The 2026 Savannah Business Summit kicks off with a red-carpet welcome followed by a full day of connection, learning, and inspiration. 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.
BREAKOUT SESSION DETAILS:
(Choose two at checkout.)
HR Session: The Business of People
How people decisions impact performance, growth, and risk with Suzanne Kirk
Finance Session: Inside the Lender’s Decision
How Business Loans Really Get Approved with the Ladies Who Lend
Marketing Session: Be the Answer AI Recommends
How to Stand Out in a World of Generative Search with Nadia Osman
• 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: You're not Done Yet: From Inspired to In Action
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. Nina's closing keynote brings the room back to life with a high-energy, science-meets-stoicism roadmap that transforms inspiration into implementation. Read more...
Summit Emcee
Rita Goodroe is an award-winning keynote speaker, emcee, and community builder who works with professionals to show up in a way others remember by communicating clearly and connecting confidently. As an emcee, she brings energy, humor, and warmth that makes the room come alive. She’s worked with Fortune 500 companies and major industry groups, with features in The Washington Post, NBC, and CBS. Read more...
From Left to Right :
Kelly Godfrey, Loan Officer at Costal Area District Development Authority
Sarah Martin, Vice President, Commercial Banker at Bank OZK
Victoria Saxton, President & CEO at Small Business Assistance Corporation
Kristi Davis, Commercial Lender at Renasant Bank
Finance Breakout Session : Inside the Lenders' Decision: How Business Loans Really Get Approved
Securing capital isn’t about luck—it’s about preparation. This session demystifies how lenders evaluate loan requests, beginning with the foundational 5 C’s of Credit and how they are applied in real lending decisions. Local and regional lenders will discuss a range of financing options, including traditional bank loans, SBA programs, and lesser-known alternative funding solutions. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what lenders look for, how to position their business for approval, and which funding paths may be a better fit than they previously realized.
Suzanne Kirk, HR Breakout Session Instructor: The Business of People
Suzanne Kirk is a Human Resources & Organizational Development consultant with Employee Development Strategies, Inc, a firm she established in 2011. Helping businesses align culture, vision, & objectives with performance management processes, Suzanne is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) with a specialty credential in Inclusive Workplace Cultures. Suzanne serves on the Boards of Emmaus House, Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy, and TEDx Savannah, for which she was a featured speaker in 2024. Suzanne has been the facilitator of the Leadership Southeast Georgia program since 2013 and enjoys bringing groups together to benefit our region. Read more...
Nadia Osman, Marketing Breakout Session Instructor : Be the answer AI Recommends: How to Stand Out in a World of Generative Search
Nadia Osman is the founder and director of Wayfarer Marketing, a Savannah-based consulting firm that helps companies and mission-driven organizations through marketing strategy, brand positioning and digital visibility. A certified Digital Marketing Professional and former SBDC consultant, she brings over 15 years of experience supporting businesses and initiatives valued at more than $6 billion. Nadia focuses on helping people work smarter, not harder, by using tools like AI to simplify and strengthen their marketing efforts. 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
