Join us for The 2026 Breaking Barriers Summit: Leveling the field for Women and Minority Entrepreneurs. Featuring Elliot Richardson and 11 other key panelists! Hear about practical insights and strategies to help accelerate your business growth. Hosted By Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce

AGENDA

7:30 - 8:00 - Registration and networking

8:00 - 8:15 - Introductory Remarks

8:15 - 8:30 - Jennifer Serino, Executive Director, Lake County Workforce Development

Panel Discussions:

8:30 - 9:15 The Capital Journey: How to Secure, Use & Grow Capital

Understanding your business numbers is essential to building long-term success. During this panel you will learn how financial clarity can strengthen credibility with lenders, improve cash flow, guide smarter decisions, and help you navigate economic challenges—positioning your business for sustainable growth and wealth-building.

Key takeaways include:

How to prepare – steps to strengthen your credit score and key red flags to watch for
How to talk to lenders – tips for navigating conversations and building confidence during meetings
Real-world case studies – examples of the challenges business owners face and strategies that have worked

Panelists:

Abigail "Abby" Scanlan, Community Impact Manager, Fifth Third Bank
Letticia Flores-Poole, Senior Regional Strategist, Zero Barriers to Business, BMO
Michele Petrie, Executive Vice President – Market Head, Wintrust Financial Corporation
Alex Felton, Vice President and Senior Business Development Officer, Pursuit Lending

9:15 - 10:00 Beyond the Gap: Claiming Your Value with Confidence

Closing the pay gap starts with confidently owning your value. This session empowers women and minorities to use data, benchmarks, and clear metrics to advocate for fair pay—whether negotiating salary or pricing products and services. Attendees will gain practical tools to present their worth, strengthen their pitch, and ensure they’re fully recognized and rewarded for the value they bring.

Key takeaways include:

Learn how to research salary benchmarks and industry pricing standards
Develop strategies to price your products and services with confidence
Craft a compelling, data-backed case for your value—whether to an employer or a client
Build confidence through practice and preparation before negotiations
Understand your worth, your bottom line, and when to walk away
Explore alternative benefits or added value when salary or pricing flexibility is limited
Developing fair salary practices beginning as yourself as an entrepreneur

Panelists:

Karen D. Haggerty, Milestone Circles Mentor (a Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center program) | Founder & CEO of Creneau Marketing
Sheryl Hart, International Trainer and Facilitator on Value-Base Leadership, Hart Services LLC
Leticia “Letty” Velez, Founder of IC U/Latinas | Milestone Circles Alum | Founder & CEO of Velez Global Enterprises & IC Clean Energy

10:00 - 10:45 Underrepresented to Unstoppable: Expanding Markets & Networks

Women and minority entrepreneurs often face barriers to accessing key markets, decision-makers, and professional networks—making it harder to scale their businesses and secure meaningful contracts. This session provides actionable strategies to expand visibility, build strategic relationships, and access new opportunities. Attendees will learn how to leverage networks effectively, position their businesses for growth, and open doors to partnerships and markets that drive long-term success.

Key takeaways include:

Discover the main barriers limiting market and network access for women and minority entrepreneurs
Learn proven strategies to increase visibility and build powerful connections
Gain insights from real-world success stories
Unlocking the world of government contracting (for your suggestion to include)
Walk away with actionable steps to grow your network and business opportunities

Panelists:

Michelle Lura White, Women’s Business Development Manager, Office of Economic Equity & Empowerment at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Ian Quan, Center Director, IL APEX Accelerator at CMAA
Vanessa Hall, Manager - Community Partnerships & Engagement, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas

10:45 - 11:30 Unlocking Access: Tackling Policy and Regulatory Challenges for Inclusive Entrepreneurship

State laws and regulations can present unique challenges for women- and minority-owned businesses. Thanks to recent improvements in Illinois’ systems, navigating compliance and licensing is becoming smoother and more accessible than ever. This session will highlight these advancements and provide practical strategies, tools, and resources to help entrepreneurs confidently navigate regulatory requirements and grow their businesses with ease.

Key takeaways include:

Learn how regulations and state policies shape opportunities for women - and minority-owned businesses—and how to navigate them successfully
Discover practical strategies for managing compliance and licensing requirements
Identify resources and support to overcome bureaucratic hurdles
Gain insights from real-world examples of businesses successfully navigating regulatory challenges

Panelists:

Elliot Richardson, President, Small Business Advisory Council
Stephanie Posey, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair, NAWBO Chicago | Owner & Lawyer, Posey Law Group

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