Leveraging Regionalism to Empower Small Businesses Summit

May

2

2024

PAST EVENT

About the Leveraging Regionalism to Empower Small Businesses Summit

https://youtu.be/V8FvtTWRaY4

Images from the Summit

Overview

Thursday, May 2, 2024

12:30 PM EST – 4:30 PM EST

National Press Club

529 14th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20045

The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) launched our summit focusing on regional economic development’s role in bolstering small businesses. The summit explored strategies for fostering small business growth within diverse regional contexts. Experts discussed leveraging local resources, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering collaboration between stakeholders with emphasis placed on equitable access to opportunities, innovative financing models, and leveraging technology. The summit sought to formulate actionable solutions to empower small businesses as engines of economic development. AEO also announced our forthcoming regional council launch and tour in October 2024.

This event was followed by a Welcome Reception for our new President & CEO, Natalie Madeira Cofield, from 5-7 PM at the JW Marriott.

Agenda

Welcome Remarks

Natalie Madeira Cofield

President & CEO, AEO

Conversation w/ EDA Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Alejandra Y. Castillo

Natalie Madeira Cofield

President & CEO, AEO

Alejandra Y. Castillo

Alejandra Y. Castillo

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development (EDA)

State Economic Development Panel Discussion

Todd Greene

Moderator

Todd Greene

VP & Executive Director, WorkRise, Urban Institute

Carolina Martinez

Carolina Martinez

CEO, California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO)

Inez Long

Inez Long

President & CEO, BBIF

Wendy Baumann

Wendy Baumann

President & Chief Visionary Officer, WWBIC

Local Economic Development Panel Discussion

Alison Evans

Moderator

Alison Evans

Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development Specialist, SBA

Daniel Flores

Daniel Flores

VP, Gov’t Relations, GW Board of Trade

John Lewis

John Lewis

CEO, The Harbor Bank of Maryland

Brienne Maner

Brienne Maner

President, Startup Sioux Falls

Jo Panzera

Jo Panzera

Executive Director, Start Small Think Big

Conversation on Sustainability and Inclusion for Small Businesses

Chelsea Maxwell

Moderator

Chelsea Maxwell

Sr. Research Associate, AEO

Scot Case

VP, CSR & Sustainability, National Retail Federation (NRF)

Coles Jennings

Dir. of Corporate Sustainability, C3

Closing Remarks

Natalie Madeira Cofield

President & CEO, AEO