Founded in FoCo 2025: Full Schedule

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9:00am MDT

Kung Fu Clarity - Ninja Strategies for Connection SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am MDT

What if you could stand out In today's fast-paced, noise-filled business landscape? More than just innovation; is required, it demands strategic clarity. This session will equip you with the "ninja" skills to navigate the complexities of modern business and forge meaningful connections.

Drawing inspiration from the ancient martial art of Kung Fu, you'll learn practical strategies to:

Cut through the clutter: Learn to identify and eliminate distractions that hinder your focus and progress.

Master the art of listening: Discover how to truly understand your clients, colleagues, and partners, fostering deeper connections.

Channel your inner warrior: Unleash your potential and build the resilience needed to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

Forge lasting relationships: Develop effective communication and networking skills to build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships.

Join us for an interactive and insightful session that will leave you empowered to navigate the complexities of the modern business world with confidence and clarity.

Julie is a martial arts student who has studied Kung Fu and Tai Chi in Northern Colorado for 10 years

Speakers

Julie Ulstrup

Business Strategist and Consultant for Ambitious Entrepreneurs, Julie Ulstrup Business Strategy and Consulting

Julie Ulstrup is THE go to business strategist and coach for experienced mission driven entrepreneurs who want to start or grow a profitable business so they can have more time and money freedom. With a lifetime spent perfecting the art clarity, she helps ambitious clients 2X their... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am MDT
Twinberry Auditorium 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Thematic Keynote

Subject Strategy, People, Leadership, Communication Skills, Social, Networking, Small & Medium Business, Solopreneur/Freelancers, Creativity, Mindset
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10:00am MDT

Stop the Revolving Door: Build and Motivate High-Performing Teams That Stay SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am MDT

Stage

Are your top performers heading for the door while the ones you wish would leave stick around? Is turnover leaving you stuck in the weeds, tackling operational headaches instead of focusing on strategy? Retaining top talent doesn’t happen by accident—it takes the right systems, clarity, and leadership to create a workplace where high performers thrive.

In this session, we’ll explore what’s driving your retention challenges and the hidden factors pushing your best employees out the door. You’ll discover how to create a work environment that supports, motivates, and keeps top talent, while reducing the frustrations that hold your team—and your business—back.

This session will not only provide fresh insights but also give you actionable tools to slow the revolving door immediately. Turn your team into your biggest competitive advantage.

Speakers

Samantha C. Prestidge

Chief Solutions Enthusiast, I Help Owners & Leaders Overcome Growing Pains and Build High-Performing Teams

Samantha C. Prestidge is the founder of Auxo Business Services, a consultancy dedicated to empowering managers, streamlining operations, and building high-performing teams for growing businesses. With years of experience partnering with field-service companies, nonprofits, and entrepreneurial... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am MDT
Stage 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject People, Communication Skills, Small & Medium Business, Leadership, Strategy
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10:00am MDT

Messages from our Childhood That Hold Us Back SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am MDT

Lupine

Early in childhood, you were taught not to talk to strangers or take money from strangers, the two things you have to do in sales. In this session, we will review some of the common messages from childhood that hold you back in selling yourself, or product and your ideas.

Speakers

Wayne Dehn

Author and certified sales trainer, 3D TRAINING LLC

After 15 years in non-profit management and two Emmy Nominations for Telethon production, Wayne began his journey in sales as a representative for a non-profit trade association offering benefits and services to Small Business America. Soon promotion to national management positions... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am MDT
Lupine 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Solopreneur/Freelancer Track

Subject People, Marketing, Sales, Small & Medium Business
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11:15am MDT

Considerations for a Well-Rounded IP Strategy SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm MDT

Sand Lily

Intellectual property (IP) often becomes an afterthought in the fast-paced entrepreneurship environment. Yet, a thoughtfully crafted IP strategy is essential for protecting and enhancing your business's value at every stage. This session will explore why IP deserves an active, ongoing role in your business planning and how a well-rounded IP strategy can become a dynamic asset as your business evolves.

Join us for a fireside chat led by CSU STRATA’s Director of IP Strategy, Jessica Trostel. We’ll explore the realities of establishing, adapting, and sometimes reshaping IP strategies alongside an attorney experienced in guiding entrepreneurs and an inventor-entrepreneur who has navigated the complex IP landscape. You’ll gain insights into choosing the right IP protections, how to make strategic decisions about adding, dropping, or overlapping IP, and why no single type of IP is inherently more valuable than another.

This discussion, perfect for founders, innovators, and business leaders, will offer practical tips on making IP a cornerstone of your business strategy.

Speakers

Jessica Trostel

Director of IP Strategy, CSU STRATA

Jessica joined CSU STRATA in 2018 to support the Colorado State University System’s technology transfer team in licensing efforts and protecting intellectual property. In 2021, Jessica became the Director of Intellectual Property Strategy to lead the development of the system’s... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm MDT
Sand Lily 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject Strategy, Technology, Small & Medium Business, Growth
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11:15am MDT

From Fluff to Facts: Find The Real Truth Through Conversations SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm MDT

Foxtail 2

Are you tired of market research conversations that seem to go nowhere? I’ll walk you through my approach to asking the right questions—the kind that lead to real, actionable feedback. It’s not about surface-level chats or vague promises; it’s about getting specific, diving deep, and learning what really drives your customers.

The key? It’s not about pitching your idea. In fact, it’s about avoiding it entirely. I’ll show you how to shift the conversation to focus on your customers' lives, their problems, and their real-world experiences. Instead of asking hypothetical questions like, "Would you use this?" or "Do you think it's a good idea?" you’ll learn how to ask about what they’ve actually done. That way, even your mom couldn’t lie to you about it!

Here’s what you’ll get out of it:

A new approach to customer conversations: Learn how to structure chats that reveal actionable insights instead of vague, surface-level responses.

Question techniques that work: Discover the exact questions that dig into past behaviors and help you get past fluff to find the stories that actually matter.

Common pitfalls to avoid: Learn how to steer clear of the mistakes that lead to misleading feedback, like fishing for validation or compliments.

How to get honest feedback: Shift the focus to your customers' real experiences to uncover genuine insights that will shape your product decisions.

Practical tools you can use right away: Walk away with question frameworks and strategies you can start using immediately to make every conversation count.

This session is all about making sure your market research is actually useful, so you can build something your customers really need, not just something they say they want.

Speakers

kateryna quinn

Founder, ASTASH | Uplify AI

Kateryna Quinn is a mom, an immigrant, and a proud small business owner in Northern Colorado. Recognized as a Forbes Next 1000 honoree and one of NOCO's 30 Under 30, she has made a name for herself as a leader in marketing and web design. As the founder of ASTASH an award-winning... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm MDT
Foxtail 2 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject People, Strategy, Growth, Sales, Marketing, Communication Skills, Social, Leadership, Mindset, Networking, Small & Medium Business, Solopreneur/Freelancers
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1:00pm MDT

AI-Driven Marketing: Unlocking the Future of Customer Engagement and Data Mastery SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT

Foxtail 1

Step into the future of marketing with Phil Metzger as he demystifies AI's role in revolutionizing customer engagement and data mastery. This dynamic, interactive session is tailored for solopreneurs and small business owners looking to harness the power of AI in their marketing strategies.

Discover how AI is transforming the marketing landscape, from enhancing data acquisition to enabling real-time decision making. Through engaging activities and real-world examples, you'll explore:
- The evolution of marketing
- Traditional vs. AI-driven approaches
- AI-powered customer insights and personalization techniques
- Ethical considerations in AI-driven data acquisition
- Practical AI tools for businesses with 1-50 employees

By the end of this session, you'll have a clear understanding of how to implement AI in your marketing efforts, balancing innovation with ethical considerations. You'll leave equipped with actionable strategies to:
1) Leverage AI for deeper customer insights
2) Craft personalized marketing campaigns that resonate
3) Make data-driven decisions in real-time
4) Navigate the ethical landscape of AI in marketing

Interactive elements include live polls, group discussions, and a hands-on demo of an AI marketing tool. You'll have the opportunity to collaborate with peers, share ideas, and get your burning questions answered.

Don't miss this chance to demystify AI and unlock its potential for your business. Whether you're AI-curious or looking to enhance your current strategies, this session will provide the knowledge and confidence to thrive in the AI-driven marketing landscape.

Join us to overcome the overwhelm, prioritize data protection, and confidently integrate AI into your marketing operations. Let's innovate together and pave the way for long-term success in the age of AI!

Speakers

Phil Metzger

Founder of Mirror Marketing | A.I. Fanatic, Mirror Marketing - Founder

Phil Metzger is the visionary founder and owner of Mirror Marketing, a cutting-edge digital marketing agency specializing in empowering small businesses through data, creativity, and innovative AI-driven strategies. Phil has become a trusted authority in leveraging artificial intelligence... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Foxtail 1 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

AI Track

Subject AI, Marketing, Solopreneur/Freelancers, Small & Medium Business, Technology, Strategy
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1:00pm MDT

Leading With Vision That Others Can See SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT

Twinberry Auditorium

Leaders are usually visionary. Those who are not leaders may be more focused on the immediate task at work, the current daycare challenge, the pressing financial concern, or any other issue that keeps them focused on the here and now.

Unfortunately, many leaders do not know how to communicate vision in a way that others can really see it. Done well, vision is unifying and inspiring. If seeing is believing, then one of the most important responsibilities of leaders is to help others see beyond the immediate to a compelling future.

The other unfortunate thing is that most "Vision Statements" aren't visionary. They're often restatements of the mission, or are said so generically that they could apply to numerous other companies, rather than being a picture of the future that the leader wants others to see.

Speakers

Mark Weaver

Open Door Organizational Solutions

Mark started Open Door in 2009 to help organizations radically define their culture. He also provides non-conventional people strategies tailored to radically reinforce organizations’ cultures, once defined. His clients are businesses and Not-For-Profits ranging in size from startups... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Twinberry Auditorium 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject People, Strategy, Growth, Leadership, Communication Skills, Small & Medium Business
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1:00pm MDT

The Resilient Entrepreneur: Mastering Emotional Agility SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm MDT

Lupine

In the high-pressure world of entrepreneurship, success goes beyond business acumen. The "whole" entrepreneur is emotionally resilient.

Drawing from over 40 years of experience as a licensed therapist, relationship coach, and stress management expert, Kathy Rushing blends Susan David's emotional agility framework** with deep insights into the entrepreneurial journey. Learn how to navigate the complex emotional landscape of business ownership, from managing daily stressors to making high-stakes decisions, by mastering the four key components of emotional agility: Showing Up, Stepping Out, Walking Your Why, and Moving On.
Discover practical strategies that have helped other entrepreneurs build resilience, maintain healthy relationships, and thrive amidst uncertainty.
**"Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life" by Susan David, Ph.D.

Speakers

Kathy Rushing

Founder, Lodestar Relationship Coaching

Kathy Rushing, M.S. helps couples build strong, lasting marriages, with a special focus on entrepreneurial couples. She founded Lodestar Relationship Coaching in 2023 to guide couples through life's challenges. Kathy's secret sauce? She combines 30 years of experience as a Marriage... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm MDT
Lupine 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Solopreneur/Freelancer Track

Subject Strategy, Small & Medium Business, Solopreneur/Freelancers, Mindset, Mental Health
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3:15pm MDT

Future-Proof Your Workforce: Employers' Guide to Apprenticeships SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MDT

Sand Lily

The top concern for many employers is how to attract and retain skilled talent to drive business growth. This presentation explores the benefits of apprenticeship programs for employers, showcasing how these programs can serve as powerful tools for workforce development through building your talent pipeline and enhancing employee retention, productivity, innovation, and diversity.

Speakers

Heather Everett

Work-Based Learning & Apprenticeship Manager, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce

Heather Everett is the Work-Based Learning & Apprenticeship Manager at the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce. She spent over 20 years in senior care before making a career change in 2023 to manage the Work-Based Learning Incentive Program grant for the Fort Collins Chamber. From... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MDT
Sand Lily 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject People, Strategy, Growth, Leadership, Small & Medium Business, NonProfit
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Founded in FoCo 2025

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