San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network
Elevate
Small Business Conference | March 20, 2024
Would you like to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, gain valuable insights, and explore growth opportunities?
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Alex Montoya
AUTHOR, SPEAKER, WRITING COACH
Pam Covarrubias
SPEAKER, COACH, PODCASTER
AGENDA
REGISTRATION
LOCATION: Palm Foyer
Come meet the Elevate team, check-in and mix and mingle with other attendees and resource partners who can help you grow your business! Resource partners include: Women Business Center, Apex Accelerator, Veterans Business Outreach Center, Small Business Administration, Thryv Foundation, California Department of General Services, Better Business Bureau and Accessity!
WELCOME
LOCATION: Crystal Ballroom
SPEAKER: Briana Weisinger, Daniel Fitzgerald
Join us in the main ballroom to kickoff Elevate! Danny and Briana will kick things off with a quick an inspiritng showcase of what is possible for you and for your business. Then we’ll jump right into the day full of inspiration, learning and connection that will grow your business into the future you always envisioned!
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
LOCATION: Crystal Ballroom
SPEAKER: Alex Montoya
TRACK: Leadership / Mindset
Alex is an international speaker with a message applicable to corporations, schools, organizations, churches, and more. He has blended inspiration with humor at places like NASA, Harvard, and SONY.
LOCATION: Terrace Room
AREAS OF ADVISING: General Advising, Marketing, HR, Finance, Government Contracting, CEO Loans, Food Business
LANGUAGES: English, Spanish, Farsi, Dari, Coatian
Want to meet with an advisor? Visit the Terrace Room and sign up for a time slot! Each meeting is 30 minutes and you’ll leave with insight, resources and your questions answered!
ÁGIL Y EFICIENTE: PLANIFICACIÓN PARA EL ÉXITO CON EL LEAN CANVAS…CUALQUIERA PUEDE COMENZAR UN NEGOCIO, NO TODOS TIENEN ÉXITO
LOCATION: Garden I
SPEAKER: Miguel Magdaleno
TRACK: Business Start
¿Comenzaste tu negocio en los últimos 2 años? ¿Estás empezando tu negocio ahora? Únete a este taller y sal de él después de 1 hora con un plan sólido y específico que dará forma a tu negocio y te guiará hacia el éxito. Recuerda, esta es una sesión de trabajo activa, ¡así que no te unas si no quieres irte con un plan para tener éxito! Como propietarios de negocios, normalmente pasamos nuestros días trabajando en nuestros negocios sirviendo a los clientes. En este taller, trabajaremos en nuestros negocios para que puedan crecer y prosperar.
MESSAGING MAGIC: FIND, CONNECT, CONVERT
LOCATION: Garden II
SPEAKER: Pam Covarrubias
TRACK: Marketing
Join us for this hands-on workshop where you’ll identify and connect with your ideal clients like never before. You’ll walk away from this workshop with three marketing messages you can immediately implement in your marketing plan. Not only that, but you’ll also leave with a clear understanding of messaging frameworks so you continue to be clear around your marketing activities moving forward.
LEAN & MEAN: PLANNING FOR SUCCESS WITH THE LEAN CANVAS…ANYONE CAN START A BUSINESS, NOT EVERYONE SUCCEEDS
LOCATION: Crystal Ballroom
SPEAKER: Brandon Napoli
TRACK: Business Start
Did you start your business in the last 2 years? Are you starting your business now? Join this workshop and come out of it after 1 hour with a strong, specific plan that will shape your business and lead you down a pathway of success. Remember, this is an active working session so don’t join if you don’t want to leave with a plan to succeed! As business owners, our days are usually spent working IN our businesses serving the clients. In this workshop, we’ll be working ON our businesses so they can grow and thrive.
DIFFERENTIATING YOUR COMPANY FROM COMPETITION WITH WOW CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
LOCATION: Balboa Room
SPEAKER: Jeff Bernstein
TRACK: Growth
This workshop will help you prepare a written sales and customer service plan that could ultimately cause a customer to choose your business over your competitors and justify higher pricing for your products and services when they do. This workshop will help you identify your Value Proposition and consider the factors that will separate your business from your competition by defining your own unique brand of the entire customer service experience at every customer touchpoint. Our objective is for you to leave with Customer Experience action plan that will become the basis for your plan.
LOCATION: Palm Area
TRACK: Leadership & Mindset
Calling all attendees to grab some lunch, break out of your shell and find at least 3 new people to talk to! As a business owners building your network is an enormous value and brings $$$ to your business, take this opportunity surrounded by like-minded people to build your network. The goal for lunch: don’t bury yourself in your phone or computer!
Reluctant? Here’s some tips from someone who doens’t love networking but is great at it: Briana Weisinger
- Prepare: practice your 30 personal and business pitch as a way to have a few key points to introduce yourself.
- Know Your Purpose! The key to networking is to know what you’d like to achieve as you meet people and connect.
- Ask Questions & Listen
- Share Your Knowledge
- Be a Giver (we all have something to give even recommending a good dog grooming shop!)
- Be a Hub and Connect People with Each Other
Still reluctant? Come say hi to Briana and she’ll help you out!
MAXIMIZA TUS GANANCIAS: ESTRATEGIAS DE PRECIOS Y VENTAS QUE IMPULSAN EL CRECIMIENTO
LOCATION: Garden II
SPEAKER: Viridiana Rosales-Trujillo
TRACK: Growth
Durante este programa, prodrás adquirir los conocimientos y habilidades clave para establecer precios de manera estratégica y aumentar las ventas de forma impactante, impulsando así el crecimiento de tu negocio. Explora como analizar las tendencias del mercado, las estrategias de precios de la competencia y el comportamiento de los consumidores para desarrollar estrategias innovadoras que maximizen ganancias. Descrubre técnicas de ventas dinámicas y tácticas efectivas para cautivar a los clientes, aumentar las conversiones y potenciar el crecimiento de sus ingresos. No te pierdas esta oportunidad de impulsar tu negocio hacia un futuro exitoso!
GETTING LENDER READY
LOCATION: Crystal Ballroom
SPEAKER: Joel Sedeno
TRACK: Finance
Dive into the lending process in our workshop, exploring the relationship between lenders and borrowers. From the initial interview to the underwriting process, participants will grasp the intricacies of loan applications and evaluations. The driving forces for lenders are ensuring timely repayments, while borrowers seek optimal borrowing opportunities. Central to this understanding is the 5 C’s of credit – character, capacity, capital, conditions, and collateral – which collectively shape a borrower’s creditworthiness and influence financing options. Join us to unravel the complexities of lending, examining the factors that drive decisions for both parties.
YOUR 24/7 PERSONAL ASSISTANT: BUSINESS AUTOMATION
LOCATION: Garden I
SPEAKER: Kevin White
TRACK: Growth
24 hours is not enough time in the day, especially when you’re running a small business. In 2024, small business owners are coping with an increase in workload and customer demands. It can seem overwhelming and leave you feeling overworked and understaffed. Learn how business automation software can be that 24/7 assistant you deserve. Topics: email & text, appointment scheduling, payments, social
PREPARE YOUR BUSINESS BEFORE YOU HIRE YOUR FIRST EMPLOYEE
LOCATION: Balboa Room
SPEAKER: Sara Nicholson
TRACK: HR
The title of this session says it all – learn how to protect and prepare yourself and your business before you hire your first employee. We will discuss the basics only – the required tasks to create your HR foundation: Business Entities & Liabilities, Federal and CA government business & employer registrations, Payroll/Timekeeping/Rest-Meal Break mandates, General Liability and Workers Compensation Insurance, and the importance of Accounting.
MAGIA EN TU MENSAJE: ENCONTRAR, CONECTAR, CONVERTIR
LOCATION: Garden I
SPEAKER: Pam Covarrubias
TRACK: Spanish
Unete a nosotros en este taller práctico donde intentificarás y conectarás con tus clientes ideales como nunca antes. Saldrás de este taller con tres mensajes de marketing que puedes implementar de inmediato en tu plan de mercadotecnia. No solo eso, sino que también te irás con una comprensión clara de los marcos de mensajería para que sigas teniendo claridad en tus actividades de marketing en el futuro.
PRICING STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESS GROWTH
LOCATION: Crystal Ballroom
SPEAKER: Diana Barbiani
TRACK: Growth
Pricing your product/services can be a daunting task for any business owner. In this session we will discuss how to create pricing strategy that will cover the expenses and earn a healthy profit.
FOOD FRENZIE: COTTAGE VS. CATERING VS. MEHKO VS. VENDING VS. GHOST… WHAT ARE YOU?
LOCATION: Garden II
SPEAKER: Wes Quach
TRACK: New Business
Understand where your business falls in these categories and then work ON your business to prepare draft menus and pricing. From there you can go to an onsite advisor and get 1:1 feedback!
ENVISIONING YOUR FUTURE: VISION BOARD WORKSHOP
LOCATION: Balboa Room
SPEAKER: Briana Weisinger
TRACK: Mindset/Leadership
Join us in this dynamic workshop tailored specifically for small businesses to create a vision of the business they want in 1 year! In this hands-on session, we will embark on a transformative journey to articulate and visualize your business aspirations. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this workshop offers invaluable insights to clarify your vision and propel your business forward. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, ignite your creativity, and chart a course toward success!
SON REALMENTE BUENAS LAS DEUDAS EMPRESARIALES?
LOCATION: Balboa Room II
SPEAKER: Joel Sedeno
TRACK: Spanish
El papel de la deuda en la construcción de tu negocio. Cómo y cuándo elegir entre capital de deuda y capital propio. Cómo utilizar la deuda de manera responsable para un crecimiento sostenible. Los diferentes tipos de deuda. Cómo calificar para el capital de deuda y cómo calificar para el capital de deuda y cómo prepararse para obtener capital mediante deuda.
HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH CA STATE GOVERNMENT
LOCATION: Garden I
SPEAKER: Darvin Manuel
TRACK: Growth
During this workshop, the Department of General Services will provide an introduction to state contracting, including information on registering and certifying your business with the state of California. This workshop is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to navigate the state contracting process and take advantage of the opportunities available to businesses in California. This session wil cover: SB/DVBE certification program, Cal eProcure, finding bid opportunities, researching past purchases, SB/DVBE Advocates, Commercially Useful Function and other resources.
ACCESING CEO LOANS FOR SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
LOCATION: Garden II
SPEAKER: Shakila Mahmodi
TRACK: Finance
This session will provide on overview of the loan programs offered by the Center of Economic Opportunity (CEO) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), focusing on how small businesses can benefit from these loans and related training. The session will also cover the steps and requirements to qualify for these flexible, affordable loans.
IS DEBT BAD FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
LOCATION: Crystal Ballroom
SPEAKER: Shawn Lynam
TRACK: Finance
The role that debt plays in supporting your business. Review of how debt decisions should be made and how to manage debt in your business.
FROM OVERLOOKED TO OVERBOOKED: TRANSFORMING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS WITH YOUR VISION
LOCATION: Crystal Ballroom
SPEAKER: Pam Covarrubias
TRACK: Mindset/Leadership
Join us for our closing keynote “From Overlooked to Overbooked: Transforming Your Small Business with Your Vision,” you’ll embark on a journey to unlock your business’s full potential. Pam Covarrubias will share her personal story, showing how she overcame Calladita Culture™ the principles that often silences the voices of women and underrepresented entrepreneurs and how she embraced a non-linear path. You’ll leave inspired to transform your unique vision into a robust, actionable strategy that will revolutionize your business. Prepare yourself to embrace sustainable growth that aligns with your core values and propels you into expansion. This is not just a talk; it’s a transformative experience that will leave you energized and ready to steer your business towards a successful future.
CLOSING
LOCATION: Crystal Ballroom
SPEAKER: Briana Weisinger, Daniel Fitzgerald
Close out the day with a BANG! with Danny and Briana.
NETWORKING
LOCATION: Palm Area
TRACK: Leadership / Mindset
Wait! Don’t rush off yet! Stick around and talk to friends you made today to digest what you learned and resource partners who can connect you to the resources you need to grow your business!
Reluctant? Here’s a reminder of the tips from someone who doens’t love networking but is great at it: Briana Weisinger
- Prepare: practice your 30 personal and business pitch as a way to have a few key points to introduce yourself
- Know Your Purpose! The key to networking is to know what you’d like to achieve as you meet people and connect.
- Ask Questions! (and listen)
- Share Your Knowledge
- Be a Giver (we all have something to give even recommending a good dog grooming shop!)
- Be a Hub and Connect People with Each Other
Still reluctant? Come say hi to Briana and she’ll help you out!
SPEAKERS
Brandon Napoli
Center Director
Start-ups, existing, access to debt financing
Briana Weisinger
Associate Regional Director
Start-ups, operational management, innovative problem-solving
Daniel Fitzgerald
Regional Director
SBDC network direction, grant relationship management with the SBA, state, and more
Diana Barbiani
Advisor
Retail specialist, retail/wholesale strategies, military markets
Jeff Bernstein
Advisor
An entrepreneur with a strong history of business, who's dedicated to advising small businesses
Joel Sedeño
Advisor
Financial entrepreneur, banking expert, creative professional strategist
Miguel Magdaleno
Advisor & Program Specialist
Business coach, serial entrepreneur, administrative support
Pam Covarrubias
Advisor
Brand builder, podcaster, speaker, visionary
Sara Nicholson
Advisor
HR, management, business basics
Shakila Mahmodi
Microenterprise Business Advisor
Business plans and permits, micro loans and grants, trilingual
Shawn Lynam
Advisor
Franchise entrepreneur, C-level executive, strategic approaches
Viridiana Rosales
Interim Director
Capital gains, start-up, retail, restaurants, speaks Spanish
Wesley Quach
Director of the Alliance SBDC
Small business advocate, startups, community leader
ADVISORS
Wesley Quach
Director of the Alliance SBDC
Small business advocate, startups, community leader
Viridiana Rosales
Interim Director
Capital gains, start-up, retail, restaurants, speaks Spanish
Shawn Lynam
Advisor
Franchise entrepreneur, C-level executive, strategic approaches
Shakila Mahmodi
Microenterprise Business Advisor
Business plans and permits, micro loans and grants, trilingual
Sara Nicholson
Advisor
HR, management, business basics
Miguel Magdaleno
Advisor & Program Specialist
Business coach, serial entrepreneur, administrative support
Leonardo Ortiz
Advisor
Start-up, New/Not yet in Business, Existing, Retail, Restaurants, Sidewalk Vendors
Joel Sedeño
Advisor
Financial entrepreneur, banking expert, creative professional strategist
Jeff Bernstein
Advisor
An entrepreneur with a strong history of business, who's dedicated to advising small businesses
Diana Barbiani
Advisor
Retail specialist, retail/wholesale strategies, military markets
Davin Manuel
Business Outreach Liaison | Department of General Services
Government Contracting
Brandon Napoli
Center Director
Start-ups, existing, access to debt financing
SPONSORS
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All options, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.