VGCC and Chambers announce Business Summit, seek sponsors


Business Summit keynote speaker Jack Smalley (submitted photo)

The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center, in partnership with the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County and the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, is planning a new event, and organizers are encouraging local businesses and organizations to join them. The “Business Summit,” entitled “Plugged-In, Productive & Profitable – The New Face of Business,” is scheduled to be held Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County.

According to VGCC Small Business Center Director Tanya Weary, “Our inaugural Business Summit will include an insightful and educational agenda with fast-paced, interactive discussions, designed to help businesses understand how they can improve their performance and processes using technology innovations, such as social media.” In addition to speakers and presentations, the summit is also set to include an “expo,” allowing businesses and organizations that help sponsor the event to tell attendees about their products and services. Several different sponsorship opportunities are available. The deadline to become a Gold or Silver-level sponsor is September 14.

VGCC will simulcast the event to the college’s South Campus and Warren County Campus, so that residents of Granville and Warren counties, respectively, will have the option of virtually joining the summit at locations convenient to them. Facilitators at those campuses will be on hand to relay questions from attendees there to presenters at Main Campus.

“Our focus on technology at this year’s summit allows us to carry out our goals for this event – to provide a networking opportunity and to educate small businesses how to successfully implement the latest technologies into their businesses,” Weary said.

The summit will feature a keynote presentation by Jack Smalley, Director of Learning & Development for Express Employment Professionals’ international headquarters. His presentation was arranged and sponsored by Hal Muetzel of the local Express Employment Professionals office. Smalley provides human resource training and consulting for nearly 600 Express offices and clients in the U.S. and Canada, and speaks to business groups across the country. He will discuss threats to businesses, how to respond to changes, and the use of technology. In addition, several local business owners and trainer Martin Brossman of Martin Brossman & Associates will provide presentations and participate on a panel to share their perspectives on opportunities for marketing strategies to help businesses succeed.

Attendees will be charged a small registration fee, which will include a box dinner and the opportunity to win numerous door prizes. For more information, call the VGCC Small Business Center at (252) 738-3240.