Small Business Expo | New York City (Spring) 2026 Show Guide

NEW

JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER

FEATURED SHOW AREAS

Exhibitor Hall

Meet great vendors with unique services to help your business grow.

Workshops

30 minute sessions led by Industry Experts in various fields.

Keynote Theatre

Learn from iconic Business Leaders on The Main Stage.

Speed Networking

Meet 1-on-1 with other Businesses in these quick & efficient mini 2-minute networking sessions.

(Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badges)

OUR SPONSORS

Get Dotted®

Each colored dot represents a different group of industries. When you arrive, we encourage you to “GET DOTTED®.” We’ve created this fun and easy color-coded system to help you network.

Industry Meet-Ups

Meet & Network with Business Professionals in your Industry or other Industries of interest.

Business Card Exchange

Market yourself & your business to other SBE attendees by displaying your business card.

Photo Opps

Capture memorable moments at our designated Photo Opp Backdrops and share them on social media tagging #smallbusinessexpo

TODAY’S AGENDA

10:30AM - 11:00AM

W Avoid Unnecessary Fails: Send the Right Message. Get the Right Result!

John Pohl, 14th Floor Solutions

95% of new products fail; too often the reason is terrible messaging. I show company leaders why 82% of B2B messaging is ineffective, and how to develop messaging that’s PROVEN to grow their businesses by getting their products noticed and purchased.

Workshop Room 1 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Work Smarter: AI-Powered Productivity with Adobe Acrobat

Joe Santiago, Adobe W

Discover how Adobe Acrobat’s AI tools can transform the way you work. Turn documents into polished presentations, instant summaries, sales pitches, and podcast-style audio overviews, saving you hours every week.

Workshop Room 2 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Building a Benefits Plan That Attracts and Retains Talent

W

Stephanie Schifano, Paychex

This session explores how to design a benefits strategy that aligns with employee expectations, supports diverse workforce needs, and reinforces your employer brand. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an existing plan, this is for you.

Workshop Room 3

(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

W Win Clients & Grow Your Business With a Bestselling Book in 90 Days

Steve Gordon, Million Dollar Author

Learn how business owners and consultants turn expertise into a business book that drives leads, builds authority, and opens doors to clients, stages, and media—so your knowledge becomes IP you own and you stop competing to become the obvious choice.

Tax Tips for Entrepreneurs Starting and Operating a Business

Workshop Room 4

(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

12:15PM - 12:45PM

W The Proven Playbook: Building Your Brand on LinkedIn and Amazon

Allie Schwartz, Schwartz Strategies

Learn how to build a magnetic brand presence that generates leads and keeps you top of mind with your audience. Walk away with best practices you can implement right away. Allie will focus on LinkedIn for B2B brands, and cover Amazon for B2C too.

W

W

Ozlem Aydin, Internal Revenue Service

Take control of your small business taxes. Whether you are just starting out or looking to improve your tax strategy, this workshop will provide essential tax tips. Join us and learn how to navigate your business taxes with confidence.

Workshop Room 5

(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

The Small Business AI Playbook: Put AI to Work This Week

Natalie Hirsch, AWS W

AI works best solving real problems, not invented ones. This session is practical: automate weekly time-wasters, get instant insights from existing data, and make faster, confident decisions—plus live demos and a clear framework to start now.

10:40AM - 11:00AM Franchises Industry Meet-Up

M

Workshop Room 1

(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Everyday AI: Simple Ways to Run Your Business More Efficiently

Hanzala Inayat, TDCommerce.com

A practical guide for small businesses to use AI and modern technology to automate tasks, improve sales, streamline operations, and make smarter decisions using simple, cost-effective tools for faster growth.

You Built Your Business — We’ll Help You Grow It

Nicaela Chinnaswamy & Emaan Nadeem: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program

Ready to take your business to the next level? Join us to discover how Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses helps entrepreneurs grow smarter, lead stronger, and build lasting success.

W The $500 Text: How AI Is Reshaping Customer Experience

Wade Mosier, Textellent

Artificial Intelligence is here, but is it really intelligent... and is it for Small Businesses? What’s Real, What’s Hype, and What Actually Drives Revenue.

W Write the Book That Makes You Money

Marie Incontrera, Bestseller in a Weekend

Samantha Moonsammy, Lucky Book Publishing

Learn how to turn your expertise into a bestselling business asset in just one weekend without a ghostwriter or months of work. Build credibility, attract clients, and grow your brand fast.

AI That

Drives Revenue: A Scalable Roadmap for SMBs

Ritu Thakur, Smart Tech

Workshop Room 6

(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Workshop Room 2

(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

A practical workshop for SMBs, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs to strengthen brand voice, improve customer engagement, and build AI-based sales and marketing workflows for revenue growth with confidence.

W Retirement Mandates, 401(k), & Tax Credits for NY Businesses

Joel Pereira & Benjamin Shriber: Gusto

Get up to speed on the evolving retirement landscape. From New York state laws to federal 401(k) tax credits, learn what they mean for your business.

Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

11:00AM - 11:20AM

M

Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, Finance, Investors Industry Meet-Up

11:00AM - 11:45AM

Industry Meet-Ups (Front Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Industry Meet-Ups (Front Left of Exhibitor Hall)

FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

11:20AM - 11:40AM

Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders Industry Meet-Ups (Front Left of Exhibitor Hall)

11:40AM - 12:00PM

Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, PR Industry Meet-Up M Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders Industry Meet-Ups (Front Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Web Services, Apps, IT, Software, Technology Industry Meet-Up

M Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

12:00PM

Wilson of Lenovo explores how AI is reshaping how companies operate, make decisions, and scale—revealing why the businesses that adapt fastest aren’t just more efficient, but fundamentally more competitive, making this a must-attend session for anyone thinking about the future of their business.

1:00PM - 1:20PM

M eCommerce, Manufacturers, Retail, Distributors Industry Meet-Up Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

1:00PM - 1:45PM

S Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

1:20PM - 1:40PM

Services Industry Meet-Up

Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

1:40PM - 2:00PM Healthcare, HR, Employee Services

Meet-Up

Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

2:00PM - 2:30PM

Zelvin,

That Matter

TODAY’S AGENDA

2:00PM - 2:30PM CONTINUED

Turn

AI Into Your Competitive Edge

Raja Marimuthu, OneData Software Solutions

Is your business leaving money on the table? AI is no longer a luxury reserved for enterprise. In this workshop, OneData will show you exactly how small businesses are using AI to cut costs, grow revenue, and compete with companies 10x their size.

Turbocharge Your Business: The 7 Drivers of Growth

Joseph Hastreiter, EWH University for Small Business

Most business owners are burnt out, not profitable, and not getting results. This workshop shows you how to break through by focusing on the seven drivers that fuel growth. You’ll gain practical ways to build a more profitable and growing business.

W

2 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Workshop Room 3 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Beyond High Performance: Unprecedented Results Start Here

Jackie

& Mike

Think high performance is the goal? What if it’s actually your ceiling? Discover Meta Performance™, a proven approach to break limits, expand your vision, and become who you need for extraordinary results. Unlock what’s truly possible!

Workshop Room 4 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Agents and Horses and Cars—Oh My!: Understanding the New AI Landscape

Garry Polmateer, Red Argyle

In 1895, streets were full of horses. Twenty years later, cars. We’re living that flip again — with AI. See the 5 levels of agentic AI, where your business sits today, and how the successful 5% are already getting further ahead.

2:00PM - 2:45PM

S Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

2:45PM - 3:15PM

Workshop Room 5

(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

(Under Escalators, Across from Exhibitor Hall)

W The Leadership Crunch: Scale from $3M-$15M Without Breaking the Business

Dave Garcia, Mark Newhouse & Jian Yang: Veep

Growing from $3M to $15M often adds complexity before leverage. In this workshop, Veep’s co-founders break down the Leadership Crunch and show how to identify bottlenecks, add the right leadership, and scale without overbuilding.

Workshop Room 1 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

AI-Powered Entrepreneurship: From Prompting to Production

Jason William Johnson, Verizon

Ready to work smarter, not harder? This hands-on workshop shows how entrepreneurs use AI to boost productivity, create content, and build apps without coding. Learn practical frameworks, tools, and strategies you can apply immediately.

The Ultimate Guide To Ranking On Google

Riley Hoogendoorn, Hoagy Marketing

In this workshop, you will learn how to genuinely grow your website rankings on Google so more potential customers can find you. From on-page optimizations to content creation, you’ll learn it all.

W Give Your AI Agent the Power to Predict Business Outcomes

Emanuel Castañeda, EasyDeploy AI

Predictive ML used to require expensive teams and months of work. Learn how to train a model on your own data in minutes and give your AI agent the power to forecast demand, score leads, and prevent churn automatically.

Hidden Talent, Real Results: Building a Stronger

Laura Anaya & Maurice Crittendon: NSITE

Workshop Room 2 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Workshop Room 3 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Workshop Room 4 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Workforce

What if your next hire is hiding in plain sight? Learn how inclusive, supported hiring and professional development—including blind and visually impaired talent—help employers attract, retain, and grow teams while reducing turnover and scaling.

W Land Stages That Grow Your Business and Brand

Marie Incontrera, Incontrera Consulting

Speaking isn’t just about visibility, it’s one of the fastest ways to build authority and attract clients. Learn how to position yourself for the right stages, craft a message that gets you booked, and turn every speaking gig into business growth.

3:00PM - 3:20PM

Hospitality, Travel, Transportation, Recreation

Industry Meet-Up M

Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

3:00PM - 3:45PM

Workshop Room 5 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

3:15PM - 4:00PM FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Shark Tank Success Stories: Behind the Pitch — A Candid Conversation With Successful Founders

Nicole Denise, Brand Intelligence Strategist & CEO, CoAgency

Fleming, CEO of

Juan Salinas, CEO of Perfect Life Nutrition &

Dive “behind the tank” with entrepreneurs who landed deals on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank as they share how they turned bold ideas into booming businesses. Discover their inspiring journeys, key lessons, and powerful strategies for overcoming challenges and scaling success. Moderated by Nicole Denise, an Entrepreneurial Powerhouse and Brand Strategist.

Shark Tank is a registered trademark of Sony Pictures Television Inc. and ABC. This event is not affiliated with or endorsed by Shark Tank, Sony Pictures, or ABC.

3:20PM - 3:40PM

Gov’t, Non-Profit, Associations, Education

Industry Meet-Up

Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

3:40PM - 4:00PM

Art, Entertainment, Creative, Designer Industry Meet-Up

Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders

- 4:45PM

Get More from Every Hour: AI for Workforce Optimization

Tushneem Dharmagadda, HubEngage

Labor is 30–40% of costs, yet teams rely on disconnected tools. Learn how AI-powered scheduling, surveys, communication, micro-learning, and chatbots unify operations, reduce costs, and boost productivityhelping you do more with less.

Workshop Room 6 (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)

Industry Meet-Ups (Front Left of Exhibitor Hall)

The Impact of AI on PR Strategy: What Every SMB Needs to Know

Jennifer Hammers, Pressrelease.com

This session tackles the impact of AI on PR strategy, covering how to use AI tools effectively, how journalists perceive AI-generated content, why prompting skill matters more than the tools themselves, and the security risks most businesses overlook.

Workshop Room 2 (Back

Unlock Powerful Funding Strategies for Business & Real Estate

Yusef Muhammad, SCORE

This seminar is designed to help real estate investors navigate the diverse funding options available to finance their investment projects. From traditional loans to creative financing methods, learn keys to scaling a successful real estate portfolio.

The Reality of Cybercrime

Kenneth Goldberg & Greyson Shambaugh, MCG Managed Resources

Cybercrime has evolved into a sophisticated industry that rivals legitimate enterprises. Huntress levels the playing field, delivering enterprise-grade security that disrupts the threat actor’s sales funnel and gives businesses a fighting chance.

Behind the Post: Content that Converts

Nicole Denise Phillip, CoAgency

Behind the Post is not about content. It’s about conversion. In this session, you’ll learn how to: Align your messaging, turn visibility into qualified leads, and install simple automation that follows up for you.

Score Big with Corporate Sponsors

Linda Hollander, Sponsor Concierge

Have you ever thought about corporate sponsors for your business? Linda Hollander can help you. She is an international sponsor expert. You’ll discover how to attract your sponsors, how to get the big bucks, and how to get recurring sponsor revenue.

Left of

Hall)

Why “Good Service” Isn’t Enough: The New Rules of Customer Loyalty

Christopher Salem, Sustainable Success Coaching & Consulting

Most small business owners deliver “good service” yet still battle churn, price shopping, and weak referrals. Discover the new loyalty rules to turn satisfied customers into devoted fans who return often and spend more.

S Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders Use the map on the back to

(Under Escalators, Across from Exhibitor Hall)

Learn business-critical skills and strategies anywhere you are!

• TODAY’S AGENDA

• EXHIBITOR LIST

• FLOOR PLAN

• SOCIAL FEED

• BADGE UPGRADES

• Sales & Marketing

• Finance Management

• SEO Strategies

• Social Media

• Business Planning

• Legal Tips & Pitfalls

• ...AND MORE

The Best of Small Business Awards ™ is America’s most prestigious business award for small and mid-sized businesses.

We’re proud to recognize and celebrate business visionaries across the Nation.

• Over 5,000 Businesses Register for Each Expo

• 82% of Attendees Have Intent to Purchase within 1 Year

• Sell Your B2B Service to Real Buyers Your Competition Is Exhibiting. Why Aren’t You?

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