MARCH 3, 2026
ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL
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)
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 Win Clients & Grow Your Business With a Bestselling Book in 90 Days
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.
W Cybersecurity for Small Businesses
Daniel Glauber, Heights Consulting Group
Learn practical strategies to protect your small business from cyber threats. This session covers essential tools, common risks, and building a security-first culture without breaking the bank.
AI Powered Entrepreneurship
Jason William Johnson, Verizon
Ready to stop working harder and start working smarter? Whether you’re AI-curious or already experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, this session will take your skills to the next level with practical frameworks you can implement immediately.
W From Insight to Profitable Scale: Drive Revenue and Margin Growth Now.
Luiz Paulo, Data Driven 9 Consulting
Growth should increase profit—not complexity. As companies scale, decisions get heavier and margins quietly erode. This high-impact workshop gives leaders a clear framework to turn insight into smarter decisions that drive revenue and profitability.
10:40AM - 11:00AM Franchises Industry Meet-Up
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor)
Room 2 (2nd Floor)
11:20AM - 11:40AM
Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, PR Industry Meet-Up
Room 3 (2nd Floor)
Workshop Room 4 (2nd Floor)
Meet-Ups (Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
Steve Gordon, Million Dollar Author W
11:00AM - 11:20AM Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, Finance, Investors Industry Meet-Up M
11:00AM - 11:45AM
S Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
11:15AM - 12:00PM
FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
K
Shark Tank Success Stories: Behind the Pitch — A Candid Conversation With Successful Founders
Nicole Denise, CoAgency Andrew Feld, Fresh Patch
Kaycee Jones, Apolla Performance Wear
Industry Meet-Ups
(Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
Networking
(Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
Theatre (2nd
AI isn’t coming — it’s already here. In this high-impact keynote, Darren Kimura shows how small businesses are using AI to work smarter, move faster, and outpace larger competitors. From operational efficiency to game-changing growth strategies, you’ll learn how to thrive in the new AI-powered
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
11:40AM - 12:00PM
Web Services, Apps, IT, Software, Technology Industry Meet-Up
12:00PM - 12:45PM S Speed Networking Session
(Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
12:15PM - 12:45PM W Workshop
AI as Leverage: How Small Businesses Compete Smarter
Rich DeLancey, Coast Technology
AI isn’t hype, it’s leverage. Learn how small businesses are using smarter data and automation to follow up at the right moment, reduce wasted marketing, and compete like bigger teams.
Funding Foundations:
W
Pre-Qualifying for SBA and Small Business Loans
Master the “pre-flight check” for business capital. Funding Foundations reveals the mechanics of SBA eligibility, turning pre-qualification into a strategic advantage. Learn to see your venture through a lender’s eyes and build a bankable roadmap. Kelsey Close, Banesco USA Victor Uranga, Banesco USA
From 401(k) Balance to Retirement Paycheck
Josh Anderson, Nestimate
A 401(k) shows how much you’ve saved—but not how you’ll get paid. This session explains why traditional plans fall short and how income-focused design helps business owners build real retirement security.
Amazon
AI
Solutions: Powering Small Business Growth
Tucker Durmer, Amazon Web Services
Discover how Amazon AI can streamline operations and drive small business growth. Learn practical strategies to boost efficiency in today’s competitive landscape.
1:00PM - 1:20PM
M eCommerce, Manufacturers, Retail, Distributors Industry Meet-Up
1:00PM - 1:45PM FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
How AI Is Shaping the Future of Business
1 (2nd Floor)
Workshop Room 2 (2nd Floor)
Workshop Room 3 (2nd Floor)
Darren Kimura, President & CEO, AI Squared
AI isn’t coming — it’s already here. In this high-impact keynote, Darren Kimura shows how small businesses are using AI to work smarter, move faster, and outpace larger competitors. From operational efficiency to game-changing growth strategies, you’ll learn how to thrive in the new AI-powered economy.
Speed Networking
(Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
Keynote Theatre (2nd Floor)
TODAY’S AGENDA
1:00PM - 1:45PM
Speed Networking Session
S Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
2:00PM - 2:30PM
W
Smart AI for Small Business: No Costly Mistakes
Richard Harris, Orbit Interactive Marketing
Sophia Lopez Weiser, Orbit Interactive Marketing
Learn practical AI techniques that cut costs and boost sales—automation, personalized marketing, 24/7 chatbots. Learn the do’s and don’ts to skip costly errors and grow strategically.
3:00PM - 3:20PM
Speed Networking (Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor)
W Join the Evolution: Rethinking Group Health Benefits
Matthew Nichols, Ambetter Health
Add money back to your bottom line every month by offering fully funded employee benefits—at no cost to your organization or your employees. Ideal for companies with at least 5 Fulltime W2’s.
Workshop Room 2 (2nd Floor)
W
How To Build A Business That Runs Without You (So Your Family Doesn’t!)
Chaz Wolfe, Family Mastermind Vacation
Most contractors build a business that still needs them every day. This session shows how to replace owner dependence with systems leadership and structure so the company runs without you & business success no longer comes at the cost of your family.
2:00PM - 2:45PM
Speed Networking Session
S Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
2:45PM - 3:15PM
Publish to Power: Turning Your Hidden Story into Your Brand’s Greatest Asset
Michelle Jewsbury, Unsilenced Voices
In this session, we’ll unpack why many capable brands remain overlooked and how authority positioning reshapes perception and demand. Attendees gain clarity on how to position their brand so it communicates credibility, authority and leadership.
Brand Like You Mean It: Positioning Your Brand as the Obvious Choice
Oksana Tademy, The Brand Architect
Workshop Room 3 (2nd Floor)
Speed Networking (Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor)
In this session, we’ll address the authority positioning gaps experienced by leaders whose expertise has outgrown how they’re currently perceived in the market. When perception lags behind performance, opportunities stall and influence becomes under-leveraged. This workshop equips attendees to gain clarity on how to position their brand so it communicates credibility, authority and leadership.
Workshop Room 2 (2nd Floor)
(Back Right of Exhibitor Hall) Hospitality, Travel, Transportation, Recreation Industry Meet-Up
3:00PM - 3:45PM
Speed Networking Session
S Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
3:20PM - 3:40PM
M Government, Non-Profit, Associations, Education Industry Meet-Up
3:30PM - 4:00PM
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
How To Audit & Optimize Your Google Ads Performance
Natalya Vasko, Internal Revenue Service
Take control of your small business taxes. Whether you are just starting out or looking to improve your tax strategy, the webinar will provide essential tax tips. Join us and learn how to navigate your business taxes with confidence.
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.
3:40PM - 4:00PM Art, Entertainment, Creative, Designer Industry Meet-Up
Speed Networking (Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
Industry Meet-Ups (Back Right of Exhibitor Hall)
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor)
Workshop Room 2 (2nd Floor)
Workshop Room 3 (2nd Floor)
W How To Audit & Optimize Your Google Ads Performance
Samuel Quincy Edwards, PPC.co
A deep dive into how to audit a Google Ads account, looking at the areas that 95% of all businesses overlook when managing an account, including how to make bid adjustments based on age, gender, household income, device type and location.
Workshop Room 3 (2nd Floor)
Industry
Meet-Ups
