THE M5 SMALL BUSINESS ACADEMY 2024

 

GUIDANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY & COMMUINTY

We're assembling some of the best minds in business to inspire, teach, support and motivate you to build your business right now, from where you are, with what you have - giving you the confidence, tools, guidance and community to GET IT DONE and GROW!

Connect with industry leaders, brand sponsors and others in small business to find support, accountability and camaraderie. We’ll see you there!

 
 

REGISTRATION IS CLOSING soon! 

SPECIAL OFFER : today only 

+ REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE

3 payments of $998 

+ ADD M5 ACADEMY ALL-ACCESS PASS

1 payment of $499 for lifetime access

= GET YOUR HOTEL ROOM AT THE DROVER FREE!!

*$750 value for 3-night stay, double occupancy

 

M5 all-access pass details : 

to make the most of the convention and have lifetime access to all workshops and courses in the M5 Small Business Academy - get the ALL-ACCESS PASS & get started immediately! (a value of $12,500 purchased in individual workshops!) 

+ add-on to registration for only $499!


 The DROVER HOTEL DETAILS : 

The 5-star famous Drover Hotel on Mule Alley in Fort Worth with western charm and modern ambiance is as amazing as you've heard - it's an experience at $750 for a 3-night stay for double occupancy - come with a friend/spouse/partner of we'll help you match with a roommate! (or upgrade to single occupancy for an additional $750) and you'll stay 

= FREE if you register by midnight Wednesday Nov 29!

*there are other hotel accommodations or AirBnBs nearby that may work out better for you - but we'd love to have as many attendees at the hotel as possible and trying to make it as affordable as we can for you! We'll match you with a fun roommate if you don't know anyone coming!


Not ready to commit?

The VIRTUAL ACCESS SEATS will stay open through January

if you want to get access to all the speakers online!


ARE YOU JOINING US?!

 

 

 January 29 - February 1, 2024

The Drover ~ Fort Worth, Texas

Join us in Fort Worth, Texas for a gathering of some of the most inspiring and knowledgeable minds in small business, speakers and panelists in a variety of topics sure to appeal to every attendee, small group breakout workshops and 1-on-1 guru tables to teach you valuable skills for your entrepreneurs toolbox.

 
 

 

SPEAKERS & PANELISTS : 

mary heffernan five marys

Mary is a “serial entrepreneur” with a passion for creativity and bringing big ideas to life.  Mary, along with her husband Brian, has started more than 20 successful small businesses.  Mary’s experience ranges from restaurants, education centers, boutiques, creative spaces, service businesses and now Five Marys Ranch; a 1,800 cattle ranch, on-ranch harvest facility, a custom USDA butcher shop, direct-to-consumer meat sales, and has just launched her own Five Marys Ranch home collection!  Mary doesn’t think she will ever stop creating business ideas but right now, she finds the most pleasure out of focusing time and energy on helping others create their dream in their own small business!

Brian Bennett is an award winning storyteller. He’s spent the last 12 years telling stories as the Vice President of Brand Story & Creative at Carhartt. A brand that grew 4X in his time there. Previously, he wrote brand campaigns for Nike, Corona, Under Armor and Gatorade. He’s most proud of helping Kobe Bryant write, ‘Dear Basketball’ which won an Academy Award. Currently he’s working with Jason Momoa to bring stories to life through their production company: On the Roam. They’re currently working on a St. Patrick’s Day campaign for Guinness, a brand they both love deeply. On brands he likes to work with, “Work on stuff you love, with people you love, and the rest is easy.”

Amanda Radke is a fifth generation rancher from Mitchell, SD. Alongside her husband, Tyler, and their four children, they operate Radke Land & Cattle, an Angus and Limousin seedstock operation. A former National FFA Extemp Speaking Champion and National Beef Ambassador, Radke has spent the last 17 years on the road fighting for the agricultural families, rural America, and national food security. She’s the host of “The Heart of Rural America” podcast and radio show, a syndicated columnist, a western retailer, and a children’s book author focused on promoting ag literacy in schools.  She currently serves as an appointee on the National Agriculture Campaign Advisory Council, where she provides industry insights to the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee. 

jessie jarvis podcast leaders of the west speaker

Jessie is a third-generation rancher, podcast host, and the Founder + CEO of Of The West. She was born and raised on her family’s cattle ranch in Southern Idaho, which at an early age, instilled in her a deep appreciation for the American West. Her goal is to create an atmosphere for connection and conversation, as she works to ensure that the ag + western industries are here for the next generation.

ann williams yearly co founder m5 simonson heffernan

Ann is the founder and CEO of Yearly Co., a Nashville based fine jewelry company. Ann went from making jewelry in her garage to running a successful brick-and-mortar shop and online retail business. She could never have imagined that this simple, joyful hobby of handmade bangles would grow into a thriving jewelry business with 20 employees and thousands of customers around the world.

molly passanisi linkedin google ads moloco

Molly has extensive industry experience in advertising and digital marketing.  She is currently VP, Americas Sales at Moloco, bringing expertise from previous roles at Google, The Onion and IGN Entertainment - A Division of Fox Interactive Media. Molly has a robust skill set that includes digital strategy, social media, salesforce.com, account management, digital media and more!

niki harris siskiyou economic development council CA heritage farms

In 2010, Niki traded her city life in Portland, OR for Fort Jones, CA, where she, her husband, and their four kids operate CA Heritage Farms. There, they raise and sell pasture-raised pork while running Farm School, a nonprofit community microschool. Niki's passion for sustainable agriculture and inventive food system solutions led to the launch of Siskiyou Farm Co in 2022—an online food hub fostering industry collaboration to link local food to rural northern California consumers. Over a decade in her role as Director of Agriculture and Innovation at the Siskiyou Economic Development Council, Niki has steered strategic grants and innovative funding, securing over $14 million across diverse projects. Equipped with experience in both private business and nonprofits, she knows first-hand the hurdles of grant funding and loves helping fellow business owners in navigating this unique landscape.

Ashley Turner farm canada kamut sourdough

Ashley is a suburban girl turned farmer with a love for baking. For a decade she has been baking sourdough bread and for the last several years she has been teaching the art and science of fermenting grain for bread and the way she teaches makes it accessible and easy for everyone to learn sourdough!  Ashley is the co author of a cookbook and has developed successful subscriptions, online courses and communities from the coastal countryside of rural Nova Scotia.

jenna hobbs photography canada farm

Jenna is a farmer, photographer, and mom to five ragamuffins on the Canadian Prairies.  She has a passion for all things rural living and her favorite thing to do is capture the beautiful, real, pieces of it through photographs.  Jenna is also the creator of HomeGrown, a digital publication of knowledge, wisdom and recipes.

Becca loves working with small businesses to grow their brand through social media, blog writing, email newsletters, photography, and brand partnership outreach.  She paints murals, captures moments through photography, documents memories through writing, and helps small business owners grow through branding, marketing, and storytelling.  Becca is also a traveling muralist that designs hand-painted murals that ‘stop the scroll’ and bring your small business, home, or community space to the next level!

 

PLUS more amazing speakers coming soon!

We are still finalizing the details on some out-of-the-park speakers and teachers for you!

Keynotes : 

*Define Your Brand Mission & Values

*Start Small Where You Are, With What You Have

*Diversify Your Operation to Find More Profit

*Never Stop Growing, but You Can Do It Yourself!

*Digital Marketing & Advertising Strategy for Small Business

 

Panel Topics : 

*Build Your Brand

*Build a Team - Employees 101

*Build Your Community 

*Use Your Influence for Good

*Publish a Book or Magazine

*Diversify Your Revenue

*Brand Partnerships

 

Workshop Topics : 

*Finding, Applying & Managing Grants 

*AI & The Future of SB

*Succession Planning

*Paid Ads & Digital Marketing

*Go Viral : Let’s Talk Social Trends

*Podcasting 

*Subscriptions + Retail Sales

*Shipping Your Products

 

m5 entrepreneurs workshop help tables

1-on-1 Help “Guru Tables”

Get personalized help with an expert between programming or during talks/workshops as you wish!

We’ll have sponsor tables with experts there to help all day Tuesday + Wednesday. Sign up for a slot or pop-in as needed!

TOPICS INCLUDE :

*Social Media Audits

*Logo Design

*Adobe Creative/Canva Tutorials

*Merchandise & Swag Ordering

*Branding Audit

*Brand Photography

*Content Creation : How-To

*Website Audits

*Tentative list - but planning additional topics!


 
mary heffernan
 

CONVENTION SCHEDULE

Monday January 29 - arrival to Fort Worth

5:30pm : Welcome Reception + Cocktails + Dinner @ The Drover

  • Welcome + Keynotes

 

Tuesday January 30, 2024

9am-12pm : Morning Keynotes + Panels

12-1pm : Lunch break + Guru Tables

2-5:30pm : Panels + Workshops  + Guru Tables

6-10pm : Working dinner Pajama Pizza Party in The Barn @ The Drover! 

*bring your laptop or notebook!  + Guru Tables open

 

Wednesday January 31, 2024

9am-12pm : Morning Keynotes + Panels

12-1pm : Lunch break + Guru Tables

2-5:30pm : Panels + Workshops  + Guru Tables

6-10pm : Formal Dinner with Special Guests + Entertainment

 

Thursday February 1, 2024

Optional social activities all day! 

We will have an array of fun activities planned for you to choose from to enjoy the new friends you met at Convention and wrap-up with some fun after a few days of intensive work - find your tribe and get to know them better - the pot of gold you’ll take home are the supportive friendships and camaraderie of other small business owners!

    • Museum of the Cowgirl

    • John Wayne Museum

    • Lunch options for smaller groups by industry or geography

    • Fort Worth Stockyards

    • Rodeo Trip

    • Cocktail wrap-party for those still in Fort Worth! 

    •  *some activities Thursday will be complimentary (included) and some may incur an additional admission fee, meals Thursday not included

SECURE YOUR SEAT at convention $2995 before dec 1!

*BONUS OFFER : ALL-ACCESS PASS TO M5 ENTREPRENEURS for JUST $499!

Convention Registration Investment :

Before December 1 : $2995 payable in three payments of $998

On or after December 1 : registration is $3250 or 2 payments of $1625

Includes convention registration, events and all meals/bar, programming and extra goodies. Lodging and travel not included.

*BONUS OFFER : to make the most of this convention we are offering the ALL-ACCESS PASS TO M5 ENTREPRENEURS for ALL WORKSHOPS : a value of over $11,000 if every workshop is purchased individually - offered to you with a CONVENTION REGISTRATION ADD-ON SPECIAL for JUST $499! This will give you the best chance to make the most of the course and you can start working through the workshops immediately upon registration to get started today and be READY for convention in January!


*Can't make the convention in person? That's ok!

Register for a virtual seat $365 + ADD the All-Access Pass for $599! Limited offer until Dec 15!

 
Next
Next

MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY GIFTS!