QUICK•CONNECT
Quick•Connects are“speed dating” sessions with local experts. You will sign up for a session at SMASH, and when the “gong” sounds for your session, you get to talk to your chosen expert … until the gong sounds again! Register for your Quick•Connect meetings when you arrive at SMASH. Reservations are first-come, first-served.
Check out these confirmed SMASH! ‘25 Experts!
Watch this spot as we are adding
SME’s as they confirm!
Alexis Jenssen - Marketing
Alexis Jenssen, Founder & Creative Director at The Bowerbird Agency is a classically trained fine artist with over 15 years of marketing and development expierence supporting business and non-profit organizations serving a local audience.
Alexis can help people identify how to grow awareness and increase engagement across social media how to create effective, omnichannel marketing to increase sales, and how to begin/grow a wholesale offering.
Charles Sexton - Legal
Charles is an attorney and Partner of Eunoia Law Firm. He began his legal journey helping small business owners in Greensboro, NC with business services from entity formation to think tank strategy sessions. As the Branding Attorney at Eunoia Law Firm, he has used his love for music and the arts to help artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs. Charles has negotiated artists’ deals, created contracts for production companies, and advised creatives on the proper ways to earning more money through their intellectual property.
Talk with Charles about protecting your work through copyrights and trademarks, knowing what it means to build/grow your brand, the importance of licensing and the necessities of a contract.
Brandon Huffman - Legal
Brandon is an attorney at Odin Law and Media focused on representing video game developers and other creative and technology clients. Brandon is also general counsel to the International Game Developers’ Association, the largest trade organization focused on supporting individual game developers. He is the past chair of the Triangle ArtWorks board of directors and the North Carolina Bar Association Small Firm & Technology and Sports and Entertainment Law sections.
Ask Brandon about legal issues in entrepreneurship, copyright for artists, and other legal issues around creative work.
Andrea Dobbie - Accounting
Andrea Dobbie brings a unique blend of financial acumen and artistic passion. Andrea works as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) at a public accounting firm in Raleigh, as well as working as a ceramic artist and teacher. With a background as a CPA and experience as an artist, Andrea embodies a commitment to both the financial stewardship and creative vision when it comes to blending business with art. Her career journey integrates a deep understanding of fiscal responsibility with a profound appreciation for the arts, lending way to her mission to help support artistic excellence.
Ask Andrea about such topics as: "How to start your business in NC", "How to budget for your business", "How to consider income and sales tax within your business", or "What business expenses to consider when starting your business".
Ashley Hollan - Legal
Ashley Hollan is an intermedia storyteller, entertainment and civil rights lawyer and educator. Ashley earned her BA in Public Policy and Visual Art/Art History at Duke, attended law school at the University of Denver and graduated from Pacific Northwest College of Art with her MFA in Visual Studies and MA in Critical Studies. Ashley worked as General Counsel and Vice President for multiple private companies in media and recreation and founded an entertainment law firm before joining Live Nation, where she served as Associate Counsel supporting the Legal, Productions, and Media and Sponsorship divisions. She has been a part of legal and production teams crafting groundbreaking movies, music, virtual reality, advertising and visual art content. Her volunteer membership has included service with the American Bar Association, Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts, Georgia Lawyers for the Arts and The Recording Academy and she serves as a Visiting Professor of Arts Administration and Art at Elon University.
Stephanie Minor - Public Art
Durham Cultural and Public Art Program
Stephanie is a Cultural & Public Art Program Coordinator for the City of Durham. From developing project goals to releasing Calls for Artists, working with artists through contracting, and supporting artists through fabrication and installation, Stephanie provides end-to-end project management of public art projects. Stephanie is currently working with regional artist Dare Coulter on public art for Wheels Roller Skating Rink in Durham, the City’s largest public art project to date. Prior to working for local government, she spent 7 years as a project manager at a fine art foundry and metal fabrication shop in New York working with artists like Jeff Koons, Kiki Smith, and Hank Willis Thomas.
Ask Stephanie about pathways into public art and local government's involvement in the arts sector, or about materials and fabrication, specifically metal!
La Shon Harley - Small Biz/Entrepreneurship
With over 25 years of experience, La Shon has held a variety of roles within the Entrepreneurship and Business Ownership industry, from Business Advocate and Advisor to Coach, Consultant, and Trainer, as well as Founder and Owner. This extensive background enables her to offer a wealth of expertise and insight to my clients. Clients consistently appreciate her deep listening skills and commitment to understanding their true goals and challenges. She firmly believes that understanding your “why” is crucial; when you know and embrace your purpose, you gain the clarity and power necessary to overcome feeling unseen, unheard, or misunderstood. This clarity is essential for effectively managing and realizing the alignment of your purpose while achieving your vision.
Meet with La Shon to brainstorm possibilities and align your purpose with your vision. Specifically, you can ask her about business models, customer avatars, social focused entity options, nonprofits, how to start a business and pricing,
Sarah Gilbert - Literary
Sarah is the Public Relations Manager for Lulu.com, the publishing and print on demand company started in 2002 by Red Hat Founder Bob Young. Her primary role is to educate creators about the benefits of Lulu.
Sarah is passionate about helping authors and publishers find ways to connect with their audience. In previous roles, she led public relations campaigns for authors and coached many more in preparation for their book launches.
Ask Sarah about anything related to book publishing!
Elizabeth Skibbe - Bookkeeping/Finance
Let Elizabeth Skibbe, QuickBooks ProAdvisor and owner of Acorn Accounting, guide you through the financial side of your business so you can focus on what you love. She can help you set up QuickBooks (or use it more effectively), create a realistic budget, understand what “the numbers” mean for your business, and implement the right software and processes to simplify your life. After 10 years in corporate finance, Elizabeth has been a small business owner helping fellow small business owners succeed since 2017.
Ask Elizabeth about QuickBooks, budgeting, starting a business, payroll, or how your finances can help you make confident business decisions!
Chisa D. Pennix-Brown
Give It To The People - Marketing
Chisa D. Pennix-Brown, Chief Curator of Give It To The People, empowers BIPOC and women-owned businesses nationwide through signature events like the BLK BIZ Summit and CapacityCon, as well as innovative programs such as the Give It, Get It Business Membership. These initiatives amplify impact by enhancing marketing strategies, accessing funding, and fostering meaningful collaborations. Known for her bespoke events, dynamic keynote speaking, and ecosystem engagement under the unifying #BeInTheEcosystem theme, Chisa is dedicated to building thriving entrepreneurial communities. As a Virtual Educator and Mental Wealth Life Stylist, she blends self-care and financial success strategies, sharing insights on her podcasts, Give It To The People and Real Ass Affirmations. Her book, The 90 Day Focus: Your Action Plan for Success, provides entrepreneurs with actionable steps to achieve their goals.
Meet with Chisa to help you with your marketing questions and creative ways to gain promotion for your business.
Jeannie Rovira -Finance/Bookeeping
Jeannie Rovira, a first-generation American and New York Native, is the driving force behind Marigold Bookkeeping, LLC, a minority-woman owned bookkeeping firm. With a rich background in bookkeeping, human resources and project management, Jeannie has carved a path of success that embodies resilience, dedication and continuous learning. As a certified bookkeeper, Jeannie has had the privilege to help many small businesses from the initial startup to growth phase. Her specialty is financial visibility, budget review, payroll management, and accounting software training.
Ask Jeannie about how to tackle managing your books as a new small business owner.
