BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20261014T140000Z DTEND:20261014T210000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:Level Up: Small Business Summit 2026 DESCRIPTION:Running a business doesn't come with a playbook\, but the right connections and insights can make all the difference. Join fellow entrepreneurs\, business owners and professionals for a day focused on real-world strategies to help your business grow\, adapt and stay competitive. Explore expert-led sessions on marketing\, finance\, operations and technology. Learn about the local resources available to support your success and connect with others who are navigating the same challenges.\n\n\n\nYou'll also dive into interactive discussions focused on the toughest issues you face and the opportunities you can leverage. Leave with fresh ideas\, valuable connections and actionable insights you can put to work right away. Invest in your business. Attend Level Up. \n\n\n\nInterested in having a vendor booth? Register to reserve a vendor booth and make valuable connections that can help grow your business. Click here to learn more. \n\n\n\nMeet your Keynote Speaker\n\n\n\nRamon Ray is a small business expert\, entrepreneur\, author of Celebrity CEO and publisher of ZoneofGenius.com. A passionate advocate for entrepreneurs\, Ray has built his career around sharing the stories of Main Street business owners and helping them grow stronger\, more visible brands. As the founder of SmartHustle Media and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at ALICE\, he brings firsthand experience as a business owner\, having launched four companies and successfully sold two.\n\nRecognized nationally for his expertise in technology\, marketing\, sales\, business growth and personal branding\, Ray has testified before the United States Congress\, spoken at the White House and interviewed President Barack Obama during the president's first live Google Hangout. He also served as part of the U.S. delegation to India for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Through thousands of articles\, speaking engagements and business consultations\, Ray has helped hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs gain the insights and confidence needed to grow and thrive. RamonRay.com\n\n\n\n \n.embed-container { position: relative\; padding-bottom: 56.25%\; height: 0\; overflow: hidden\; max-width: 100%\; } .embed-container iframe\, .embed-container object\, .embed-container embed { position: absolute\; top: 0\; left: 0\; width: 100%\; height: 100%\; }\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAgenda\n\n9:00 a.m. Welcome\n\n9:10 Breakout Sessions pick 1\n\n\n Track A: Marketing & Innovation - Amy Behning\, MindFire Communications\n Track B: Capital & Finance - bank and credit union sponsors\n Track C: Business Operations & Technology - Marcia Erickson\, ActionCOACH\n\n9:50 a.m. Vendor Marketplace\n\n10:25 a.m. City Administrator Panel: Accessing Local Loans\, Grants and Business Incentives\n\n11:25 a.m. Vendor Marketplace\n\n12:00 p.m. Lunch & Keynote Speaker: Ramon Ray\n\n1:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions pick 1\n\n\n Track A: Marketing & Innovation - Aubrey Barnes\n Track B: Capital & Finance - Kristin Berry\, Total Solutions\n Track C: Business Operations & Technology - Ben Driscoll\, Twin State Technical Services\n\n1:40 p.m. Break\n\n2:00 p.m. Solutions Lab pick 3\, table discussions\n\n\n Government Contracting & Procurement - Maria Ramos - Elisondo - Business Advisor\, Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University\n Nonprofit Sustainability - Frances Williams\, Mercado on 5th Executive Director\n Scaling your Business - SCORE Mentor\, Gary Gemberling\n Succession Planning/Purchasing an Existing Business - How to Approach - Ann Friederichs\, Certified Business Advisor - Director Illinois SBDC WIU - Quad Cities\n Workforce Recruitment & Retention - Chris Caves\, Vice President\, Business Retention\, Expansion\, & Workforce Grow Quad Cities\n\n3:20 p.m. Closing Remarks\n\n3:30 5:00 p.m. Happy Hour\n\n\n\nWe strive to host inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. For event assistance or any additional information\, contact us.\n\n \nCancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received at least 72 hours in advance in order to receive a registration refund. You may transfer your registration to another person within your company at no additional cost.\n\n\n\n\n\n.embed-container { position: relative\; padding-bottom: 56.25%\; height: 0\; overflow: hidden\; max-width: 100%\; } .embed-container iframe\, .embed-container object\, .embed-container embed { position: absolute\; top: 0\; left: 0\; width: 100%\; height: 100%\; } X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
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Running a business doesn'\;t come with a playbook\, but the right connections and insights can make all the difference. Join fellow entrepreneurs\, business owners and professionals for a day focused on real-world strategies to help your business grow\, adapt and stay competitive. Explore expert-led sessions on marketing\, finance\, operations and technology. Learn about the local resources available to support your success and connect with others who are navigating the same challenges.
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\nYou'\;ll also dive into interactive discussions focused on the toughest issues you face and the opportunities you can leverage. Leave with fresh ideas\, valuable connections and actionable insights you can put to work right away. Invest in your business. Attend Level Up. \;
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\nInterested in having a vendor booth? Register to reserve a vendor booth and make valuable connections that can help grow your business. Click here to learn more.
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\nMeet your Keynote Speaker

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Ramon Ray

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Ramon Ray is a small business expert\, entrepreneur\, author of Celebrity CEO and publisher of ZoneofGenius.com. A passionate advocate for entrepreneurs\, Ray has built his career around sharing the stories of Main Street business owners and helping them grow stronger\, more visible brands. As the founder of SmartHustle Media and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at ALICE\, he brings firsthand experience as a business owner\, having launched four companies and successfully sold two.

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Recognized nationally for his expertise in technology\, marketing\, sales\, business growth and personal branding\, Ray has testified before the United States Congress\, spoken at the White House and interviewed President Barack Obama during the president'\;s first live Google Hangout. He also served as part of the U.S. delegation to India for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Through thousands of articles\, speaking engagements and business consultations\, Ray has helped hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs gain the insights and confidence needed to grow and thrive. RamonRay.com
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\nAgenda
\n9:00 a.m. Welcome
\n9:10 Breakout Sessions &ndash\; pick 1\n\n\n9:50 a.m. Vendor Marketplace
\n10:25 a.m. City Administrator Panel: Accessing Local Loans\, Grants and Business Incentives
\n11:25 a.m. Vendor Marketplace
\n12:00 p.m. Lunch &\; Keynote Speaker: Ramon Ray
\n1:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions &ndash\; pick 1\n\n\n1:40 p.m. Break
\n2:00 p.m. Solutions Lab &ndash\; pick 3\, table discussions\n\n\n3:20 p.m. Closing Remarks
\n3:30 &ndash\; 5:00 p.m. Happy Hour
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\nWe strive to host inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. For event assistance or any additional information\, contact us.\n\n
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\nCancellation Policy: \;Cancellations must be received at least 72 hours in advance in order to receive a registration refund. You may transfer your registration to another person within your company at no additional cost.
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\n\n LOCATION:RiverCenter UID:e.2843.25256 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20261002T083740Z URL:https://member.quadcitieschamber.com/events/details/level-up-small-business-summit-2026-25256 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR