The first virtual business conference and trade show for East Tennessee will be held on August 13, 2020, on a computer near you.  The Summit is an opportunity to network with and engage business leaders across the East Tennessee region in a virtual environment and is co-sponsored by multiple local chambers of commerce and business partners, including Blount Partnership. Partners should contact the Partnership to receive their Summit discount for vendor booths.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, most in-person large conferences are projected to be postponed until late 2021. The lack of large-scale networking and educational opportunities has added to the weight many businesses are feeling during this time.  Presented by Epic Nine Marketing, the Summit provides a positive option to help businesses and local professionals continue forward in uncertain times. 

The virtual Summit platform provides the same options enjoyed at in-person conferences, including engaging speakers, practical seminars/workshops, business networking, vendor booths, and swag.  The Summit offers real-life human interaction in a way that feels natural.  Attendees will move between tables, vendor booths, and workshops just like they would at an in-person event with face-to-face, real-time communication even though the attendees may be hundreds of miles apart. 

Attendees will hear from keynote speakers and workshop leaders, including

  • Jessica Stollings-Holder:  Generational Fluency
  • Mark Schaefer:  Inspiring and Practical Business Considerations in a Time of Massive Uncertainty
  • AV Verekar:  ReThink IT
  • Samantha Lane:  Reshaping our Time, Post Pandemic
  • Tonia Latham:  LinkedIn – Connections that Pay Off
  • David Horsewood – Virtual Presentations

Partnerships for the Summit include multiple Chambers of Commerce and business groups, including:

  • Allevia Technology, technical partner
  • Rivers Advertising, promotional partner
  • SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
  • KOSBE, The Small Business Connection
  • Small Business Development Center
  • Blount County Chamber of Commerce
  • Loudon County Chamber of Commerce
  • Monroe County Chamber of Commerce
  • Greene County Chamber of Commerce
  • Scott County Chamber of Commerce
  • Elizabethton Carter County Chamber of Commerce
  • Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce
  • Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce
  • Johnson City Chamber of Commerce
  • Kingsport Chamber of Commerce
  • Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce
  • Sevierville Chamber of Commerce
  • Knoxville Chamber of Commerce

For more info, ticket purchase, or trade show booth reservations, visit tnsummit2020.com.