2025 Small Business Summit

Date and time

Thursday, November 6 · 8am - 1pm CST

Location

WKU Innovation Campus

2413 Nashville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101

 

 

Who Should Attend?

This summit brings together small business owners, entrepreneurs, and business leaders for a day of insight, connection, and growth. Along with your choice of 2 different dynamic breakout sessions. The Small Business Resource Expo will provide a unique space for exhibitors to connect directly with small businesses, startups, and community leaders.

• Entrepreneurs
• Startup founders
• Anyone interested in building a successful business

Why Attend?

• Gain insights on today’s small business trends
• Connect with regional business resource providers
• Network with fellow entrepreneurs to share best practices
• Learn how to start and scale a business

Featured Speakers:

• Keynote: Tyler Jury, WKU Alum, Co-Founder of Clayton & Crume
• Guest Speaker: Leticia Cline, Marketing Director for SuckerPunch, Owner of Smiley's Garage & Bar, Freelance Journalist, and Co-Owner of ACE Coffee

Breakout Sesssion - particpants will be able to choose two of the four sessions to attend.

Session `1

• HR 101 – I Have Employees, Now What? - Breanna Stephens owner B.Stephens HR - Learn the HR essentials every small business owner needs to know—compliance basics, policies, and practices to avoid blind spots and set your team up for success.
• Disaster Recovery & Cybersecurity: Are You Prepared for a Disaster? - Harry Erskine - Regional Tech Council - Threats and disasters can strike anytime. Discover how to identify hidden vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience, and implement a recovery plan that safeguards your business.
• Content is King - Andrew Swanson - Forerunner - In a world where attention is the ultimate currency, content wears the crown. This talk dives into why great content is the heartbeat of marketing, how it builds trust, and what makes it the difference between being scrolled past or remembered.
• Customer Engagement & Service Excellence—The Disney Approach - Ron A. Rhoades, WKU Pedagogical Associate Professor - Finance - Unlock Disney-inspired strategies to strengthen relationships, elevate customer service, and drive business success with insights from the “7 Secrets for Successful Engagement.”

Session 2

• Ky Small Business Development Center Resources for Growth - Brittanie Dawson, Business Coach SBDC - Discover Kentucky SBDC resources to overcome business blind spots—access no-cost coaching, expert-led training, and practical guidance to launch, grow, and achieve long-term entrepreneurial success.
• Rob
• The Building Blocks of Great Products - Elissa Wyne and JD Thomason – Regional Tech Council- Great products thrive on clarity, alignment, and vision. Learn how to spot blind spots, unite teams, and deliver lasting value in product development.
• Financial Clarity for Growth - David Bell and Erick Hicklin - Pinnacle Bank- Growth takes more than hard work—it takes financial clarity. Uncover blind spots in cash flow, funding, and banking to transform challenges into long-term growth opportunities.