Small businesses will learn pathways to success at 2nd Annual Hawaii Small Business Conference

Mar 23, 2018

Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development announced the 2018 program for their upcoming Hawaii Small Business Conference set for May 2 & 3 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
“The theme of this year’s conference is “Plan, Build, Grow: Mapping A Pathway to Success,” said Leslie Wilkins, President & CEO of MEDB. “This is an ideal opportunity for anyone interested in learning important strategies for business success. You’ll hear from national and local business leaders and successful business owners, on customer service, business growth and scaling, social media management, entrepreneurial psychology, innovation, tax strategies and more while networking with fellow business community leaders.”

Do you want to …

  • see better results in your business?
  • improve your customer and employee relationship?
  • create a work environment where employees can thrive?
  • promote your business, even on a limited budget?
  • keep up with social media trends?
  • know the latest tax strategies that can benefit your business?
  • adapt to an ever-changing business world?

People can attend the all day conference on Wednesday, May 2 and/or any of the smaller group workshops on Thursday, May 3.

The full-day conference is set for Wednesday, May 2 from 7 AM to 5 PM.

The schedule features:

Opening Keynote: Building The Customer – Employee Relationship

Karen McCullough, Millennial Evangelist
Getting the Work Done/Staffing For Success
Moderated by Karen McCullough

  • Charen Kepler, Director of Leadership Development, Na Hoaloha Ekolu
  • Cassie Akina, General Manager, Akina Tours
  • Judy Bishop, Bishop & Company

Talk Story: How You Start Matters
Ashley Takitani Leahey, Co-Owner, Maui Thing
Scaling Your Business
Omar Sultan, Co-Founder, Sultan Ventures, Founding and Managing Partner, XLR8UH
Shaping a Game Plan For Growth
Moderated by Omar Sultan

  • Eriko Dowd, Founder, Zellee Organic
  • Travis Morrin, Co-Owner, Three’s Bar and Grill
  • Ululani’s Shave Ice

Pivoting: Listen, Watch, and Act
Moderated by Frank De Rego Jr., Director of Business Development Projects, Maui Economic Development Board

  • Sumner Erdman, President, Ulupalakua Ranch
  • Gary Greenberg, Founder, Edge 3-D, LLC
  • Dan O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer, HNU Photonics and HNU Energy

Social Media Check: Gone are the Days of “Free”
Gwen Woltz, Co-Owner, Wahine Media
Social Media Maui Style
Moderated by Gwen Woltz
Panelists to be announced
Speed Networking: Quizzing the Experts
Talk Story: Innovation—Learning From the Past, Creating the Future
Kim Ball, Owner, Hi-Tech Maui
The Future of Small Business
Moderated by Leslie Wilkins, President & CEO, Maui Economic Development Board

  • Karen McCullough, Millennial Evangelist
  • Omar Sultan, Co-Founder, Sultan Ventures, Founding and Managing Partner, XLR8UH
  • Gwen Woltz, Co-Owner, Wahine Media

On day two, Thursday, May 3, three (3) hour sessions will run parallel both morning and afternoon.

Workshops include:

Customer and Employee Engagement
Karen McCullough, Millennial Evangelist
Tax Strategies for Small Business
Robert Kawahara, CPA, Managing Member, Kawahara + Hu, LLC
Social Media Engagement
Gwen Woltz, Co-owner of Wahine Media

Small businesses dominate Hawaii’s economic landscape making up over 90 percent of the business community and employing half of our state’s employees,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa.  “By helping our local businesses navigate pathways for their success, we’re also helping to encourage ingenuity and profitability that ultimately impacts our community and economy.

The Hawaii Small Business Conference coincides with National Small Business Week, a celebration of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Cost is $95 per person for the full-day Conference on May 2, includes lunch.  The May 3 Workshops $35 per workshop with an additional charge for lunch. Attendees can also save $10 by registering early by March 31st for the full-day Conference.
To register online, visit www.HawaiiSmall.Biz. For additional information, email smallbiz@medb.org or call (808) 875-2300.  Various sponsorship opportunities are available.
The 2018 Hawaii Small Business Conference presented by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Maui Economic Development Board.  Sponsors include: Pacific Media Group; The Maui News; Maui Printing Company, Small Business Administration; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Molokai Chamber of Commerce; Lanai Chamber of Commerce; Maui Native Hawaii Chamber of Commerce; and Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce.

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