Launch Key

The most direct route off the corporate merry-go-round is you.

 Leverage your experience to launch digital products at any age. 

Join 1000+ execs and late career entrepreneurs reading the Launch Key newsletter as we share modern tools, old school wisdom and free knowledge gleaned from decades of digital innovation.

Founder | Publisher

EnergyXchain

EnergyXchain was awarded a National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant to conduct research and development work using blockchain technology for transaction processes in the natural gas industry. The company has a growing IP portfolio and patented technology processes that may also be utilized for energy transaction management via smart contracts, with equal applicability in sectors such as hydrogen, carbon attribution tracking, natural gas and electricity.

CEO, co-founder

Empowered

Empowered grew from one question: What if benefits enrollments were easy? Everyone struggled with insurance. Brokers needed more time with clients, HR managers drowned in paperwork and employees couldn't enroll in a basic medical plan without hassle. We wanted to provide everyone with a simple, transparent enrollment process. A process that made it easy for someone to pick the best benefits for their family.

In 2000, we launched our first consumer-driven healthcare programs, sprinting ahead of the industry by prioritizing people. Today millions of employees trust this platform for their benefits. Empowered is  wholly owned by Aflac.

Chief Innovation Officer, co-founder

Leader of the effort to redesign, develop and deploy EDA’s flagship data product as an online analytics tool. Product launch led to 20% increased sales and returned 100% of the investment in the first year post development.  

With the insight that EDA brings to the table, businesses can make better decisions by identifying trends, exploiting market opportunities, supporting sales service dealer strategies, being informed about regional hot spots, and emerging markets.

If you sell, finance or service capital equipment, EDA offers you the priceless information and timely market intelligence you need to get ahead. www.edadata.com. EDA is a Randall-Reilly company.

VP of Sales and Marketing

Vialogix

Web development company focused on user-based web solutions for internet, intranet and extranet applications.  Solutions included e-commerce, Web-enabled and database applications that enabled clients to reduce business costs or increase sales. The business cultivated long-term relationships with a broad client list that included Fortune 500 level companies Baker & Taylor, Bank of America, First Citizens Bank, National Gypsum, Novant Health, and Wachovia.

Rob Norris Communications

Built technology consulting practice specializing in digital asset management. Apple expertise used for creating networks, managing infrastructure with corporate clients - First Union National Bank, Interstate/Johnson Lane, Royal Insurance, advertising agencies in the Charlotte area. Created multimedia CD-ROM projects, interactive projects and first web based tools in 1994.

President

Coleman Lew & Associates

Recruited advertising and marketing executives for a retained search firm. Interviewed prospects and researched backgrounds. Wrote recommendations, presented candidates, negotiated salaries and benefits with clients.

Executive Recruiter

30+ years of business experience creating and leading innovative technology businesses. From the 90's internet to AI, I've carved out a living explaining and building solutions to solve business problems. 

Expertise in application development has been leveraged across energy, health care, financial services, ecommerce and data analytics businesses. I've sold to both Fortune 500 companies and SMB. I've bootstrapped and won National Science Foundation grants. There have been my fair share of entrepreneurial mistakes but have also published patents and even won a SXSW award. 

I'm not quite finished with technology and can help you avoid a few headaches with your own digital products. I recommend resources, and tools to add to your career portfolio and spin up your dream in weeks - not years. My network includes experts in literally every business function and I will happily recommend people who will level up your startup. Win/Win/Win.

Join the Launch Key newsletter for free: 
https://launchkey.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Rob Norris

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁 

And especially to entrepreneurs who have a lot to be thankful for. We never succeed all by ourselves. Take time to show gratitude to customers, employees, partners, mentors, backers but most importantly family. 

This weeks Launch Key ⬇️

Founder | Publisher @ Launch Key 🚀 | Add to your career portfolio with a passion project or side hustle. Join like-minded execs, SMB owners and late-career entrepreneurs reading the Launch Key for digital inspiration.

Open article: Thanksgiving for entrepreneurs by launchkey.beehiiv.com

This week’s Launch Key reminder is that there is no perfect career path. But there are plenty of options to make your own career portfolio far more interesting. 

Just 3 subscriber examples from Dean Otto, Tom Hewitt and Christopher Jones. 

Get in there and read about them for yourself ⬇️

Open article: Career portfolios by launchkey.beehiiv.com

We can't all have a bear steal a chainsaw on camera. 

But if we do, it's a chance to build an audience. Husqvarna social media folks effortlessly joined a funny online conversation and created buzz with humor and product giveaways. 

This week's Launch Key with a little more on the Creator Economy and using your wit. ⬇️

Open article: Creator economy of chainsaw bears by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Growing an audience with humor and experience

Did you see Taylor Sheridan's Billion dollar deal? 

In a time when Hollywood types are scared that AI will replace them, Sheridan just won generational wealth because of authentic talent. All because he bet on himself. 

That's the topic of this week's Launch Key 🚀

Outsized results are possible when you bet on yourself. 

Get in there ⬇️ 

https://lnkd.in/eMZntXVB

Open article: Bet on yourself by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Not all products are digital. 

Your late-career side hustle might not always come out of your work knowledge. Christopher Jones created a non-digital Bloody Mary mix while working on his weekend sailing hobby. 

This week's Launch Key 🚀  has the latest. 

Get in there ⬇️

Open article: Not all products are digital by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Turn your passion project into a late-career side hustle

BOOST - Better Outcomes Optimal Scientific Therapies

Founded a consulting firm which evolved into a nonprofit advocacy organization creating better patient outcomes by optimizing evidence-based solutions in partnership with doctors and clinicians, researchers, government agencies, legislators, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, patient organizations, educators, hospital systems and others across the continuum of healthcare to keep patients central to decision making.  Examples of my work to boost patient health include: 
•	Serving as a steering committee member and co-researcher with renown University of Rochester research cardiologists for a proposed $22M PCORI grant
•	Co-moderating an international multi-language Heart Failure Patient Organization Advisory Board in Frankfurt, Germany
•	Participating as a panelist on “Mortality and Outcomes” for an FDA public meeting discussing Endpoints for Drug Development in Heart Failure
•	Collaborating with global patient advocacy organizations to guide the development of branded and nonbranded heart failure patient and clinician education including website development, pamphlets, lay summaries for clinical trials and more

Founder and CEO

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

CHAIR-ELECT • WOMENHEART • OCTOBER 2017 – DECEMBER 2018
Executive team member with management responsibility for CEO. Represent organization at meetings, conferences, briefings.    
BOARD MEMBER • WOMENHEART • JAN 2017 – DECEMBER 2018
Provided leadership and oversight for the organization’s administration. Member of the Finance Committee.  
HEART CHAMPION/LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE • WOMENHEART • JAN 2006 – DECEMBER 2018
Provided education and advocacy for health issues.  Featured in TIME magazine, US News & World Report, WebMD, CNNHealth.com among other publications.  Appeared on the Today Show. Worked with US Senate and House staffers to pass heart health legislation favoring women’s health.

Heart Champion/Legislative Advocate/Board Member/Board Chair-Elect

WVU HEALTHCARE EAST

Served as a Director/Trustee of two hospitals within the WVU Health System. Provided oversight and direction for all quality initiatives and safety issues. Served as a member of the Finance and Investment Committees with fiduciary responsibility for multimillion-dollar operations and investments. Instrumental in launching the community’s first cardiac catheterization lab.  
•Significant financial turnaround increasing operating margin from -1.24% in 2009 (with consistently positive margins each year) to close out 2014 with a margin of 3.43% better than the Standard &Poor’s average of 2.5%.

Director

Results driven economist turned health advocate and community builder with excellent leadership skills and keen business acumen. Articulate, analytical, team player. Technology proficient with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and a 'can do' spirit. Fiscally prudent decision maker.  

taplio

The Battle

Rob Norris

Rhonda Monroe

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taplio

The Battle

Rob Norris

Rhonda Monroe

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Rob Norris's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreRob Norris's LinkedIn Performance