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

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.

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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 4

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 

Understanding common data red flags, strengthening internal controls, and leveraging analytics to ensure audit readiness, all while positioning your company as a low-risk vendor.

Credentials Are the New Currency: What the Workforce Shift Means for Your Small Business - Cascades Room 6

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

The workforce has fundamentally changed — and the traditional degree is no longer the reliable signal of job readiness it once was. Data tells a compelling story: employers are shifting to skills-first hiring, 6 in 10 workers will need retraining by 2027, and credentialed professionals earn significantly more than non-certified peers. This session gives small business owners a clear-eyed, data-driven look at the new credential economy: what the skills gap means for your business, why professional certifications deliver measurable ROI, and how investing in workforce development — for your team and yourself — is one of the smartest moves you can make today.

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 4

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

Unlock startup capital through community crowdfunding – this essential workshop reveals how to leverage local support and turn it into business-building funds.

The Founder-CEO Track: 9 Skills for AI-Based Unicorns - Cascades Room 1

Featuring: Dr. Rao Dileep

12:15 - 1:15 PM

Expand your network and refuel at our exclusive Small Business Week Networking Fair and Lunch Break. 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 4

Featuring: Tangela Lofton, Rosaliend Gibson (SBA), WF Rep, Dr. Rao Dileep

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.

3:00 - 4:30 PM

The Future of Creative Wellness - Cascades Room 6

Featuring: Roberto "RJ" Singleton, MSCJ, MPA & 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

Learn how to use the Business Model Canvas to clearly map out your key partners, customers, revenue streams, and value proposition. This workshop will help entrepreneurs and business leaders visualize their business model, identify opportunities, and build a stronger foundation for growth.

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

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

Workshop Sponsors - FSU Procurement, The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, Realty One Group Next Generation

Small Business Sponsor - Career Source, Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, North Florida Black Business Investment Corporation, Self Help Credit Union, Big Bend After Re-Entry Coalition Inc. 

In Kind - SBA District Office, Knight Creative Communities Institute, Florida Dept. of Management Services