EntreCon 2023 Brought Northwest Florida Leaders and Businesses Together
Studer Community Institute business conference posed the question: What Next?
Business in Northwest Florida, Pensacola in particular, is certainly booming. Business and community leaders merged at EntreCon 2023, presented by the Studer Community Institute, providing an opportunity to keep the momentum of the region going.
The 9th annual business, leadership, and entrepreneurship conference, which took place Nov. 1–2 in downtown Pensacola, invited attendees to participate in speaker presentations, panels, Q&A sessions and networking opportunities.
Throughout each of these opportunities, the theme of “What Next” was present, challenging leaders and businesses to embrace change and providing tools to face the ever-changing business landscape as well as utilize valuable connections.
Since the conference is not industry specific and invites leaders at all levels, as well as the six keynote presentations, attendees were able to select the breakout session tracks that most interested them, including leadership, entrepreneurship, and community, in addition to lunch & learn and Candid Conversations sessions.
Photo by Phocus and Co.
“Attendees always enjoy these sessions because they are able to throw around ideas, share concerns and discuss ways to enrich one another,” said Steve Nissim, Chief Storyteller of the Studer Community Institute. “As well, every year, there’s a fresh set of impressive speakers who bring value and golden nuggets that inspire change and continued learning.”
This year’s notable speakers included April Hansen, an acclaimed national speaker and group president of Workforce Solutions at Aya Healthcare; Julie Burch, president of Julie Burch Speaks; and Chad Henderson, founder and CEO at Catalyst HRE. Topics included hyper-growth strategies, stress management, an entrepreneur journey through uncertainty and more. In total, there were 32 speakers or contributors that spanned the two days.
In speaking with attendees, Nissim gleaned that all, from the Pensacola Chief of Police to students in the entrepreneurship program at Seacoast Collegiate High School, were able to take away helpful information and make networking connections.
The 2024 conference will mark EntreCon’s milestone 10th year. Nissim notes that many attendees spanning the spectrum, from technology to health care and beyond, have attended the conference from its inception in 2015.
While plans for the momentous conference are still in the works, SCI knows they want to commemorate and thank those who have attended the conference year after year.
“Conferences like this, conferences of this caliber and size don’t happen in cities the size of Pensacola,” said Nissim. “When the SCI Founder Quint Studer came up with EntreCon, he simply wanted to connect locals, so they wouldn’t have to travel far for great business ideas and an impactful opportunity to learn and grow. Throughout the years, the success of EntreCon has mirrored the success of this city.”
To learn more about EntreCon visit entreconpensacola.com, and to discover everything Studer Community Institute does to make the community a better place to live visit studeri.org.
