Register Now! – https://conta.cc/3xbafaL
The 2023 BGSU Firelands Small Business Symposium is set to take place April 14th. This is an event for local business owners and leaders to gather and learn about an idea or topic related to owning or managing their business. The theme this year? Change.
Taking Charge of Change will be the symposium focus for 2023. Recognizing that change is the only constant, the hosts ask for groups to join them on April 14th to find tools, resources, and community to take charge of change in their organizations or small businesses. The symposium is hosted by business support organizations – the Regional Incubator for Sustainability & Entrepreneurship (RISE), The Minority Business Empowerment Team (MBET), Norwalk Economic Development Corporation (NEDC), Erie County Economic Development Corporation (ECEDC), and BGSU Firelands.
This will be the second BGSU Firelands Small Business Symposium hosted by this group. The inaugural event occurred last year with over 100 attendees. What’s Your Impact? was the over-arching theme of the 2022 event focusing on how business owners and leaders can make an impact within their organizations and their communities. The keynote address was delivered by Ariane Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of the AKA Team, a Cleveland-based construction firm.
“We enjoyed having Ariane here for last year’s symposium. She shared a memorable presentation describing the ways in which she, as a business owner and expert in the field, has been able to make an impact in her community and business including efforts in giving back, sharing her knowledge, and diversifying her team.” – Alissa Fisher, RISE Coordinator
The keynote this year is set to be Andrea Flack-Wetherald, social worker turned comedian and #1 bestselling author of The Funny Thing About Forgiveness: What every leader needs to know about improv, culture and the world’s least favorite F word. The central thesis of her work is that engaging two core activities with Mindful Improv Thinking (confrontation and forgiveness) will pave the way for more joy, more connection, greater influence, better collaboration and more peace in the world.
“This year’s symposium will share many of the same aspects as last year’s – hyper-focused breakout sessions for more hands-on learning, student business elevator pitches, a keynote address, and opportunity to connect with peers over lunch. We are excited to share this opportunity with our local leaders. The topic of change and adaptability has been on all our minds since the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’ve all had to make pivotal decisions since then. This event will help share helpful tools and resources to navigate change.” – Fisher
Register Now! – https://conta.cc/3xbafaL. 
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