SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CONFERENCE 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.
(Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badges)
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 EXPO
TODAY’S AGENDA
10:30AM - 11:00AM
W
W
Protecting Your Small Business in Today’s Cyber Threat Landscape
Sara Eberle, Comcast Business
Christian Nascimento, Comcast Business
Cybersecurity threats are more sophisticated, and small businesses are increasingly targeted by phishing, ransomware, and data breaches. Comcast Business leaders share practical strategies to protect networks, employees, devices, and customer data.
How to Use AI to Create Authentic Content That Actually Sells
Jourdan Guyton, Verizon
Learn how to use AI to create content that sounds like you, connects with your audience, and actually converts (without getting lost in the noise online).
Win Clients & Grow Your Business With a Bestselling Book in 90 Days
Steve Gordon, Million Dollar Author W
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
M Franchises
Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
11:00AM - 11:20AM
M Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, Finance, Investors
Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
Room 1 (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 2 (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 3
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
11:40AM - 12:00PM
M Web Services, Apps, IT, Software, Technology Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
12:00PM - 12:45PM
S Speed Networking Session
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
12:15PM - 12:45PM
W The Small Business AI Playbook: Put AI to Work This Week
Art Chan, AWS
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.
Speed Networking (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Industry Meet-Ups (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Industry Meet-Ups (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
W
5 Things You Can Do This Week to Start Winning With Your Data
Zainulabedin Shah, Zeed
73% of small business data goes unused. Is your data working for you? Learn what data, analytics & AI can actually do for YOUR business, what mistakes to avoid, and five things you can do this week to start winning with your data.
W
Workshop Room 2
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Common Forms of Business Ownership in California
Lucius C. Davis III, Franchise Tax Board
This presentation will discuss the most common forms of business ownership that are available to business owners in the state of California. Information will be provided about Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, Corporations, and LLCs.
1:00PM - 1:45PM FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
K
Shark Tank Success Stories: Behind the Pitch — A Candid Conversation With Successful Founders
11:00AM - 11:45AM
S Speed Networking Session
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
11:15AM - 12:00PM
FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Speed Networking (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Nicole Denise, Brand Intelligence Strategist & CEO, CoAgency
Nic Lamb, Founder of IceBeanie & Shark Tank Success Story Eugenia Chen, Founder of Pandaloon & Shark Tank Success Story
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
Behind the Post: Content that Converts
K Keynote Theatre
Nicole Denise, Brand Intelligence Strategist & CEO, 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.
11:20AM - 11:40AM
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 - 1:20PM
M eCommerce, Manufacturers, Retail, Distributors Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
Keynote Theatre
Industry Meet-Ups
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Industry Meet-Ups
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 1
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
1:20PM - 1:40PM
M Professional Services
Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
1:40PM - 2:00PM
M Healthcare, HR, Employee Services
Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
2:00PM - 2:30PM
W From Reactive to Strategic: Building a Recruiting Process That Actually Works:
Heidi Reynaud, OneDigital
Most small and mid sized businesses only react to hiring needs when they arise, leading to rushed decisions, missed candidates, and inconsistent results. In this session, we’ll walk through how to build a structured, scalable recruiting process that improves time-to-hire, increases efficiency, and helps you consistently attract the right talent to support business growth.
W
Practical AI for Visibility, Engagement, and Customer Connection
Ritu Thakur, Smart Tech Inc
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.
Retirement Mandates, 401(k), & Tax Credits for CA Businesses
Tony Marsili, Gusto
W Megan Spitzer, Gusto
Get up to speed on the evolving retirement landscape. From California state laws to federal 401(k) tax credits, learn what they mean for your business.
2:00PM - 2:45PM
S Speed Networking Session
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
2:45PM - 3:15PM
From CVs to Smart Hiring: How AI Matches Talent with Jobs
Abbos Utkirov, BrightBridge
Small businesses struggle to find the right talent. In this session, I share how AI powered tools improve hiring efficiency, match candidates with jobs, and reduce recruitment time using real world data and startup experience.
W Tax Tips for Entrepreneurs Starting and Operating a Business
Carol Xie, 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.
3:00PM - 3:20PM
M Hospitality, Travel, Transportation, Recreation Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
Industry Meet-Ups (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Industry Meet-Ups (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
3:20PM - 3:40PM
M Gov’t, Non-Profit, Associations, Education Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
3:30PM - 4:00PM
Workshop Room 1 (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 2 (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 3
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Speed Networking (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 1
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 2
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Industry Meet-Ups (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Industry Meet-Ups
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
W Strategic Growth: Six Strategies to Successfully Scale
VR Small, Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC)
Strategic Growth: Six Strategies to Successfully Scale— a high impact business session focused on building a foundation to scale with precision. This isn’t theory. It’s real strategies you can immediately apply. Ready? Stop Spinning & Start Scaling!
W Recover What’s Yours: A Business Guide to Unclaimed Property
Victoria Huff, California State Controller’s Office
Rita Sapunor, California State Controller’s Office
Locate unclaimed property belonging to you and your business. Find out how businesses saved millions with the Voluntary Compliance Program. Get practical tips for maintaining compliance with the Unclaimed Property Law and more.
How
to
Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Growing Business
Sturdy McKee, Sturdy Coaching
Growth creates complexity. Learn how to reduce owner dependence, clarify roles, delegate outcomes, and build simple leadership rhythms so your team follows through without you being the daily bottleneck.
3:40PM - 4:00PM
M Art, Entertainment, Creative, Designer Industry Meet-Up
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
4:15PM - 4:45PM
W How to Build a Personal Brand That Powers Every Business You Create
Nicole Denise Phillip, CoAgency
Brand Intelligence Strategist Nicole Denise reveals how to turn your expertise into a powerful personal brand that fuels businesses, products, speaking, books, partnerships, and multiple income streams—using one scalable framework for lasting influence and growth.
Think Bigger: How to Build a Business in 60 days with AI
Kristin Ginn, trnsfrmAItn W
I built and monetized my business in 60 days with free AI tools. Learn how to use AI as your co‑founder and thought partner to unlock resources and access that once felt impossible. A real story of bold thinking and transformation in the age of AI.
Growing Without Guesswork: A Simple Go-To-Market System for SMBs
Dory Schrader, Bonsaify W
Workshop Room 1
(DoubleTree
Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 2
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 3
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 1
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 2
(DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Workshop Room 3
(DoubleTree
Learn how to stop guessing what drives results, clarify priorities, and create more consistent growth. Apply a proven go to market framework illustrated through real lessons from building and growing a small business.
Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
3:00PM - 3:45PM
S Speed Networking Session
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
Speed Networking (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
Industry Meet-Ups (DoubleTree Hotel, Next Door. Follow Signs)
