Small Business and Nonprofit Conference
October 7-9, 2026
Join us for three days packed with actionable strategies, game-changing insights, and valuable connections. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a nonprofit leader, you'll find sessions tailored to help you start, strengthen and grow.
Location
Wednesday and Thursday Sessions
Clark Family Branch
1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131
Friday Sessions
Virtual
Participants will receive Zoom information via email immediately after registering.
Sessions & Registration
Registration online or by calling 314-994-3300.
Creating a Culture of Philanthropy Within Your Organization
Location: Room B
Presented by Jason Huff, The Rome Group and Meghan Seipp, Hoyleton Youth and Family Services
Fundraising is a team effort that requires coordination, collaboration, and change management.
Join us for an engaging discussion on the importance of establishing a culture of philanthropy throughout your organization that builds a community of support among all stakeholders. We will explore the role of volunteers, staff and executive leadership in making your organization’s fundraising efforts less stressful, more authentic, and effective.
Starting a Nonprofit: How - and Whether - to Take the Leap
Location: Room C
Presented by Nathaniel Carroll, St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts
Launching a nonprofit is a powerful way to serve your community, but it requires a clear understanding of the long-term legal and operational commitments. This session covers the basics of forming a nonprofit corporation in Missouri - including the core pros and cons - and provides you with a detailed guide to gathering the resources needed for your next steps.
Smart Planning. Real Execution: The 4 Proven Pillars of Small Business Success
Location: Room D
Presented by Mitch Fitzpatrick, VetBiz
Great ideas are everywhere, but sustainable small businesses require disciplined execution. In this high-energy session, entrepreneurs will learn to pressure-test their concepts using four proven pillars: value proposition, target market, monetization, and economic alignment. Participants will leave with an actionable framework to identify structural gaps and build a foundation designed for long-term revenue and success.
Introduction to Designing with Canva
Location: Creative Lab
Learn to build your organization’s brand by creating flyers and social media graphics using Canva. This introductory session covers how to find non-copyrighted imagery and upload your own images or logos to keep your designs consistent. No prior design experience is required to start creating high-impact marketing materials for your business. Adults. Beginner.
Communicate to Get Results: Slow the Scroll
Location: Room B
Presented by Rhonda Travers, Travers Training and Consulting
Do you find yourself sending multiple follow-up messages only to receive incomplete or off-target responses? In today’s fast-paced digital environment, ineffective communication causes costly delays, missed opportunities, and follow-up fatigue. This session provides a practical framework for crafting clear, compelling electronic messages that slow the scroll, ensure your voice is noticed, and drive immediate action from employees, clients, and partners.
Small Business Growth Blueprint: From Referrals to Paid Advertising
Location: Room C
Presented by Nick Epps, Seraphim Consulting
Explore how to leverage word-of-mouth and digital advertising for sustainable expansion. Learn to recognize patterns in your best clientele and referral partners, identify the right ad platforms for your business, understand the key KPIs for each platform, and create a scalable recipe for growth.
Securing Nonprofit Grant Funding: Navigating Candid Search
Location: Room D
Presented by Mel Lambert, Kirkwood Public Library and Lisa Thorp, St. Louis Public Library
Connecting with the right philanthropic partners is a crucial step in building a sustainable revenue model for any nonprofit organization. Learn how to strategically use the updated Candid Search platform to identify institutional grantmakers, analyze past foundation giving histories, and target the funders most likely to support your mission.
Idea to Online: Website Fundamentals for Small Teams & Big Dreams
Location: Creative Lab
Presented by Erik Lutenegger, Tenacity
Establishing your small business or nonprofit online doesn’t have to be complicated. Learn simple, actionable steps to build a professional website that drives credibility, visibility, and growth, even with limited resources or experience.
PowerPoint for Presentations
Location: Computer Lab
Enhance your pitch by learning to modify slideshow presentations with backgrounds, transitions, and multimedia clips to keep potential investors or donors engaged. Explore master views and printing options to ensure your pitch handouts look as good as your slides. Beginner.
Starting a Food Business the Lean & Smart Way
Location: Room B
Presented by John Chen, Neighborhood Innovation Center
Starting a successful food business begins with a standout product or experience, a clear path to customers, and simple financial discipline - not a lease, big menu, or legal structure. In addition to exploring different paths of the food business, you will learn about lean testing, basic St. Louis licensing considerations, and how AI tools can support customer research, messaging, menu refinement, and daily operations.
The Price is Right: The Art of Strategic Value
Location: Room C
Presented by Steve Epner, SCORE
Pricing can be the difference between success and failure. Stop the race to the bottom and learn how to price your services for long-term sustainability rather than immediate survival. This session breaks down the psychology and math of setting rates, helping you move past the temptation of deep discounting to find a sweet spot that reflects your true worth. You’ll leave with a practical framework for market experimentation and the confidence to trust your gut when the spreadsheets don't have all the answers.
Artisan vs. Algorithm: Protecting Human Artistry vs. Leveraging AI Content
Location: Room D
Presented by David S. Kim and Blake Chrismer, Armstrong Teasdale LLP
The rise of generative AI has created significant legal and ethical friction between original creators and entrepreneurs utilizing AI tools to repurpose existing material, style, and likeness. This session examines the evolving landscape of intellectual property, copyright standards, and emerging federal laws concerning digital cloning and commercial replication. Independent artists and performers will learn how to manage and protect their creative work, while businesses will discover the hidden legal liabilities of commercializing AI assets derived from another person's identity or content.
Unlocking Big Data for Small Business and Social Impact
Location: Creative Lab
Whether you are scaling a startup or expanding a community program, you need high-level market intelligence from D&B Hoovers. Learn how to build highly targeted lead lists and access premium industry reports from First Research, MarketLine, and Freedonia to prove your organization's value to investors, donors, and stakeholders. Leave with the tools to give your organization a competitive edge by turning raw market data into actionable growth and impact strategies.
Introduction to iPhone Photography and Video
Location: Computer Lab
Discover how to use your iPhone or iPad as a marketing tool by exploring the built-in features of the Camera and Photos apps. You will learn to capture and edit visuals for marketing while exploring organization techniques to help you find your assets quickly. This session is designed for beginners who want to use their mobile devices to tell their story. Beginner.
LinkedIn Foundation: Establishing Your Organization's Digital Identity
Location: Room C
Presented by Frank Alaniz
Before you can leverage LinkedIn to grow your business or nonprofit, you must establish a credible, search-optimized digital footprint. This foundational session breaks down the critical differences between personal and company profiles, guiding you step-by-step through creating a professional presence that attracts clients, donors, and partners.
Change Happens: Responding with Intention and Strategy
Location: Room D
Presented by Patrice Shumate, A Village For Good
Most change management models assume perfect conditions and total control, but modern organizations operate in a reality of competing priorities and shifting resources. This interactive workshop cuts through corporate theory to deliver a practical framework for navigating both unexpected disruptions and intentional transitions. Through real-world scenarios, you will learn where transitions typically stall and leave with immediate tools to guide your organization forward with clarity and strategy.
Snap and Sell: Better Product Images Made Easy
Location: Creative Lab
Learn how the basics of exposure and composition, and simple changes in lighting, color, and backdrops can upgrade your online inventory view from ordinary pictures into standout product shots. This introductory session breaks down these core photography principles and provides a hands-on opportunity to experiment with taking your own photos to apply what you have learned.
Beyond the Link: QR Codes for Business Operations
Location: Computer Lab
Modernize your operations by creating QR codes that link to payment methods, app downloads, or your digital business card. This session demonstrates how to generate codes for various actions and provides tips for monitoring engagement through scan analytics. Entrepreneurs will leave with a versatile tool for creating efficient, contactless links between physical products and digital brand experiences. Beginner.
Connection Lounge: Network, Recharge, and Refresh
Location: Room B
Services provided by Darryl Haire Photography and We’ve Got Your Backs
This dedicated drop-in space is an opportunity for you to connect, share insights, and network with fellow leaders. While you build valuable professional relationships, you can also take advantage of a first-come, first-served complimentary professional headshot and a relaxing chair massage to decompress whenever your schedule allows.
LinkedIn Growth Strategy: Turning Profiles into Content and Capital
Location: Room C
Presented by Frank Alaniz
Having a LinkedIn company page is pointless if nobody sees it; you need an active strategy to turn views into organizational growth. This action-oriented session teaches you how to create engaging content, navigate the LinkedIn algorithm, and leverage your personal network to amplify your organization’s message without spending money on ads.
Money Metrics: Demystifying Financial Statements
Location: Room D
Presented by Eugene Wells , BooXkeeping
Financial fluency is a superpower for any business or nonprofit leader, even if you hate math. This session strips away the confusing jargon to give you a clear, practical understanding of the Big Three financial tools: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement. You will learn how to read between the lines of these reports to spot financial red flags, track organizational health, and make confident strategic decisions.
Ready, Set, Win: Positioning Your Small Business for Government Contracts
Location: Creative Lab
Presented by Gina Corce, Missouri Apex Accelerator
This foundational workshop transforms "GovCon-curious" businesses into "GovCon-ready" competitors by bridging the gap between basic administrative requirements and strategic market intelligence. You will learn to navigate the procurement lifecycle, develop a data-driven target customer list using federal forecasts, and master the de-risking strategies necessary to become a preferred vendor for risk-averse government agencies.
The Organized Office: Digital File Management
Location: Computer Lab
Stop losing time to digital clutter in this hands-on workshop where you will build a personalized filing system using your own data. This session focuses on creating a clear file structure for your computer and cloud storage so you can maintain an organized system that grows with your business. Participants must bring or purchase a flash drive for class exercises. Beginner.
FutureProofing Your Organization: Thriving in Uncertain Times
Location: Room B
Presented by Betsy Cohen, FutureGood
Join us on an interactive journey where you will uncover practical lessons to FutureProof your organization. This session will focus on identifying key trends shaping the sector looking ahead, moving from crisis management to future-building so your organization remains resilient. You will also learn about futurism tools to improve your planning skills for funding and program success.
Open the Door: Prospecting, Pitching, and Pipeline Building
Location: Room C
Presented by Calvin Dantley, Master Systems
Stop waiting for referrals and start creating predictable revenue. Learn how to target qualified prospects, secure meetings, run effective discovery conversations, and set prices that reflect your true value. Master a structured outreach and follow-up process that keeps opportunities moving forward - without ever feeling pushy.
Upgrade Your AI: From Basic Prompting to Strategic Thinking
Location: Room D
Presented by Keisha Mabry Haymore, Certified AI Educator
Stop using AI as a simple typing assistant and start leveraging it as a strategic thought partner. This hands-on workshop moves beyond basic prompts to teach advanced techniques such as prompt layering, role assignment, and constraint-based debugging for sharper results. Participants will leave with a Prompt Upgrade Formula and a reusable framework to transform their AI output from generic to professional-grade.
The Human Advantage: Communication, Connection, and Resilience
Location: Creative Lab
For entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders, soft skills are not just "nice to have". They are the primary drivers of influence, partnership, and organizational growth. Learn how to integrate communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution into your leadership toolkit to build a resilient, adaptable organization that can weather any challenge. Human skills are business skills.
Inbox Efficiency: Email Organization and Contact Lists
Location: Computer Lab
Transform your email into a productivity tool by refining your inbox organization and safety. Learn how to organize your messages with folders, manage contacts, and create distribution lists for streamlined group communication. This beginner course also focuses on account security to ensure your business correspondence remains protected. Beginner.
Built to Last: Constructing the Infrastructure for Nonprofit Success
Location: Room B
Presented by Eulonda Nevels, EMD Consulting
Move beyond survival mode and build an operational foundation that supports sustainability, credibility, and impact. This session breaks down the critical components of nonprofit infrastructure - including governance, compliance, and financial management - to reveal how healthy backend systems work together to attract funding and sustain meaningful services. Participants will walk away with a practical roadmap, essential policy checklists, and tools to diagnose operational gaps holding their organization back.
Close the Deal: Turn Conversations into Revenue
Location: Room C
Presented by Calvin Dantley, Master Systems
You got the meeting - now learn how to guide interested prospects from a casual chat to a firm commitment. Discover how to read buying signals, handle price objections with confidence, and re-engage stalled deals. Walk away with practical closing techniques that help you create urgency, overcome roadblocks, and ask for the sale naturally.
Smart Retail: Driving Local Sales Through Search and Maps
Location: Room D
Presented by Tracy Duncan, Washington University
Thousands of area customers look for products online before ever stepping foot into a physical storefront. This session reveals how brick-and-mortar and e-commerce businesses can leverage Google’s free retail ecosystem to showcase real-time inventory directly where people are already searching. Learn step-by-step how to maximize your Google Business Profile, use Merchant Center to create free product listings, and seamlessly sync your physical point-of-sale system to capture local buyers.
The Robots Are Coming! Protecting Your Content in the Age of AI
Location: Creative Lab
Presented by Erik Lutenegger, Tenacity
From website scraping to generative AI, your online presence faces new threats every day. Discover practical strategies and straightforward tools to safeguard your work and maintain control in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
PowerPoint Tools for Interactive Storytelling
Location: Computer Lab
Elevate your presentations by adding interactive elements like animations and hyperlinks. Learn to guide an audience through your story using photo albums and dynamic navigation. Beginner.
Buy a Business - Not a Job
Location: Room B
Presented by Steve Denny, Innovative Business Advisors LLC
The goal isn't just buying a company-it’s buying the right business at the right price with a plan to scale. Learn how to analyze valuation, evaluate cash flow, and set up smooth operational systems so your investment works for you. Walk away with a strategic roadmap to transition into ownership with confidence and protect your long-term equity.
From Bored to Board: Reimagining Leadership
Location: Room C
Presented by Casey Jolley, NMBL Strategies
This presentation outlines a transition from passive oversight to active strategic partnership with the Board of Directors and your organization. By aligning individual member expertise with organizational needs, a board can continue to engage and foster a culture of high-level collaborative thinking. These strategies are designed to increase mission-driven programming, invest in board member retention, and create communication throughout the organization, not just from top to bottom.
EYE ON THE enterPRISE: Maximizing Business Development with Legal Protection Strategies
Location: Room D
Presented by Marialle A. Bell, The Law Office of Marialle A. Bell, LLC
Launching a startup involves more than a great idea - it’s about building a business that stands
the test of time. This presentation is designed for founders and early-stage entrepreneurs
looking to protect their vision, mitigate common risks, and create a solid growth foundation.
Whether you are just getting started or building traction, you will leave with actionable
steps to protect your startup and position it for long-term success.
Podcast Power-Up: Grow Your Small Business with Audio Content
Location: Creative Lab
Amplify your message and reach new customers by unlocking the secrets of podcasting. Discover how to leverage audio to build your brand, engage your audience, and drive real growth for your company. We'll cover everything from concept to content, helping you launch your business podcast with confidence.
Efficiency and Scheduling: Google Calendar for Business
Location: Computer Lab
Create and organize events on Google Calendar utilizing multiple calendars, color-coding, and guest invitations. Learn how to create appointment schedules, also known as booking pages, to allow clients to book appointments directly. You will leave with a maintainable system for staying organized and accessible from any device. Beginner.
Designing Nonprofit Programs for Grant Success
Location: Room C
Presented by Dr. Barbara R. Primm, All Things Business, LLC
Ditch the guesswork and learn to design SMART programs that capture funder attention by demonstrating clear results. Learn to translate your ideas into measurable outcomes that sharpen your competitive edge and position your nonprofit for maximum funding success.
10 Businesses You Can Start For Free
Location: Room D
Presented by Dick Slackman, SCORE
Discover ten practical businesses you can launch immediately by transforming your existing time, effort, and creativity into a steady income stream with zero upfront capital. This session teaches you how to source products, market your brand, and close sales using entirely free tools, giving you a risk-free framework to monetize your skills without traditional startup costs.
No Barriers, More Business: ADA Website Accessibility
Location: Creative Lab
Presented by Sarah Ayers, Danna McKitrick, P.C.
94.8% of all websites have some form of accessibility failure. That translates to billions of web pages across the internet that aren't fully accessible, preventing customers with disabilities from accessing goods or services and posing legal risks for businesses. Learn about general accessibility guidelines, practical tips to make your website more accessible, and recent Missouri law changes that have reshaped accessibility lawsuits.
Navigating Excel for Business
Location: Computer Lab
Take your data management beyond the basics by learning to construct functional spreadsheets and use essential formulas for calculations. This introductory session covers how to use pivot tables and simple charts to organize and visualize your progress for stakeholders. You will also explore printing options to ensure your reports are ready for your next meeting. Beginner.
Community & Connection Lounge
Location: Room B
Headshots by Darryl Haire, Darryl Haire Photography
Drop in to network with peers, secure a complimentary professional headshot, and connect directly with local business support organizations. This is a perfect opportunity to update your professional look and discover valuable local resources to strengthen your operations.
Building a Strategic Funding Plan for Your Nonprofit
Location: Room C
Presented by Dr. Barbara R. Primm, All Things Business, LLC
Stop asking "where's the money" and learn how to identify the most promising funding sources, align them with your mission, and develop a fundable plan that attracts real dollars. You will leave with a clear, actionable funding strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of your organization.
Brand Protection 101: Understanding Trademarks
Location: Room D
Presented by Sarah Ayers, Danna McKitrick, P.C.
For many companies, intellectual property is one of their most valuable assets, yet it's often overlooked or under-protected. Join us to learn what is trademarkable, the benefits of trademark protection, and an overview of the full trademark registration process, including common issues that could lead to a USPTO denial of a trademark, and options following a denial.
The Psychographic Advantage: Finding Your Ideal Customers
Location: Creative Lab
Go beyond basic demographics to discover the underlying values, media habits, timing, and purchasing behaviors of your local market. Focusing on SimplyAnalytics’ partnered market data sources such as MosaicⓇ and PRIZMⓇ consumer segmentation reports, this session demonstrates how to pinpoint high-value target segments in your community. Whether you are aiming to increase retail sales or target service communities, you’ll leave with a blueprint for data-driven outreach that speaks directly to your audience’s lifestyle.
Mail Merge for Mass Communication
Location: Computer Lab
Streamline your administrative tasks by using data from Excel or Word tables into personalized documents. This class focuses on maintaining clean customer lists and using mail merge to produce bulk marketing letters and labels. It is a helpful introductory tool for any leader looking to save time on high-volume communication. Beginner.
Friday, October 9 - Virtual Sessions & Descriptions
Registration is required for individual sessions. Participants will receive Zoom information via email immediately after registering.
Virtual Program: Stop Guessing, Start Growing: Market Data 101
Presented by Bill Carlson, Reference Solutions
Imagine instantly pinpointing your next customers, uncovering fresh sales leads, and spotting new market opportunities all with a tool you can access for free from your library.
Join us for a lively, eye-opening session that reveals how Reference Solutions can help you stop guessing and start targeting. Learn to tap into powerful business and consumer data to find the right prospects, build smarter marketing lists, and sharpen your competitive edge. Whether you’re launching a startup, growing your customer base, or just looking for a smarter way to connect with the right people, this session will show you how to turn information into action.
Virtual Program: Validate Your Business Idea with Google Gemini
Presented by Jasmine Shells, Grow With Google
Learn how to use Gemini as a strategic partner to research your target market, analyze competitors, and refine your value proposition before investing significant capital. Attendees will practice using AI to pressure-test business assumptions and generate targeted feedback questions to identify potential risks early. This workshop helps aspiring builders reduce risk and gain the clarity needed to move forward with confidence.
Virtual Program: Beyond the Link: QR Codes for Business Operations
Modernize your operations by creating QR codes that link to payment methods, app downloads, or your digital business card. This session demonstrates how to generate codes for various actions and provides tips for monitoring engagement through scan analytics. Entrepreneurs will leave with a versatile tool for creating efficient, contactless links between physical products and digital brand experiences. Beginner.
Virtual Program: From Chatbot to Digital Coworker: Scaling Business with Claude
Presented by Dan Montgomery, Treehouse
Explore how to transform the Claude ecosystem into a powerful engine for team productivity and technical innovation. This session demonstrates how to leverage Claude Code for custom workflows and Claude Co-Work for seamless AI-driven collaboration, moving beyond simple chat to sophisticated digital employees. Whether you are a non-technical beginner or a developer, you will learn how to deploy autonomous features and agents to offload tasks and level up your business operations.
Virtual Program: Next-Level Canva: Designing with AI and Smart Tools
Learn how to use Canva’s advanced design and AI-powered tools to create professional marketing content for your business. This session will cover branding, social media content, video marketing, reusable templates, and workflow strategies to help businesses create engaging content faster and more efficiently.
Virtual Program: Mail Merge for Mass Communication
Streamline your administrative tasks by using data from Excel or Word tables into personalized documents. This class focuses on maintaining clean customer lists and using mail merge to produce bulk marketing letters and labels. It is a helpful introductory tool for any leader looking to save time on high-volume communication. Beginner.
Virtual Program: Small Business Lending: The Question and Answer Guide
Presented by Kevin Wilson, Small Business Empowerment Center
Navigating the commercial loan process requires a clear understanding of everything from SBA guidelines and credit histories to collateral requirements and financial statements. This comprehensive session answers the critical questions founders face when applying for capital, providing a step-by-step guide to preparing your business plan, mastering your cash flow, and building a successful partnership with your lender.
Virtual Program: Conquer Your Cash Flow: Budgeting for Business Growth
Presented by Nancy Jordan, North County Inc.
You can't scale what you don't understand. In this practical and engaging workshop, you'll learn how to use your numbers to make smarter decisions, improve cash flow, increase profitability, and position your business for funding opportunities. Discover how financial clarity can become your competitive advantage and the foundation for sustainable growth.
Virtual Program: Introduction to Designing with Canva
Learn to build your organization’s brand by creating flyers and social media graphics using Canva. This introductory session covers how to find non-copyrighted imagery and upload your own images or logos to keep your designs consistent. No prior design experience is required to start creating high-impact marketing materials for your business. Beginner.
Virtual Program: Mapping Your Nonprofit Mission: Visualizing Data for Community Impact
Presented by Juan Vasquez, SimplyAnalytics
Discover how to transform complex datasets into actionable visual stories that drive nonprofit success. This session demonstrates how to use premium demographic, health, and consumer data to identify community needs, strengthen grant applications, and evaluate program impact. Participants will learn to turn sophisticated lifestyle and socioeconomic insights into actionable strategies for outreach, evaluation, and stakeholder communication.
Virtual Program: Efficiency and Scheduling: Google Calendar for Business
Create and organize events on Google Calendar utilizing multiple calendars, color-coding, and guest invitations. Learn how to create appointment schedules, also known as booking pages, to allow clients to book appointments directly. You will leave with a maintainable system for staying organized and accessible from any device. Beginner.
Virtual Program: Budgeting for Mission Impact
Presented by Nancy Jordan, North County Inc.
Your mission deserves more than guesswork. This workshop will help nonprofit leaders understand their financials, build effective budgets, manage cash flow with confidence, and strengthen their readiness for grants, donors, and funding opportunities. Learn how financial clarity can increase credibility, support sustainability, and help you maximize your impact.