C³: Chamber Connect - Epic FREE Resources for Small Businesses

Description

Join us for an value packed panel showcasing Epic Free Tools for Small Businesses! Discover a wide range of game-changing resources designed to empower entrepreneurs and revolutionize your business operations.

Presenters will include the Small Business Development Center, Better Business Bureau and SCORE. During our opening networking session you will also have the opportunity to connect with the fellow business advocates.

Reserve your spot now and get ready to embrace a world of limitless possibilities!

Here's our regular Chamber Connect schedule:

11:15am - 11:45am     Networking + Lunch

11:45am - 12:00pm     Introductions

12:00pm - 12:45pm     Program

12:45pm - 1:00pm       Questions + Announcements

CEO/Executive Director of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado and the Southern Colorado Impact Group, Jonathan is a Social Entrepreneur and a Colorado Springs native. He is a recognized Leader by the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute (CSLI, class of 2017), a Rising Star Award recipient from the Colorado Springs Business Journal and a 2022 CiviCO Governors Fellow. Jonathan is a champion for Social Impact, small businesses, and Trust in the marketplace.

Jonathan is the Chair and Chief Architect of the new, international BBB Trustmark Program, titled BBB4Good. This new program verifies HigherPurpose businesses and will be the first new Trustmark from BBB in more than 20 years.

Jonathan is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at the University of Colorado  Colorado Springs. In partnership with UCCS, he has created the curriculum for the first course for Social Impact in the School of Business. Jonathan believes in building strategies that Accelerate the Evolution of Business by providing tools and training designed to enhance and organize the emerging Fourth Sector of the economy and leveraging entrepreneurial strategies that solve social and environmental issues across the globe.

Jonathan currently serves on the National Board for the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Business Advisory Committee for the Colorado Secretary of State, Chair of the Colorado Nonprofit Association, and was appointed to the Colorado Workforce Development Council Board by Governor Polis. Jonathan has a Masters in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado Health and Sciences Center.

Lauren Shakes joined the SBDC team as the Program Manager in March of 2022. Lauren brings extensive program management and event planning experience to the position and loves that this role allows her to use her strong background in management and community engagement to support small businesses.

Lauren is a dynamic and passionate program manager who has worked across diverse areas of business—from market research and advertising to fundraising and grant management. As the SBDC program manager, Lauren works closely with new and existing businesses in the Pikes Peak region to provide relevant, high-caliber training, resources and assistance to small businesses.

Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and international affairs from Regis University, and her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado. Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Lauren has seen the city grow and evolve, and loves that she is able to call the Pikes Peak region home.

Pat Loch spent his business career leading sales and marketing teams with two major corporations in the durable goods industry. Upon graduating from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, he spent 32 years with Maytag Appliances in Sales and Marketing. Pat had sales roles of increasing responsibility at Maytag, culminating in the position of VP Sales of the Eastern Division.

Following Whirlpool’s acquisition of Maytag in 2006, Pat joined Leggett & Platt, acorporation with approximately $5 Billion in sales as the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for their Home Furniture Components Business Unit.

In January 2018, Pat retired from Leggett; in June 2018 he and his wife moved to Colorado Springs to be in closer proximity to their children and grandchildren. Both Pat and Cate are active volunteers in the community. She is a regular volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House and at the Children’s Hospital. Pat joined SCORE Southern Colorado chapter and serves as the interim Marketing Chair, a member of the Executive Leadership Council, and is co-Event Coordinator. Pat also volunteers as a certified SCORE Mentor to small businesses in Southern Colorado.

In their spare time, Pat and Cate enjoy traveling and spending time with their