As a small business owner, you may wear many hats. These hats might include visionary, finance, marketing and sales, operations, and more. But throughout all of the day-to-day demands, how often do you take time to invest in yourself?
Professional development is essential for staying competitive and thriving in today’s fast-changing business environment. Whether it’s learning a new skill, gaining fresh insights, drawing inspiration, or building a network of like-minded individuals, the time you spend on professional growth directly impacts your business’s success.
Driving Change and Creating Opportunity
At the Florida SBDC, we know that as a small business owner, you’re not just running a business, you’re driving innovation, solving problems, and creating opportunities in your community. That’s why we have created the Small Business Success Summit – an annual opportunity for business owners to come together to invest in themselves, uninterrupted. We also know that stepping away from your business is tough. So why invest?
Investing in professional development empowers you to:
- Adapt to changes by staying informed on new trends and technologies.
- Discover opportunities to innovate and grow your business.
- Lead with confidence as you navigate challenges and shape your business’s future.
- Make connections with other like-minded individuals and resource partners like the SBDC.
Let’s Connect
No small business succeeds in isolation. Building relationships with other business owners, mentors, and experts can inspire new ideas, spark collaboration, and even open new doors.
Professional development events like the Small Business Success Summit are an incredible opportunity to:
- Exchange insights and best practices with fellow entrepreneurs.
- Learn from inspiring leaders and industry experts.
- Build a network of connections that can fuel your growth.
Join Us and Invest In Yourself and your Business
If you’re ready to harness The Power of Small Business and invest in your professional growth, join us at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit. The Summit will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities that allow small businesses to walk away with strategies and connections to help further their business.
Take the first step in driving change and creating opportunity—invest in yourself, and watch your business thrive!
The 2025 Small Business Success Summit will be held August 18-19 in Tampa at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Learn more about this year’s event and register at https://floridasbdc.org/success_summit/.
Retta Parsons
Consultants, Hillsborough, ParsonsFlorida SBDC at Hillsborough County
Specialty: Start-up, Bookkeeping
Retta Parsons brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in business management and public administration to her role as a business consultant. She previously served as CEO of Shiawassee United Way. In that position, she provided leadership to ensure the construction of a $26 million county medical care facility. She also led the change process and alliance establishment that resulted in the implementation of United Way 2-1-1 in Shiawassee County. Parsons also served as a training director for Girl Scouts, where each year she managed the delivery of approximately 124 trainings for more than 700 attendees. Parsons enjoys being active in the community. Past roles include chairperson for the State of Michigan, Department of Health & Human Services, Shiawassee County, board; chairperson of the Shiawassee Human Services Council; and ambassador for the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce. She earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources Management from Spring Arbor College. She is a certified Child Care Facility Inspector, Instructor of Trainers, and Bridges Out of Poverty Trainer. In her spare time, Parsons enjoys bike riding with her husband, Roger, and spoiling her children and granddaughter.