Small Business Summit

BUILDING PHASE
Your First Year or So

You’re in the early stages — either just launched or still navigating your first 12 months. This track focuses on building a strong foundation, finding your first customers, and developing daily systems to set you up for success.

GROWING PHASE
In the Thick of It

Your business is up and running, and now you’re focused on scaling. You may be hiring, expanding operations, or feeling the growing pains of success. This track helps you lead more strategically, increase efficiency, and build your team.

SUSTAINING PHASE
Making It Last

You’ve been in business for several years and are looking to fine-tune, plan for long-term sustainability, or refresh your strategy. This track is designed for established business owners focused on leadership, legacy, and continued growth.

Schedule

8:15 AM – Doors Open / Registration / Morning Networking

9:00 – 9:30 AM -Welcome & Opening Remarks/Panel of Peers

9:35 – 10:15 AM – Breakout Session 1

10:30 – 11:10 AM – Breakout Session 2

11:20 AM – 12:00 PM -Breakout Session 3

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Lunch

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM– Ask the Experts

1:50 – 2:45 PM – Keynote Address

3:00 PM – Program Concludes

3 Ways to Attend the Event:

Individual Ticket/Registration: $85

Donate-A-Ticket: $85

Give back to our Small Business Community – purchase a ticket and we’ll give it to a small business that’s interested in attending but may not have had an opportunity otherwise!

Bring Your Team/Clients Ticket Package: $225

Whether you are small business with a team or you have 3 small business clients you’d like to invest in – this option is for you!

Location

The Holiday Inn Lancaster
26 E Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA 17602

Questions?

Contact Abigail Williams at
awilliams@lancasterchamber.com or
(717) 696-6247

MOMENTUM MARKETING: SMART STRATEGIES FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR

Speaker: Megan Kalbach, K Marketing 
In your first year of business, every decision counts, and marketing is no exception. This session is designed to help new business owners build real momentum with strategies that are practical, polished, and impactful.

You’ll learn how to develop a clear and consistent brand presence, create professional content that connects with your audience, and show up confidently both online and in your local community. We’ll break down your marketing plan into focused 90-day segments, giving you a structure that’s easy to follow and easy to sustain.

Whether you are working with a tight budget or managing your marketing on your own, you’ll walk away with tools to elevate your brand, increase visibility, and move your business forward with purpose.

STRATEGIC BUDGETING FOR THE EARLY STAGE: MAKING EVERY DOLLAR WORK

Speaker: Samantha Besnoff, Your Financial Maven
Understanding the financial side of a business so you can determine your cash flow and forecast how your business is doing. Being able to focus on practical day-to-day decisions with the limited capital you may have. 

Basic things to know : Understanding some basic accounting terms, tracking all income and all expenses, Learning to review the financial reports that help you understand your business 

Other financial things to know including : Small business taxes, Payroll, Sales Tax, Other things to know 

BUILT TO LAST: LEGAL FOUNDATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

Speaker: Barley Snyder Attorneys at Law
From contracts and licenses to intellectual property and insurance, this session breaks down the legal fundamentals that help safeguard your business. Learn how to reduce risk, stay compliant, and avoid common legal pitfalls — all explained in plain language. You’ll leave with actionable tips and a clearer understanding of the protections your business needs to operate confidently and grow securely.

BUILDING YOUR FIRST TEAM: WHO TO HIRE & WHEN

Speaker: Lucia Capriotti, Tandium
Learn how to hire your first employees or contractors — what positions to prioritize, how to set expectations, and tips for a smooth onboarding process. Ready to Hire? Building Your First Team Without Losing Your Mind or Mission. From job descriptions to onboarding, learn what to consider when expanding beyond a solo operation.

SMALL TEAMS, BIG IMPACT: HOW AI CAN ACCELERATE YOUR BUSINESS

Speaker: Dominic Tancredi, Dom & Tom
AI is no longer just for big tech and Fortune 500 companies – it’s now accessible to businesses of any size. This session shows how small teams can leverage AI tools to streamline operations, personalize customer experiences, and uncover new growth opportunities – without an enterprise-level budget. Learn how to start small, pick the right tools, and make AI an advantage for your business.

FROM HUSTLE TO SYSTEMS: TOOLS TO HELP YOU WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS, NOT JUST IN IT.

Speaker: Bill Stratton, EOS Worldwide
Explore the six key business components to help you scale your business as your team grows: Vision, People, Data, Issues., Process, and Traction. We will do a deep dive on the Vision component including a simplified strategic planning tool called the Vision/Traction Organizer™ (V/TO) and the People Component, focusing on the Accountability Chart and People Analyzer tools to help you ensure you have the Right People in the Right Seats to help you drive your business forward.

LEADING AN EFFECTIVE INNOVATION TEAM

Speaker: Jen Reiner, Align Ltd.

Anyone, anywhere can be more innovative—but if expectations aren’t clear, no one may be focused on your next great thing. And in a company full of creative thinkers, it can be hard to prioritize and gain traction on the ideas with the most potential.

This fast-paced, interactive session will show you how to manage a ‘go-to’ group of colleagues to drive strategic innovation. You’ll learn the process of successful companies —big and small—to move from ideas to real outcomes, without big budgets or excessive time.

You’ll learn:, Six ‘jobs’ innovation teams can perform, Who to put on the team—and how to handle challengers, skeptics, and everyone else, What belongs in a strong team charter (and start drafting one in the session)

You’ll walk away with a clear framework, tools you can use, and the confidence to get started.

BUILD A TRANSITION-READY BUSINESS (AKA BECOMING BEST-IN-CLASS)

Speaker: Leron Lehman, North Group Consultants  

A transition ready business is positioned to grow, deliver exceptional customer experiences, attract top talent, improve profitability, and ultimately create value for their owners. Regardless of your plans for the future of your business – devoting your efforts to implementing good governance, building operational maturity, and reducing owner dependency is always a good decision. Discover why you can’t be great at everything and how you can strategically focus your efforts for maximum impact, protect yourself from the unforeseen, and find deep fulfillment from your company.

INNOVATION WITHOUT DISRUPTION: KEEPING YOUR BUSINESS RELEVANT OVER TIME

Speaker: Greg Orth, Sandler Training

Staying relevant doesn’t mean starting from scratch. This session is all about how to evolve your offerings and adapt to changing customer needs — without losing what made your business great in the first place.

You’ll explore how to identify opportunities for innovation within your current model, refresh existing products or services, and thoughtfully introduce new ideas that align with your mission and brand. Learn from real-world examples of businesses that have successfully reinvented aspects of their work while staying grounded in their values.

Whether you’re facing increased competition, shifting trends, or simply want to stay ahead of the curve, this session will help you balance what’s working now with what’s needed next — so you can innovate with intention, not disruption.

Samantha Besnoff, Founder
Your Financial Maven® LLC

Samantha Besnoff, CPA, is the founder of Your Financial Maven® LLC, specializing in financial education empowerment, accounting and tax services for entrepreneurs and small business owners. With over 30 years of accounting experience across public, private, corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, she began her career as an auditor for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue after earning a BS in Business/Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh.

Lucia Capriotti, SHRM-CP, Vice President of Human Resources and Business Operations
TANDIUM Corporation

Lucia Capriotti is the Vice President of Human Resources and Business Operations at TANDIUM Corporation, a leading PEO/ASO organization with a growing presence across Maryland and Pennsylvania. TANDIUM offers a comprehensive suite of services, including Human Resources, Benefits, Workers’ Compensation, 401(k), and Payroll solutions, to support the growth of companies across the United States.

Megan Kalbach, Founder & CEO
K Marketing Co.

Megan Kalbach is the Founder and CEO of K Marketing Co., a full-service marketing agency based in Mountville, Pennsylvania. Since launching the agency in January 2024, she has grown it to a team of 12, serving small businesses, nonprofits, and first responder organizations across the country with strategic, results-driven marketing.

Leron Lehman, Business Consultant
North Group Consultants

Leron L. Lehman is a business consultant and a shareholder at North Group Consultants in Lititz, PA. He leads the firm’s Business Transitions Practice and advises clients on ownership and leadership transitions, succession planning, and M&A advisory services. Leron is a CPA (inactive) and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Greg Orth, Owner and President
Sandler Training

Greg Orth is the Owner and President of Sandler Training in Lancaster PA as well as being a certified DISC instructor. Sandler Training builds sales, management, leadership, behavioral and customer service training programs to suit the individual business owner or professional as well as programs for larger organizations. Our success is achieved through on-going, reinforcement programs that include assessments, weekly training sessions, one-on-one coaching and customized in-house training programs.

Jen Reiner, MBA, Strategic Innovation Facilitator & Founder
Align Ltd.

Jen is an innovation practitioner who helps organizations launch new services and strategies that create measurable market value. With over 25 years in public, private, and non-profit sectors, she is uniquely adept at cross-pollinating approaches that drive business growth and social impact. She facilitates stakeholder engagement, ideation, concept development, strategic planning, and business plans. Her process, the Four I’s of Strategic Innovation, holistically blends analytical and creative methods to uncover Insights, Ideas, and Increments that lead to financial and community Impact.

Dominic Tancredi, CEO & CTO
Dom & Tom

Dominic Tancredi is the CEO and CTO of Dom & Tom, the digital product agency co-founded with his twin brother in 2009. With over 20+ years of experience spanning full-stack engineering, product strategy, and emerging technology, Dom helps mid-market companies and enterprises accelerate growth through innovative digital solutions.

Bill Stratton
EOS Worldwide

Bill Stratton spent over 30 years in leadership roles for growth-oriented entrepreneurial manufacturing businesses in Central PA, including one we grew from $13 million to over $100 million in revenue, and transitioned from a national to a global player.

Ray Durkin
Barley Snyder

Attorney Ray Durkin is a member of the firm’s Business Practice Group, serving as a trusted advisor to clients across a wide range of industries. He concentrates his practice heavily on mergers and acquisitions, where he is dedicated to helping businesses navigate complex transactions with confidence.

Scott Landis
Barley Snyder

Attorney Scott Landis serves as chair of Barley Snyder’s Finance & Creditors’ Rights Practice Group and is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. In his IP practice, he counsels business, institutional and individual clients on the acquisition, prosecution, use, protection, and enforcement of trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, and other intellectual and proprietary assets.