11895032_990692940995115_6961178722068491430_o
In partnership with
Event Santa Cruz
2023 Small Business Summit
April 28th, 2023, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m — In-person event — Downtown Santa Cruz

“Santa Cruz County has a long tradition of incubating vibrant, successful, one-of-a-kind businesses that employ the majority of our workforce,” County Economic Development Coordinator Barbara Mason said. “This conference is intended to help those just starting out become the next Joby or Santa Cruz Skateboards, or Pizza My Heart!”

11895032_990692940995115_6961178722068491430_o
In partnership with
Event Santa Cruz
2023 Small Business Summit
April 28th, 2023, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m — In-person event — Downtown Santa Cruz

“Santa Cruz County has a long tradition of incubating vibrant, successful, one-of-a-kind businesses that employ the majority of our workforce,” County Economic Development Coordinator Barbara Mason said. “This conference is intended to help those just starting out become the next Joby or Santa Cruz Skateboards, or Pizza My Heart!”

11895032_990692940995115_6961178722068491430_o
In partnership with
Event Santa Cruz
2023 Small Business Summit
April 28th, 2023, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m — In-person event — Downtown Santa Cruz

“Santa Cruz County has a long tradition of incubating vibrant, successful, one-of-a-kind businesses that employ the majority of our workforce,” County Economic Development Coordinator Barbara Mason said. “This conference is intended to help those just starting out become the next Joby or Santa Cruz Skateboards, or Pizza My Heart!”

Join 200 Santa Cruz County entrepreneurs and small business owners!

Experience the pulse of Santa Cruz County’s vibrant entrepreneurial scene at the highly anticipated Annual Small Business Summit on Friday, April 28th, 2023. Presented by the Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in partnership with Event Santa Cruz, this exhilarating day-long conference unites 200 local small business owners with the region’s most accomplished business professionals, innovative entrepreneurs, and industry trailblazers. This year’s summit featuring two inspirational keynote speakers and 20 captivating educational sessions, equips attendees with invaluable tools and resources, while nurturing networking opportunities among driven, like-minded individuals. Happening from 9 am to 4 pm, the summit’s central hub is the Museum of Art and History (MAH), with breakout sessions hosted across multiple locations in the bustling downtown Santa Cruz.

Our Sponsors are Rad!

Santa Cruz County Bank
City of Santa Cruz Economic Development Office
Lookout
SBA

Event Powered By

Santa Cruz County
El Pajaro
Go Biz Logo
OPENtoBUY.CO
City Logo

Sensational Speakers

 Zachary Davis from the Penny Ice Creamery

Zachary Davis

Keynote Speaker

The Penny Ice Creamery

David Dennis

David Dennis

Co-Founder of Ventana Surfboards & Supplies and Principal Product Manager at Microsoft

Elizabeth Birnbaum

Elizabeth Birnbaum

Founder and CEO of The Curated Feast

Jay Brown - Filmmaker, Producer, Mindset Consultant, and Founder of Mindfraime

Jay Brown 

Filmmaker, Producer, Mindset Consultant, and Founder of Mindfraime

Leilani and Ariel

Leilani & Ariel

Botanic and Luxe

Alexander Pedersen

Alexander Pedersen

Interim Director, Small Business Development Center – Santa Cruz

DNA

Jennalee Dahlen

Owner of Yoso Wellness Spa

Benjamin Slade

Benjamin Slade

Human Resources Director at California Giant Berry Farms

Andrew Devlin

Andrew Devlin

CEO | Co-Founder at PitchHub

Loree Van Bebber

Loree Van Bebber

California Coastal Rural Development Corporation

Nicole Fischer

Nicole Fischer 

Owner of Rootstock Collective

Kaleb Kim

Kaleb Kim

NDC

Ted Holladay

Ted Holladay 

Founder / Chief Creative Officer at Studio Holladay

Bryce Root

Bryce Root

Marketing Strategist

Austyn Crispell

Austyn Crispell

Social Media Specialist, CEO of Makhai Media

Matthew Swinnerton

Matthew Swinnerton

Founder of Event Santa Cruz

Larry Hebert

Larry Hebert

Finance Advisor

Ashley Harmon

Ashley Harmon

Lookout Santa Cruz

Jamie Garfiel

Jamie Garfiel

Lookout Santa Cruz

 

Leroy Elkin

Leroy Elkin

Angel Investor

Will Wiseman

Will Wiseman

CEO & Co-Founder at Climatize

Candice Elliott

Candice Elliott

Fortress and Flourish, HR Nerd

Doug Erickson

Doug Erickson

Executive Director Santa Cruz Works

Jessica Yarr - Chef Owner of The Grove

Jessica Yarr

Chef Owner of The Grove

SVP Director of Business Banking at Santa Cruz County Bank

Doug Fischer

SVP Director of Business Banking at Santa Cruz County Bank

Justine Willeford, CEO and designer, Pelican House Swimwear

Justine Willeford

CEO and designer, Pelican House Swimwear

Carolina Avalos

Carolina Avalos

Artist and Owner, True Blue Studio

Céline Jennison

Céline Jennison

Founder & chief alchemist, Anato

Sonia McMoran from Home/Work and Dyane Villalobos from Childish

Sonia McMoran & Dyane Villalobos

Home/Work and Childish

Alwa Gordon - Music Guest

Alwa Gordon

Music Guest

Our Sizzling Agenda

“SBDC, the best support system from start to finish in the building and fruition of your dreams.”

—Bronwyn Parsons Owner of Willow and Wolf Salon

April 28, 2023 — 9:00AM – 4:00PM

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9:00am – 10:00am

Kickoff, Interview, Music

Zach Davis, Alexander Pedersen, and Matthew Swinnerton

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10:00am – 11:00am

Sizzle

Elizabeth Birnbaum

TBA

The Boardroom (MAH)

Jay Stone

Cultivate a mindset that helps make compelling and engaging content that will help your business grow

Botanic & Luxe

Ariel Stirm and Leilani Zehnder

From best Friends, to running a Successful Retail Business

The Garden Room (MAH)

Larry Hebert and Bryce Root

Seasonal Retail Shows Are Coming, Is Your Inventory Buying Strategy Ready?

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11:00am – 12:00pm

The Garden Room (MAH)

Nick Burton, Loree Van Bebber, Doug Fischer, and Jeff Heitman

Access to Capital Panel

Cruzio - Doug Ross Room

Nicole Fischer

From Maker to CEO Panel Discussion

Childish

Dyane Villalobos and Sonia McMoran

Community Over Competition

Cruzio - Room 122

Ted Holladay 

Branding / the process of discovery

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12:00pm – 1:00pm

Lunch

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1:00pm – 2:00pm

Cruzio - Doug Ross Room

David Dennis

Using Artificial Intelligence to Super Charge Your Marketing

The Boardroom (MAH)

Candance Elliott 

Breaking the Stress Cycle: Roadmap to a Thriving Culture

Nextspace - Pacific Room

Austyn Crispell 

How I make $100k per month through social media at 19 (AND HOW YOUR BUSINESS CAN TOO)

The Garden Room (MAH)

Jessica Yarr

 No business is too small 

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2:00pm – 3:00pm

The Garden Room (MAH)

Nick Burton, Loree Van Bebber, Doug Fischer, and Jeff Heitman

Access to Capital Panel Discussion

Nextspace - Pacific Room

Ashley Harmon & Jamie Garfield

Earned, Owned, & Paid Media: Business Storytelling with Lookout Santa Cruz

Yoso Wellness Spa

Jennalee Dahlen 

Having the face of a brand to build trust and connection

The Boardroom (MAH)

Andrew Devlin

The power of video for your business

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3:00pm – 4:00pm

The Secret Garden (MAH)

Venture Capital and Santa Cruz County’s Startup Ecosystem 

Leroy Elkin, Will Wiseman, and Doug Erikson

Register Now!

Locations for All the Sizzles

SCC Small Business Summit 2022