Small Business Week 2026: Workshops, Networking, and Celebration with the Florida SBDC at FAMU

Apr 28
9 min read

Updated: May 5

Celebrate the Power of Small Business at the FAMU SBDC's Unmissable Small Business Week!

Entrepreneurs, the spotlight is on you! The Florida SBDC at FAMU is thrilled to host an electrifying week dedicated to empowering small business success across our region.

From insightful workshops to dynamic networking events, this is your chance to learn from experts, forge powerful connections, and unlock the resources you need to take your business to new heights - whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an established leader.

Don't miss out on this once-a-year opportunity to immerse yourself in the small business community, gain game-changing insights, and position your company for explosive growth.

Get ready to be inspired, energized, and equipped for unparalleled success. Small Business Week is calling - will you answer the challenge?

Opening Reception

May 5, 2026 | 6:00 PM | AC Marriott Hotel, Tallahassee, FL

Designed with small business owners in mind, this special event takes place at the AC Marriott Hotel in Tallahassee, FL. Join us for an energizing evening of connection and celebration alongside industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs. You’ll have the chance to expand your network, exchange ideas, and be among the first to hear exciting new program announcements.

Business Mixer

May 5, 2026 | 8:00 PM | AC Marriott Hotel, Tallahassee, FL

Elevate your network at our business mixer.

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Workshops & Business Exhibit Fair

May 6, 2026 | 9:00 AM | AC Marriott Hotel, Tallahassee, FL

Thank you to all of our speakers! View descriptions and time slots below.

9:00 - 10:30 AM

Protect Your Assets: The Cybersecurity Road Show - Cascades Room 1

Featuring: Bryan Gibson, i2x Solutions & Susan Aarons, Colony Bank

Get a real-world view of how cybersecurity impacts small businesses' banking. Come ready to hear real examples and get practical tips from local banking and technology experts.

Planning What’s Next: Succession Strategies for Small Business Owners - Cascades Room 2

Featuring: Christina Lynch of Trydent Consulting, Inc. and sponsored by Realty One

This workshop introduces a succession planning program developed in partnership with the SBDC. Participants will learn the key components of a successful transition, including leadership continuity, financial readiness, and operational stability. The session highlights how early planning supports business value and long-term sustainability. Attendees will leave with clear next steps and insight into available SBDC resources to support a smooth and well-prepared transition.

Risk Management & Fraud/Waste/Abuse Prevention - Cascades Room 5

Featuring: Dr. Emily SaraS, Chief Executive Officer and Data Scientist, & Andrew Linn, Chief Innovation Officer

Grounded in Knowli Data Science's strong capabilities in fraud, waste, and abuse detection and compliance analytics for public programs, this session focuses on understanding common data red flags and strengthening internal controls. Participants will learn how to use analytics to ensure audit readiness while effectively positioning their company as a low-risk vendor. This session provides an overview of the tools necessary to maintain compliance and build institutional trust.

Change Management: A Primer - Cascades Room 6

Featuring: Joanne Gallagher, PMP, CCMP of Soar, LLC

We all navigate change, whether we realize it or not — a new boss, a company restructure, a system overhaul, or a shift in team culture. Change management is simply the smart way to make sure these transitions succeed instead of stalling, spiraling, or leaving a trail of frustrated people in their wake. The Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) has spent years capturing what makes change land — and what makes it fail — in a globally recognized standard that change professionals use worldwide. You don't need to be an expert to benefit from this knowledge. In this workshop you will learn practical fundamentals that help any leader or team member guide people through uncertainty with more confidence and less chaos.

Are you watching well-designed initiatives fall flat? Rolling out changes that people resist, ignore, or quietly work around? You're not alone. Research consistently shows that up to 70% of change efforts fail — not because the solution was wrong, but because the people side was never properly managed. Disengaged employees, lost productivity, and damaged trust are the real costs of change done poorly. In today's environment, where change is constant and the pace only keeps accelerating, the inability to bring people along isn't just a leadership gap — it's a liability.

The professionals who master change management are among the most valuable in any organization. CCMP-certified professionals report up to a 20% boost in earning potential, and organizations with strong change management practices are six times more likely to meet project objectives. This session is your gateway to what effective change management looks like in practice — and whether the globally recognized CCMP certification is the right next step for your career.

10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Democratizing the Local Economy: Curating Your Digital Ecosystem - Cascades Room 2

Featuring: Eli G. Newman of Elignment

Navigating a local business ecosystem shouldn't feel like cracking a secret code. In this interactive workshop, we unveil a customized digital platform designed to bridge the gap between ecosystem "insiders" and newcomers. Partnering with the Tallahassee SBDC Regional Director, we are hosting a live mapping exercise. We provide the technological framework; featuring a centralized resource dashboard, personal e-commerce hubs, and "automagic" event networking. We need your local intelligence for it to come alive! Help us crowdsource your city’s digital landscape, democratize access to critical resources, and transform disconnected residents into deeply connected, successful "power users."

A Changing Landscape of Leadership - Cascades Room 6

Featuring: Dr. Adriene B. Wright of Abelita Consulting, LLC

This workshop is geared for entrepreneurs, mid-level managers, and established leaders who want to better understand how their leadership style, decision-making, and interpersonal dynamics are from within. The workshop is designed to increase the awareness of the gap between who they are and what their leadership reflects. That gap is quietly costing them their clarity, their culture, and greater impact. We will explore the Leadership Alignment Gap and a structured framework that helps leaders clear the mirror and build leadership that is grounded, consistent, and aligned from the inside out.

Raising Capital with Community: A Practical Guide to Crowdfunding Success - Cascades Room 5

Featuring: Tangela Lofton of Florida SBDC at FAMU and sponsored by FSU Procurement

Discover how to turn your community support into startup capital. This workshop breaks down what crowdfunding is, how it works, and how entrepreneurs can leverage community-driven funding strategies to launch and grow their businesses successfully.

Scaling Is A Leadership Capability: 9 Skills to Grow Big Businesses by Discovering & Dominating High-Potential Opportunities - Cascades Room 1

Featuring: Dr. Rao Dileep of Florida International University

Most founders and business owners are taught to grow with plans, funding, and tactics.

But evidence from 400+ ventures and 100+ billion-dollar entrepreneurs shows something different: growth is a leadership capability – the ability to identify high-potential opportunities, reduce risk, and scale with control.

In this session, you’ll learn the 9 skills these entrepreneurs used—and more importantly, how to assess where you are today, strengthen your weakest gaps, and apply these skills immediately to your own venture.

If you want a practical path to improve your ability to make better growth decisions and scale with less risk, this workshop gives you a clear roadmap to excel at scaling—starting now.

12:15 - 1:15 PM

Expand your network and refuel at our exclusive Small Business Week Networking Fair and Lunch Break. Lunch on own. Connect with industry peers and recharge for the next high-impact sessions.

1:15 - 2:45 PM

Using Marketing Trends to Strengthen Brand and Sales - Cascades Room 1

Featuring: Giavona "G" Williams, CEO of Grova Creative

Using Marketing Trends to Strengthen Brand and Sales is a practical workshop for professionals who want to strengthen their brand, sharpen their strategy, and better connect marketing to sales. Attendees will explore the top marketing trends shaping 2026, including personalization, branding, visual storytelling, social media ROI, niche influence, and AI-powered content. This session offers actionable insights to help professionals understand what’s working, what’s changing, and how to adapt in a fast-moving digital landscape.

Agri Technology, Rural Community Development - Cascades Room 2

Featuring: Kamal I. Latham, CEO of GBM Global Solutions

Discover how the Newberry Incubator is transforming rural communities and creating new opportunities for small business growth.

Unlocking Capital: Strategies to Fund and Scale Your Business Fireside Chat - Cascades Room 6

Featuring: Tangela Lofton (SBDC at FAMU), Rosaliend Gibson (SBA), Dr. Rao Dileep (FIU), & Josh DeSha (MidSouth Bank)

Moderator: Pamela Johnson of SBDC at FAMU

Unlocking Capital: Strategies to Fund and Scale Your Business brings together a diverse group of funding experts to demystify how entrepreneurs can access the right capital at the right time. This dynamic panel will feature insights from a credit union representative, a commercial bank lender, a crowdfunding consultant, and an angel investor—each offering a unique perspective on financing options across the business lifecycle. Attendees will learn the pros and cons of different funding sources, what lenders and investors look for, how to prepare to be “capital ready,” and how to strategically leverage funding to grow and scale their businesses. Ideal for startups and growing businesses seeking practical, real-world guidance on unlocking capital.

2:45-3:00 PM

Visit Exhibit Hall / Break

3:00 - 4:30 PM

The Future of Creative Wellness - Cascades Room 5

Featuring: Roberto "RJ" Singleton, MSCJ, MPA of North Florida Medical Centers & Guest Clinical Wellness Partner

As the Director of Marketing and PR at North Florida Medical Centers, Roberto "RJ" Singleton understands that in a rapid-scale digital landscape moving so fast it feels out of control, "burnout" has become a baseline. This workshop offers a Digital Recharge, addressing the behavioral trust gap created by a market that has "out-done" itself with automated perfection. RJ bridges wellness with executive execution to help leaders clear the digital clutter and mental fog that stall growth. Learn to leverage your unfiltered humanity as the only currency that still converts.

AI + 1 Person + 1 Month = $3 Million: The New Blueprint for Small Business Success in the Age of AI - Cascades Room 1

Featuring: Dr. Paul (Tianfeng) Li, FAMU School of Business & Industry

This 90-minute workshop introduces small business owners to a proven, AI-powered framework for identifying untapped markets, building compelling brand identities, sourcing premium products, and driving rapid revenue growth.

Using a remarkable real-world case study — one entrepreneur, no prior industry experience, $3 million in revenue in just 30 days — participants will discover how accessible AI tools are transforming the way small businesses compete and grow.

Attendees will work through each step of the framework applied directly to their own business and leave with a concrete, personalized action plan ready to implement immediately. No technical background required. Every business owner welcome.

Business Model Canvas 101 - Cascades Room 2

Featuring: Kimberly Grippa of FSU Jim Moran Institute, and sponsored by Jim Moran Institute

The foundation of a successful business is an effective business model—your organization won’t be able to get off the ground without one! At the same time, creating your business model is no walk in the park, and you’ll likely need to lean on some or all of your resources in the development process. One of the most accessible and time-saving resources in this area is a business model canvas! We will teach you How To use it.

4:30 - 5:00 PM

Exhibit Hall Closing / Wrap-Up

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Small Business Week Awards Luncheon

May 7, 2026 | 11:30 AM | AC Marriott Hotel, Tallahassee, FL

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of connection and celebration at the Small Business Week Awards Luncheon, proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo.

This special gathering will feature keynote speaker Twyla Garrett, sharing powerful insights and real-world experiences on entrepreneurship and leadership. It’s the perfect setting to network with fellow business owners, community leaders, and professionals who are shaping the local business landscape.

The highlight of the afternoon will be the awards presentation, where we honor outstanding small businesses and entrepreneurs across multiple categories, recognizing their innovation, achievements, and meaningful impact on our community.

Congrats to all the nominees!

Award categories include:

Small Business of the Year
Rising Star New Startup of the Year
Community Champion of the Year
Innovative Business of the Year
Top Performer of the Year
Student Project of the Year
Volunteer Partner of the Year
Community Partner of the Year

VIP Masterclass Session: Are You IMPACT Ready?

Featuring Keynote Speaker: Twyla Garrett

May 7, 2026 | 3:00 – 4:30 PM | Florida SBDC at FAMU-625 E. Tennessee Street

Join us for an exclusive VIP masterclass with Twyla Garrett, focused on capacity building and the official launch of IMPACT Ready. This powerful session is designed to equip leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers with the tools and mindset needed to strengthen their organizations and expand their impact.

What to Expect:

Insightful discussion on capacity building
Introduction and overview of the IMPACT Ready initiative
Practical strategies to help you prepare for sustainable growth and measurable impact
An intimate, high-value learning experience with opportunities for engagement

This VIP session is ideal for those ready to elevate their effectiveness and lead with intention.

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Thank You to Our Sponsors!

The Florida SBDC at FAMU extends sincere appreciation to our sponsors for their generous support of Small Business Week. Their partnership helps make these events possible and ensures continued access to valuable resources, education, and opportunities for small business owners throughout our region.

Presenting & Keynote Sponsor - Wells Fargo

Distinguished Sponsor - Office of Economic Vitality

Opening and Reception Sponsors - Grova Creative, FAMU School of Business & Industry

Coffee Break Sponsors - Big Bend Minority Chamber, Verizon Wireless, Hancock Whitney, We Love Mentors, Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce, Leon County Schools