The Small Business Festival provides expert speakers, panels, resource groups and networking opportunities for small businesses through a series of events spread across 3 days.
This year’s festival is focused on starting a new business, growing an existing one, and connecting everyone to the incredible resources this region has to offer, as well as to each other.
Find the inspiration you need, learn a new trick to your trade, and make at least one connection that will transform your business at the Small Business Festival!
THURSDAY
Small Business Festival Kickoff Breakfast
Join us in kicking off the Small Business Festival in the Tri-Cities at Bristol Motor Speedway with breakfast and some inspirational talks. Then stay for amazing workshops or venture out across the Tri-Cities for workshops covering impactful topics for your new or existing ventures!
9:00 – 11:00 AM Thursday, May 3 @ BMS, Bristol, TN
Basic Permitting 101 (Commercial Property)
Karl cooler from the City of Bristol, TN will speak on the basics of permitting for commercial properties. This workshop follows the kickoff breakfast!
11:00 – 11:30 AM Thursday, May 3 @ BMS, Bristol, TN
Financing Your Dream
Wes Argabrite of the Bank of Tennessee will speak on how to finance your dreams!
11:30 – 12:00 PM Thursday, May 3 @ BMS, Bristol, TN
B2B Marketing Strategies
New in Business? Have a limited marketing budget? Want to train your sales team? If you are looking for easy and cost-effective marketing strategies to engage your customers and grow your revenue, this seminar is for you! It includes: – Inbound Marketing – Targeting – Networking Strategies – B2B social Media – Helpful Tools MOCK NETWORKING SESSION with all DO’s and DON’TS A perfect seminar if you are a small business owner, sales/marketing professional, solo entrepreneur or just about anyone who would like to learn the tricks of the trade. This is a FREE event. Light refreshments will be served at the event. Speaker(s): Jeremy Laduke; Owner/Chief Storyteller at Epic Nine Marketing
11:30 – 1:00 PM Thursday, May 3 @ Chamber of Commerce, Kingsport, TN
Launch Thursday: Legal for Startups (Johnson City)
Everything you need to know, and so much more, on how to start your business, form your business, and plenty of time for questions after the talk! Learn about the legal needs and requirements to start your business or ask questions about your current one.
12:30 – 1:00 PM Thursday, May 3 @ ETSU Innovation Lab, Johnson City, TN
Launch Thursday: Accounting for Startups (Johnson City)
Everything you need to know and so much more about bookkeeping, taxes, and general CPA knowledge! There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
1:00 – 1:30 PM Thursday, May 3 @ ETSU Innovation Lab, Johnson City, TN
Launch Thursday: Social Media for Startups (Johnson City)
Building a strong following for your business online can make or break your business. Come learn what you need to know before you launch or rethink your existing social media campaign.
1:30 – 2:00 PM Thursday, May 3 @ ETSU Innovation Lab, Johnson City, TN
Hack and Tinker Night
Drop by Sync.Space anytime between 5:30-10 PM. We socialize, swaps stories and advice, show off projects, collaborate, and scheme. At the Model City Makerspace, our mission is to support local entrepreneurship and create an environment that inspires the maker community to network, collaborate, practice their craft, and learn new skills. Our makers range from enthusiasts and artists; to geeks/tinkerers, coders, and craftsmen. If you are into it, we are into it.
5:30 -10:00 PM Thursday, May 3 @ Sync.Space, Kingsport, TN
Launch Thursday: Legal for Startups (Kingsport)
Everything you need to know, and so much more, on how to start your business, form your business, and plenty of time for questions after the talk!
6:00 – 6:30 PM Thursday, May 3 @ Sync.Space, Kingsport, TN
The Pitfalls of a Small Business Owner
Join other entrepreneurs on Thursday night from 6 to 7 PM in the JRH Brewing Room as John Henritze shares “pitfalls of a small business owner.” Hear from John and the lessons that he’s learned over the past few years as a small brewing owner and have a cold brew while networking with others!
6:00 – 7:00 PM Thursday, May 3 @ JRH Brewing, Johnson City, TN
How To: Create a Marketing Strategy for Your Business
In this workshop led by ARO’s Vice Presidents, Samantha Culbertson and Ashley Shutt, you will be guided through the step-by-step process of creating and implementing a marketing strategy for your business. We will discuss where to begin, what tools you will need, and the benefits of having a solid plan for the future.
6:30 – 7:00 PM Thursday, May 3 @ Sync.Space, Kingsport, TN
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing): Today and Tomorrow
Learn all about Additive Manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, with an interactive session at Sync Space in Kingsport. Marshall Reid, head of the Inventor Center will be leading the interactive discussion.
7:00 – 7:30 PM Thursday, May 3 @ Sync.Space, Kingsport, TN
FRIDAY
First Friday Breakfast – Bristol Chamber of Commerce
Join the Bristol Chamber of Commerce for their First Friday Business Breakfast. The Speaker is Steve Smith of Food City.
7:30 – 9:30 AM Friday, May 4 @ King University, Bristol, TN
Intro to Bitcoin & Cryptocurrencies
We invite all proponents and opponents of the Bitcoin Technology to join us for an open and insightful discussion about the pros and cons and to understand what the future holds for Bitcoin. This seminar is designed to educate business owners and others about Bitcoin Technology and to prepare them for potential Bitcoin transactions. Who should attend? Anyone who is curious and would like to know more about Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies. This is not a sales pitch. Come and learn, network with others, and get answers to your questions about the Bitcoin. The seminar will highlight the following topics: • What is Bitcoin and how to use it? • Is Bitcoin an investment? • What is mining? • Are there business opportunities? • What does the future hold for Bitcoin? Light refreshments will be provided.
Speaker(s): Mr. John Cannon, Author of BTC- 101 An Introduction to Bitcoin
Entrepreneurship 101
Get tips and tricks from K.D. Bowen! The talk will be at the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce at the Mall Annex Room at The Mall at Johnson City. (The Mall Annex Room is on the back side of the Mall, between the Men’s/Women’s Belk stores—look for the black awning)
Please Bring Your Own Lunch.
12:00 – 1:00 PM Friday, May 4 @)JOHNSON CITY MALL (MALL ANNEX ROOM), Johnson City, TN
Bob’s Top 10 Rules for Success
Bob Justice of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center will speak about his top 10 rules of business success.
1:00 – 1:30 PM Friday, May 4 @ Warehouse 817 Bristol, VA
Are You Ready? – A Startup Workshop
Cindy Fields of the Virginia Small Business Development Center will speak on making sure you are ready to start your venture as well as how to get started once you are!
3:00 – 3:30 PM Friday, May 4 @ Warehouse 817 Bristol, VA
SATURDAY
Launching Grassy Ridge Coffee
Jeff Rainey is launching Grassy Ridge Coffee, the premiere hand roasted and sourced coffee subscription service, in the Tri-Cities and he will kick off our Starturday Festival talking about the challenges and successes of launching a business in Northeast Tennessee. Learn how he built a following and how he plans to grow into a national brand.
9:30 – 10:00 AM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
Women/Minority Business Discussion
Joyce Brown and Aundrea Wilcox will be leading this discussion.
9:30 – 10:30 AM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Train Station, Bristol, VA
Benefits of a Gigabit Community
Jim Maxwell, Bristol Herald Courier, will be speaking about the benefits of a gigabit community.
10:00 10:30 AM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
Panel: Co-Working and Building Strong Startup Communities
Co-Working is more than just a place to work. It creates strong startup communities that share knowledge and enables collaboration through co-habitation. Learn how to be a part of these communities and how to build your own. Featured Speakers: Spark Plaza, SyncSpace, StudioWed, VenturePlace, SquareOne, and more.
10:30 – 11:00 AM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) & Impact Investing
Glen Yelton of Oppenheimer Funds to speak on impact investing and understanding the mind of the impact investor (those that want to do good or make an economic impact with their money).
10:30 – 11:00 AM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Train Station, Bristol, VA
Panel: Tourism Business in the Tri-Cities
Featured Speakers: Courtney Cacatian, Alicia Phelps, NETTA, and Chris Cannon, My SWVA. Moderated by Courtney Cacatian, Discover Bristol
11:00 – 12:00 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
How to Attract an Investor’s Attention
With speaker Tony Lettich of the Angel Round Table
11:00 – 11:30 AM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Train Station, Bristol, VA
Green Business Initiatives
Speaker Brian Deal.
11:30 – 12:00 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Train Station, Bristol, VA
Panel: Entrepreneur Music
The business of music in the region. Speakers: Dave Eggar, Teri Dosher and Kris Truelson
1:00 – 2:00 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, VA
NO BS! Get more sales!
Mickey Trivett talks about how to get more sales by leaving the BS behind.
1:00 – 1:30 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
Making Money Doing What You Love
Casey Oxendine will speak on how to make money doing what you love.
1:30 – 2:00 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
Creative Marketing for Your Small Business
Guest Speaker Karen Hester.
2:00 – 2:30 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Foundation Event Center (HP King Room), Bristol, TN
Hiring Help Without Breaking the Bank
Ashley Cox of SproutHR will speak on how to hire your first or next employee without breaking the bank. Learn all about the process of finding, interviewing and contracting your next employees.
2:00 – 2:30 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
Panel: CO.STARTERS
CO.STARTERS is a nine-week program that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn ideas into action. CO.STARTERS helps participants apply the lean business modeling methods of high-growth startups to small businesses of all kinds. Each cohort consists of 10-16 entrepreneurs and is facilitated by an experienced business owner or founder. Come learn from past participants and learn what CO.STARTERS is all about first hand.
2:30 – 3:00 Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
Registered Investment Advisors
Matt Deitel from Dunham & Deitel Wealth Management will talk about Registered Investment Advisors and how they could make sense for your business.
2:30 – 3:00 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Foundation Event Center (HP King Room), Bristol, TN
Startup Story: StudioBrew – Beer is an Art… A Very Tasty Art – (Brewery Networking)
Come learn about Studio Brew’s Startup Story and check out their amazing brewery!
3:00 – 3:30 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Studio Brew, Bristol, VA
The 5 Videos Your Business Should Be Posting On Social Media
Josh Mancuso has a background of promotion through video. He will guide you on the most important topics to cover with video on social media.
3:00 – 3:30 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Foundation Event Center (HP King Room), Bristol, TN
Panel: Lessons Learned Starting Up
Learn from others that have been or are going where you want to go. Hear from local entrepreneurs that have been in the trenches and learn from their experiences so you can achieve success even faster. Speakers: Craig Charles, Flow Med-Tech, Josh Self, Angie Hyche, Edwin Williams of Perserbid.
Moderated by David Nelson
3:00 – 3:30 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Becoming a Rainmaker
An old adage states that entrepreneurs are born and not made. In this session, we will explore invalid assumptions and beliefs that limit a person to becoming a rainmaking entrepreneur. We will look at who you need to be in order to be able to do all you need to do to achieve success. Speaker: Dr. Audrey Depelteau of the Innovation Lab
3:30 – 4:00 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, TN
Startup, Bootstrap, and the Importance of Partnerships (Brewery Networking)
Ken Monyak of Bristol Station will share his experiences in startup up his business, bootstrapping it up on his own, and forming strong partnerships to help him be successful. His vast experience in these topics will be a great opportunity for you to learn from an experienced entrepreneur.
4:00 – 4:30 PM Saturday, May 5 @ Bristol Station Brewery and Pub, Bristol, VA
Bristol Venues
BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
151 Speedway Boulevard, Bristol, TN
KING UNIVERSITY
1350 King College Rd, Bristol, TN
FOUNDATION EVENT FACILITY (HP KING ROOM)
620 State Street, Bristol, TN
620 State Street, Bristol, TN
BRISTOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
20 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN
BRISTOL TRAIN STATION
101 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Bristol, VA
BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM
520 Birthplace of Country Music Way, Bristol, VA
WAREHOUSE 817
817 State Street, Bristol, VA
STUDIO BREW
221 Moore Street, Bristol, VA
BRISTOL STATION BREWERY & PUB
41 Piedmont Avenue, Bristol, VA
Kingsport Venues
SYNC SPACE
227 East Sullivan Street, Kingsport, TN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
400 Clinchfield Street, Kingsport, TN
Johnson City Venues
ETSU INNOVATION LAB
2109 West Market Street, Johnson City, TN
JOHNSON CITY MALL (MALL ANNEX ROOM)
2011 North Roan Street, Johnson City, TN
JRH BREWING, LLC
458 West Walnut Street, Johnson City, TN
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