State of Small Business Symposium

Check-In | Registration

Welcome

Pianalto Auditorium

David Jackson, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Opening Remarks (Prerecorded)

Pianalto Auditorium

Lisa Cook, Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

View her prerecorded remarks.

Opening Plenary: National Small Business Outlook

Pianalto Auditorium

Leaders from the Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) team will present insights on the evolving state of small business. This discussion will examine what has changed in the small business sector over time, exploring trends from past to present and looking beyond credit to connect broader patterns affecting small business health and sustainability nationwide.

Hal Martin, Policy Economist and Director, Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Where We Are Now: Assessing the Small Business Landscape

Pianalto Auditorium

A collaborative dialogue among small business support organizations and intermediaries assessing the health of small businesses today. Participants will discuss how current economic conditions are impacting small businesses nationwide, exchanging practical observations and experiences to understand the challenges and opportunities affecting small business vitality across the country.

Moderator:
Claire Kramer Mills, Community Development Research Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Panelists:
Taylor Bowley, Economist, Bank of America Institute
Bulbul Gupta, President and CEO, Pacific Community Ventures
Thomas M. Sullivan, Senior Vice President, Small Business Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Holly Wade, Executive Director, NFIB Research Center, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

Transition

Concurrent Breakout Sessions

New Pathways to Capital for Marginalized Small Businesses

Pianalto Auditorium

Small businesses in underserved communities—including rural areas, low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods, and economically distressed regions—face persistent capital access barriers despite strong business fundamentals. Traditional underwriting systems often overlook creditworthy borrowers who don't fit conventional criteria. This session will explore innovative public–private partnership approaches to expand capital access for businesses in underserved communities. The goal of this session is to encourage attendees to rethink approaches to capital access. Participants will leave with practical strategies and examples that can be implemented by community development financial institutions (CDFIs), bankers, community organizations, and entrepreneurs.

Moderator:
David Jackson, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Panelists:
Kersy Azocar, President and CEO, Greenline Access Capital
Michael Eggleston, Senior Community Development Researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Jim Kisch, President and CEO, Passumpsic Bank
Brian Voerding, President, Initiative Foundation

Rural Small Business Successes That Are Busting the Myths

Pittsburgh Room

This dynamic breakout session will challenge common misconceptions about entrepreneurship outside urban centers and showcase real-world success stories that prove rural small businesses can compete—and win—in today’s economy. Join us as we debunk persistent myths such as “rural communities lack capacity,” “rural investing is riskier,” “default rates are higher,” and “you need to be in a city to access capital.” Through compelling examples and insights from successful rural practitioners, we'll explore how small businesses are leveraging their unique advantages—including lower operating costs, tight-knit community support, and quality-of-life benefits—to build sustainable, profitable enterprises and ecosystems.

Moderator:
Matt Klesta, Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Panelists:
Candence Brooks, Economic Development Loan Officer, Communities Unlimited
Erika McGilley, EVP, Chief Lending Officer, Partner Community Capital
Casey Pearlman, Executive Director, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation

Neighborhood Prosperity through Small Business Development

Cleveland Room

How does support for small businesses in under-resourced neighborhoods strengthen commercial corridors and build community wealth? This session will bring together perspectives from community developers, capital providers, policy experts, and researchers to share strategies for connecting businesses with capital sources, attracting foot traffic, developing streetscapes, and creating neighborhood amenities. This workshop will explore the multi-layered impact of small businesses and local entrepreneurship on neighborhood stability, wealth creation, and community identity.

Moderator:
Michael Elliott, Vice President of Neighborhood Economic Development, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

Panelists:
Vikas Mehta, Professor of Urban Design, University of Cincinnati
Nedra Sims-Fears, Executive Director, Greater Chatham Initiative
Kennedy Smith, Senior Researcher, Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Forging Solutions Together: Innovative Municipal Approaches to Small Business Growth

Cincinnati Room

As small businesses across the country face multiple challenges, cities are taking proactive steps to foster environments where entrepreneurs can thrive. This session highlights the creative and collaborative approaches being implemented by municipal leaders, including mayors and city officials. The discussion will cover a variety of strategies aimed at expanding opportunities for small businesses, such as strategic public–private partnerships, investments in workforce development, and promoting equitable economic growth.

Moderator:
Deborah Diamond, Senior Director, Engagement and Initiatives, Interim Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Panelists:
Cathryn Easterling, Director of Neighborhood and Economic Development, City of Erie
Suzie Graham Moore, Director of Economic Development, City of Akron
Nick Weber, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, City of Carmel

Networking Reception

Check-In | Continental Breakfast

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Pianalto Auditorium

Khaz Finley, Assistant Vice President, External Engagement, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Evidence in Action: What the Data Reveal About Small Business Success

Pianalto Auditorium

A data-driven session examining the national landscape of small business impacts and solutions. This session will highlight key findings on current impacts from national programs, emerging trends, and evidence-based strategies that support small business growth and resiliency across the country.

Matt Wagner, Chief Innovation Officer, Main Street America

The Path Forward: Innovative Approaches and Small Business Resilience

Pianalto Auditorium

A keynote response panel featuring leaders with broad, cross-industry perspectives on small business success. This fireside chat will focus on what's working, highlighting innovative approaches and practical solutions that are helping small businesses thrive. Panelists will share insights on navigating emerging trends and building resiliency in today’s evolving economic landscape.

Moderator:
Khaz Finley, Assistant Vice President, External Engagement, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Panelists:
Molly Brogan, VP of Public Affairs, National Small Business Association
Dell Gines, Chief Innovation Officer, International Economic Development Council
Steve Hall, Vice President of Small Business Lending, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Charles “Tee” Rowe, President and CEO, America's SBDC

Transition

Concurrent Breakout Sessions

How Fintech Is Shaping Small Business Capital Access and Business Financials

Cleveland Room

Fintech companies are building financial infrastructure that increasingly shapes how small firms access capital and manage cash flow. From real‑time payments to alternative credit and embedded finance, fintech is finding new opportunities to help small businesses grow. This session will cover how markets are evolving, how financial technology is filling opportunity gaps, and how fintech data can point to future challenges and opportunities.

Moderator:
Thomas Guerra, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Panelists:
Rohit Arora, CEO, Biz2Credit
Kyle Cooper, SVP, GM of Checking and Payments, Bluevine
Amelia Linde, Director, Financial Services Policy, Block
Linda Mahy, CEO and Founder, Connective IQ Inc., Partner, The Fintech and Payments Advisory

Less Hustle, More Algorithm: AI, Automation, and the Future of Small Business

Pianalto Auditorium

Small businesses are an economic engine across the country. As demographics and labor markets shift, increasing use of artificial intelligence, automation, and other technology will become more important to the success of small businesses. Research meets practice in this breakout session. Speakers will explore how technology is being deployed to strengthen and support the small business sector.

Moderator:
Rocio Sanchez-Moyano, Senior Researcher, Community Engagement and Analysis, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Panelists:
Carter Cerully, Business Services Coordinator, PA CareerLink® Blair County/Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies
Francisco Lopez, SVP, Innovation Programs, Opportunity Finance Network
Nate Ward, Director of the Small Business Development Center Export Assistance Network, Cleveland State University

Supporting the Whole Small Business: Technical Assistance, Wraparound Services, and Measuring Impact

Pittsburgh Room

Hear from small business support leaders on how to best support the well-being of both the business and the individuals behind it. Panelists will discuss what's working in helping small businesses navigate complex operational areas such as finance and legal matters while simultaneously connecting owners to essential wraparound supports including healthcare and childcare access. They will share effective strategies for integrating technical assistance with personal support services and explore how to develop meaningful metrics that capture both business outcomes and program impact.

Moderator:
Olivia Ness, Financial Institutions Relations Outreach Associate III, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Panelists:
Michou Kokodoko, Senior Policy Analyst, Community Development and Engagement, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Renata Kowalczyk, CEO, Wilmington Alliance
Amber Ravenscroft, President and Founder, Bridging Innovation Institute, Inc.
Nic Steele, Executive Director, Access Community Capital

ESOPs and the Silver Tsunami: Employee Ownership for Business Succession

Cincinnati Room

As the Silver Tsunami generates a wave of business owners seeking succession solutions, it's increasingly important to understand pathways to qualified buyers. Selling to employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) can offer significant benefits for both wealth building and job retention. Panelists will examine the challenges and opportunities of ESOPs in business succession planning, explore financing structures for ESOP conversions, and discuss what successful employee ownership transitions look like across different business types and scales.

Moderator:
Jeremy Hegle, Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Panelists:
Noelle St. Clair Lentz, CEO and Managing Director, Co-Founder, Allivate Impact Capital
Chris Cooper, Director, Ohio Employee Ownership Center, Kent State University
Robin Newberger, Policy Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Peter W. Washington, Managing Director, Head of Originations, the Copia Group

Lunch: Participant Reflections and Takeaways

Pianalto Auditorium

Join us for lunch and dive into dynamic discussions with fellow attendees! This is your final chance to connect, share insights, and exchange actionable strategies sparked by the symposium’s critical conversations. Hear diverse perspectives from participants across multiple sectors as we collectively reflect on key takeaways from the symposium.

Marysol McGee, Senior Community Development Analyst, Federal Reserve Board

Closing Remarks

Pianalto Auditorium

David Jackson, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland