PORTSMOUTH — “I went from art to high tech to art again; I still start businesses, and support local people and charities, and I have fun — that’s my life,” Chase Bailey said to members of Catapult Seacoast at its latest Business Speakers Series event Wednesday at the 100 Club.

Catapult aimed to inspire its network of young professionals with Bailey, an artist, scientist, entrepreneur and general manager of Portsmouth-based Left Bank Films. Bailey retired from Cisco Systems in 1999 to paint in Paris — not the first executive to cash out to chase a dream, but one of the few to actually catch it. He had agents, one-man shows and a painting selected for the Dalai Lama’s world exhibition “The Missing Peace.”

When he began making films a decade ago, Bailey’s creative circle included John Malkovich and Johnny Depp, stars of “The Libertine” (2004), which Bailey produced.

Bailey’s story reads like an edgy script or memoir: Hospital bills following a car crash (he said he was high) that forced him from his studies at the Kansas City Art Institute, which precipitated his being drafted and serving as a Marine in Vietnam. The silver lining was the G.I. Bill, through which he earned several degrees including an master in business administration from the University of New Mexico, before the government finally cut him off.

His art found new expression during the frontier days of high-tech networking. He joined microcomputer pioneer Varian Data Machines in 1974 and within two years, was developing companies and technologies that would one day power the Internet.

“A computer program has to do all its work at the start of the code and push all the if-stuff at the end,” Bailey said. “There’s a structure: there are the parameters, everything that has to be decided on, and then conclusions — like the three acts of a screenplay.”

Bailey’s first boss was British computer scientist Stephen Bourne, whose “Bourne shell” furnished the default macro language for the Unix operating system. He said he wrote the first TCP/IP stack (data structure) for Silicon Graphics and patented Segmentation Reassembly, which fragments and refits information into packets for transfer over ATM networks — the core technology for Efficient Networks, a broadband solutions provider Bailey took public in 1993 and which Siemens acquired in 2001.

Mounting wealth didn’t diminish Bailey’s passion for high-tech pursuits, which is why, in 1993, he became chief scientist for Cisco Systems, running its university research programs while teaching at Santa Clara University. But in 1999, when Bailey’s then-wife asked him what his true passion was, he knew it was time to move to Paris.

“It was the hardest decision of my life because I loved my job,” Bailey said.

Left Bank Films enables Bailey to tell stories with technology, albeit one that changes every few months. “I shot my first film on Super 8,” he said. “Now, you shoot and edit in HD on your iPhone.”

Bailey’s aesthetic thrust is abstract expressionism: changing something to the point where you can’t tell what it is, but have a feeling of it.

“John Malkovich said if a film gives too many answers, it bores the audience; if it’s abstract and doesn’t answer any questions, that bores the audience, too,” Bailey said. “You want to get to that fine gray area where you make people think and give them something to go home and talk about.”

Bailey cited “The Life Before Her Eyes” starring Uma Thurman as an example of how he likes to push boundaries. “Half the people walked out of the theater asking, ‘What was that? I didn’t understand it;’ while the other half said ‘Wow, that was heavy.’ I like those kind of films.”

During a question and answer session moderated by Catapult chairwoman and co-founder Helen Donington, Bailey advised aspiring entrepreneurs to be honest and awake. “You don’t have time to sleep,” Bailey said. “You get ideas; you end up getting up at 5 because you can’t go back to sleep. So get up and do it.”

Bailey said honesty, on matters great and small, is a crucial quality. “Don’t be afraid to tell the boss you screwed up,” Bailey said. “If someone said that to me, I’d say, ‘Let’s work on it, make this better,’ and I’ll go back to that person for the next assignment. People who are dishonest, I’ll push away and give them the not-so-productive assignments.”

Lastly, Bailey warned you can’t make business decisions without proper data. “If you’re doing a startup or project and need to raise money, you have to have a great business plan,” he said. “The most important parts are the executive summary, the five-year finance plan, and your team.”

Poor planning is why most of the 10 proposals Bailey receives each month never progress past the initial e-mail.

Donington said the Catapult speaker series fits its objective of cultivating the Seacoast’s and state’s future business and community leaders. “The series provides a unique opportunity to engage with dynamic, successful and local professionals in an intimate setting to hear their stories and to ask them questions.”

Catapult Seacoast has more than 1,500 members, Donington said. For more information, visit www.catapultseacoast.org.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., June 16, 2010 – Catapult, the Seacoast’s young professionals networking group (YPN) dedicated to providing its members with unique and valuable opportunities to enhance personal and professional development, is holding its second Business Speaker Series (BSS) event at the 100 Club on June 30th at 6pm with local speaker host Chase Bailey from Left Bank Films.

Catapult’s Business Speakers Series was recently developed to meet the YPN’s objective to cultivate its members as future business leaders and offer them a chance to engage with experienced business professionals on the Seacoast. The event series consists of three high-caliber events at the exclusive setting of downtown Portsmouth’s 100 Club. Members of the prestigious club host Catapult members for an evening, offering a unique glimpse into how they achieved professional success. Each event is limited in attendance in order to provide an intimate environment promoting personalized conversations and interaction between the speaker, moderator and audience. Concluding each BSS event, Catapult asks its signature question, “What can someone working for you do to catapult themselves to the next level?” which is archived for members and available on the Catapult website.

After 25 years in the networking and technology world, Chase Bailey, the second host for the Business Speaker Series, retired from his position as Chief Scientist and Director of New Markets and Technology at Cisco Systems in 1999 in order to devote himself to his true loves; art and film. Now Bailey is part of an art show called “The Missing Piece”, where artists consider the Dalai Lama. The show is currently on display in Romania. Bailey is also the General Manager at independent film company Left Bank Films, and splits his time between Portsmouth, NH and Paris, France working as a developer, writer, producer, director and actor. He has worked with many big-name actors including John Malkovich, Johnny Depp, John Goodman and Uma Thurman. He was recently 2009 Film of the Year winner at the NH Film Festival for “Crooked Lanes”. Bailey’s diverse background in science and art, entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to make a bold move to follow his dream, make him a great speaker for the Catapult event.

“We are thrilled to have a dynamic speaker like Chase Bailey. We found his story relatable and inspirational. Nowadays, many people are considering complete one-eighties in their career paths, opting to follow their true passions. Harnessing passion and forging it into bankable success is what we encourage our members to do, and this Business Speaker Series gives them a chance to directly ask seasoned professionals how they accomplished that very thing.” said Jamila Lasante, Catapult’s Board Marketing & Communications Chair.

Catapult Seacoast kicked off its 2010 Business Speaker Series this past March with speaker host Paul Holloway, President of The Holloway Automotive Group. As an entrepreneur, Holloway bought a little car dealership in 1967, renamed it Dreher-Holloway, and transformed it into a multi-dealership empire. He is also behind other entrepreneurial enterprises, including the Wentworth-by-the-Sea Marina in New Castle, and air cargo facilities at Pease. As a philanthropist and volunteer, Holloway and his wife Anna Grace have been tireless advocates for the education and youth.
To learn more about Catapult, the Business Speaker Series, or other Catapult events, visit www.catapultseacoast.org.

About Catapult
Catapult, the Seacoast’s Young Professional Network, is an organization dedicated to providing young professionals with unique and valuable opportunities to enhance personal and professional development.  Through its monthly social networking events and business seminars, Catapult offers members the opportunity to network, exchange ideas and become more involved in the community. Catapult believes in the importance of cultivating the next generation of business and community leaders in the Greater Seacoast and the State of New Hampshire. To learn more, visit www.catapultseacoast.org.

For More Information Contact:

Jamila Lasante
Catapult Board Marketing & Cmn. Chair
603-502-8072
alimaj40@hotmail.com

Encouraging volunteerism is an important component to Catapult’s mission and so we would like to recognize the efforts of Katie Cassidy (Keller Williams Coastal Realty), Lauren Kane (RE/MAX of New England), Craig Davis (Tranquility Wellness Services), Matt Romano (Ocean Bank) , Amanda Levesque (Franklin American Mortgage Company), and Phil Lewis (Liberty Mutual) for taking time away from their normal work day to volunteer for this special all day event. Catapult thanks the team for their gift of time and encourages everyone to volunteer to help make New Hampshire an even better place to live.

Young professional Matt Romano has joined the board as Secretary. Romano graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and has an Accredited Associates degree in Business Management. He has more than six years of experience in the banking industry and is currently Market Manager at Ocean Bank. He recently graduated with the Leadership Seacoast Class of 2009 and is an Exeter Chamber of Commerce children fundraising participant.

Liza Dube is no stranger to networking and will assist Catapult as the Development Chair. Liza will be putting her public relations and community affairs skills to work when she starts with a Seacoast company in July. She was formerly Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for United Way of the Greater Seacoast and prior to that, the Communications Director for Senator Martha Fuller Clark’s 2006 campaign. She was also a lobbyist and political director for NARAL Pro-Choice NH for 3 years. Dube is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Seacoast and on the programming committee.

As an Associate with Pierce Atwood in Portsmouth, Giuseppe Bellavita brings legal guidance to the Catapult Board. Bellavita was formerly an associate in the Corporate Department at Bingham McCutchen, LLP in Boston and at Devine Millimet & Branch, P.A., in Manchester, before that. His practice has involved general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, securities, licensing and financing matters. Giuseppe is Vice President of New Hampshire Southeast Habitat for Humanity and a member of its Board of Directors.

Lexi Manus helped co-found Catapult in 2006 but stepped away for a short time to concentrate on her graduate school studies. Lexi recently received her Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire, and now has more time to contribute to the Catapult team again. Manus is still pursuing her second Masters in Business Administration and was recently promoted to the Director of Manager Relations for the Corporate Planet Fitness Operations Team where she oversees the ten corporate clubs.

“We have invested time in building a solid and highly motivated board of directors,” said Co-Founder and Board Chair Helen Donington. “This team will lead Catapult down a sustainable path where we can not only realize our goal to help young professionals grow within their communities, but eventually expand our network and range of services as a YPN organization.”

Catapult’s career development programs and social events allow young professionals to grow, network, and make an impact in the broader Seacoast community. Catapult continues to bridge mutually beneficial partnerships on the Seacoast and throughout New Hampshire, and remains involved with the “55% Initiative”, “Seacoast 20/20″ and NH Rail. Catapult is also represented on Governor Lynch’s Task Force for the Retention and Recruitment of a Young Workforce in New Hampshire, and has an Ambassador with the New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility.

Catapult Seacoast currently has over 1100 members and is headed towards its third anniversary this November. Please check out the website www.catapultseacoast.org for more information about events, sponsorship or how to become a member.

About catapult
Catapult, the Seacoast’s Young Professional Networking group, is an organization designed to promote professional growth in the Seacoast marketplace through networking opportunities. Personal and professional development is enhanced through Catapult’s valuable career development programs that include leadership training, seminars, CEO roundtables and more. Catapult believes that youth groups across the state represent the next generation of business leaders. To find out more about Catapult, visit www.catapultseacoast.org. Membership is free!

Catapult collaborated with local colleges and universities in NH to build a new internship program that offers individual(s) a multi-faceted experience working with each Catapult Board member, one-on-one, through the semester to achieve its set initiatives.

Interns will learn activities associated with the operations of a non-profit organization including strategic planning , marketing and public relations, finance and budgeting, event planning and community involvement. Through networking with local business and community leaders, interns will have a jump-start on building their business networks prior to graduation.

The program builds on Catapult’s mission to create and cultivate future leaders and serves as another example of how the young professional group continues to build upon its programming.

Catapult’s first intern, Nicole Dupuis, is a junior currently attending Southern New Hampshire University, where she is pursuing Graphic Design with minors in Communication and Art and Humanities.

With her design background and familiarity with social networking, Dupuis is helping Catapult set up a new Facebook page as her first task. She’ll also help plan, budget and announce Catapult’s upcoming March event- a Social Media Networking Workshop featuring nationally syndicated career strategist J.T. O’Donnell. Dupuis is also a photographer and will help to build the image gallery on Catapult’s website.

Dupuis is a 3-year member of the Southern New Hampshire University Women’s Soccer Team. She grew up in Southern Vermont and has plans to pursue graphic design after she graduates in May of 2010.

“This internship with Catapult will give me insight into the local business community and see what its like to be a young professional on the Seacoast” says Dupuis.

“We are thrilled to have Nicole join us this semester. She is bright, motivated and talented. She has already become quite involved in our organization in a short amount of time. We have structured this internship program to offer she and future interns as much inclusion in the management of a non-profit as possible. Our stance is that through mentoring and offering learning and networking opportunities we will help to bolster the intern’s career goals and hopefully retain yet one more young professional in the state of New Hampshire.”

Catapult’s career development programs and social events allow young professionals to grow, network, and make an impact in the broader Seacoast community. Catapult continues to bridge mutually beneficial partnerships on the Seacoast and throughout New Hampshire, and remains involved with the “55% Initiative”, “Seacoast 20/20″ and NH Rail. Catapult is also represented on Governor Lynch’s Task Force for the Retention and Recruitment of a Young Workforce in New Hampshire, and has an Ambassador with the New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility.

About catapult
Catapult, the Seacoast’s Young Professional Networking group, is an organization designed to promote professional growth in the Seacoast marketplace through networking opportunities. Personal and professional development is enhanced through Catapult’s valuable career development programs that include leadership training, seminars, CEO roundtables and more. Catapult believes that youth groups across the state represent the next generation of business leaders. To find out more about Catapult, visit www.catapultseacoast.org. Membership is free!

A Media Relations Associate at Calypso Communications, Jamila Taylor’s expertise is in strategic marketing and communications. She will help generate publicity for Catapult’s various personal and professional development series of events and help manage website, collateral and e-newsletter content. Taylor will work closely with the event committee and member communications manager. Taylor also volunteers with the United Way of the Greater Seacoast’s C2 Marketing committee and sits on the New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility’s Programs & Services committee.

Phil Cohen is joining Catapult’s Board as the Treasurer. Cohen works for Ocean National Bank and will lend his management proficiency to Catapult’s internal organization, as well as accounting and reporting. He will also work in tandem with the Sponsorship Chair for Catapult. In addition to Ocean National Bank and Catapult, Cohen is actively involved with the affordable housing effort in Portsmouth.

With well-rounded expertise, Phil Lewis will contribute to project management and business development in his new Board membership role with Catapult Seacoast. He will be the special projects expert, helping to see ideas and events to fruition, and partnering with the Events committee. Lewis currently works at Liberty Mutual as a Business Process Management Analyst, and has background experience in construction, manufacturing, IT network support, software developement, and operations management.

Other current Catapult Board members include Chair, Helen Donington of Lincoln Vale; Events Chair Becky Barbour, of UNH Whittemore School of Business; Secretary Lexi Manus, of Planet Fitness; Director of Internships Lisa Landry of Print Savvy; and Member Communications Jared Lemos of Pannaway Networks. Amy Morris of Pannaway Networks is a Catapult Seacoast Ambassador who will work on community relations.

Catapult currently has over 1100 members and will be celebrating its two-year anniversary this November. Please check out the website www.catapultseacoast.org for more information about events, sponsorship or how to become a member.

About catapult
Catapult, the Seacoast’s Young Professional Networking group, is an organization designed to promote professional growth in the Seacoast marketplace through networking opportunities. Personal and professional development is enhanced through catapult’s valuable career development programs that include leadership training, seminars, CEO roundtables and more. To find out more about catapult, visit www.catapultseacoast.org.

Upcoming catapult events include a Professional Development Seminar with J.T. O’Donnell on October 24, 2007 from 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM at The University of New Hampshire Campus in Durham. Learn how to unlock your potential and find the work-life balance you want and deserve. Seating is limited and tickets are required for this event. Proceeds to benefit catapult.

Also on Wednesday, October 24th catapult celebrates October Networkfest at TJ’s in Portsmouth from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

About catapult
Catapult, the Seacoast’s Young Professional Networking group, is an organization designed to promote professional growth in the Seacoast marketplace through networking opportunities. Personal and professional development is enhanced through catapult’s valuable career development programs that include leadership training, seminars, CEO roundtables and more. To find out more about catapult, visit www.catapultseacoast.org.

The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company is located at 315 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH. Don’t miss the boat — we will set sail promptly at 7:00PM!
Directions: http://www.islesofshoals.com/Directions.html.

About catapult
Catapult, the Seacoast’s Young Professional Networking group, is an organization designed to promote professional growth in the Seacoast marketplace through networking opportunities. Personal and professional development is enhanced through catapult’s valuable career development programs that include leadership training, seminars, CEO roundtables and more. To find out more about catapult, visit www.catapultseacoast.org.

The event will be held on Wednesday, June 25th, at Portsmouth Kayak, located at 185 Wentworth Road in Portsmouth, NH from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The cost is $5 to attend.

About catapult
Catapult, the Seacoast’s Young Professional Networking group, is an organization designed to promote professional growth in the Seacoast marketplace through networking opportunities. Personal and professional development is enhanced through catapult’s valuable career development programs that include leadership training, seminars, CEO roundtables and more. To find out more about catapult, visit www.catapultseacoast.org.

The event will be held on Wednesday, May 28th, at the Inn at the Blues located at 7 Ocean Avenue in York ME from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The cost is $5 to attend.

About catapult
Catapult, the Seacoast’s Young Professional Networking group, is an organization designed to promote professional growth in the Seacoast marketplace through networking opportunities. Personal and professional development is enhanced through catapult’s valuable career development programs that include leadership training, seminars, CEO roundtables and more. To find out more about catapult, visit www.catapultseacoast.org.