Georgia Chamber President and CEO Chris Clark polling Future of Small Business summit attendees on their business needs. (Georgia Chamber)

Today, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted the Future of Small Business summit, designed to equip small businesses with the tools they need for their future success. The Atlanta BeltLine served as presenting sponsor of the Future of Small Business summit. Around 100 people attended the Future of Small Business summit, which was held at the headquarters of Invesco.  

Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber said:   

"When small businesses thrive, our communities thrive. That’s why the Georgia Chamber is committed to equipping small businesses across the state with every tool they need to succeed. Hosting the Future of Small Business summit, is an opportunity for the Georgia Chamber to connect small businesses to the resources they need while celebrating all they do for our economy."

Future of Small Business Summit Keynote Speaker Holly Wade, Executive Director of the NFIB Research Center said:  

"Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia's economy. They create jobs and strengthen our communities. We must provide these entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed. Investing in small businesses isn't just about supporting individual owners; it's about building a strong and resilient economy that benefits everyone." 

The full list of sponsors for the Future of Small Business summit included Atlanta BeltLine, Official Partners of the Georgia Chamber Car Partner Kia, Wellness Partner Anthem, Sustainability Partner Woodard & Curran, Future of Small Business Summit Gold Sponsor NBCUniversal, Silver Sponsors Georgia Natural Gas and Georgia Power, and Presenting Partners the Georgia Chamber Foundation and NFIB.  

The full list of panels and speakers for the Future of Small Business summit included: 

Developing the Small Business Talent Pipeline    

• Crystal Blackwell, President and CEO, Staffing One Inc.  

• Melissa Dark, Executive Director, Georgia FLEX  

• Brian Mayfield, President, Techquidation   

• Moderator: Vanessa Wagner, Marketing Program Manager, Georgia Power Economic Development 

Connecting with Corporate Partners  

• Tiara Berry, Senior Manager, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Community Engagement Strategy, Fiserv  

• Jamie Stewart, Sr Director-SMB Field Sales, Big South Region, Comcast Business  

• Kaitlyn Hill, Manager- Public Policy, Amazon  

• Moderator: Darrell K. Rochester, CEO, Rochester and Associates; Georgia Chamber Small Business Policy Council Chair 

Building Partnerships with Georgia Minority-Owned Businesses

• Veronica Maldonado-Torres, President and CEO, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce  

• Melvin Coleman, President and CEO, Atlanta Black Chambers   

• Moderator: Tasha Allen, Vice President, Talent Management and Diversity, Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Existing Resources for Small Business

• Erin Rubenstein, Strategic Client Executive, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia 

• Kyle Hensel, Director for Continuing Education, University of Georgia Small Business Development Center   

• Christian Lauter, Area Vice President, Retirement Plan Consulting, Gallagher Insurance

• J.D. Curls, Benefits Consultant, Gallagher Insurance