A More Complete Picture of ONE Spark Financials

[fieldafm]

I do have an axe to grind, yes. I believe this is dishonest and deceptive.

Attendance is measured this way at pretty much every convention, multi-day festival, etc... so I respectfully believe you are way off base with claims of dishonesty and deception.

One Spark 2013 had massive crowds. I was there from Melissa Ross' First Coast Connect shows at MOCA beginning at 9am until 2am every day (except Sunday where I was only in attendance for a few hours so I could catch up on sleep). It was a crowd that was comparable to the Super Bowl in 2005. I took issue with the Super Bowl comparisons in 2012, but in 2013 I would absolutely agree that crowds downtown were as big as the Super Bowl in Jacksonville. And I experienced Super Bowl 2005 in the same fashion as I did One Spark 2013. It's really hard to downplay the massive amount of people that attended One Spark in April 2013.

I've been to A LOT of conventions in my life (including SXSW). One Spark 2013 was impressive for year 2.

[Gunnar]

Stephen,

my issue was not with the number of visitors (as I know nothing about this) but rather with the finacial numbers. :-)

[CityLife]

It will take someone who has experience managing significant public/private partnerships, managing large public events and most of all someone whose integrity is beyond reproach. 

I can think of a woman fits that bill perfectly and I would be very interested to know if her name comes up on here without my naming her.

Maybe a little game of who might she be by the engaged and passionate participants in this discussion. What do you say who wants to play "Who is that mystery woman with the impeccable qualifications???

Doesn't look like any guesses so far. Who is she?

[edjax]

^^Maybe it is Rachel. 

[tufsu1]

Just out curiosity does anyone else notice that it sort of reads as if Sampson is saying Elton Rivas was just recently added to the directors roster?

Thats how I read it, as well:

with the exception of Elton, who only very recently began serving as CEO for One Spark as we work to scale the platform.

Odd that he is listed as President on the 990 form for  2012 .

The letter is clear that he is now the CEO...for the first festival in 2013, Elton was the Executive Director...after the festival Joe Sampson was named to that position for the Jacksonville festival.

[Tacachale]

It will take someone who has experience managing significant public/private partnerships, managing large public events and most of all someone whose integrity is beyond reproach. 

I can think of a woman fits that bill perfectly and I would be very interested to know if her name comes up on here without my naming her.

Maybe a little game of who might she be by the engaged and passionate participants in this discussion. What do you say who wants to play "Who is that mystery woman with the impeccable qualifications???

Doesn't look like any guesses so far. Who is she?

Theresa O'Donnell Price would have my vote.

[CityLife]

It will take someone who has experience managing significant public/private partnerships, managing large public events and most of all someone whose integrity is beyond reproach. 

I can think of a woman fits that bill perfectly and I would be very interested to know if her name comes up on here without my naming her.

Maybe a little game of who might she be by the engaged and passionate participants in this discussion. What do you say who wants to play "Who is that mystery woman with the impeccable qualifications???

Doesn't look like any guesses so far. Who is she?

Theresa O'Donnell Price would have my vote.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536627

[AuditoreEnterprise]

Just out curiosity does anyone else notice that it sort of reads as if Sampson is saying Elton Rivas was just recently added to the directors roster?

Thats how I read it, as well:

with the exception of Elton, who only very recently began serving as CEO for One Spark as we work to scale the platform.

Odd that he is listed as President on the 990 form for  2012 .

The letter is clear that he is now the CEO...for the first festival in 2013, Elton was the Executive Director...after the festival Joe Sampson was named to that position for the Jacksonville festival.

I pulled their articles of incorporation from 2011 when they filed... Elton Rivas was listed as the President, incorporater and Registered Agent. Every other document that was filed after listed Elton Rivas as the top officer. So I dont know what Sampson is trying to say there... Also Joe Sampson is not listed on any incorporation documents or their amended Articles of Incorporation.

I also couldn't find one for KYN so it is either filed under a different name or in a different state all together.

[CityLife]

I don't want to put words in his mouth, but believe he was trying to say One Spark staff is not involved with KYN. He said,  "I am not affiliated with KYN in any way, nor is the One Spark team, with the exception of Elton, who only very recently began serving as CEO for One Spark as we work to scale the platform.

Prior to this, Elton had been President of the Board of Directors. Now it appears he is on staff as CEO.

As I mentioned earlier, the bolded claim appears to be false, as Sarah Davidson, is current VP of Marketing for  One Spark and held the same role at KYN.

[fieldafm]

It will take someone who has experience managing significant public/private partnerships, managing large public events and most of all someone whose integrity is beyond reproach. 

I can think of a woman fits that bill perfectly and I would be very interested to know if her name comes up on here without my naming her.

Maybe a little game of who might she be by the engaged and passionate participants in this discussion. What do you say who wants to play "Who is that mystery woman with the impeccable qualifications???

Doesn't look like any guesses so far. Who is she?

Theresa O'Donnell Price would have my vote.

+1

[fieldafm]

It will take someone who has experience managing significant public/private partnerships, managing large public events and most of all someone whose integrity is beyond reproach. 

I can think of a woman fits that bill perfectly and I would be very interested to know if her name comes up on here without my naming her.

Maybe a little game of who might she be by the engaged and passionate participants in this discussion. What do you say who wants to play "Who is that mystery woman with the impeccable qualifications???

Doesn't look like any guesses so far. Who is she?

Theresa O'Donnell Price would have my vote.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536627

I wouldn't put much stock in that 'audit' which appears to have a lot of political motivation. Special Events was far, far, far, far, far, far better off with Theresa at the helm.

[CityLife]

It will take someone who has experience managing significant public/private partnerships, managing large public events and most of all someone whose integrity is beyond reproach. 

I can think of a woman fits that bill perfectly and I would be very interested to know if her name comes up on here without my naming her.

Maybe a little game of who might she be by the engaged and passionate participants in this discussion. What do you say who wants to play "Who is that mystery woman with the impeccable qualifications???

Doesn't look like any guesses so far. Who is she?

Theresa O'Donnell Price would have my vote.

+1

literally there couldn't be a better person

You three would know better than me. Just wanted some clarification that article.

Devlin, is this who you were thinking of? Would she go for it?

[AuditoreEnterprise]

I don't want to put words in his mouth, but believe he was trying to say One Spark staff is not involved with KYN. He said,  "I am not affiliated with KYN in any way, nor is the One Spark team, with the exception of Elton, who only very recently began serving as CEO for One Spark as we work to scale the platform.

Prior to this, Elton had been President of the Board of Directors. Now it appears he is on staff as CEO.

As I mentioned earlier, the bolded claim appears to be false, as Sarah Davidson, is current VP of Marketing for  One Spark and held the same role at KYN.

Elton is listed as the top member on every document that One Spark, Inc ever filed. Joe Sampson was only listed on their latest report.

Here is a list of all the companies he is attached to.

Elton Rivas
- One Spark Holdings, LLC
- KYN Jax, LLC
- Zero Confines, LLC
- Co Work Jax, LLC
- Crowdly, LLC
- One Spark, Inc
     Inactive companies: The Solar Marketplace, LLC

I totally get what Joe is saying in the article. My flag goes up because it appears the structure though not offical was supposed to be
One Spark Inc as the parent company,

KYN as the incubator, (investing for returns)

Co Work Jax as the office space rentals to the new startups, (making profit through soliciting work space to startups)

and One Spark Holdings (their own version of Lemonis' Profit.)

Now a NPO can't legal be a member of a stand alone corporation or LLC so I think that may be why they chose to file all of those separately, but it is something we will never know until someone gets caught doing something shady. Let's hope that doesn't happen because I think the concept is great for, not only the city, but for the entrepreneur world in general.

[devlinmann]

Yes CityLife that is exactly the dynamic engaging and uttery competent woman to whom I was referring. 

As others have stated I cannot think of a better choice that not only ticks all the necessary boxes needed to save One Spark, but to restore public trust and grow the event into one of the premier entrepreneurial/creative industry empowerment events in the country.

As a community we have the opportunity to be at the van guard of a movement that will radicalize the way startups are supported, nurtured and publicized.

Theresa if your ears are burning let me be the first to entreat you to step in.

If everyone else in this discussion agrees could someone with access to Mr Rummell and the Board of One Spark bring this suggestion to them?

[AuditoreEnterprise]

hmm.  considering the information, ricco, I think you have nailed it correctly.

I am just using comparison to try and figure it out. I get the NPO part of One spark, because on half a million dollars in income to the festival could result in some pretty hefty taxes and thus taking money out of the creators' pockets, but I honestly think they went about the rest of the organizing the wrong way. I am willing to bet that KYN Jax, LLC or One Spark Holdings, LLC are the ones seeking the investors money. Once they get it they pay the lower tax requirement to LLCs then "donate" it to the NPO. This donation, because they are seperate entities means the LLC can then write that donation off on their taxes.