Welcome to "Morgan Entrepreneur Spotlight," our bi-monthly showcase where we shine a light on Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial superstars. Each feature delves into the journeys of individuals who have participated in our programs and have harnessed their learnings to fuel impressive growth and innovation.
Daniel Thomson has participated in several growth programs provided free of charge through a partnership between Burton D. Morgan Foundation and the Edward Lowe Foundation (ELF), including the Big Rock Valley Leadership Retreat, PeerSpectives, Entrepreneur in Residence, and System for Integrated Growth (SIG).
Tell us a little about your business.
“Emerson Thomson Bennett is an intellectual property law boutique, where we specialize in intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Our firm was founded in 2008, and we currently have eleven attorneys and one patent agent. We handle all areas of intellectual property law, including prosecution and litigation.”
Can you share your thoughts and key takeaways about the foundation-sponsored entrepreneurship programming you have participated in?
“Each of the programs provided valuable experience and important takeaways. For the Entrepreneurship Leadership program, my most important takeaway was that each of us were confronting very similar issues, despite the wide range of business types. Also, the need to work on your business and not in your business. This takeaway dovetailed nicely into the EIR program where I had a few days to be by myself and focus only on my business. During the EIR program I developed a strategy for both growing the business, as well as how to navigate the business through the retirement of a founding partner. We have been able to successfully implement the strategy developed during the EIR program. After that, I was able to utilize the SIG program to develop a plan for driving new business through speaking engagements.”
Please tell us about any benefits, growth, or key wins you've experienced since participating in these programs.
“The benefits of the program are the people that I met during the Leadership Retreat and PeerSpectives program, with whom I have maintained contact through our monthly Zoom calls. In addition, we have had key wins through the implementation of the strategy created during the EIR program. I am also close to booking my first speaking engagement using the process developed during SIG.”
What are your goals for the next twelve months?
"My first goal is to book three speaking engagements, the second is to successfully merge with a small law firm in Dayton, and the third is to successfully integrate the three new attorneys we hired.”
What is your favorite quote?
“’If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you do not have integrity, nothing else matters.’ – Alan Simpson”
What is the last book you read?
“Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know -- and Doesn’t, by Stephen Prothero.”
What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?
"Never relive your mistakes; look for ways to learn from them.”
To learn more about Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and opportunities for second stage entrepreneurs, contact Michal Marcus.
If you have participated in Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and are interested in being featured in the Spotlight, contact Gina Dotson.