North Port Hosts Successful Sarasota County Connect Business Networking & Panel Discussion Event

On Thursday, April 11, the City of North Port hosted the inaugural Sarasota County Connect Business Networking & Panel Discussion at Wellen Park's Solis Hall, marking a significant milestone in the City's economic development efforts.

Sponsored by the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County , State College of Florida's (SCF) 26 West Center , Wellen Park, the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce, and the City of North Port Florida , the event brought together entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals for an evening of networking, insightful discussions and valuable connections.

The event featured a distinguished panel of local business leaders, including Tra Williams, President and CEO at FleetForce Truck Driver Training and author of "Boss Brain"; Jamie Lovern, Founder and CEO at LOLABLUE of North Port, John Horne, CEO at Oysters Rock Hospitality and Tyler Holt, President at AvSKY Jets .

The panelists shared their experiences and insights, providing attendees with valuable knowledge and inspiration.

Including advice from John Horne, Chief Executive Oyster (CEO) at Oysters Rock Hospitality and Anna Maria Oyster Bar , who said, "You have to be willing to dare, to take risks, to go out on a limb and then have the intestinal fortitude to make it work."

Anna Maria Oyster Bar will be opening its sixth location this summer in North Port.

This inaugural event is part of a larger initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and business growth in North Port and the broader south Sarasota County region. Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Ian in 2022, North Port has experienced significant business growth, with over 160 new businesses opening their doors since October 2023.

The success of the Sarasota County Connect Business Networking & Panel Discussion has set the stage for a series of summer workshops aimed at further empowering entrepreneurs and business owners in North Port and the surrounding areas.?

The workshop series kicks off on Thursday, May 9, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with a workshop on "Build Your Brand: AI (Artificial Intelligence) Marketing for Small Business." This workshop will explore the latest trends and strategies in AI marketing and how small businesses can leverage these technologies to enhance their brand and reach new customers.

On Thursday, June 13, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., the series continues with a workshop on "How to Solve Any Business Problem: Design Thinking for Entrepreneurs." This workshop will introduce participants to the principles of design thinking and how they can be applied to solve complex business challenges and drive innovation.

The series concludes on Thursday, July 11, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with a workshop titled "Business IDEA Lab." This interactive workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to brainstorm and develop their business ideas with guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and business coaches.

All workshops are free to attend, but registration is required.

The workshops will be held at Solis Hall in North Port’s Wellen Park, with complimentary refreshments provided.?

Attendees are encouraged to register early, as space is limited.??

We look forward to seeing you there this summer!