WKU hosts small business summit at Innovation Campus

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – The 4th Annual Small Business Summit and Expo was held today at WKU’s Innovation Campus.

The single-day event saw small business owners from across the region meet with other similarly-minded individuals to network and learn more about what it takes to succeed in small business.

“Having folks who are in the trenches trying to do the same things that you are is important,” said CREATE innovation and culture fellow, Sam Ford. “Having access to people who have done it and learned lessons, who have programs that might help, who have resources, lessons learned, advisors… none of that’s possible if you do it in a vacuum.”

For the last three years, Breanna Stephens, owner of an HR consulting company, has attended the annual event.

She said having her business located inside the Innovation Campus and attending the Small Business Summit each year has helped her to learn from those who might be further along in their journeys.

“It’s just a really awesome opportunity for folks to connect. There are so many smart people that are down here,” Stephens said. “It’s fantastic to be able to surround myself with people who are better than me, people who know more than me.”

According to others who attended the event, the summit gave them a sense of community with others who are facing similar obstacles while trying to grow their business.

“Just this week I closed down my first restaurant and then I knew I had to get up here and tell you guys about how good I was,” said Donato’s owner, Spence Sheldon. “It just didn’t make sense to me, but I think that’s why I’m here. I think with business there are a lot of failures. I think it’s important that we fail. I think that’s how we grow.”

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