Cultivate Live
with alex canavan
A New Date for Cultivate Live Is Coming
We've made the difficult decision to postpone Cultivate Live, originally scheduled for November 12, 2026, at Vanderkamp.
We know many of you were looking forward to this evening, and we're so grateful for the excitement and support you've shown. We're looking ahead to 2027 and look forward to sharing more details as plans come together.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support. We hope to bring everyone together for Cultivate Live in the future!
If you registered for Cultivate Live, we've sent you an email with additional information and next steps.
Please check your inbox. if you have any questions, EMAIL OUR TEAM AT EVENTS@CNYWOMENSNETWORK.COM.
For future updates, follow @alexcanavanpodcast and subscribe to our newsletter.
about Cultivate Live with Alex Canavan at Vanderkamp
This intimate mastermind-style event brings together professionals, business owners, founders, and community members for dinner and conversations that go beyond traditional networking.
Hear a keynote from Arel Moodie, followed by a live recording of Cultivate with Alex Canavan featuring Jeff Knauss of Arcovo AI.
Come ready to meet new people, exchange ideas, and leave with fresh perspectives you can take with you into whatever you’re building next.
Who is this Event For?
This event is open to all, not just to the women in our community. We invite any growth-minded professional, business leader, or founder to join us for dinner & valuable conversations.
the venue
Vanderkamp is a wilderness retreat set on 850 remote acres in Upstate New York. Its mission is centered on creating immersive, welcoming experiences that help people reconnect with the natural world.
With its expansive property and intimate gathering spaces, Vanderkamp was a natural setting for Cultivate’s first standalone live experience.
meet Our featured guests
Arel Moodie
keynote speaker, bestselling author, co-founder of talkadot
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
CEO and co-founder of arcovo ai, serial entrepreneur, angel investor & philanthropist
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.
Alex Canavan
founder & host of cultivate with alex canavan, founder of cny women’s network
Alex Canavan is the Founder of the CNY Women's Network, a community-driven media and leadership platform based in Syracuse, New York.
she is also the host of Cultivate with Alex Canavan, a podcast featuring 140+ conversations with founders, executives, and community-builders since 2023.
the itinerary
4:30 PM | doors open for cocktail hour sponsored by 1911 established
Grab a welcome cocktail, settle in, and start connecting with fellow guests before the evening officially begins.
5:45 PM | Welcome + Introductions
Alex Canavan kicks off the evening with a warm welcome, introductions, and a look at what’s ahead.
6:00 PM | Arel Moodie keynote: Unlock the Power of Your Team: How to Create the Ultimate Work Environment
In times of challenge and change, success isn’t just about WHAT stands in front of us, it’s about WHO stands beside us.
But without prioritizing team development, individuals can start seeing each other as rivals instead of teammates, leading to unnecessary conflict and competition.
When we strengthen how we relate, we transform motivation, direction, and build powerful units capable of fighting the same problems together.
In this interactive, humor-filled, and inspirational presentation, former Disney+ expert host and lifetime entrepreneur Arel breaks down how people can move away from an “us versus them” mindset to create more connected teams who work, and win, together.
7:15 PM | Transition Break + First Course
Settle in for dinner as the first course is served. Take some time to reflect on Arel’s keynote and continue the conversation with those at your table.
7:30 PM | Dinner + Roundtable Conversations
By the time dinner is served, you will have already met your table. These guided roundtable conversations are designed to take those new connections deeper, past the surface, and into the kind of dialogue that stays with you.
8:15 PM | Dessert + Jeff Knauss Live Podcast recording
Enjoy dessert and listen to a conversation between Alex Canavan, and serial entrepreneur Jeff Knauss.
Jeff has built, scaled, and sold multiple companies. Now he joins Alex for an honest, unscripted conversation about the power of the pause, and why stepping back is sometimes the boldest move a founder can make.
8:45–9:15 PM | Closing Remarks + Open Networking
Wrap up the evening with closing remarks, then stick around to continue the conversations and connect with fellow guests.
Sponsored by 1911 Established
1911 Established is keeping the drinks flowing throughout the event with a selection of cider, wine, and spirits.
A division of Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette, NY, 1911 Established builds on the orchard’s generations of apple-growing tradition to create premium beverages made right here in Central New York.
Help Us Support Families at the Ronald McDonald House central new york
We're proud to welcome Ronald McDonald House Central New York as our nonprofit partner for this event!
Ronald McDonald House CNY provides families with a free, comfortable place to stay near the hospital while their child receives medical care, helping them stay close when it matters most.
As part of our event, we'll be collecting donations for their Pack the Pantry program, which provides families staying at the House with everyday essentials like grab-and-go snacks, breakfast items, coffee, and easy-to-prepare meals.
Many families arrive with little or no food, and this program helps ensure they have one less thing to worry about during an already difficult time.
We encourage you to bring a donation to the event! Your contribution will help keep the pantry stocked so families can focus on what matters most: being there for their child.
Cultivate with alex canavan
about the show
Cultivate with Alex Canavan is a video-first 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 is being captured by Cultivate's production partner, Diam Media.