JUNE 4, 2025
ISADORE AND SADIE DORIN FORUM
FEATURED SHOW AREAS
Exhibitor Hall
Meet great vendors with unique services to help your business grow.
Workshops
30 minute sessions led by Industry Experts in various fields.
Keynote Theatre
Learn from iconic Business Leaders on The Main Stage.
Speed Networking
Meet 1-on-1 with other Businesses in these quick & efficient mini 2-minute networking sessions. (Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badges)
Industry Meet-Ups
Meet & Network with Business Professionals in your Industry or other Industries of interest.
Networking Happy Hour
Join us to wind down the day in a relaxed, fun networking atmosphere. Perfect for fostering new connections made during SBE. (Gold, Platinum & VIP Badges)
Business Card Exchange
Market yourself & your business to other SBE attendees by displaying your business card.
Photo Opps
Capture memorable moments at our designated Photo Opp Backdrops and share them on social media tagging #smallbusinessexpo
TODAY’S AGENDA
10:30AM - 11:00AM
W Lead Gen Mastery: How 2 Podcast Interviews a Week Can Transform Your Business
Gini Trask, Need A Guest
Joe Moghaizel, Need A Guest
Are you sick and tired of trying to get leads from social media? What if you could create consistent leads and sales, week in and week out with just 2 simple steps? Learn how we generated over $1M in revenue without even having a website.
Workshop Room 1 (Floor 1)
11:15AM - 11:45AM
From Complexity to Freedom: Empowering Entrepreneurs for Prosperity
Joseph LoPresti, ClearPoint Family Office
Unlock the power of a Fractional Family Office to revolutionize your business strategy, personal wealth, and secure your freedom. Gain expert, tailored guidance to navigate complexity and achieve your ambitions as an entrepreneur.
How to Eliminate Back-Office Busy Work
Workshop Room 3 (Floor 1)
W
Slash Taxes, Boost Profits & Keep More Cash—In Just 30 Minutes!
Jeffrey Mohlman, Lifetime Navigators
James Johnson, Lifetime Navigators
A simple approach to reducing your taxes immediately and in the long run, improving cash flow, employee retention, increasing profits and fostering sustainable growth. (What more could you want in 30 minutes?!)
Outsmart the System & Build Wealth Like a Bank
Ron Harris, Financial Literacy Group
The financial system is designed to keep the middle class stuck in a cycle of debt, but you don’t have to play by its rules. Learn how overfunding life insurance policies can turn debt into income-generating assets, helping you build long-term financial security and independence.
Workshop Room 2 (Floor 1)
Workshop Room 3 (Floor 1)
W
Harnessing Risk: Turning Uncertainty into Business Success
Bright Komeng, Top Rho Business Services
Learn how to turn risk into a strategic growth engine. Discover the frameworks entrepreneurs use to scale smarter, move faster, and turn uncertainty into opportunity.
10:40AM - 11:00AM Franchises Industry Meet-Up M
11:00AM - 11:20AM
Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, Finance, Investors Industry Meet-Up M
Networking Session
Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
Workshop Room 4 (Floor 1)
John McKevitt, Keyence Corporation
Tasks like data entry, invoicing, and reporting can drain valuable time from small business teams. This presentation explores how automation is being used to streamline routine operations, reduce manual work, and improve overall efficiency.
11:20AM - 11:40AM
Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, PR Industry Meet-Up
11:40AM - 12:00PM
Web Services, Apps, IT, Software, Technology Industry Meet-Up
12:00PM - 12:45PM S Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
12:00PM - 12:45PM FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
K
Meet-Ups (Exhibitor Hall Floor 1)
Meet-Ups (Exhibitor Hall Floor 1)
1) S 11:00AM - 11:45AM
Hall
11:15AM - 11:45AM
W Digital Marketing for Your Business
Carolina Villarreal, Verizon
You will learn how visuals, tone, style, and storytelling help to shape brand perception. Master brand storytelling and how to launch a high-impact digital marketing campaign on a budget, plus DIY digital marketing on a budget.
W Cybersecurity: Improving the Human Firewall & Protecting Identities
John Kampas, EMPIST
Explore strategies to strengthen the human firewall through awareness, training, and identity protection to reduce cyber risks and defend against evolving threats.
Workshop Room 4 (Floor 1)
From Local to Legendary: Building a Brand that Stands Out
Grant Freeman, Thryv
Join Grant Freeman, President of Thryv, as he shares 3 things you can do to build a standout business, using the power of AI to make it happen. He will detail ways to leverage AI to build your brand story, optimize your online presence and master the art of customer devotion. A career small business advocate, Grant knows the grit it takes to succeed, and his growth strategies are designed to ignite confidence and fuel success.
1:00PM - 1:30PM
W From Credit Scores to SBA Loans: Building Your Lendability
Danny Williams, Growegy
Workshop Room 1 (Floor 1)
Explore your options to obtain business financing. This workshop will cover the various business credit scores, how to build business credit, requirements for SBA 7a loans, and how to grow your business revenue.
Curating Your Life for Lasting Fulfillment
Gail Golden, Gail Golden Consulting
Discover how to boost wellbeing, happiness, and performance by curating your life.
Workshop Room 2 (Floor 1)
Workshop Room 2 (Floor 1)
Psychologist and leadership expert Gail Golden shares science-backed strategies to focus your energy on what matters most—and let go of what doesn’t.
Keynote Theatre (Floor 2)
AGENDA
1:00PM - 1:30PM
Contracting Opportunities with a $1.5 Billion Government Agency
Richard Martin, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Learn how to become a vendor, get certified as an MBE, WBE, VBE and learn about subcontracting opportunities with a $1.5 billion wastewater treatment agency in Cook County (MWRD).
Workshop Room 3 (Floor 1)
Proven Marketing System for Profitable Growth
Brandon Bartel, Evergreen Business Marketing
Learn the proven R4 Marketing System— Readiness, Resell, Reach, Retarget—to attract ideal customers, boost profits, and grow consistently. A proven system for small business owners ready to scale smarter, not harder.
1:00PM - 1:20PM
M eCommerce, Manufacturers, Retail, Distributors Industry Meet-Up
1:00PM - 1:45PM
S Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
1)
2:45PM - 3:15PM
Wrestling with Organic Search: How to Beat the Competition
Dane Saville, SearchLab Digital
This is a crash course in developing a local SEO strategy that will help any local business dominate their backyard. From proper optimizations to developing a cogent content strategy, attendees will get specific insights from proven tactics.
The Three Secrets of the Fastest Growing Small Businesses
Nicholas Loise, Sales Performance Team
Learn what the top-performing entrepreneurs and small businesses are doing differently to scale sales rapidly, attract top talent, and grow without burning out . Learn the secrets of those that break out and grow fast, even in uncertain markets.
3:00PM - 3:20PM Hospitality, Travel, Transportation, Recreation Industry Meet-Up
Workshop Room 3 (Floor 1)
1:40PM - 2:00PM Healthcare, HR, Employee Services Industry Meet-Up
1:45PM - 2:30PM
Foundations of Digital Marketing Success
Dave Charest, Constant Contact
Meet-Ups (Exhibitor Hall Floor 1)
1:20PM - 1:40PM Professional Services Industry Meet-Up M Industry Meet-Ups (Exhibitor Hall Floor 1)
The Keynote Theatre
3:00PM - 3:45PM S Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
Join Dave Charest, Constant Contact’s Director of Small Business Success, to unravel the mystery behind online marketing and discover a simple and adaptable framework that’ll become your strategic compass for digital growth.
2:00PM - 2:45PM
S
(Exhibitor Hall Floor 1) Speed Networking Session Silver, Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
2:45PM - 3:15PM Win More Business!
Kelli Henthorn, Thryv
Discover the power of websites, SEO strategies, positive reviews, and engaging social media content to attract more customers and increase your bottom line. Unlock the secrets to elevating your online presence & stand out in the digital marketplace.
Gini Trask, Need A Guest
Joe Moghaizel, Need A Guest
Are you sick and tired of trying to get leads from social media? What if you could create consistent leads and sales, week in and week out with just 2 simple steps? Learn how we generated over $1M in revenue without even having a website.
3:15PM - 4:00PM
Unlock Success in Amazon’s Store: Insights From Local Entrepreneurs
Diana Mungu, Amazon
Pamela Jones, CharBoy’s Sauces Joe Radosevich, ÜLLO
Join us for an exclusive panel discussion moderated by Diana Mungu, Program Manager of Small Business Partnerships & Education at Amazon. Hear firsthand from two thriving Chicago-based entrepreneurs as they share their experience selling on Amazon.
3:40PM - 4:00PM
3:20PM - 3:40PM M Government, Non-Profit, Associations, Education Industry Meet-Up 4:30PM - 5:30PM
End your day in a more casual and fun networking environment.
Gold, Platinum & VIP Badge Holders
Keynote Theatre (Floor 2)
