2026 Program

Join Murray City’s leadership, including Mayor Brett Hales and Councilwoman Pam Cotter, for insights into economic development and opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Hear about the city’s economic and business development strategy from Elvon Farrell and downtown revitalization initiatives. Speakers: Mayor Brett Hales; Councilwoman Pam Cotter; Elvon Farrell, Economic Development Specialist; Kathy White, Executive Director, Murray Chamber of Commerce; Cleopatra Louise, Founder, Beloved Community and GEW Utah Organiser.

The foundations of a successful business go beyond its product and pitch. This workshop focuses on legal, tax, HR, financial and operational systems that protect growing enterprises. Industry experts explain entity structure, proactive tax planning, employee and contractor classification, audit-ready bookkeeping and building independent business credit.

Key Takeaways

• Select an appropriate legal entity and operating agreements
• Implement proactive tax planning and bookkeeping
• Navigate HR compliance and worker classification
• Build operational strategies and SOPs
• Establish independent business credit

Scaling a business requires moving from founder-led operations to repeatable systems. This session explores strategic delegation, financial forecasting, standard operating procedures and building effective teams while identifying bottlenecks that can stall expansion.

Key Takeaways

• Identify hidden operational bottlenecks
• Forecast growth-related cash flow and funding gaps
• Move from daily operator to strategic leader
• Build scalable teams and operational structures

Join us for an afternoon of celebration, recognition, and connection as we honor individuals and businesses helping shape Utah’s entrepreneurial community. Enjoy lunch, connect with attendees, and celebrate entrepreneurs whose innovation, perseverance, leadership and contributions make an impact.

Funding is more than getting approved: the right product must fit your cash flow, risk and goals. Compare bank loans, business credit lines, SBA programs, equipment financing and community-based funding while learning what lenders look for and how to establish long-term financing relationships.

Key Takeaways

• Compare term loans, lines of credit, SBA and alternative capital
• Understand qualification and underwriting criteria
• Assess your business’s funding readiness
• Build strategic relationships with financial partners

Discover practical ways small business owners can use artificial intelligence to multiply marketing capacity without enterprise budgets. Explore AI-assisted competitor research, market trends, advertising copy, content calendars and targeted campaigns.

Key Takeaways

• Analyze competitor strategies, customer sentiment and market gaps
• Build marketing campaigns, email sequences and content plans
• Practice business-focused prompt engineering
• Expand marketing capacity without adding headcount

Close out the day by connecting with entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders, and local Chambers of Commerce. Share ideas, exchange business cards, discover resources and explore collaborations that extend beyond the event.