Chamber Connect with Yemi Mobolade

Topic: City Agencies for Small Business Advancement Panel

Small businesses are a critical engine of our economy, contributing to job growth and economic vitality. Many small business owners are experts in their craft, driven by their passion to create a great product or service for the community. These entrepreneurs often are unaware of the local government regulatory guidelines and expectations required for establishing their businesses, which hinders their progress and may create a financial burden.
 
City Agencies for Small Business Advancement is a collective of City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County departments, Colorado Springs Utilities, and business advocates and resources including the Pikes Peak SBDC and Chamber & EDC. This collective exists to proactively assist and provide solutions to small businesses, thereby shaping the future of how businesses navigate the various processes while improving the narrative that our city agencies exist to assist.

Guest panelists:
Brett Lacey, Fire Marshal, City of Colorado Springs Fire Department
Peter Wysocki,  Planning & Development Director, City of Colorado Springs
Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk, City of Colorado Springs
Roger Lovell, Regional Building Official, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department
Cindy Newsome, Economic Development Manager, Colorado Springs Utilities
Aikta Marcoulier, Executive Director, Small Business Development Center  
Joe Lomeli, Environmental Health Supervisor with El Paso County Public Health. 


Speaker/Moderator:   Yemi Mobolade, Vice President, Business Retention & Expansion, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC

Bio: Yemi collaborates for the health, growth and prosperity of Colorado Springs.  In his function as VP, Business Retention and Expansion for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, Yemi works to promote the continued growth of Colorado Springs' many existing employers, with a focus on primary employers and target economies.  
A small business owner himself of the Wild Goose Meeting House and Good Neighbors Meeting House with his business partner Russ Ware, Yemi works to address business needs and local issues that detract from a healthy business climate in which businesses cans start, proposer, and grow.  His leadership with “City Agencies for Small Business Advancement,” a collective of the primary city and county agencies, business advocates and resources, exists to proactively provide solutions to small businesses and shape the future of how businesses navigate the various regulatory processes. 
A strong community advocate, Yemi, holds two master’s degrees, serves on a number of community boards of directors and is a member of Colorado Springs Leadership Institute.  He was recognized as one of the Colorado Springs Business Journal’s 2016 Rising Stars, received the inaugural Colorado Springs 2015 Mayor’s Young Leader Award for Economic Impact, awarded the 2016 alumnus of the year from his alma mater Bethel College, and recently recognized as the Pikes Peak SBDC's 2018 Small Business Champion of the Year for his commitment to advancing small business in our region.

Chamber Connect meets from 11:30 to 1:00 pm. Lunch and open networking from 11:30 - 12:00; speaker presentations begin at noon.
 

Purpose of Chamber Connects: To connect the community and business advocates together twice a month to share information, educate and network. 

Requirements:  No requirement for members.  A $5.00 charge for non-members at the door.  Cost covers the presentation.  We suggest that you support the venue with the purchase of a drink and/or lunch.  Everyone is welcome!

Commitment:  No attendance requirements, no lead requirements. Simply be there when you can and bring others to share the wealth of the network.