We will be celebrating our independence at our annual barbecue and panel discussion on July 18th at the Embassy Suites in Waltham. 

Do you remember why you decided to become independent?  Here are some possible reasons:

• To do the work you love
• To achieve recognition for what you do
• To manage your own time
• To develop yourself in new ways
• To gain control of your destiny

Do any of these ring true for you?

Our panelists will share the reasons they became independent, along with their successes and challenges during the past year.  You are invited to participate in their conversation. 

(Please note the change of venue.  We are meeting this time at the Embassy Suites (formerly the Doubletree), not the Westin. The festivities will be outdoors if the weather permits.  If not, we will meet indoors. Dress is casual. As part of our celebration, complimentary beer and wine will be served.

Directions:  Take MA Turnpike West (I-90) to Rt 128/I-95 north to Exit 27B(Winter Street). Turn right at exit ramp, turn right onto Winter Street. Turn left onto First Avenue. Hotel will be on your left. )

Our Panelists 

Martin Kadansky graduated from MIT with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics.  He has over 20 years’ experience in the computer field, working in software engineering on operating systems and applications in newspaper publishing, educational software, software tools, and general consulting.  He has also worked in technical support and customer service.

As principal of Kadansky Consulting, Martin offers personalized computer services, ranging from tutoring and training to troubleshooting and telephone support, designed to help small business owners and individuals get the most from their Microsoft Windows or Macintosh computers. 

 Martin is self-described as “a computer therapist, healing the relationship between my clients and their computers” … in other words, “More than just a nerd.”

Ruth Walker first came to Boston as a teenager to serve as an intern at The Christian Science Monitor. By the time she left to pursue a career as a freelance writer and editor, she had served as business reporter, deputy editor, and editorial page editor; and then as foreign correspondent in Germany, covering Europe, and in Toronto, covering Canada and Australia. Her last assignment was as online news editor.

As principal of Charles River Wordsmithing, she has brought her journalistic skills and experience to bear on behalf of clients within the college and university sector as well as custom textbook publishing. Her column on language issues, Verbal Energy, appears regularly in the Christian Science Monitor weekly magazine.

Bryan Sheehan, guest host of The Long View radio show, brings to the program a combination of sustainability knowledge, practical business experience, and direct involvement in working to increase the sustainability of both business and society. 

Bryan is Founder and President of SymbioSus Sustainability Consulting (www.symbiosus.com), which helps small to mid-sized businesses profitably increase their environmental sustainability.    

Bryan has a master’s degree in sustainable business management and is a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals and several other sustainability professional associations.  Bryan has been published on sustainability in the New Hampshire Business Review, and has been selected to provide sustainability educational presentations for organizations such as New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility and Green Mountain College.