From startup to sale: UGA SBDC supports franchisee’s full-circle success
November 17, 2025
Dive into sessions on leadership, financial analysis, recruiting and retention, digital marketing, and the habits that fuel resilience — all while building meaningful relationships with community leaders and professionals. At the Summit, success isn’t a solo journey - it’s a collective movement.
This year’s summit features powerful Keynote Sessions alongside a series of dynamic breakout workshops. Participants may choose from focused tracks in Finance, Marketing, or Human Resources, ensuring a tailored learning experience that meets their goals. Throughout the day, enjoy networking opportunities designed to help you build meaningful connections with fellow business owners, other career professionals, community leaders, and industry experts.
Whether you're building a business or building your career, the Savannah Business Summit offers the strategies and connections that help you grow.
• Cultivate strategic relationships and community partnerships that support shared success.
• Adopt sustainable habits and mindsets that support well-being and long-term achievement.
• Use technology to personalize marketing, enhance customer engagement, and improve overall performance.
• Build stronger working relationships through improved self-awareness and a better understanding of how others communicate.
• Attract and keep great talent by clarifying expectations, strengthening leadership, and creating a culture of belonging.
• Evaluate financial readiness and identify opportunities for accessing capital to support business growth.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Opening Keynote: Dream Big: 5 Superpowers Every Trailblazer Needs
Jean Briese is a motivational speaker and leadership strategist who helps leaders and entrepreneurs unlock their potential and lead with purpose. A former Fortune 10 executive, she brings over 25 years of experience building high-performing teams and inspiring audiences to take bold action. Jean’s dynamic, heartfelt approach empowers others to expand their impact, elevate performance, and level up satisfaction in every area of life. Read more...
Closing Keynote: Now What? Adapting to a Changing World.
Nina Sossamon-Pogue is a bestselling author and resilience expert who has mastered the art of professional reinvention — from Team USA gymnast to Emmy-winning news anchor to tech executive helping lead a company through IPO. Read more...
This program is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, you certify that you are legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.
All programs are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
The UGA SBDC is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
All SBDC services are provided in a nondiscriminatory way to all legal residents and citizens in the United States. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
The UGA SBDC is an accredited member of America’s SBDC.
The University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
382 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30602-5412
P: (706) 542-2762