Professional Development 2025
Presentations
November 11
12:00 pm
Registration
1:00 – 1:10 pm
Welcome Charlottesville Mayor Juandigo Wade
1:10 – 1:45 pm
Icebreaker
1:45 – 3:45
Building Trust and Rapport with Any Client
David Madie, CEO, GrowthWheel
4:00 – 5:30
Lead Like You: The Value of Authenticity and Storytelling
Joshua Rene, Founder & Behavioral Strategiest, Spill Teem
November 12
8:30 – 9:00 am
What’s New in GrowthWheel
David Madie, GrowthWheel
9:15 – 10:30 am
Prompting 201: Leveling Up
Dana Knotts, Longwood SBDC – Central Region
Bo Grist, Central Virginia SBDC
Practical AI for Cash Flow & Projections
Jeff Robertson, Greater Roanoke and NRV SBDC
10:45 am – 11:45 am
Navigating Cottage Laws and Stepping into Commercial Space
Maria Niechwiadowicz, SBDC – Lynchburg Region
Simplified HR: Systems that Scale
Tiffany Edwards, TME Coaching & Consulting
Presentation
Streamlining Operations
Brandon Hennessey, William & Mary
1:15 – 2:30 pm
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
Presentation
Lead Generation 101: How to Turn Free Content into New Clients
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Exporting and Importing within the New Tariff Landscape
Dulce Zahniser, Virginia SBDC
Aaron Miller, Virginia SBDC
There’s a Hole in the Boat: Center Funding Strategies
Rebecca Haydock, Venture Central
Stephen Davis, Community Investment Collaborative
Insights from the Field: Building a Sustainable Childcare Business
Diane McCarthy, Shenandoah Valley SBDC
Heather Fay, Roanoke Region & NRV SBDC
4:15 – 5:15 pm
Seasons of Success – Tourism Business Workshop in a Box
Jolie Spier, Hampton Roads SBDC
Paula Short, Hampton Roads SBDC
Laura Messer, Virginia Tourism Corporation
Supporting the Team: Monitoring & Maximizing Advisor Impact
Tracy Nayar, Virginia SBDC
Mesa McMurtrey, Central Virginia SBDC
November 13
9:00 am – 9:40 am
Knowledge Swaps
Operations Team
Sheila Lamb, Virginia SBDC
Mesa McMurtrey, Central Virginia SBDC
Strengthening Specialty Program Partnership
Donna Norman, Hampton Roads SBDC
Aaron Miller, International Business Development
Chris Van Orden, Craft Beverage
Dan Myers, ICAP
Lina Kastanos, Capital Pathways
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Speed Connect: Navigating Key Partnerships
Atlantic Union Bank
Business Finance Group
Fulton Bank
Virginia APEX Accelerator
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)
Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)
Virginia Small Business Supplier Diversity (SBSD)
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA)
Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)
Virginia SBDC Network