PHILADELPHIA MARCH 25, 2026
GREATER PHILADELPHIA EXPO 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)
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
EXHIBIT AT SMALL BUSINESS
TODAY’S AGENDA
10:30AM - 11:00AM
W Tax Tips for Entrepreneurs Starting and Operating a Business
Richard Furlong, 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.
W AI for Content Creation
Melinda Emerson, Verizon
Learn how to turn AI tools into a scalable content engine without losing your authentic voice. This advanced workshop covers prompt engineering, AI workflows, and content repurposing so you can produce consistent, high-quality marketing content faster.
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.
10:40AM - 11:00AM Franchises Industry Meet-Up
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11:00AM - 11:20AM
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Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, Finance, Investors Industry Meet-Up
11:00AM - 11:45AM
S Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
11:15AM - 12:00PM
FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Pitch Please: Creating A Pitch that Slays and Pays
Workshop Room 1 (Across from Check-In)
Workshop Room 2 (Across from Check-In)
12:15PM - 12:45PM
AI-Powered E-commerce: The Marketplace Strategy Brands Use to Scale
Cajua Robinson, Amplore
Josh Dambman, Amplore
Most brands are underutilizing AI in e-commerce (or not using it at all). Discover how smart brands are scaling DTC, Amazon & online marketplaces with AI. You’ll leave with free AI prompts, frameworks, and guides you can implement immediately.
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Workshop Room 3 (Across from Check-In)
Industry Meet-Ups (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
Industry Meet-Ups
(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
Speed Networking (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
Keynote Theatre (Across from Check-In)
Precious Williams, CEO, The Perfect Pitch Group
High-energy and results-driven. This session focuses on showing small business owners how to create the pitch that attracts prospects, turns them into clients and builds real wealth and a solid “Book of Business”.
11:20AM - 11:40AM Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, PR Industry Meet-Up
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11:40AM - 12:00PM Web Services, Apps, IT, Software, Technology Industry Meet-Up M
12:00PM - 12:45PM
S Speed Networking Session
Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
Meet-Ups
(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
Industry Meet-Ups
(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
Speed Networking
(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
Think You Know Your Audience? Why Your Message Isn’t Connecting
Chris Salem, Sustainable Success Coaching & Consulting
Most small business owners think they know their customers, but missed conversions reveal otherwise. Discover how to align your message with how buyers think, feel, and decide to build trust, reduce touchpoints, and drive more sales.
W Brands That Rally: Make Meaning, Make Money
Jacob Kleinman Phillips, Touchpoint Design
Stop blending in. Stand for something real. In this bold, high-energy workshop, you’ll learn how to turn your purpose into clear messaging, stronger connection, and more sales so you can build a brand people don’t just buy from, but rally behind.
1:00PM - 1:20PM
M eCommerce, Manufacturers, Retail, Distributors Industry Meet-Up
1:00PM - 1:45PM FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
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Shark Tank Success Stories: Behind the Pitch — A Candid Conversation With Successful Founders
Nicole Denise, CoAgency Braxton Fleming, Stealth Bros Juan Salinas, Pnuff Crunch
Workshop Room 2
(Across from Check-In)
Workshop Room 3
(Across from Check-In)
Industry Meet-Ups
(Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
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 registered trademark of Sony Pictures Television Inc. and ABC. This event is not affiliated with or endorsed by Shark Tank, Sony Pictures, or ABC.
1:00PM - 1:45PM
Speed Networking Session
S Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
1:20PM - 1:40PM
1:40PM - 2:00PM
Healthcare, HR, Employee Services Industry Meet-Up
Keynote Theatre (Across from Check-In)
2:00PM - 2:30PM
W
SEO and AI Search for Small Business Owners
Julia Bocchese, Julia Renee Consulting
Learn how small businesses can improve online visibility through SEO, Pinterest, and AI search. This session breaks down what still works, what’s changed, and how to attract leads without paid ads or constant content.
W How Do I Get a Contract? Am I Contract-Ready?
Lynette Stevenson, DALS Credit Solutions Co
What it truly takes for small businesses to do business with the government, focusing on credit readiness, financial credibility, compliance, and data protection. Attendees will learn how to assess readiness and avoid common contracting mistakes.
W The Infinite Content Glitch
Josh Sanchez, Dfrnt Studio
One Conversation. Endless Distribution. Zero Burnout. Josh Sanchez shows how one hour of intentional conversation can fuel weeks of high-impact content using clip-first systems—turning media into infrastructure without chasing trends or burning out.
2:00PM - 2:45PM
Speed Networking Session
S Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
2:45PM - 3:15PM
W 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.
W The Profitable Small Business: Financial Strategies You Must Know
Meggan Ciaccia, Ciaccia CPA
Making money but not keeping it? This no-fluff session breaks down the tax mistakes and financial blind spots costing small business owners thousands—and shows how to turn revenue into real profit.
W Culture Is the Growth Strategy
Mariam Abdullah, Culture Energized
Many small business owners think culture can wait until they have more time, staff, or money. In this 30-minute session, Culture Energized shares how culture is built daily through relationship habits, communication norms, and decision-making.
3:00PM - 3:20PM
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Hospitality, Travel, Transportation, Recreation Industry Meet-Up
3:00PM - 3:45PM
Speed Networking Session
S Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Only
Workshop Room 1 (Across from Check-In)
Workshop Room 2 (Across from Check-In)
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
Industry Meet-Ups (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
Workshop Room 1 (Across from Check-In)
Workshop Room 3 (Across from Check-In)
Speed Networking (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
How to Build a Revenue Engine
Nichole Kelly, True North Growth Labs
How to Build a Revenue Engine is a hands-on workshop for founders feeling the strain of growth without a scalable sales and marketing system. Map your current engine, uncover gaps, fix broken handoffs, and design a revenue system built to scale.
GEO: How Small Businesses Get Found in the AI Search Era
Kristen Noelle, Venture to Bloom
Freddie Butler III, Venture to Bloom
Your customers are skipping Google and asking ChatGPT who to hire. If your business isn’t showing up in AI search results, you’re losing clients you never knew you had. Walk away with a clear GEO strategy you can implement immediately.
Workshop Room 2 (Across from Check-In)
Workshop Room 3 (Across from Check-In)
Workshop Room 1 (Across from Check-In)
Workshop Room 2
(Across from Check-In)
3:40PM - 4:00PM
Art, Entertainment, Creative, Designer Industry Meet-Up
4:15PM - 4:45PM
Industry Meet-Ups (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
AI Ladder: From First Steps to Full Transformation Nelly Yusupova, TechSpeak.co
AI isn’t one giant leap, it’s a ladder. In this hands-on session, learn the AI Ladder Framework: a practical roadmap to adopt AI strategically, find high-impact opportunities, build confidence, and turn quick wins into lasting competitive advantage
Workshop Room 1 (Across from Check-In)
Build the Story Your Customers Actually Trust
Jim Thompson, Bright Trail Customer Development
Workshop Room 3 (Across from Check-In)
Customers don’t trust marketing — they trust people. If your business is great but hard to explain, you’ll learn how to turn your experience into a clear, compelling origin story that builds trust and makes it easy for prospects to choose you.
Workshop Room 2
(Across from Check-In)
Industry Meet-Ups (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
Speed Networking (Back Left of Exhibitor Hall)
SURVIVAL GUIDE
(A field manual for the emotionally unstable and chronically overbooked)
THREATS WHILE INSIDE
Passive Income Evangelists: aggressively selling “passive.”
“Quick Call” Trappers: one 10 minute call and your soul wants to leave your body. The Freebie Trap: baited by swag, ambushed by pitches.
Clipboard Predators: smiles, then traps you in a survey.
SURVIVAL TACTICS
“Let’s circle back” = play dead
Clipboards are cursed. Avoid. Hydration is fake. Caffeine only.
SEE PROTOCOL 314
PROTOCOL 314
Proceed to booth 314 to...
Get stationery that is therapy, just cheaper.
Laugh to stop crying because you are raw-dogging-life. Feel called out by a plush.
Smile through the stabby thoughts.
*Not an official SBE survival guide - but it should be
• TODAY’S AGENDA
• EXHIBITOR LIST
• FLOOR PLAN
• SOCIAL FEED
• BADGE UPGRADES
DOWNLOAD TODAY
• 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.
NOMINATE
• 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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