Congratulations to our 2025 Grant winners!
1st Place - Hope Peterson with Studio 8 Wellness Center
2nd Place- Kat Suralik with Tranquility
3rd Place- Betsy Bertram with Betsy Bertram LLC
Wednesday, October 1st, 2025 | 8 am - 4:30 pm
Crystal Coast Civic Center (203 College Cir., Morehead City, NC 28557)
SOLD OUT!
8:00 am – 8:45 am
Sunrise Social: Registration & Beachside Breakfast
8:45 am – 9:15 am
Sandy Squares: Beach Scavenger Hunt – a playful mix of exploration and casual networking.
A networking scavenger hunt adds a fun, interactive spin to meeting new people! Instead of numbers, fill your card by connecting with others, finding sh
8:00 am – 8:45 am
Sunrise Social: Registration & Beachside Breakfast
8:45 am – 9:15 am
Sandy Squares: Beach Scavenger Hunt – a playful mix of exploration and casual networking.
A networking scavenger hunt adds a fun, interactive spin to meeting new people! Instead of numbers, fill your card by connecting with others, finding shared interests, or discovering fun facts. It's the perfect icebreaker to spark conversations and build real connections.
9:15 am – 10:00 am
Anchored in You: Building Leadership from Your Strengths
Great leaders aren't one-size-fits-all - they're self-aware, genuine, and have a strong sense of others’ needs, strengths and abilities. In this session, Veneer Tech's Champion of People & Culture, Laura Zapata, guides you through a powerful shift: from trying to fit into a mold to discovering the kind of leader you already are.
Through a self-assessment exercise and open discussion, we'll explore the leadership qualities you naturally hold, identify core strengths and roadblocks, then dive deep into what they look like in action.
You'll walk away with practical, everyday tools to strengthen your leadership style - and maybe more importantly, you'll leave reminded that every role matters on a team. Whether you lead from the front or support from the side, your voice, presence, and growth make a difference.
Speaker: Laura Zapata | Veneer Tech
10:00 am – 10:45 am
Coastal Clarity: EOS Tools for Smooth Sailing
Dive into proven strategies to streamline your EOS journey, build stronger teams, and keep your business sailing smoothly. Get ready to ride the waves of growth with clarity and confidence!
Speaker: Carlie Lockey | EOS Worldwide
10:45 am – 11:00 am Brief Break
11:00 am – 11:30 am
SeaZen: Flow & Focus Chair Yoga
Stretch, breathe, and reset with ocean-inspired movement to anchor your energy.
Yoga Instructor: Betsy Bertram
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Current of Confidence: Chisa’s Midday Motivation
Let the energy rise with a powerful talk to carry you through the day.
Speaker: Chisa Pennix-Brown | Give It To The People
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Beach Break: Networking Lunch & Lounge
Grab lunch, swap stories, and soak up the sun while making meaningful connections. Lunch will be provided by Gaffers.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Swell Media: Surfing the Social Scene
A Jeopardy-style panel about leveraging social media- fun, fast, and full of tips to ride the digital wave with confidence
Speakers:
Erin Derry | Veneer Tech
Erin Cloninger | Friendly Market
Gabbi Garner | UASHMAMA
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Waves of Intelligence: AI at the Shoreline of Innovation
This conference brings together leading minds in artificial intelligence to explore the cutting edge of innovation, ethics, and real-world impact—where technology meets the tide.
Speakers: Chisa Pennix-Brown | Give It To The People
3:15 pm – 3:25pm
Break
3:25 pm – 4:00 pm
Grant Winners Announcement
4:00 pm – 4:30pm
Sweet Send-Off: Cupcakes & Closing Reflections
Celebrate a day well spent with beachy treats, community cheers, and take-home wisdom.
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