As part of our continuing efforts to promote the exchange of information and resources available to our small business community, the City of Columbia’s annual Small Business Week Conference is designed to recognize the successes of local small businesses, provide businesses with management tools, best practices, and networking opportunities to be successful. 

The City of Columbia’s 13th Annual Small Business Week Conference was held on Wednesday, May 6th at the Pastides (USC) Alumni Center in Columbia, SC.  The Office of Business Opportunities would like to thank the following participants and sponsors who made the 13th Annual Small Business Week Conference a success:

Our Small Business Resource Partners
Dr. Ashlye V. Wilkerson – Phenomenal Women Leading, LLC
Dr. Macie P. Smith – Diversified Training Consultants Group
State Representative Wendell K. Jones – Wendell Jones Leadership Institute (WJLI)
City of Columbia’s Department of Procurement and Contracts
Charlene Fitzpatrick, Human Capital Consultants Consortium, LLC
Marcus Glenn & Brittany Sherell, MDOT Global
Benjamin Means, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Andrena Sawyer, P.E.R.K. Consulting
Sheree Knowles, Human Capital Consultants Consortium, LLC
Juvockia Melvin, Purplebiz Marketing dba She Gets Digital Marketing
Monique “Nikki” Priester, MWSBE Consulting, LLC
Kiki Wooley, Integrated Media Publishing
U.S. Small Business Administration
Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Wells Fargo
Grace Outdoor Advertising
Founders Federal Credit Union
GlobalCore Strategies & Consulting
VentureX
TutwielerDawkins, LLC
SC Community Loan Fund
CommunityWorks
Javis Financial Services, LLC
City of Columbia Public Relations, Media and Marketing
Columbia Printing & Graphics
ByFarr Design House
Pastides (USC) Alumni Center
Freethinkers Radio
Blackrock Branding
Sweet GG’s Bakery
Mrs. Karen Erinfolami – Carolina Fish and Wings
Timeless Glamology
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea
The Balloon Squad
City of Columbia Parking Facilities
Table Linens and More
City of Columbia Community Development

 

If you missed our conference, click here to review our City of Columbia’s 13th Annual Small Business Week Conference booklet!

Here are clips from 2026 National Small Business Week:

City of Columbia’s 13th Annual Small Business Week Conference

Kickoff to Small Business Week – May 4, 2026

If you would like to watch videos from last year’s conference and kickoff, click on one of the links below!

City of Columbia’s 12th Annual Small Business Week Conference Recap

2025 Small Business Week Kickoff  – Bierkeller Columbia

”Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of the City of Columbia’s 13th Annual Small Business Week Conference.
I appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the conversation and engage with so many entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community members throughout the conference. It was really encouraging to see the City continue creating spaces that intentionally support and invest in small business growth. I’m grateful for the work you both put into coordinating the conference and making the experience seamless and impactful.

Andrena Sawyer - P.E.R.K. Consulting, Lexington, SC

”Attending the City of Columbia Small Business Conference was an incredible experience for me as a small business owner. It gave me the opportunity to network, share information about my business, and connect with other professionals throughout our community. As the owner of Notary2Go LLC, events like this help increase visibility, build relationships, and open doors for future partnerships and opportunities. I truly appreciate spaces that support and encourage small businesses to grow, collaborate, and thrive right here in South Carolina. Thank you to everyone involved in organizing such a valuable event!

Tatia Toney, Notary2Go, LLC, West Columbia, SC

”This was my first time attending, and I left impressed. The event was organized well and the energy in the room was real. That is a reflection of the work being done behind the scenes, and I want you to know it landed.

Tosha Dash, SHE Dreams Consulting, Columbia, SC

”Thank you for all of your team's hard work on the Small Business Conference today, I had the best time! As a small business owner myself, I found out about new resources that can help me, and I also made some great partnership connections for the founders we support here at the Boyd Innovation Center. It was so exciting to see the room so full!

Dana Watkins, Program Manager, Boyd Innovation Center