2023 Business Symposium

The City of Leavenworth held its second annual Business Symposium on October 23, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Riverfront Community Center. The free event provided a morning of presentations to businesses about strategies and programs available to help succeed. Below in the "Supporting Documents" are items that were presented. 

AGENDA: MONDAY OCTOBER 23, 2023

RIVERFRONT COMMUNITY CENTER
123 SOUTH ESPLANADE STREET
LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS
SESSIONS IN THE RIVERVIEW ROOM (UNLESS NOTED)

8:30 a.m. – Welcome

• Mayor Jermaine Wilson
   

8:40 a.m. – Supporting Local Business: City Staff and Key Partners
 

9:00 a.m. – Helping You Plan for Success

• Kristina Edwards, Christian Hopkins, and Carrie Poe with the University of Kansas Small Business Development Center
   

9:40 a.m. – Speaking from Experience:  Knowing When to Grow

• Local Business Panel - Sean and Jennifer Willcott with Willcott Brewing and Cari Payer with First City Creatives
   

10:20 a.m. – BREAK (Information Booths Open)
 

10:30 a.m. – Building Investment Programs: New State Tax Credit, New City Grant, and Technical Expertise [General Session]

• Carl York and Roger Basinger with the Kansas Department of Revenue
• Ray Petty with Great Plains ADA Center
• Penny Holler with City of Leavenworth Economic Development
   

10:30 a.m. – Early Entrepreneurs [Alternate Session Held in Adjoining Women’s Waiting Room]

• April Rogers with Fort Leavenworth ACS Employment Readiness
• Jamilah Ward with the U.S. Small Business Administration
• Lu Knueven with Artistic Works by Lu
• Seth Miller with VetBiz

11:20 a.m. – Getting Money to Make Money

• Phil Watlington with the University of St. Mary MBA Program
• Nicholas Ohms and Heather Padelli with Country Club Bank
• Lisa Weakley with Grow Leavenworth County Development Corporation
• Robert Wilson with Network Kansas
   

Noon – The City Update: What Businesses Need to Know, City Manager Paul Kramer

   *******Lunch Provided*******  
 

Information Booths Available:

Debbie Deere with Leavenworth Main Street

Jen Anders with Leavenworth/Lansing Chamber of Commerce

Lisa Haack with Leavenworth County Development Corporation

Lisa Weakley with Grow Leavenworth County Development Corporation

Jamilah Ward with the U.S. Small Business Administration