Speakers Announced for 2017 Small Business Workshop

May is small business month and small businesses are a major economic generator in Detroit and beyond.  Realizing that aspiring and current entrepreneurs grapple with how to build and grow their business, The LEE Group, in conjunction with Fifth Third Bank and the Michigan Women’s Foundation, will hold its annual Small Business Workshop on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, 7:30am-1pm, at TechTown, located at 440 Burroughs, in Detroit.

This year’s theme is:  “Business Sustainability”.  A panel of experts will provide keys for success and their perspective on what it takes to become a sustainable enterprise.  Additionally, breakout sessions, which will be led by business leaders, will focus on:  1) Knowing your customers and potential customers, 2)  Leadership and skills required to get to the next level,  3)  Managing your numbers and understanding your business model, and  4)  Effectively amplifying your messages in a cost-efficient manner.

David Zilko, President & CEO, Fuel Leadership, will provide the opening keynote comments while Carla Walker-Miller, President & CEO, Walker-Miller Energy Services, LLC will provide closing comments.  Both are successful business owners and entrepreneurs and will share their perspective on longer-term business growth.

Business leaders who will be panelists and/or leading four workshop sessions include:

Terry Barclay:                                  President & CEO, Inforum

Deidre Lambert-Bounds:              President, Ignite Social Media

Carolyn Cassin:                               President & CEO, Michigan Women’s Foundation

Chad Cyrowski,                               Director of Digital/Social Media, Truscott Rossman

Derek Edwards:                              Vice President, Invest Detroit

Christina Lovio-George:                President & CEO, Lovio George Communications

Steve Marsecsa:                             Tax Department Manager, UHY, LLP

Jason Paulateer:                             Vice President, PNC Bank

Juliana Perry:                                  Relationship Manager, Vice President, Fifth Third

Dr. William Pickard:                       Chairman & Global Automotive Alliance, LLC

Tawnya Rose:                                 AVP, Development Relationship Manager, Fifth Third

Tember Shea:                                 Director of inGAGE, Inforum

Don Tanner:                                    Partner, Tanner Friedman

Ray Waters:                                     President, Detroit Development Fund

Mark S. Lee, President and CEO, The LEE Group commented on the quality of speakers for this year’s program, “It’s one thing to open a business, but it’s another to have business sustainability.” Lee continues, “These are entrepreneurs and business leaders who have crashed through that barrier and are going to share their examples and experiences. Our hope is that (participants) will walk away with tools that are beneficial and can be implemented immediately to increase business sustainability.”

The LEE Group will be joined by several community and corporate partners to make this event a success. This year’s presenting sponsors are Fifth Third Bank and Michigan Women’s Foundation.

“Fifth Third Bank is so proud to support Small Business Workshop as part of our multi-year community commitment to fund critical areas in the regions we serve,” says Tawnya Rose, Fifth Third Bank, AVP Community Development Relationship Manager.  “Fifth Third will lend or invest $30 Billion to low- moderate borrowers and in LMI communities over a five-year period from 2017-2020. For Small Business Related Investments – Fifth Third will help fund technical assistance programs for small business development and growth and support the ecosystem for small business lending.”

Carolyn Cassin, President and CEO, Michigan Women’s Foundation, is excited for the collaboration with this year’s workshop.  “This workshop is an excellent addition to the continuum of educational services the Foundation provides to women entrepreneurs.  The goal is sustainability is critical and we are pleased to offer valuable insight from highly successful business owners.”

Other sponsors include the Detroit Development Fund, PNC Bank, UHY LLP, Comcast Business, State Farm Agent, Cindy Fletcher, Truscott Rossman and Tanner Friedman.

The cost is $75 and includes a continental breakfast.  For more information and to register, please visit: https://leegroupinnovation.com/small-business-workshop/

About The LEE Group:

The LEE Group, MI LLC (TLG), is an independent integrated marketing consulting firm focused on providing marketing, branding, and communication solutions to clients. Additionally, TLG provides training and development to organizations in the areas of branding, re-branding and communications and has advised on how to effectively implement in an integrated fashion.  Lee hosts a weekly radio show, “Small Talk with Mark S. Lee”, which is broadcast on CBS Detroit’s WXYT 1270 and nationally via cbsdetroit.com, and he pens a small business blog for Crain’s Detroit Business.

For more information on The LEE Group, please go to:  www.leegroupinnovation.com/.