Tuesday, March 25, 2025
12:00 P. M. – 1:00 P. M.
Booth Setup
1:00 P. M. – 1:30 P. M.
Welcome
1:30 P. M. – 2:15 P. M.
First Breakout
Sara Lohse | Favorite Daugher Media | How to Launch a Podcast that Grows Your Business
Erin And Kirk Malzer | Fat Boy Hickman's BBQ | Navigating Successful Shipping
Gain valuable insights into navigating the complexities of shipping products, whether it’s a single unit, a case or a pallet. With this session you’ll learn cost-effective strategies to streamline your shipping process.
Awesome Session Coming Soon
2:15 P. M. – 2:30 P. M.
Break
2:30 P. M. – 3:15 P. M.
Second Breakout Session
Danelle Schlegelmilch | From Local to Legendary: PR Strategies for Destination Success
Join us for an insightful breakout session on leveraging the power of public relations to elevate your destination and events to new heights. Led by Danelle Schlegelmilch, founder of Passport Public Relations and the PR powerhouse who helped start the vintage festival Junkstock in 2012. This session will dive into the strategies that transformed a local Omaha event into a nationally recognized festival, celebrated by USA TODAY 10Best, Apartment Therapy, Midwest Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Country Living, and more.
With over 20 years of industry-recognized experience planning and promoting top events, Danelle will share her expertise on how to harness the media, engage your community and partners, and create compelling stories that attract visitors and media attention alike. Whether you’re a seasoned PR or marketing professional or new to the field, this session will provide valuable insights and actionable tips to boost your event’s visibility and success.
Don’t miss this chance to uncover the strategies behind one of the Midwest’s most beloved festivals and learn how to implement these successful techniques in your own projects.
How To Sell Wholesale to a Big Box
Psst..Keep your eyes peeled for this great session
3:15 P. M. – 3:30 P. M.
Break
3:30 P. M. – 4:15 P. M.
Third Breakout Session
Session Details Coming Soon
BMO Bank
1...2...3...The session is coming soon
4:15 P. M. – 4:30 P. M.
Break
4:30 P. M. – 5:15 P. M.
B.A.I.L – Banker, Accountant, Insurance and Legal
Run By Nebraska Enterprise Fund
5:15 P. M. – 7:00 P. M.
VIP Reception
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
7:00 A. M. – 9:00 A. M.
Registration | Younes Conference Center South
416 W Talmadge Road, Kearney, NE 68845
8:00 A. M.
Exhibitor Booths Open
8:00 A. M. – 9:00 A. M.
Continental Breakfast and Networking
9:00 A. M. – 9:15 A. M.
Conference Welcome
9:15 A. M. – 10:00 A. M.
Keynote Speaker – Chelsea Peitz
10:00 A. M. – 10:15 A. M.
Networking Break
10:15 A. M. – 11:00 A. M.
Concurrent Sessions
Mike Young | GIX Logistics | Sales & Customer Experience As A Marketing Tool
Sales is a process and an intense and thoughtful focus on customer service is part of that process. The sale isn’t done simply because you closed or someone bought from you. The ongoing piece of sales is your follow up and continued service and value that you bring in addition to your product or service. Customer service is the bare minimum. It’s answering the phone, an email, a text. It’s providing an answer to a question.
Customer experience is doing all of those things, but always considering the impact of HOW you do those things will have on new and repeat business. We have opportunities every day to do what we should do vs. doing what we want to do. Business and customer service are no different.
We make mistakes, we unintentionally miss when it comes to expectations of our products or services, it’s when those things happen that we must do what we should do versus what we want to do. Ego and pride not only get in the way of making good business decisions they go one step further and make you believe that the decision being influenced by your ego and pride is the correct decision for you and your business.
Takeaways:
How to develop a better process.
The difference between customer service and customer experience.
Doing what you should do vs. doing what you want to do.
Regina DeMars | FNBO | The Power Of Human Connection: Bridging The Gap Between Your Brand And Your Customers
Intro: Customer-Centric Content and CX Strategies Make All the Difference
- Social media can seem vast and daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.
- I’m going to show you cutting edge strategies for turning clicks into customers with real-life case studies to back them up
- Learn how to:
- Craft content that captivates your audience
- Leverage social media platforms for maximum impact
- Create unforgettable customer experiences
- Build brand loyalty and drive sales
Compelling Content Fuels Sales
- Targeted content can drive leads and conversions across diverse business segments.
- Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.
- Rather than just pitching your products or services, content marketing helps potential customers see how you can solve their issues.
- The true power of content is its ability to build relationships — relationships are built on trust and trust drives revenue.
- Our industry is all about relationships and we try to reflect this in our social media strategy. Social media is a giant referral system and everything we do is geared toward building relationships and loyalty.
- Working with influencers, whether they’re well-known or more niche, is a great way to build relationships more organically and connect with a broader audience.
Unboxing Experiences Ignite Engagement
- Diving into the art of creating unforgettable brand interactions by using unboxing concepts.
- Target influencers within our footprint to receive boxes with giveaways to engage their audiences and build our brand awareness with younger demographics.
TikTok and Social Engagement Boost Local Businesses
- See how a “Be Kind” campaign used social media to create cost-effective, interactive experiences.
- We leverage trending topics (Ex: Stanley Cups) to engage audiences
- We use TikTok to show off and support our small business customers
- We also use TikTok a recruitment tool (Ex: day in the life of an employee videos)
Turning Reviews into Raving Fans
- Learn how responding to reviews builds brand trust and customer satisfaction.
- Reputation management: it’s important to influence what and how people think of your brand.
- Consistency is key: we listen to customer feedback, respond promptly and keep doing it.
Conclusion
- Your marketing efforts will pack more of a punch when you find areas for personal connection.
Sara Lohse | Favorite Daughter Media | Storytelling as a Brand Strategy: How Personal Stories Transform Your Brand
When we think of a brand, we see a logo–a sleek design that represents a group of products or services. But how does that logo make us feel?
Trick question. It doesn’t make us feel much of anything. In order to invoke emotions and create meaningful connections with our audience, we need our brand to become more than just our logo. We need our brand to become US. Why?
Because people connect with stories, not logos. They remember emotions, not taglines. In this session, you’ll discover why integrating personal stories into your brand strategy is crucial for building trust, fostering connections, and creating a lasting impact. Plus, you’ll learn key strategies for uncovering your most valuable stories and telling them in a way that will capture your listeners.
- How authentic personal stories can impact consumer trust and help establish or grow your brand.
- A mindset shift away from “My stories aren’t important” and strategies for transforming everyday experiences into captivating stories that highlight your values, vision, and unique perspective.
- How you can leverage neuroscience, empathy, and context to hold your audience’s attention.
Center For Rural Affairs | How To Make Sure Your Business is Making Money
Description Coming Soon
Good Things Are Brewing ... Check Back Soon!
11:00 A. M. – 11:15 A. M.
Networking Break
11:15 A. M. – 12:00 P. M.
Concurrent Sessions
Rochelle Edwards | Intellicom | Making Your Website Accessible So You Don't Get Sued
Adam Kroft | redthread | How To Sell Over $10,000 A Month on TikTok
Nesha Brown | Conqueror Consulting Group | Captivating Decision-Makers on Linkedin to Propel Your Business Forward
Join Nesha Brown, a seasoned Founder and Idea Strategist, as she shares her proven strategies for attracting and engaging key decision-makers. With extensive experience in grant writing, project management, and business development, Nesha has successfully navigated the business landscape, securing vital partnerships and funding. In this dynamic presentation, she will reveal the secrets to making your business irresistible to those who hold the keys to your success. Learn how to present your ideas compellingly, build influential networks, and create lasting impressions that drive your business forward. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your approach and elevate your business!
What are the three main takeaways people will get from your sessions?
2. Optimize for Maximum Visibility: Ensure you’re seen by the right people with smart SEO tactics.
3. Engaging Headlines & Summaries: Learn how to write content that hooks your audience.
4. Personal Branding Strategies: Position yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
Brent Pohlman | Midwest Laboratories | Leading In Action: Executeable Leadership
Learn the execution of your core values and what that can look like day to day.
Here are three takeaways on how you can incorporate core values as part of owning them more in the way you lead each day.
- Review your core values regularly. This process helps us to better know them, live them more naturally and act them when put into different situations.
- Be intentional with core values. Take one of your core values and make it an intention for the day and look at ways to enhance your own values
- Incorporate core values into your message. Look for examples and make notes with respect to performance reviews, providing feedback in e-mail or shared notes and showing gratitude and praise to others face-to-face.
Adam Di Frisco | Turning Real-World Actions Into Digital Marketing Success
Practical Integration Techniques: Attendees will learn how to effectively integrate real-world actions with their digital marketing strategies
Enhanced Customer Engagement: They will gain insights into the importance of direct customer interactions, including how to encourage and utilize customer reviews to build trust and credibility online.
Measurable Impact Strategies: Attendees will discover methods to measure the impact of their offline activities on their digital marketing performance, ensuring they can track and optimize their efforts for maximum success.
12:00 P. M. – 1:00 P. M.
Lunch
12:15 P. M. – 12:30 P. M.
Tourism Wow Presentation
John Ricks
12:30 P. M. – 12:45 P. M.
Best Nebraska Local Product Award
GROW Nebraska
12:45 P. M. – 1:15 P. M.
All Businesses Start Out Small – A Panel Discussion
1:15 P. M. – 1:45 P. M.
Networking Break
1:45 P. M. – 2:30 P. M.
Concurrent Sessions
V2 Graphics & Marketing | The Sweet and Sour of Social Media
Social media offers a mix of opportunities and challenges for businesses. In this workshop, v2 Graphics & Marketing will explore the sweet side of social media, including building connections, providing crucial insights and advertising directly to potential customers. The two will also cover the sour side, such as managing posting fatigue, protecting your page from scammers, and dealing with internet trolls. This session will equip you with practical insights to navigate the sweet and sour of social media.
Steve Maly | Maly Marketing | Stop Sucking at Telling Your Story
Monique Tate | Session Information Coming Soon
Information Coming Soon
Sara Lohse | Favorite Daughter Media | Storytelling as a Brand Strategy: How Personal Stories Transform Your Brand
When we think of a brand, we see a logo–a sleek design that represents a group of products or services. But how does that logo make us feel?
Trick question. It doesn’t make us feel much of anything. In order to invoke emotions and create meaningful connections with our audience, we need our brand to become more than just our logo. We need our brand to become US. Why?
Because people connect with stories, not logos. They remember emotions, not taglines. In this session, you’ll discover why integrating personal stories into your brand strategy is crucial for building trust, fostering connections, and creating a lasting impact. Plus, you’ll learn key strategies for uncovering your most valuable stories and telling them in a way that will capture your listeners.
- How authentic personal stories can impact consumer trust and help establish or grow your brand.
- A mindset shift away from “My stories aren’t important” and strategies for transforming everyday experiences into captivating stories that highlight your values, vision, and unique perspective.
- How you can leverage neuroscience, empathy, and context to hold your audience’s attention.
Ellie Watts | UNL Food Processing | Taste of Triumph: Secrets to thriving in the Food Industry
Unlock the secrets to success in the competitive world of food entrepreneurship with “Taste of Triumph.” Join me to delve into essential strategies and insights needed to develop your culinary dreams into a thriving saleable product. From perfecting your product’s taste and quality to understanding regulatory and nutritional compliance, branding considerations, and scaling up to pilot plant and co-manufacturing, this session will provide the tools and knowledge to navigate the development process with confidence. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, “Taste of Triumph” will give you valuable inputs into your recipe for success.
2:30 P. M. – 2:45 P. M.
Networking Break
2:45 P. M. – 3:30 P. M.
Concurrent Sessions
Adam Di Frisco | Turning Real-World Actions Into Digital Marketing Success
Practical Integration Techniques: Attendees will learn how to effectively integrate real-world actions with their digital marketing strategies
Enhanced Customer Engagement: They will gain insights into the importance of direct customer interactions, including how to encourage and utilize customer reviews to build trust and credibility online.
Measurable Impact Strategies: Attendees will discover methods to measure the impact of their offline activities on their digital marketing performance, ensuring they can track and optimize their efforts for maximum success.
Olga Detrixhe | Nex-Tech | Unlocking Team Success: Strategies for Hiring, Retaining, and Cultivating Talent
Building high-performing teams is essential; so is fostering managers who lead those teams. If you are in a supervisory role this session is for you; if you coach, teach or mentor others, this session is also for you. We will delve into how to hire the right people, but more importantly how to properly teach, coach, lead, and mentor those people to create successful teams. Attendees will learn strategies for recognizing who to invest into; how to develop staff and what effective delegation looks like.
Christine Weeks | Eleanor Creative | Choose Your Adventure — Finding the right path to grow your business with a creative team
Join Christine Weeks, founder of Eleanor Creative, to learn about how an agency can propel your business forward. She’ll cover the following topics with case studies for each area.
• Looking for the right talent? Learn how an agency can create a standout employee recruitment campaign
• Creating an online storefront? See how agency web design can create an impactful user experience
• Repositioning your brand? Learn why an agency experienced in branding can help you avoid major pitfalls
• Creating a signature event? Get the right event branding and marketing to set your team up for success for years to come.
Nesha Brown | Conqueror Consulting Group | Captivating Decision-Makers on Linkedin to Propel Your Business Forward
Join Nesha Brown, a seasoned Founder and Idea Strategist, as she shares her proven strategies for attracting and engaging key decision-makers. With extensive experience in grant writing, project management, and business development, Nesha has successfully navigated the business landscape, securing vital partnerships and funding. In this dynamic presentation, she will reveal the secrets to making your business irresistible to those who hold the keys to your success. Learn how to present your ideas compellingly, build influential networks, and create lasting impressions that drive your business forward. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your approach and elevate your business!
What are the three main takeaways people will get from your sessions?
2. Optimize for Maximum Visibility: Ensure you’re seen by the right people with smart SEO tactics.
3. Engaging Headlines & Summaries: Learn how to write content that hooks your audience.
4. Personal Branding Strategies: Position yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
1..2..3.. Session Coming Soon
3:30 P. M. – 4:00 P. M.
Keynote Session
4:00 P. M. – 4:15 P. M.
Closing Remarks
4:30 P. M. – 6:00 P. M.
Networking Happy Hour
McCue’s Taproom
2008 A Avenue, Kearney, NE
Networking Happy Hour at McCue's Taproom
