America's SBDC Conference Features Powerful Keynote Line-Up

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's SBDC will host it's annual SBDC (Small Business Development Center) professional development conference this September 8^th-11^th in San Francisco. The theme for this year's conference is "Gateway to Small Business Success." America's SBDC is very excited to have seven impressive keynote speakers. From business owners, to journalists, to the COO of a Fortune-500 company; this year's keynote sessions promise to pack a punch.

The America's SBDC annual conference has record-breaking attendance for the 2015 conference with over 1,500 attendees registered. "The assistance offered by the 63 member SBDC networks in America's SBDC is critical to guiding over 350,000 small business owners every year and getting them the tools and market access they need to flourish. Our attendees, SBDC advisors and coaches, deserve the best and the 2015 conference promises to deliver," said Charles "Tee" Rowe, President of America's SBDC.

Sheryl Sandberg, the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, best-selling author and one of Fortune Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women in Business will be opening the conference on Wednesday, September 9^th. Facebook has been an America's SBDC sponsor and supporter of the SBDC program for many years. "Facebook and America's SBDC share the same goals: we're both in the business of helping businesses grow. Facebook gives businesses a mobile presence that's free, easy to use, and works. Together, we can help entrepreneurs succeed and create jobs for people across the country." Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook

Small business owner, nationally recognized business journalist and long-time SBDC supporter, Rhonda Abrams will be moderating the conference's Thursday general session "Small Talks," which will be a play on the TED Talks concept. The session is titled "The Future of Small Business: What You Need to Know Now."

"Few areas of the economy have been as transformed as greatly as small business. Technology, marketing, financing, customer expectations, global reach and competition– all represent opportunities and challenges for small business and startups. In this fast-moving session, three leaders and I of the changing small business environment, including Jules Pieri, co-founder of The Grommet and Amy Norman, co-founder of Little Passports – will cut through the clutter to focus on the most important trends – what small businesses must know now to survive and thrive in the coming years," said Rhonda Abrams, PlanningShop & USA Today columnist.

America's SBDCs will be celebrating their 35^th Anniversary on Friday, September 11^th with two fantastic keynote speakers to close-out the event; Karen Peacock, VP/GM Employee Management Solutions, of Intuit and Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator, of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

About America's SBDC Program: America's SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Network is a partnership uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local nonprofit economic development organizations. It is the Small Business Administration's largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. Learn more at www.americassbdc.org.

Press Contacts: April Youngblut, Director, Marketing & Communications;
America's SBDC, (703) 764-9850

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SOURCE America's SBDC

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http://www.americassbdc.org