Time

Event

Speakers

Room

8:30 -
9:15

Welcome to Louisville!

Mayor Fischer, 
LIBA, AMIBA

Stopher

9:15 -
10:30

Foundations of Successful Indie Business Alliances
An effective IBA does far more than promotion and education. We'll explore the three realms of effective IBAs, foundations of successful organizing and education, working with local government and more.

So Much Technology, So Little of Me:
Maximize your social media impact
Social media is the most immediate way to stay in touch with stakeholders and members, but small groups need a tight focus and clear objectives to make it time-effective.

Jeff Milchen, AMIBA

Jen Risley, Monadnock Buy Local

Lindsey Shorthouse, Reach People

Coe

Stopher

10:30-
10:50

Break

Segell

10:50-
12:05

Building Strength in Numbers Regionally
Organizers of the New England Local Business Forum -- a confederation of local business alliances -- will show how they've built regional energy and collaboration and share their experience to help you build state and regional power.

Local Planning and Policy, and Using Economic Impact Data to Make Your Case for Going Local
IBAs can be pivotal to building pro-local policies
and ensuring small business concerns are not overlooked. This session will show how economic impact studies can help build your credibility and give you leverage. You'll also learn about  initiatives forwarded by local groups that can yield major benefits while broadening your base.

Laury Hammel, SBN-Boston

Betsy Burton, Local First Utah

Amy Huerta, Fresno IBA;

Matt Cunningham, Civic Economics

Coe

Stopher

12:05-
1:20

Lunch 
Table Talk: The best thing our group did last year

Segell

1:20 -
2:35

National Campaigns
This session will examine several of the national campaigns led by coalitions, AMIBA and for-profit companies allying themselves with independents. We'll evaluate results and seek participants' guidance on maximizing the impact of continent-wide campaigns, including the venerable Independents Week the new Shift Your Shopping. Independent We Stand will be represented and Small Business Saturday also will be discussed.

Building Indie Alternatives to Amazon, et al
Learn about some of the growing internet options for independent businesses to sell online through multi-business e-commerce sites and recapture some sales presently going to online mega-retailers.

Carla Jimenez, Tampa IBA 

Bill Brunelle, Independent We Stand

Jeff Milchen AMIBA

Jatin Patro,
SharedMall.com

Lesley Tweedie,
Little Independent

Alan Buckman,
Local Thunder 

Stopher

Coe

2:35 -
2:55

Break

Segell

2:55 -
4:10

Growing Local: models for a thriving local food economy
We'll learn about cutting-edge work in our host city and other local alliances helping area farmers and producers thrive while adding power to their local organization. The panel will include government and private initiatives, and perspectives from producers, distributors and restaurateurs. 

Going Mobile -- Why Apps for Mobile Technology Are an Essential Benefit for Local Businesses
Just as we got used to moving from the Yellow Pages to web searches, the rise of mobile apps demand we adapt once again if we aim to attract the attention of many customers. Learn some of the key considerations and determine your path to putting your business or membership at customers' fingertips.

Theresa Zawacki, LIFE Zone

Ellen McGeeney, Grasshoppers Distribution

Laury Hammel, SBN-Boston

Ares Saldaña, Homegrown El Paso, Phidev

Jonathan Erwin,
Red e App

Steve Russ
AdXplore

Stopher

Coe

4:10 -
5:00

Free Time

5:00

NuLu & Nu Ideas
An evening adventure to the NuLu district for light dinner and drinks at The Green Building, a LEED-certified renewal of a 110-year-old building at the heart of this up-and-coming area.  We'll hear from NuLu "mayor" Gill Holland about the transformation of the run-down East Market area into a vibrant, green, locally-grown arts and commerce district. Enjoy strolling NuLu afterward with friends (free trolley from/to downtown).

5:00-5:20 Transportation to dinner: Meet at 4th and Main Street (just outside the hotel) at 5:00 - 5:20 PM for a trolley ride through downtown Louisville that will drop us off at The Green Building for our catered dinner and tour. Alternatively, you can use your break time to walk there (1.2 miles, flat) and stop at shops along the way. A greeter will be at The Green Building to direct you -- our dinner begins at 5:45.

Note: the last trolley returns at 8:00 PM, so plan for a walk or cab ride if you stay out to sample the nightlife in NuLu.

The Green Building, NuLu District 

Segell

8:30- 9:15

Become a Media Darling
Learn how to build media relationships, get the most from them, and use those appearances to your advantage.

Recipe for Creating a Thriving Board  
Learn a step by step guide to building a thriving board, engaging and energizing new and existing board members, and being a more effective IBA. Drawing on practical tools and strategies, this session will cover board development, governance, and fundraising strategies that you can use to catalyze change in your IBA.

Mark Weldon, WHSA, Raleigh

Nancy Stephen, Louisville CVB

Derrick Rhayn,
Rhayn Collaborative Consulting 

Coe

Stopher 

9:35- 10:50 

United We Stand
Linking manufacturers, distributors, retailers and the financial sector to strengthen independent business. 

Andrew Thomas, author, The Distribution Trap

Josh Hafer, Heaven Hill Distilleries

Stopher

10:50- 12:05

Leveraging the Power of Local Institutions
Institutions like schools, government, hospitals and other large entities present opportunities for partnership that can gain your IBA a large internal audience, prominent support, and shift large sums of money to local businesses. But how do you get their attention? Find out how some of your peers did it and the results of their efforts.

Events that Build Your Presence & Bank Account
We'll learn keys to some of the most successful IBA events, including the Louisville IBA's hugely successful and profitable microbrew fest. 

Amy Huerta,
Fresno IBA
El Paso, Tacoma

Leah Ferguson, Asheville City Schools Foundation

Franzi Charen,Asheville Grown

Jennifer Rubenstein,Louisville IBA

Stopher

Coe

Lunch

Table Talk: Connecting Regionally
Tables marked for your region. Find yours
and discuss the collaborative possibilities
with your regional peers.

1:15 - 2:30

Tapping the Power of Local Capital
From partnering with local banks and credit unions to emerging "locavesting" tools, learn how to engage financial institutions and investors to build a more vibrant local business community.  

Keys to Gaining and Retaining Members
We'll cover everything from salesmanship to
building effective databases to meeting the emotional needs of your members as we learn best tools and ideas from thriving local alliances.

Stacy Mitchell, ILSR

Andy Loving, Just Money Financial Advisers

Jennifer Rubenstein, Louisville IBA

AMIBA staff

Stopher

Coe

2:50 - 4:00

Legislative Platform for Independent
Business & National Institutions
What are independent business owners and advocates concerned about at the state and national levels? How can we collaborate with indie trade groups and others to ensure our concerns are addressed in the 2012 elections and beyond? 

David Levine, ASBC

George Farah, Cohen Milstein

Jeff Milchen, AMIBA

Segell 
 

9:00- 10:15

The Visible Difference
Learn from the experience of creative and highly visible IBAs about keeping your alliance in the public eye year-round.

Helping Indies Through Technology and Loyalty Programs

Learn about emerging technologies that can both help drive customers to your members and give them valuable data to build relationships and loyalty. You'll see how QR codes can aid your group and learn about cutting edge customer loyalty programs that deliver valuable data to your members.

Rebecca Melancon, Austin IBA

Franzi Charen, Asheville Grown

Stacy Mitchell, Portland Buy Local

Brett Goldberg, Synqware

Michael Scotti
di Carlo, Supportland

Coe

Stopher

10:15- 11:30

The Big Picture: Key challenges & opportunities for indie business advocates in 2012 and beyond
How will smaller retailers meet the challenge of online retailing and level the playing field on issues like sales tax fairness? How can the Localization Movement prevent dilution as more large companies portray themselves as local? How will we attract and channel the funds needed to keep our momentum growing?

Stacy Mitchell, ILSR

Betsy Burton, Local
First Utah