Virtual 2020 Chamber Connect: Maintaining & Attracting Customers During a Pandemic

Business development and customer retention has been redefined since the pandemic started in March. Many business owners have had to completely shift their methods to digital-only, and the old ways of selling may not translate well to the digital landscape. Our panelists will address your concerns and give you some tactical strategies to maintain and attract customers when most business is done virtually.

During this Chamber Connect, you will learn:
- How to sell digitally when prospects can't meet face-to-face
- Effective tools for local branding and advertising
- Unique tactics to retain customers
- Methods for increasing referrals when it is difficult to network in person

Panelists:
Adam Morley – Owner at Wolf & Key Marketing
Nohemy Montes, JD, CPFA - President and Wealth Manager at Mont Wealth Financial Advisors
Michelle Talarico - Co-Owner / Director of Sales for Picnic Basket Catering, Cravings Five Star Events and Buffalo Gals Grilling Company
Nick Ragain – President /  Co-Founder at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Rodney Gullatte, Jr. - Owner, Firma IT Solutions & Services
 
About the Panelists:

Adam Morley – Owner at Wolf & Key Marketing
Adam Morley is a community builder here in Colorado Springs. He lives and works in the downtown area as the owner of Wolf & Key Marketing. He is also a founding member of Boulder Street Moto, a non-profit DIY motorcycle garage and secret fort for grownups. He serves on boards and committees throughout the area in effort to help COS become a better and better place to live.

Nohemy Montes, JD, CPFA - President and Wealth Manager at Mont Wealth Financial Advisors
Nohemy has been a business owner nearly since her early 20’s. As a Wealth Manager, Nohemy takes an all-embracing approach to guide her clients in the management and execution of the investments and preservation of their wealth and legacy in a tax efficient manner. Her knowledge and experience in pension planning, social security and management of investments allow effective results.
As President of the firm, she diligently surrounds herself with a team of advisors to create a process that is simple for you but fully backed by its local, national, and global strategic partners, which are leaders in the investment services industry. Nohemy recognizes the power of process and takes pride in upholding a process that works in an ever changing financial, political, and legal environment. Her firm is a fee for service and results driven.
Her commitment to thrive as the best at what she does has given her the opportunity to be a coach in the financial arena as well as develop business relationships with individuals and organizations across the State of Colorado. One of her favorite phrases is “Education is power” and for that she provides complimentary financial seminars and webinars throughout the year for the community. She is devoted to the highest ethical standards in the industry and the community.
She is member of the Financial Planning Association, a member of the El Paso County Bar Association. Among other contributions, she serves in the Public Policy Committee of the Southern Colorado Women Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Women in Pensions Network, Ambassador for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Center in the Financial Services Team and serves in the Small Business Advisory Council committee. She has been a member of The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), Past President of The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), and SCORE volunteer. Ms. Montes is the recipient of the 2017 Minority Business Owner of the Year Award
 
Nick Ragain – President /  Co-Founder at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Nick has had a professional career in Sales/Marketing and Business Development and is the co-founder and president of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He holds an undergraduate degree in "having opinions" and a postgraduate degree in "being humbled". Outside of work, his life revolves around my wife and four children. He is a large supporter of parks, recreation, open space, and sports.
 

Michelle Talarico - Co-Owner / Director of Sales for Picnic Basket Catering, Cravings Five Star Events and Buffalo Gals Grilling Company
She has been a leader in the Colorado Springs community for over 30 years. Being a Colorado College Alum helped build a passion for community & service. She has served on many non-profit boards including; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Children’s’ Literacy Center, Greenberg Center for Learning and Tolerance, The Colorado Springs Wine Festival, Colorado Springs Leadership Institute, Colorado Caterers Association, The International Caterers Association, Colorado Springs Diversity forum, and  Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care, Care and Share.
Michelle is a 2002 graduate of the CSLI program at The Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs. She was the chair of several successful fundraising events; JDRF Promise Ball, Children’s Literacy Center Vintners dinner, Colorado Springs Wine Festival Grand Tasting.  Michelle supports the following on a yearly basis; Pikes Peak Hospice, Tessa, Casa, Grace Fund; Family Affair, PP Habitat for Humanity. Cs Symphony, MDA, Kid Power, Homeward Pikes Peak, Energy Resource Center, Inside Out Youth Services, Goodwill, Urban Peak, Colorado Springs Conservatory, Young life, Community Partnership for Child Development, PP United Way, Junior Achievement, American Red Cross, Kid Power, Care and Share, along with many others throughout the years. Most recently the board chair for the Colorado Springs leadership Institute. Michelle and her partner Kathy have been making a direct social Impact to the Pikes Peak Region for the past 30 years.
Her companies have been constant winner in the Gold Best Catering Category for 30 plus years in the Independent, The Gazette, The Business Journal &Colorado Meetings and Events. Her companies employ nearly 100 full and part time employees in Colorado Springs and beyond. Michelle has one son, Sam Talarico, who is a junior at University of Colorado/Boulder and the light of her life!

Rodney Gullatte - Owner, Firma IT Soltions
Firma IT Solutions was started by community leader and US Air Force Veteran, Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Chief Information Security Officer, Certified Network Defense Architect, Rodney Gullatte, Jr. When the job market would not cooperate in Key West, FL, he decided to take matters into his own hands and start a business. With a background in Information Technology and Cybersecurity that includes Department of Defense, retail, healthcare, casinos, utility companies and more, Rodney has developed a company that brings enterprise technology solutions to small businesses. Law firms, accounting firms, architect firms, museums, and marinas are just a few of the clients that Firma IT Solutions has transformed. From workstations and servers to cybersecurity and enterprise wireless networks, Firma IT Solutions has a wide scope of services to create data integrity and system security that all small businesses desperately need. The company started in Key West and thrived there four years before Rodney’s wife received military orders to Colorado Springs. As a leader in the Key West community, Firma IT Solutions has grown since Rodney left in August 2015 to come to Colorado Springs. Now Rodney has established himself in Colorado Springs as a member of the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Springs Chapter of eWomen’s Network, Past-President of BNI Strategic Alliances Chapter, Cybersecurity Consultant for the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center and Board Member of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado.
His latest accomplishments are becoming a the President of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, Co-chair of the Southern Colorado Business Partnership, winner of Colorado Springs Business Journal Best in Business 2017 #1 Cybersecurity Company, recipient of the Colorado Springs Business Journal Rising Stars Class of 2018 award and Founder of the Colorado Springs Black Business Network which is a new startup Chamber of Commerce here in Colorado Springs. He’s the winner of Small Business Week 2019 Veteran Business Owner of the Year and is a finalist for Small Business Champion of the Year for Small Business Week 2020. Rodney leverages his multiple affiliations to help grow his sphere of influence to help others succeed. This philosophy of “Givers Gain” has brought him success in business and among the community. He believes that educating the business community about cybersecurity will help create a CyberSafe Community which is a program his company sponsors with our local Fox21 News.


Can't make the live event? Register anyway to receive the recording of the presentation.

Have your own event or promotion to announce? After registering, send Emma Mitchell a single PowerPoint slide with that information by the Wednesday before the event. You will have a chance to explain it at the end of the Chamber Connect. *Members only

Event sponsored by BBSI.
BBSI is a local, high touch, Professional Employer Organization advocating on behalf of business owners. Our Colorado Springs team of subject matter experts provide consulting services to help navigate and propel small to medium-sized businesses through challenges in the areas of Workers' Compensation, Risk Management, Human Resources, Payroll, Talent Acquisition and Business Consulting, to ensure compliance, and mitigate risk, and help company scale for growth. Reach out to Kevin Davis at BBSI (kevin.davis@mybbsi.com) for a zero-pressure discussion on how we can assist with your company needs.