEPHENSON

Co-Founder, COO

Mr. Stephenson grew up in the hospitality and tourism industry in Jamaica, West Indies.  He formulated a strong background in management of his family's restaurant and meeting facility as well as various time-share villas before formalizing his education at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.

Upon graduation, he gained extensive experience in the hotel industry before opening his own marketing company, Kahan Inc. in 1999, a private franchising business that specialized in the on-line and off-line retailing of products, and the teaching of individuals (hi-touch) as to the effective management of an online portal www.quixtar.com (hi-tech).  He expanded the company successfully through South Florida and has recently branched out to the Atlanta area.

Mr. Stephenson then went on to co-found and serve as COO and managing partner of BUSINESS EVENTS FLORIDA Group, LLC and co-publisher of the award-winning Business Events Florida Magazine and www.BusinessEventsFlorida.com, Florida's premier source for business events.  In November 2007, the BUSINESS EVENTS FLORIDA Group was divided into two companies, Eventerprise, LLC (a public relations and marketing firm) and BUSINESS EVENTS FLORIDA Media Group, LLC, for both of which he serves as President.

He is a past board member of the Caribbean Americas Soccer Association where he served as Public Relations Director, and currently serves on the board of the International Business Council of Florida as its Ambassador of Commerce for Jamaica.  Mr. Stephenson is also a member of the Greater Sunrise, Lauderhill, Ft. Lauderdale and Broward Chambers of Commerce, as well as serving on the board of the YMCA Lauderhill/Lauderdale Lakes chapter, and having been nominated in October 2007 for the Sun-Sentinel’s Publisher’s Community Service Award.

Mr. Stephenson combines a meticulous attention to detail with a command of effective organizational procedures, and a focus on brand management. His extensive background in the hospitality industry ensures that the service provided by the company is second to none.

 Damian James

Co-Founder, CMO

Damian James has over 8 years of experience in coordinating various types of events, from club and sponsor events to large scale city concerts. Prior to partnering in his business events marketing company, he was contracted from 2003 to 2005 in leading a marketing team for the city of Miami’s 2^nd largest event, the Greater Miami Mardi Gras, catering to crowds from 300,000 to 450,000 people.  This project also included event related media/press conferences, as well as the Mayor’s Ball which involved event sponsors and celebrity supporters, honoring the Mayor of Miami.

Mr. James is also the co-founder of Linx International, a sports marketing company, that has patented equipment geared towards youth development in sports. This company was founded in 2003 and is currently working with youth organizations to showcase the prototype.

Damian James is also an investment specialist and licensed realtor whose focus is commercial investments and leases.  He has 8 years of commercial and real estate development experience, and started his real estate career with Superior Realtors, residential developers in Jamaica.

Damian attended the business school at University of South Carolina at Coastal and earned his BA degrees in marketing and management respectively from Florida International University.  He also served in the capacity of General Secretary on the board of the university’s chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) for two terms.

Damian has a practical, down-to-earth style with a clear focus on results. He resides in Boynton Beach, Florida where he enjoys his family, work, sporting activities and charity events.