The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

About the Speaker

Micah White

Over the past three decades, Micah has evolved from stand-up comedian to a multi-faceted communicator and entertainer. Whether commanding a stage of thousands or leading intimate breakout sessions, he delivers with humor, relevance, and heart. His ability to connect with diverse audiences has made him a sought-after speaker for companies, conferences, and communities nationwide.

Micah White remains deeply connected to his community in Virginia. He is the visionary founder of RVA Has Talent, which fosters collaborations between local artists and nonprofits in Greater Richmond. He also launched an initiative at the Richmond City Jail, helping inmates cultivate creative skills and providing them with tools for meaningful employment after incarceration. As a TEDxRVA speaker, he has used his platform to address critical issues such as diversity, growth, and inclusion within corporations and organizations.

Off the stage, Micah serves as the Director of Development at the Richmond Volleyball Club. He serves on numerous boards, including Caritas, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Richmond, Backpacks of Love, Virginia Housing’s Minority Advisory Council, the Urban League of Greater Richmond, and the Girl Scouts’ Community Advisory Board.

Micah White’s mission is elegantly simple yet profoundly impactful: to use comedy and entertainment as tools to bridge racial, religious, political, socioeconomic, and generational divides. By blending laughter, leadership, and genuine connection, he breaks down barriers and builds bridges proving that humor is more than entertainment; it is a catalyst for unity, healing, and meaningful change.

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE SESSION

TRACK: RURAL INNOVATION

Explore the future of agriculture, technology, and manufacturing through the lens of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in this session featuring Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. From spinach to mushrooms to fish production, CEA is revolutionizing the way we grow, produce, and innovate. Whether you’re a grower, tech innovator, or equipment manufacturer, this session will uncover specific entrepreneurial opportunities within the CEA industry. Learn from real-world examples, emerging technologies, and collaborative opportunities to position yourself for success in this fast-growing field.

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Identify specific entrepreneurial opportunities in CEA for agriculture, technology, and manufacturing sectors.
• Understand the latest innovations and trends shaping CEA, including automation, AI, and sustainable practices.
• Learn how to collaborate across sectors to capitalize on CEA’s growing market potential and solve industry challenges.

Speaker: Dr. Scott Lowman, Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

About the Speaker

Dr. Scott Lowman

Vice President, Applied Research, Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

Dr. Scott Lowman joined the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research (IALR) in 2014 and was named Vice President of Applied Research in 2022. Prior to joining IALR, Lowman worked in the pharmaceutical industry and, in 2003, co-founded Lynchburg Grows, a non-profit urban farm and job training center in Lynchburg, Va. As a trained molecular biologist, Lowman has championed work in biotechnology and robotic imaging to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. In 2020, Lowman teamed with Virginia Tech to launch the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center on IALR’s campus. The center, along with the Applied Research Division at IALR, focuses on supporting industry, governmental, and academic partners to help drive economic transformation in the Southern Virginia Region.

Lowman supports this mission in his civic life as well, serving on the Town Council of Altavista, as President of Altavista on Track, and as a member of Altavista’s Economic Development Authority. In recognition of his work, Lowman was named a 2017 Outstanding Recent Graduate Alumnus at Virginia Tech and was presented the Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Award from the Waldorf Foundation. Lowman earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with Honors from Virginia Tech, his master’s in biology from the College of William and Mary, and his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE SESSION

TRACK: RURAL INNOVATION

In this interactive session, participants will collaboratively explore the fundamentals of generative AI (artificial intelligence) technologies and value stream mapping to understand how they can be integrated into business workflows. Through hands-on exercises, attendees will learn to identify inefficiencies using value stream mapping and discover areas where AI can drive significant improvements. Case studies will provide a practical opportunity to develop and implement AI-powered solutions, optimizing workflows and enhancing value delivery in real-world scenarios.

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Define AI and Value Streams Together: Collaboratively explore the core concepts of AI technologies and value stream mapping to build a strong foundation for their integration into business workflows.
• Identify AI Opportunities with Value Stream Mapping: Engage in hands-on exercises to use value stream mapping for spotting inefficiencies and discovering where AI can make a significant impact.
• Develop and Implement AI-Powered Solutions: Work on interactive case studies to apply AI-driven strategies, optimizing workflows and enhancing value delivery through practical, real-world scenarios.

Speaker: Jacob Cook, Founder of Southside Tech Services

Notes: Please bring your laptop or tablet to maximize your interactive experience.

About the Speaker

Jacob Cook

Founder, Southside Tech Services and IT Academy Instructor, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center

Jacob Cook is an IT instructor, software developer, and entrepreneur with more than 6 years of experience in education and IT and over 10 years of experience in small business operations in Southside Virginia. Jacob is the owner/operator of Southside Tech Services, LLC based in the Town of Clarksville in Mecklenburg County, VA.  He is also an instructor in the world-renowned IT Academy at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in the Town of South Boston in Halifax County, Virginia. Jacob holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Old Dominion University and is currently earning his Master of Computer Science. He is passionate about helping others harness technology to reach their business, career, and personal goals.

The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.

45 MINUTE SESSION

TRACK: RURAL INNOVATION

Explore the future of agriculture, technology, and manufacturing through the lens of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in this session featuring Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. Discover how CEA is revolutionizing the way we grow, produce, and innovate. Whether you’re a grower, tech innovator, or equipment manufacturer, this session will uncover specific entrepreneurial opportunities within the CEA industry. Learn from real-world examples, emerging technologies, and collaborative opportunities to position yourself for success in this fast-growing field.

Learning objectives for this workshop include:

• Identify specific entrepreneurial opportunities in CEA for agriculture, technology, and manufacturing sectors.
• Understand the latest innovations and trends shaping CEA, including automation, AI, and sustainable practices.
• Learn how to collaborate across sectors to capitalize on CEA’s growing market potential and solve industry challenges.

Speaker: Dr. Scott Lowman

Moderator: Laura Coleman

About the Speaker

Dr. Scott Lowman

Vice President, Applied Research, Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

Dr. Scott Lowman joined the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research (IALR) in 2014 and was named Vice President of Applied Research in 2022. Prior to joining IALR, Lowman worked in the pharmaceutical industry and, in 2003, co-founded Lynchburg Grows, a non-profit urban farm and job training center in Lynchburg, Va. As a trained molecular biologist, Lowman has championed work in biotechnology and robotic imaging to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. In 2020, Lowman teamed with Virginia Tech to launch the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center on IALR’s campus. The center, along with the Applied Research Division at IALR, focuses on supporting industry, governmental, and academic partners to help drive economic transformation in the Southern Virginia Region.

Lowman supports this mission in his civic life as well, serving on the Town Council of Altavista, as President of Altavista on Track, and as a member of Altavista’s Economic Development Authority. In recognition of his work, Lowman was named a 2017 Outstanding Recent Graduate Alumnus at Virginia Tech and was presented the Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Award from the Waldorf Foundation. Lowman earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with Honors from Virginia Tech, his master’s in biology from the College of William and Mary, and his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.