Business Summit
About the Business Summit
The Business Summit is an annual event that brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and emerging leaders from a variety of industries to explore opportunities for growth, innovation, and success in today's evolving business environment. The summit serves as a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration while providing practical tools and strategies that help businesses and professionals thrive.
The Importance of Business Summits
Business summits play a valuable role in connecting professionals, industry experts, and community leaders to exchange ideas, build relationships, and gain insights into emerging trends and best practices. This event creates opportunities for learning, innovation, and leadership development while fostering connections that strengthen the local business community. The Business Summit is designed to inspire growth, encourage collaboration, and equip attendees with actionable strategies for success.
Overview of the Business Summit
The Business Summit is a highly anticipated annual event held in Gresham, a thriving community known for its entrepreneurial spirit and strong business network. The summit attracts a diverse audience, including business owners, executives, managers, rising professionals, community leaders, and industry experts.
Focused on leadership, communication, innovation, and professional development, the summit provides attendees with valuable insights, practical skills, and meaningful connections. Through engaging presentations, interactive discussions, and networking opportunities, participants gain the knowledge and confidence needed to lead effectively, embrace change, and drive success within their organizations and communities.
2026 Speakers and Topics:
Empowering Confident Communication
Gigi Rosenburg
Author and public speaking coach
Implementing Practical AI for Business
Layne Lewis
Owner of Willowview Consulting LLC.
2026 Business Summit Overview:
Unlock stronger communication, smarter decision‑making, and confident leadership at the Business Summit: Empowering Confident Communication + Implementing Practical AI for Business.
Join us for a morning designed to elevate your presence, strengthen collaboration, and explore practical AI tools that enhance workflow, create efficiencies, and support responsible innovation.
This year’s Chamber Business Summit brings together Rising Stars, Leaders, and Teams for a dynamic experience focused on elevating confidence and engaging communication. Attendees will learn how to empower personal and professional growth through effective communication that transforms presence, delivery, and authority with clarity and warmth.
The program also explores Practical AI Integration for Business, connecting vision and enablement with ethical and effective AI practices. Participants will discover how to strengthen decision‑making, drive responsible innovation, and implement tools that enhance workflows and empower leadership.
Through a blend of empowerment, teamwork, and innovation, this summit helps professionals rise, lead, and communicate with confidence while embracing the future of smart technology.
Speakers clockwise:Â Â Kyle Sexton: Business Development Specialist on AI -- Jelani Greenidge: Corporate Humorist-- Mark McMullen: former State of Oregon Chief Economist, VP of Policy & Research, Common Sense Institute of Oregon -- Damon Runberg: State Economist, Business Oregon.
Key Objectives and Themes
The Business Summit focuses on empowering professionals, strengthening organizations, and fostering innovation within the local business community. Key themes include:
Building Strong, Adaptable Organizations
Today's business landscape is constantly evolving. This theme explores strategies for resilience, adaptability, innovation, and sustainable growth, helping businesses and professionals navigate change with confidence and long-term success in mind.
Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Entrepreneurship and innovation are powerful drivers of business success. This focus area highlights emerging trends, creative problem-solving, and innovative approaches that help businesses grow, compete, and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace.
Strengthening Business Connections
Strong professional relationships are essential for growth and success. This theme emphasizes collaboration, networking, and partnership-building among businesses and professionals throughout the Gresham area, creating a supportive environment where ideas and opportunities can flourish.
Engaging Speakers and Panel Discussions
The Business Summit features a lineup of engaging speakers and thought-provoking discussions led by industry experts, successful business leaders, and innovators. These sessions provide valuable insights, real-world experiences, and practical strategies on topics such as leadership, communication, technology, innovation, and business growth. Attendees leave inspired and equipped with actionable ideas they can apply immediately.
Networking Opportunities
Networking is a key component of the Business Summit, offering participants opportunities to build meaningful professional relationships. Networking sessions and interactive experiences allow attendees to connect with fellow business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community partners, fostering collaborations that can lead to future business opportunities, mentorships, and lasting professional connections.
Showcasing Local Businesses and Innovation
The Business Summit celebrates the achievements, innovation, and leadership of businesses throughout the region. Presentations, exhibits, and featured success stories highlight the diverse industries and organizations that contribute to the vitality of the local business community while creating opportunities for collaboration, visibility, and growth.
About the Summit
The Gresham Area Business Summit is a dynamic event that brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community stakeholders to foster growth, collaboration, leadership development, and innovation. Through inspiring speakers, engaging discussions, impactful networking opportunities, and practical learning experiences, the summit provides a platform for sharing knowledge, building connections, and preparing for the future of business.
By embracing new ideas, strengthening professional relationships, and exploring emerging technologies, the summit helps attendees elevate their impact, communicate with confidence, and lead successfully in an evolving business environment.