Placer Valley Business Summit: What to know

The 6th annual Placer Valley Business Summit returns to @the Grounds on Thursday, April 23, bringing together business leaders. To learn more about this year's event, we're including a Q&A with Scott Alvord, President of Advanced Business Roundtable, a 17-year regional business mastermind group that organizes this conference each year. Alvord shared what makes this year's conference especially timely, what attendees can expect from the program, and why organizers believe this may be the summit's strongest year yet. Q: Scott, what is the Placer Valley Business Summit, and why does it matter? Scott Alvord: It's a one-day conference built specifically for business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and managers for a full day of education, networking and regional business insight. Attendees will also get practical information and useful ideas they can actually apply when they get back to the office. We set the room with long tables facing the stage, not just rows of chairs, so attendees can take notes comfortably and, if needed, keep an eye on their laptops during the day. We know some business owners and managers don't have the luxury of being offline for a full day. We've worked hard to make it affordable, relevant and packed with value. For $45, attendees get a full day of strong content, an incredible catered lunch, prize drawings, swag and our new business networking and wine reception. That's a pretty good return on investment before the first speaker even takes the stage. And Gold Mountain California News Media readers can use the exclusive promo code of "GM5" for an additional $5 off the price. Q: What makes this year's summit especially strong? Scott Alvord: We've assembled a lineup of speakers and topics that hit the issues business leaders are dealing with right now. Some sessions focus on immediate tactical takeaways. Others look at bigger trends shaping Placer County and the broader region. That combination matters because business owners need both. They need to know what to do Monday morning, and they need to know what kind of world they'll be doing it in. Q: What are some of the featured sessions? Scott Alvord: We have a great range of topics. Shari Fitzpatrick will keynote with "The Juicy Truth Behind Shari's Berries," which is part business success story, part comeback story and all substance. Mark Haney is bringing his "Everything is Figure-out-able" session. Greg West will present "Win Fast with Practical AI," focused on real-world AI use in workflows, lead intake, marketing, operations and follow-up. We also have Barry Broome on regional economic development, Lindsay Bleecker on new tax tips for small business owners, Bradley Frisk on how to exit your business wisely, Stacey Sommerhauser on key employment legislation changes for 2026, and a timely session from Gloria Stearns and Dave Atkinson on business disaster readiness and recovery. Rob Haswell will also speak on why choosing local matters more than many people realize. I'll be sharing about business etiquette. On top of that, we have a "3 Presidents Panel" featuring the top leaders from Sacramento State (Dr. Luke Wood), Jessup University (Dr. Parnell Lovelace Jr.), and Sierra College (Willy Duncan), moderated by Dr. John Jackson. That conversation will explore workforce preparation, higher education, business partnerships and the changing relationship between college and the workplace. Q: What's new this year besides the speaker lineup? Scott Alvord: One of the most exciting additions is our Business Networking and Wine Reception hosted by the Placer County Vintners Association and six of the region's top vineyards. Attendees have repeatedly said networking with other business owners has resulted in excellent opportunities later. So, we've built in numerous breaks during the day for networking and toward the end, we have a fun networking game designed to help make connections in an environment that is relaxed, memorable and still very business-friendly. We're also adding talented vocalist Alexa Bandala, who will perform during lunch and again during the wine reception, which should make the atmosphere even more special. Lunch is catered by Randy Peters Catering, and we'll also have roughly 25 prize drawings during lunch and the reception, meaning well over 10 percent of attendees are going home with something extra. In past years, the prizes have been significant so attendees are not just winning another branded stress ball. Q: The registration fee is only $45. That seems unusually low for an event like this. Scott Alvord: It is low, especially compared with many conferences that cost several hundred dollars more. We're able to do that because of our sponsors, who believe in supporting the business community and making this summit accessible. We want this to be a serious business event with a broad regional draw, not something priced in a way that keeps people out. At $45, attendees get a full conference, lunch, prizes, swag and the wine reception. That's a strong value, and it's one reason registrations are almost sold out. Q: Any final message to readers who are considering attending? Scott Alvord: We've worked hard to make it useful, energizing, affordable and worth your time. And if you come, there's a very good chance you'll leave with something valuable, whether that's a new strategy, a new contact, a fresh idea or one of the prize drawings. Preferably all four. You can register at www.PlacerBusinessSummit.com/gm