Pg 3 Welcome
Pg 4 About
Pg 6 The James Museum
Pg 8 Keynote Speakers
Pg 10 Conference Agenda
Pg 12 JMI 30 Awards
Pg 27 Conference Sponsors
Pg 28 Conference Presenters
Welcome to the 14th Annual Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship Conference here in beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida!
On behalf of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University, it is my sincere pleasure to extend a warm welcome to each of you. Whether this is your first time joining us or you’ve been with us throughout the years, your presence here is a testament to your commitment to growth, innovation, and the power of entrepreneurship.
This conference was created with one purpose in mind: to empower small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurial minds with the tools, resources, and connections to thrive. Over the next few days, you’ll engage with industry experts, thought leaders, and fellow changemakers who are all here to share, learn, and grow together.
We are proud of the work being done through the Jim Moran Institute of Global Entrepreneurship and its continued impact across Florida and beyond. This conference is not only a reflection of our mission but a celebration of what’s possible when education, community, and entrepreneurship intersect.
I encourage you to take full advantage of the workshops, networking opportunities, and insightful sessions throughout the event. Ask questions, make connections, and leave here inspired to take your business or organization to the next level.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Let’s make the 14th Annual Conference our most impactful one yet!
Dr. Susan S. Fiorito
Dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University
A B O U T A B O U T A B O U T
THE JIM MORAN INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP (JMI)
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, housed in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University, cultivates, trains and inspires entrepreneurial leaders through world-class executive education, applied training, public recognition and leading-edge research. The Jim Moran Institute comprises a dedicated team of entrepreneurship professionals, academic scholars and staff who foster the entrepreneurial spirit by helping to organize, expand and promote the knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship to facilitate new business and further the goals of established businesses.
Jennifer Kovach Director, South Florida
Marina Lickson Director, Northwest Florida
Stephanie Royal Director, Northeast Florida
Melissa Roberts Director, National Programs
Dr. Shane Smith Director, Central Florida
As the
JIMMORANCOLLEGEOFENTREPRENEURSHIP
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art provides experiences that inspire human connection and transformation through art depicting the peoples, landscapes, and history of the American West, and wildlife of the world. More than 400 premier works of art including sculpture, paintings and jewelry are on display in the museum’s 26,000 square feet of gallery space. The museum engages the community through programs and educational opportunities, for all ages, that bring our history to life and amplify voices that are not often at the forefront of mainstream western art. When The James Museum opened in April 2018 it became one of the newest additions to St. Petersburg’s thriving arts community.
WIFI Name: James Museum Guest
WIFI Password: CowgirlHat
Arroyo Mesa
Step1
CHARLIE WARD
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, HEISMAN TROPHY
WINNER, FORMER NBA PLAYER, FAMU MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH
Charlie Ward, Jr. is a husband, father, mentor and coach who embodies the principles of integrity, hard work and faith in God. He inspires adults and youth alike with his character and how he shows up in the world. Described as a once-in-a-lifetime athlete and human being, Charlie’s commitment to serve others is deeply respected in the sports community and far beyond. His calm demeanor and powerful leadership message of preparation, perseverance and patience set strong examples for business leaders, organizations, students and families. He continues to be highly sought after for his motivating and inspiring “Chalk Talk” keynote addresses and workshops, which he has presented around the world to teams, churches, organizations, conferences and businesses.
Listed among the most outstanding college athletes in modern history, Charlie, a two-sport athlete, was a stellar quarterback in football and an equally impressive point guard in basketball at Florida State University (FSU). During his senior year, he won over 30 awards, including the Heisman Trophy, and set 19 school and seven Atlantic Coast Conference records, subsequently leading the FSU Seminoles to their first-ever National Championship under legendary Coach Bobby Bowden. After graduating from FSU with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Charlie was drafted twice by Major League Baseball and was a first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks. He went on to play for the Knicks, helping the team consistently reach the playoffs six consecutive years from 1996 to 2001. He played eleven seasons as a leading point guard in the NBA in New York, San Antonio, and Houston, and served as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets for two years. In October 2022, Charlie was inducted into the inaugural class of the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame.
After achieving the remarkable feat of excelling in both college football and professional basketball, Charlie Ward has dedicated himself to coaching, mentoring and inspiring others through his leadership and faith. He serves in an advisory capacity on the AAU Alumni Youth Basketball Council. As former head coach of the boys varsity basketball team at Florida State University High School, he led Florida High to its first state Boys Basketball title since 1963 and earned consecutive conference Coach of the Year honors. In April 2025, he was named Head Coach of Florida A&M University Men’s Basketball.
Coach Ward is the subject of the biography "The Athlete: Greatness, Grace and the Unprecedented Life of Charlie Ward," by Jon Finkel, as well as ESPN's ACC Network documentary, "Twice As Nice – The Legend of Charlie Ward," which chronicles his two-sport career as a student-athlete at FSU.
Charlie Ward is a man whose greatness and grace know no bounds. He and his wife Tonja have been married for nearly 30 years, and they have three children, Caleb, Hope and Joshua. The Wards underwrote and produced youth development sports camps throughout the country from 1996– 2006, co-produced youth music & sports events with Christian Athletes United for Spiritual Empowerment (CAUSE) at four NBA All-Star Weekends 2001–2004 and continued to quietly donate funds to churches and schools. In 2015, they established a charitable foundation, now The Charlie and Tonja Ward Family Foundation, to leave a legacy of giving back by supporting youth character development through sports, education, the arts and wellness and supporting disaster relief initiatives.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025 | HYATT HOTEL, DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Time Location Event
5:00pm – 7:00pm HYBar Registration Open & Welcome Reception
DAY 1 : THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025 | THE JAMES MUSEUM
Time Location Event
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Arroyo Registration Open
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Mesa Networking and Coffee
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Chris Steinocher, President and CEO of St. Petersburg Chamber
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Mesa
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Mesa
Dr. Susan Fiorito, Dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University
Morning Keynote Ramon Ray, Entrepreneur & Author
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Break 1
Breakout Session 1
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Auditorium Mesa 1 Mesa 2
Compensation Strategies: Incorporating Growth & Employee Ownership
Robin Vernon Workplace Culture
Steven Edwards Navigating Business Real Estate
Bob Breslau
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM Mesa Break 2 and Lunch
Lunch Keynote
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Mesa
Coach Charlie Ward, Motivational Speaker, Heisman Trophy Winner, Former NBA Player, FAMU Men’s Head Basketball Coach
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Break 3
Breakout Session 2
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Auditorium Mesa 1 Mesa 2
Succession Planning (Panel)
Moderator: Robin Vernon
Panelists: Jamie Klingman and William Green Get More Customers with (Positive) Consumer Reviews
Bryan Oglesby and Cliff Kurt Financial Foundations
Adam Taylor
DAY1 CONTINUED:THURSDAY,JUNE12,2025|THEJAMESMUSEUM
Time Location Event
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Break 4
Breakout Session 3
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Auditorium Mesa 1 Mesa 2
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
How to Use Marketing Trends to Your Advantage Giavona “G” Williams
Franchise and Scale Your Business for Replication
Sarah Bolinder
Pricing Models for a Successful Business
Roslyn Rice
Self-Guided Tour & Explore Museum
Arroyo & Canyon Western-Themed Networking Reception
Line Dancing by The A.Y.E. Team
DAY2:FRIDAY,JUNE13,2025|THEJAMESMUSEUM
Time Location Event
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM Arroyo Registration Open
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Mesa
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Auditorium
Networking and Coffee
General Session 1
AI-Powered Content Strategy Moniek James
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM Break 5
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Auditorium
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Auditorium
11:30 AM – 11:35 AM Auditorium
Sponsor Remarks
Better Business Bureau - Bryan Oglesby and Cliff Kurt
General Session 2 (Panel)
Artificial Intelligence and Your Business
Moderator: Bill Lickson
Panelists: Alex Oliveira, Erick Solms, and Kathy Durfee
Sponsor Remarks
WorkGroup Payroll, Inc.- Allen Bornstein
Sprinkler Guard - Ken Kwiatkowski
11:35 AM – 12:00 PM Mesa Break 6 and Lunch
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Mesa
Lunch Keynote
Jessica Harvey, CEO of Guy Harvey Foundation
1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Break 7
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Auditorium JMI 30 Awards
2:00 PM Auditorium Closing Remarks
Honoring 30 Years of Excellence & Celebrating Growth!
Friday, June 13 | 1:00 PM
The James Museum | Auditorium
We’re proud to introduce the JMI 30 Awards, a new program inspired by the Seminole 100 awards, which launched in 2018. This milestone initiative spotlights the 30 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by Jim Moran Institute alumni.
The JMI 30 Award celebration promises to be an unforgettable event. A festive lunch will set the stage for the unveiling of the 2025 JMI 30 alumni top 30 companies. Companies will discover their rankings and receive their awards in a moment filled with cheers, applause, and well-deserved recognition.
This event is more than just an awards ceremony; it's a tribute to JMI’s most innovative and successful alumni business leaders and non-profit executives who exemplify the values, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit that JMI has championed for three decades.
AACP LLC
All Things Diverse
Anuvision Technologies Inc
Artemis Consulting Collective
Bannerman Landscape, Llc
Brandz Agency
Cadenza Center for Psychotherapy & the Arts, Inc.
Change
Clothes Bin Franchise
Data Clique Inc
DECONS ENERGY
Drummond Carpenter, PLLC
ElderSource
Family Therapy Group Of Weston
Global Oved Seminary & University
Grova
Knowli Data
Master Mechanical Services, Inc.
Professional
Robert Nichols
S&S
Samuel
Senior
South Beach Lady Yacht Charters
Sprinkler-Guard
SurfBigData
Tallulah CBD Mushrooms
