Cultivate with Alex Canavan Announces Live Event at Vanderkamp
Cultivate with Alex Canavan Announces Live Event, Featuring Keynote Speaker Arel Moodie and a Live Podcast Recording with Arcovo AI's Jeff Knauss
CNY Women's Network will bring Cultivate off the podcast and into the room for an intimate mastermind evening on November 12 at Vanderkamp.
syracuse, NY -- CNY Women's Network (CNYWN) announced Cultivate Live, the first standalone live event from its podcast, Cultivate with Alex Canavan, taking place November 12, 2026 at Vanderkamp in cleveland, new york.
The intimate evening will bring together professionals, founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across Central New York for a keynote, live podcast recording, dinner, and guided conversations.
Bestselling author, keynote speaker, and Talkadot Co-Founder Arel Moodie will headline the evening with a 75-minute keynote. Later, Jeff Knauss, CEO and Co-Founder of Syracuse-based Arcovo AI and former Co-Founder of Digital Hyve, will join Cultivate host Alex Canavan for a conversation about building companies, navigating growth, and the lessons that come with it.
It marks a new chapter for Cultivate. While the podcast has previously recorded conversations in front of an audience at the CNY Women's Summit, Cultivate Live will be the show's first independent, ticketed experience.
Unlike the cny women’s network women-focused programming, Cultivate Live is open to everyone, inviting growth-minded professionals from across the region to take part.
Event Details
What: Cultivate Live: A Mastermind Evening for Central New York's Most Ambitious People
When: November 12, 2026
Where: Vanderkamp (204 County Rte 17, Bernhards Bay, NY 13028)
Who: Open to all growth-minded professionals, business leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs
Featuring: Keynote speaker Arel Moodie and a live podcast conversation with Jeff Knauss of Arcovo AI
Media Contact:
Alex Canavan
Founder, CNY Women's Network
alex@cnywomensnetwork.com
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Alex Canavan at partnerships@cnywomensnetwork.com.
Evening schedule
5:00 PM | Arrival + Welcome Cocktail: Guests will arrive, enjoy a welcome cocktail, and connect before the evening officially begins.
5:45 PM | Welcome + Introductions: Alex Canavan will welcome attendees and set the stage for the evening.
5:55 PM | Arel Moodie Keynote: Moodie will lead a 75-minute keynote experience.
7:10 PM | Transition Break + First Course: The first course will be served, with time for attendees to reflect on the keynote and continue conversations at their tables.
7:30 PM | Jeff Knauss + Alex Canavan Live Podcast Conversation: Knauss will join Canavan for a live conversation recorded for an upcoming episode of Cultivate as guests enjoy their entrée.
8:15 PM | Dessert + Round Table Discussions: Dessert will be served alongside guided table conversations inspired by the evening.
8:45–9:15 PM | Closing Remarks + Open Networking: The evening will conclude with closing remarks and additional time for guests to continue conversations and make new connections.
A Familiar Setting for Cultivate
Cultivate Live will take place at Vanderkamp, a private retreat and event destination set on more than 850 acres in Cleveland, New York, approximately 30 miles northeast of Syracuse.
Surrounded by forest and overlooking the north shore of Oneida Lake, Vanderkamp offers a secluded setting for retreats, gatherings, weddings, and group experiences. Its expansive property and intimate gathering spaces made it a natural setting for Cultivate's first standalone live experience.
The venue itself is no stranger to Cultivate's audience.
In February 2026, Cultivate with Alex Canavan featured a two-part conversation with Vanderkamp's founders, followed by an onsite tour exploring the property's history, vision, and natural surroundings.
Cultivate Live will bring the podcast back to Vanderkamp, this time with an audience gathered there to experience the conversations in person.
meet the featured guests
Arel Moodie
Arel Moodie is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and tech co-founder of Talkadot who has delivered keynote addresses in 48 U.S. states and internationally to more than 750,000 people, including audiences at the White House and Fortune 500 companies.
Moodie is one of a small number of people worldwide certified in Adult Development Theory and has appeared as an expert host on Disney+'s "Family Reboot."
A previous guest of Cultivate, Moodie will return to the show to lead the evening's keynote.
jeff knauss
Jeff Knauss is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and philanthropist based in Central New York.
He is the CEO and co-founder of Arcovo AI, a Syracuse-based artificial intelligence automation company, and previously co-founded Digital Hyve, a digital marketing agency later acquired by Butler/Till.
Knauss is a recognized voice in Central New York's entrepreneurial and technology community.
Also a previous Cultivate guest, Knauss will sit down with Canavan for a live conversation.
Why Cultivate Live
"This is something we've never done before, and I couldn't be more excited to bring it to life," said Alex Canavan, Founder of CNY Women's Network and host of Cultivate.
"We wanted to create an evening that brings people together around real conversation, not just networking for the sake of it. Featuring Arel and Jeff, two people who've already shared so much wisdom with our audience, made this feel like exactly the right way to do it."
“Central New York has some of the greatest professional minds and this kind of event is bringing together some really sharp thinkers. I can wait to see how the attendees apply the Value stage framework to keep their people aligned and unlock the power of their people.,” said Arel Moodie.
"CNY Women's Network is one of the best things happening for leaders in Central New York, and being asked to speak at Cultivate Live is a real honor. I'm looking forward to a real conversation about scaling a company, building a career you're proud of, and the leadership lessons I wish someone had handed me ten years ago," said jeff knauss.
While November 12 will mark Cultivate's first standalone live event, Alex Canavan plans to bring additional Cultivate experiences off the podcast and into the community in the future.
About Cultivate with Alex Canavan
Cultivate with Alex Canavan is a podcast produced in Syracuse, New York, featuring conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, executives, and community builders.
The show is produced by CNY Women's Network. Onsite production for Cultivate Live will be captured by Diam Media, Cultivate's production partner.
in partnership with diam media
Onsite production for Cultivate Live, including the keynote and live podcast recording, is being captured by Diam Media, Cultivate's production partner.
about the cny women’s network:
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