Professional Development 2025
Agenda
November 11
12:00 pm
Registration
1:00 – 1:10 pm
Welcome Charlottesville Mayor Juandigo Wade
(Salon A)
1:10 – 1:45 pm
Icebreaker
(Salon A)
1:45 – 3:45 pm
Building Trust and Rapport with Any Client
David Madie, CEO, GrowthWheel
(Salon A)
3:45 – 4:00
Break
4:00 – 5:30 pm
Lead Like You: The Value of Authenticity and Storytelling
Joshua Rene, Founder & Behavioral Strategist, Spill Teem
(Salon A)
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Reception
(Skyline)
November 12
8:00 – 9:00 am
Breakfast
8:30 AM: What’s New in GrowthWheel, David Madie, GrowthWheel
(Salon A)
9:00 – 9:15 am
Kickoff
(Salon A)
9:15 – 10:15 am
AI 201: Leveling Up
Dana Knotts, Longwood SBDC – Central Region
Bo Grist, Central Virginia SBDC
(Ivy Creek)
Practical AI for Cash Flow & Projections
Jeff Roberston, Greater Roanoke & NRV SBDC
(Shenandoah)
10:30 – 10:45 am
Transition to Breakout Sessions
10:45 – 11:45am
Streamlining Operations with Technology
Brandon Hennessey, William & Mary
(Downtown Business Center – Suite 225)
Simplified HR: Systems that Scale
Dr. Tiffany Edwards, TME Coaching & Consulting
(Ivy Creek)
Navigating Cottage Laws and Stepping into Commercial Space
Maria Niechwiadowicz, SBDC – Lynchburg Region
(Shenandoah)
11:45- Noon EST
Transition to Lunch
Noon – 1:00 pm
Lunch
(Salon A)
1:00 – 1:15 pm
Transition to Breakout Sessions
1:15 – 2:30 pm
Lead Generation 101: How to Turn Free Content into New Clients
Amanda Forrester, Virginia SBDC
(Ivy Creek)
Practical Funding Pathways for Rural Clients
Moderator: Rosi Beachy, Central Virginia SBDC
Tony Banks, Farm Bureau Federation
Carolina Medin, Community Investment Collaborative
Bryan Thomas, Central Virginia SBDC
Mary Foley, Central Virginia SBDC
Melissa Burroughs, Business Finance Group
(Shenandoah)
2:30 – 3:00 pm
Transition & Networking
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Exporting and Importing within the New Tariff Landscape
Dulce Zahniser, Virginia SBDC
Aaron Miller, Virginia SBDC
(Downtown Business Center – Suite 225)
There’s a Hole in the Boat: Center Funding Strategies
Rebecca Haydock, Venture Central
Stephen Davis, Community Investment Collaborative
(Ivy Creek)
Insights from the Field: Building a Sustainable Childcare Business
Diane McCarthy, Shenandoah Valley SBDC
Heather Fay, Roanoke Region & NRV SBDC
(Shenandoah)
4:00 – 4:15 pm
Transition to Breakout Sessions
4:15 – 5:15 pm
Supporting the Team: Monitoring & Maximizing Advisor Impact
Tracy Nayar, Virginia SBDC
Mesa McMurtrey, Central Virginia SBDC
(Downtown Business Center – Suite 225)
What’s New in GOVCON, Navigating Our New Reality
Lisa Wood, Virginia APEX Accelerator
(Ivy Creek)
Seasons of Success – Tourism Business Workshop in a Box
Jolie Spier, Hampton Roads SBDC
Paula Short, Hampton Roads SBDC
Laura Messer, Virginia Tourism Corporation
(Shenandoah)
5:15 – 5:30 pm
Day 2 Wrap Up
(Salon A)
5:30 pm
Dinner On Your Own
Optional Group Outing – Dairy Market
November 13
7:30 – 8:30 am
Breakfast & Networking
(Salon A)
9:00 am – 9:45 am
Knowledge Swaps
Operations Team
Sheila Lamb, Virginia SBDC
Mesa McMurtrey, Central Virginia SBDC
(Ivy Creek)
Strengthening Specialty Program Partnership
Moderator Donna Norman, Hampton Roads SBDC
Aaron Miller, International Business Development
Chris Van Orden, Craft Beverage,
Dan Myers, ICAP
Lina Kastanos, Capital Pathways
(Downtown Business Center – Suite 225)
9:45 am – 10:00 am
Break
10:00 am – 12:30pm
Speed Connect: Navigating Key Partnerships
(Shenandoah)
Atlantic Union Bank
Business Finance Group
Fulton Bank
Virginia APEX Accelerator
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
Virginia Economic Deveopment Corporation (VIPC)
Virginia Small Business Supplier Diversity (SBSD)
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA)
Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)
12:30pm – 12:45 am
Conference Wrap – Up
(Salon A)
12:45 PM
Lunch
(Salon A)
Virginia SBDC Network