Seminars

St. Louis Business Expo & Business Growth Conference Seminars, April 7, 2026

ALL Seminars are FREE and open to the public.

10AM-11AM

Kickoff, Rooms 104-105

Marketing That Actually Works in 2026

Most marketing advice focuses on tactics. This session focuses on decisions. Eric will walk business owners through the core principles that make marketing work regardless of trends or platforms, then explain how different strategies fit different types of businesses. From referral-driven solo operators to companies ready for scale, attendees will learn how to match marketing approaches to their goals, capacity, and market realities. The session will end with live audience Q&A, where real businesses and real challenges will be used to illustrate practical solutions.

Presenter: Eric Pratum, Inbound & Agile

Eric Pratum is a marketer, entrepreneur, and speaker. His firm Inbound & Agile has worked with global brands such as Kubota, Microsoft, New Balance, and more as well as numerous smaller software, healthcare, residential and commercial services, and other clients.

Eric specializes in leadership and communications strategy and decision making, and his firm works primarily with organizations that prioritize building communications with a lasting and measurable impact.

ROOM 104

11:30-12:20

The 10 Marketing Plays That Will Win in 2026 (and the Ones to Stop Using Now)

Marketing in 2026 is louder, faster, and more competitive than ever—and most businesses are still using tactics that used to work. In this fast-paced, no-fluff session, you’ll learn the 10 marketing strategies that smart businesses are using right now to generate leads, drive sales, and stand out in crowded markets. These aren’t theories or trends—you’ll see real, proven tactics that work for small and mid-sized businesses.

You’ll walk away knowing:

-Where to focus your marketing dollars (and where to stop wasting them)

-Which strategies actually drive leads and sales in 2026

-How to choose the right mix of digital, content, and relationship-based marketing

-What you can realistically implement—even with limited time and budget

If you want clearer direction, better ROI, and a smarter marketing plan for 2026, this session is a must-attend.

Presenter: Tim Burt, Tim Burt Media

Tim Burt transforms advertising into revenue, with over 50,000 commercials crafted for global brands like Toyota, Burger King, South African Airways, and Jack Link’s, plus countless small businesses – including over 5,000 concert commercials. His ads have driven over $500 million in global sales, proving their unmatched effectiveness.

Following a 25-year radio career—including 16 years as Production Director at CBS Radio—Tim now runs Tim Burt Media, where he specializes in marketing strategy, voice-over, and ad creation.

Tim continues to be a trusted voice in ad analysis, delivering real-time critiques of Super Bowl ads since 2006. His insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, and Canada’s CBC.

As an innovator, Tim launched The QR Market in 2021 and Cybermall.TV in 2022, both recognized as groundbreaking platforms reshaping how businesses connect with customers.

A dynamic speaker, Tim has inspired audiences at conferences and media groups across the U.S., Canada, England, South Africa, Pakistan, and Mozambique. With the advent of AI in marketing, he leads the way in harnessing this technology to create ads that perform even better.

The author of six books, Tim still produces approximately 500 ads annually.

12:30-1:20

What It Takes To Become a Rock Star In Sales

Learn what it takes to succeed in sales in the year 2026. Learn what works and what you should toss out of your sales toolbox.

Presenter: Tadd Flowers, Certified FocalPoint Business Coach

1:30-2:20

Exit Planning Done Smart: How to Increase Business Value Before You’re Ready to Sell One Day

Agenda Summary:

You may think you’re years away from selling your business — but do you know what it’s worth today? Understanding your company’s value is not just about selling. It helps you make smarter capital decisions now, from growth investments to debt structure, while preparing you for the unexpected. Health issues, partnership changes, burnout, or even an unsolicited offer can force a sale sooner than planned, and being unprepared can cost you.

Join Business Broker and Company Founder Misty Menossi of Grand Business Brokers and CEPA-Certified Exit Planning/Business Broker Advisor Kristen Schindler for a practical session focused on building value long before you ever list your business.

You will learn:

• How business valuation works and what drives higher exit prices
• What buyers look for when evaluating a company to purchase
• Steps to position your business for maximum value
• The sales process followed when you’re ready to make an exit — and how that process actually begins years before you plan to sell

You will also receive a COUPON for a FREE Business Valuation from Grand Business Brokers.

The best time to prepare for your exit is long before you need it.

Presenters: Misty Menossi and Kristen Schindler of Grand Business Brokers.

2:30-3:20

TBA

ROOM 105

11:30-12:20

Secrets of Fortune 500 Companies: Building Teams That Achieve Your Vision!

Leadership has always been hard...it's so much easier when you have a top-notch team with the same vision as yours.  This is even more true in the 21st century when there is a shortage of workers, viable employment options like Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and others, and a younger generation with unrealistic promotion expectations. You've worked hard to build your business and now it's time to learn how to find great workers, have them enjoy working for you, and achieve your vision for your business and team.  Leveraging over 25 years experience with great companies: Anheuser-Busch, Edward Jones, and BJC Healthcare, Karlos Bledsoe Sr. will introduce you to the secrets large companies use with their teams to achieve the company's vision.

Presenter: Karlos Bledsoe Sr., Business and Executive Coach

Karlos Bledsoe Sr. is a FocalPoint business and executive coach. His passion is generating business results and helping people live the lives they want to live. He has led teams and individuals to deliver outsized results by creating environments where all are valued and free to fully bring themselves to work. He believes all workers should experience these healthy work environments. This might seem strange coming from an engineer; but leading in IT, manufacturing, internal consulting/coaching, and sales training have clarified the nuances of achieving outstanding results through human-centered leadership - in technical and non-technical environments.

With strong and successful experience leading strategic planning, strategy execution, data warehousing, data analytics, project management, and lean six sigma, he brings proven practices from large companies and tailors them to medium and small-sized companies to create competitive advantage and rapid growth.

12:30-1:20

Don’t Risk Your Business: Affordable Health Insurance and Coverage Options for 1099-Contractors, Solopreneurs, Entrepreneurs, and Small Business.

Presentation Objectives

1. Demystify Non-Traditional Coverage Models: Compare and contrast the newest affordable health options, including Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs), Health Sharing Ministries, Direct Primary Care, Health Membership, Chamber Plans for Small Business, and  Association Health Plans.
2. Maximize Tax Incentives: Identify specific federal tax credits and pre-tax contribution strategies that lower the net cost of premiums for small employers and 1099 professionals.
3. Evaluate Risk vs. Reward: Provide a framework for participants to analyze their personal health risks and financial situations to choose between high-deductible plans with HSAs or comprehensive options.
4. Navigate the Available Options with Confidence: Master the essential terminology and enrollment windows of the Health Insurance Marketplace to avoid common pitfalls during the selection process.
5. Leverage Benefits for Retention: Demonstrate how small business owners can use strategic funding and flexible benefit designs to compete with larger firms for top talent in a tight labor market.

Presenter: Steven Litzsinger, RN, BSN, MBA, Founder, Insurance Advisory Group

Steven Litzsinger is a local nurse and a trusted advisor who has spent over 25 years mastering the complexities of the U.S. healthcare industry. With extensive experience across both the payer and provider segments, Steven possesses a unique "360-degree" perspective that distinguishes him as a premier subject matter expert and industry navigator.

Driven by a passion for clarity in a confusing market, Steven founded Insurance Advisory Group. His mission is simple: to strip away the jargon and make health insurance easy to understand for everyone. As a clinical professional with an MBA, Steven bridges the gap between medical necessity and financial strategy, ensuring that healthcare decisions are as sound as they are supportive.

At Insurance Advisory Group, Steven and his team strive to educate, inform, and empower clients. Whether working with 1099 contractors, entrepreneurs, or small business owners, Steven is dedicated to helping individuals make the best possible decisions based on their unique needs, budgets, and long-term goals.

1:30-2:20

AI For Business Value

Is your business keeping pace in an AI-driven world? Join Heather McLean for an engaging, jargon-free session that demystifies artificial intelligence and shows you exactly how to put it to work for your organization. From automating repetitive tasks to delivering personalized customer experiences that rival the biggest enterprises, you'll leave with a clear understanding of where AI can create real, measurable value for businesses like yours. Through compelling real-world case studies, Heather will walk you through the AI landscape, introduce a practical framework for identifying your highest-impact opportunities, and share the roadmap approach McLean Forrester uses to help clients get started. Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or looking to accelerate what you've already started, this session will change the way you think about your business's competitive future.

Any time except during the luncheon would be great!

Presenter: Heather McLean, CEO, McLean Forrester LLC

2:30-3:20

TBA

Interested in speaking at a future show, fill out our online application, click here.

EXPO FAST FACTS

-St. Louis Business Expo is Missouri’s largest business-to-business shopping mall.
-Ability to creatively sell yourself and your company to a very targeted qualified audience.
-Great opportunity to market new products, services and technology.
-Excellent ways to get name out and let customers learn about your company.
-An opportunity to meet top executives and business decision-makers in a positive environment.
-Person-to-person interaction. Fantastic selling, prospecting and networking opportunity!
-Best one-day networking available with leads and prospects surrounding you.
-Promotional mentions in the St. Louis Small Business Monthly announcing you as a participant.