Sunshine Summit

Sunshine Summit Featured in SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS TODAY! We’re beyond grateful to be recognized as an ORGANIZATION TO WATCH in Southwest Florida Business Today! This journey started with an #idea—a vision to bring leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers together to spark innovation and action. No big budget, no guarantees—just a will to make things work. And we did. ?? If you’re sitting on an idea, wondering if it’s possible—let this be your sign. You don’t need all the answers. You just need to start. Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way. The best is yet to come! Harrison Ambs Kevin Fleming BSWANKY Collaboratory Arthrex FC Naples Dr. Dawn Belamarich Roberto Moreno Gretchen Bauer David Worland Timothy Cartwright Vectra Digital Writing.io Michelle Borders Amina Mokhtari Michael Dana Wayne Brannon Peter O. Tracey L. Pirozzi, PHR SHRM-CP Sara Mueller Brian Bonacci Sergio DeCesare Steven Krivda Marty Jacknis - The Ultimate Opportunity Maximizer Cogent Bank Brandon Box JD Ribali PS. If you want to be involved in the next edition please dm Iwona Wilson CPF #SunshineSummit #Grateful #JustStart #Innovation #MakingThingsHappen @southwestflorida

Who doesn’t love hearing stories like this? Harrison Ambs and I met for a casual coffee catch-up. ? One conversation. One spark. One big decision. He agreed to work with me on the spot. - He gave me a team of 3—almost full-time. - They did an outstanding job at the Sunshine Summit. - He discovered a new funnel to promote his business, get clients, and help more people. A win-win. Stories like this make me love what I do. And now, I’m seeking new #sponsors for the next Sunshine Summit. You always win with my team. Who’s in? DM me and let's have a coffee catch up ??

Here’s a video with some of the amazing feedback we’ve received from the launch of the Sunshine Summit in Naples earlier this January. The energy, the connections, the game-changing ideas—this was just the beginning. We promise the next one will be even bigger and better. Can’t wait to share more soon! ?? Thinking about getting involved? Drop me a DM—I’d love to chat! #SunshineSummit #Innovation #Community #Collaboration #NextLevel

Dyslexia & Entrepreneurship: A Perfect Match? JD Ribali shared his personal story—growing up with dyslexia and jumping into entrepreneurship at a young age. And here’s what he’s learned: Dyslexics actually thrive as entrepreneurs. ?? Why? ?? They think differently. ?? They find creative solutions. ?? They embrace challenges head-on. And now, he’s paying it forward with BZKidz—a platform where kids create, sell, and manage their own products at local markets, learning business by doing. Because real learning happens outside the classroom. !!! Parents in SWFL, get your kids involved in BIZKIDZ. BTW, What do you think? Should kids be exposed to entrepreneurship earlier? ?? #Entrepreneurship #DyslexiaStrengths #BZKidz #FutureFounders

Investing in Children's Beliefs ?? At the Sunshine Summit, Karen Conley, president of Charity for Change shared a powerful message: what kids believe about themselves shapes their future. Their programs go beyond learning—they create experiential opportunities where children: ? Choose meaningful projects ?? Set milestones to accomplish them ?? Raise funds for charities they care about It's learning with real impact—for themselves and their communities. If this inspires you, check out their website to see how they’re growing and making a difference! ??? #CharityForChange #SunshineSummit #ImpactfulLearning

?? Behind Every Great Event Are Incredible PEOPLE!!! ?? A massive THANK YOU to our incredible volunteers, partners & speakers: ?? Vectra Digital Superstars: Alex Jones, Keaton Ballard, and Sylvia Nu?ez From the branding and marketing strategy to jumping in on the day as volunteers, these three are the kind of committed professionals every organization dreams of having. Their dedication, creativity, and hands-on support were next level! ?? Writing.io – Strategic & Tactical Marketing Power We met Kevin Fleming & Amanda Scheibner on LinkedIn during a sales outreach, and they immediately saw the potential in what we were building. They became strategic partners, funding our ad campaign, adjusting marketing, and providing key insights that helped shape the event’s success. ?? JD Ribali & Biz Kids – Young Leaders in Action Would you believe that all five of these incredible volunteers once ran their own businesses? These future leaders brought energy, organization, and pure entrepreneurial spirit to the event. JD Ribali big thanks for your incredible leadership. ?? Michelle Borders & Naples Network Services A true community builder! Without even meeting in person, Michelle immediately saw the value of the event, jumped in, and became a community partner. She spread the word to the people who would benefit the most—that’s impact in action! ?? HR Collier – Supporting People & Leadership This outstanding organization quickly saw how aligned our missions were. By helping leaders and decision-makers make the most of their people, HR Collier proved that collaboration is key to driving innovation. ?? Kaykon – Innovating Health & Well-Being This functional medicine practice is helping people address the root causes of their health issues—without masking symptoms. Their commitment to real, lasting solutions mirrors our mission to drive change in business and leadership. ?? @Florida SouthWestern State College – Future Business Leaders FSW didn’t just show up—they brought an entire crew of outstanding students already making waves in business! These young entrepreneurs are already building their future, and we were honored to have them. ?? Cogent Bank – A True Entrepreneurial Partner One of the most entrepreneurial banks around, Cogent Bank stepped up financially to support this event, recognizing its value and impact. ?? Sails Restaurant & Butcher Private – Elevating the Speaker Experience A huge thank you to Veljko Pavicevic Luxury Hospitality Leader for recognizing the value of this event for the community and generously sponsoring wine gifts for our speakers and panelists. Our incredible speakers, panelists and the founder Iwona Wilson CPF. ?? And guess what? We’re just getting started! ?? Watch out for the next Sunshine Summit announcement—it’s going to blow your mind as we dive into what truly matters most to the people of Southwest Florida. Who’s ready for the next one? ???? #SunshineSummit #Innovation #Gratitude #Collaboration

Flip the Script: When We Let the People Decide "Wait… we’re starting with a blank canvas?" ?? I saw the doubt on some faces. No pre-set agenda. No designated speakers. No forced discussions. Just a room full of brilliant minds and a simple question: What do YOU want to talk about? ?? In less than 20 minutes, we had 17 powerful topics on the board—each one proposed by participants, not organizers. That’s the magic of Open Space Technology. When you trust people to shape the conversation, they will naturally surface what matters most. And when they care about the topic, they show up fully engaged. ?? What happened next? - Small, self-organized groups formed. - Ideas flowed. - Connections deepened. - Real conversations happened—not just another panel discussion. This wasn’t just a session. It was community-building in real time. And we’re keeping that momentum going! ?? BIG NEWS: We just launched our online community club ?? If you attended the summit, check your inbox—you have free access to continue these discussions, connect, and build on the energy we created. ?? What’s a conversation you wish more people were having? Drop it in the comments! ??

How do you get everyone—partners, employees, and clients—focused on the end goal? That’s the big question Julie Marvel is bringing to the panel at the Sunshine Summit. Alignment isn’t just about setting a target. It’s about: ?? Creating a shared vision, so everyone knows why it matters. ?? Engaging the right people at the right time, so no one is left behind. ?? Making the journey clear, so execution isn’t guesswork. This is exactly what we’ve been talking about—and now, we’re finding the answers. So tell me—what’s your best strategy for getting people truly aligned? ?? #BringingIdeasToLife #Leadership #Alignment #SunshineSummit

Bringing big ideas to life starts with the right people. Dr Jesse Bryson was that person at our event. With 25+ years of experience in STEM programs, youth development, and real-world innovation, he brought humility, energy, and fresh ideas to the stage. Engaging, insightful, and truly invested in driving innovation in SWFL, he left us all inspired. Grateful to have had such a powerhouse keynote speaker. The conversation doesn’t stop here! Check out stemcat.org and learn more about the work led by Dr. Jesse and @Melissa Reynolds. What was your biggest takeaway from Dr. Bryson’s talk? #Innovation #STEM #CommunityGrowth #Leadership #sunshinesummit

Innovation isn’t just about new #ideas—it’s about solving the biggest #challenges standing in our way. Dr Jesse Bryson took the stage as our keynote speaker, calling on all of us to seek out innovations that truly move the needle in our organizations. His message? The right ideas, applied at the right time, change everything. And in a truly unforgettable moment—just as he had the room deep in thought—the mic dropped (literally). Turns out, Iwona left it in the wrong place. ?? But if anything, it proved his point: even the best ideas need the right execution! What’s one innovation that helped you overcome a major challenge? Drop it below! ??