Schoen, Lidgett To Represent Region At SXSW Interactive Festival
Justin Schoen, President of eComegy, and Liz Lidgett, Owner of Liz Lidgett Fine Art, are the winners of the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s DM Startups Take SXSW contest. Schoen and Lidgett will represent and promote Greater Des Moines at the five-day South By Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas, from March 13 to 17, 2015. They will also have the opportunity to promote their businesses and make connections that will help them long term.
eComegy is an ecommerce strategy and digital marketing firm that specializes in assisting retailers and startup ventures in the online marketplace. eComegy works with brick and mortar stores, business-to-business companies, ecommerce operations, and individual entrepreneurs, helping them to develop and implement growth strategies. Schoen founded the company in 2009. Schoen is also the Marketing and Communications Director for health and wellness technology startup BettrLife, and co-owner of Mars Café.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to attend the SXSW Interactive Festival and interact with entrepreneurial creatives from around the world,” said Schoen. “This investment from the Greater Des Moines Partnership will allow me to represent the Central Iowa startup community and form relationships that allow eComegy to further develop and grow the companies we assist.”
Liz Lidgett Fine Art is a full-service art advisory firm. LLFA helps its clients find the perfect artwork for their space and budget. Clients include major corporations, startups, restaurants, and private collectors. Lidgett founded the firm in late 2012.
“I am so honored by this opportunity from the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Going to SXSW means I will be able to connect on a much larger scale with companies and leaders from around the country,” said Lidgett. “I look forward to representing Greater Des Moines and Iowa during the conference and talk about what a wonderful place it is to start and grow businesses.”
One of last year’s contest winners, Kaylee Williams from VolunteerLocal, credits the SXSW trip as helping her company make a connection with key partners. VolunteerLocal recently announced that it has partnered with AC Entertainment and Superfly Presents to serve as the volunteer scheduling provider for the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in 2015.
For more information, contact Meg Fitz at (515) 286-4934 or mfitz@DSMpartnership.com. Media inquiries should be directed to Susan Ramsey at (515) 286-4954 or sramsey@DSMpartnership.com.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,100 Regional Business Members and more than 330 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.