Candice Matthews Brackeen is the Founder and CEO of a dynamic economic development organization and venture capital investor. Through her leadership at Lightship Foundation and Lightship Capital, Candice has guided thousands of tech founders  to more than $500M in funding. 

Candice lends her strategic vision to Lightship’s founder-centric programming and events, including Lightship Bootcamps, Founder Gym, and Black Tech Week. Her commitment to advancement and inclusion has most recently been recognized by organizations such as the Cincinnati Bengals (2022 Inspire Change Changemaker Award) and Doritos and Pepsi Co. (2023 Doritos Change Maker).

Candice also serves on the Cincinnati Innovation District Advisory Council, the Endeavor Northwest Arkansas Board of Directors, and is a University of Cincinnati Kautz Uible Fellow. 

Once told by a high school counselor that her low grades meant she wouldn’t make it, Felecia Hatcher flipped the script and built an iconic career, proving that no one can define your destiny but you. Now, as the CEO of Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Opportunity Inc., she’s investing in dreams and delivering results, helping 157 entrepreneurs raise over $100 million.

Felecia is a walking masterclass in doing the impossible. She’s launched companies in food, tech, and philanthropy, two of which were acquired, and built a corporate career with power-player brands like Nintendo, Sony, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Oh, and she still found time to co-create Black Tech Week and The Center for Black Innovation, turning ideas into movements and tech deserts into thriving innovation hubs.

A transformational speaker and author of five books, including Genius Jam and Start a Business on a Ramen Noodle Budget, Felecia has helped companies like LV, Visa, JP Morgan, Adidas, Google, Disney, and Target find their Zone of Genius while inspiring them to step up their inclusivity game. Her work has landed her on the Today Show, MSNBC, Forbes, and even in two Harvard Business School case studies (because why not?)

From doubted teen to celebrated disruptor, Felecia’s mission is clear: make bold moves, live uninterrupted, and leave no genius untapped. Whether she’s investing in entrepreneurs or showing companies how to get it together, one thing’s for sure Felecia Hatcher is here to slay.

Montalee’ Chavious-Berry, Product Development Manager at PATTERN, is bringing her expertise to the conference. This session will break down the essential stages of product development. Whether you’re new to production or looking to strengthen your foundation, this overview blends scientific insight with real-world application. Montalee’ knows what it takes to hit shelves and shine. Her market insights and award-winning formulas drive retail success 

Traditional financing models often create steep barriers for grassroots entrepreneurs, leaving ecosystem builders searching for equitable capital solutions. In Galveston, Texas, the collective impact organization Vision Galveston teamed up with AMOCO Federal Credit Union to solve this challenge by launching the Doers and Dreamers Fund, a custom-designed, non-punitive microloan initiative rooted in a resident-driven framework.

This session is designed specifically for entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) and nonprofits looking to move beyond traditional technical assistance and into direct financial empowerment. Learn how this unique partnership structures accessible capital to fuel small business expansion and strengthen local economies.

Ashlee Cook, professionally known as Ask Ashlee, is a media personality, experience host, speaker, author, entrepreneur, and Qualified Mental Health Specialist who creates conversations that inspire people to grow with confidence, faith, and authenticity. A former contributing writer for the Cincinnati Herald and on-air contributor for FOX19, Ashlee has built her career at the intersection of media, storytelling, and community impact. 
Ashlee brings her expertise in storytelling along with warmth, humor, and an unforgettable presence that leaves audiences feeling seen, energized, and empowered long after the conversation ends.

Layoffs. Strategic retrenchment. Reassessing diversity commitments. Mergers, acquisitions, and organizational closures. These are no longer hypothetical challenges for nonprofit leaders; they are boardroom realities. 

In this highly interactive session led by nonprofit law experts, nonprofit executives and board leaders will examine the foundations of strong governance and compliance that are required to make difficult organizational decisions. Together, we’ll discuss how boards can exercise sound oversight, fulfill fiduciary duties, evaluate organizational options, and balance legal obligations with mission-driven leadership. 

Participants will leave with practical frameworks for navigating high-stakes decisions while maintaining accountability, stakeholder trust, and organizational resilience. 

You’ve got amazing products and services. You’re getting in front of the right leads, but you’re not closing the sales. In this session, we’ll start with your sales foundations so you get clear on the who and the why behind your sales.

From there, we’ll flip things around and take a look at you, the person doing the selling, to find the methods that match your natural strengths. Using a framework built on dog breeds (yes, really), you’ll walk away knowing the best methods and strategies for your personality, leading to closed sales and higher revenue.

Conferences can be stuffy. Information overload is real. Your business doesn’t stop while you’re here. Come hear from someone who really doesn’t like conferences, but gets why we keep showing up anyway. We’ll ditch the guilt, have some fun, and build a one-page plan that gets you three things (an answer, a person, a decision), protects your work time, and gets you back some of your day(especially happy hour or a nap)

Entrepreneur Support Organizations across the country are navigating a rapidly changing funding environment while continuing to meet the needs of the entrepreneurs they serve. This facilitated discussion will bring ESO leaders together to share challenges, explore innovative approaches to funding and partnerships, and learn from one another’s experiences. Rather than focusing on a single solution, participants will engage in an honest conversation about what is working, what isn’t, and how organizations are positioning themselves for long-term sustainability and impact. Attendees will leave with new ideas, practical insights, and peer-driven strategies to help strengthen their organizations and the communities they serve.