Agenda

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 

11:00 a.m. Registration and lunch available (Starfire Event Center, 204 2nd St. SW, Waseca MN 56093 ) 

11:30-12:15 Welcome and Keynote (Starfire Event Center) 

Keynote: Amanda Brinkman, Chief Brand and Communications Officer at Deluxe Corporation 

12:15-12:45 p.m. Walk to Breakout Session 1 

12:45-1:45 p.m. Breakout Session 1 (in downtown Waseca businesses) 

• • Workshop 1: Agritourism Panel with Squash Blossom Farm, Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, Half Pint Brewery with moderator Rani Bhattacharyya 

  • Workshop 2: Biz Link North, a Business Succession Tool by Amy Newsom and Mark Wright 

  • Workshop 3: Growing Entrepreneurial Communities by Pam Bishop and Chris Schad 

  • Workshop 4: Venture Funding and Economic Development Panel with Steve Mercil, Xavier Frigola, and Jude Conway with moderator Ryan Nolander

  • Workshop 5: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Training Curricula by Kristi Kiehne and Melissa Holman  

1:45-2:15 p.m. Walk to Breakout Session 2

2:15-3:15 p.m. Breakout Session 2 (in downtown Waseca businesses) 

• • Workshop 1: Connecting an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem by Meg Steuer 

  • Workshop 2: Creative Strategies for Filling Downtown Spaces by Bill Owens 

  • Workshop 3: Broadband Program for Rural Business by Bernadine Joselyn and Ann Treacy

  • Workshop 4: Feast Initiative by Jan Joannides 

  • Workshop 5: 1 Million Cups Mankato by Gary Schott and Yvonne Cariveau

3:15-3:45 p.m. Walk to Breakout Session 3

3:45-4:45 p.m. Breakout Session 3 (in downtown Waseca businesses) 

• • Workshop 1: Mainstreet Programming to Support Small Business Entrepreneurs by Emily Kurash   

  • Workshop 2: KCEO: Connecting students with business to inspire entrepreneurship by Tyler Gerhking  

  • Workshop 3: Red Wing Ignite by Adam Gettings  

  • Workshop 4: Agricultural Utilization Research Institute’s Resources for Ag Entrepreneurs by Lisa Gjersvik 

  • Workshop 5: Small Business Development Center of Mankato Services for Entrepreneurs by Mike Hahn

4:45-5:30 p.m. Break

5:30-7:30 p.m. Reception and Networking Event (Club 57(across the street from Starfire)

Friday, Sept. 6, 2019 

7-8:30 a.m. Breakfast on your own 

8:30-9:15 a.m. Warm-up, wake-up, idea sharing (Starfire Event Center) 

9:15-9:30 a.m. Walk to Breakout Session 4

9:30-10:30 a.m. Breakout Session 4 (in downtown Waseca businesses) 

• • Workshop 1: Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Youth Retention Panel moderated by Ann Fitch 

  • Workshop 2: Panel on Co-Working Space Models with Jamie Sundsbak, Sue Vigstol and Myron White 

  • Workshop 3: Minnesota Cup Program by Jessica Berg 

  • Workshop 4: Opportunities for Latino Entrepreneurship by Jamie Villalez

  • Workshop 5: Using Data to Understand Your Market by Cameron Macht and Neil Linscheid

10:30-10:45 a.m. Walk to Closing Session 

10:45-12:00 p.m. Closing Session (Starfire Event Center) 

10:45-11:15 a.m. Keynote speaker- Tom Smude, Co-Owner of Smude Enterprises, LLC 

11:15-12:00 p.m.  Minnesota DEED's "Launch" Program by Deputy Commissioner, Kevin McKinnon

12:00-12:30 p.m. Closing Remarks and Adjourn (box lunch available)