SPEAKERS
TOA GREEN
Owner & Operator , Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream
Owner & Operator , Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream
Toa Green is the chef, owner, and operator of Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream, a Lexington ice cream company that specializes in homemade craft ice cream using local ingredients to create fun, unique flavor combinations. She opened the Crank & Boom Ice Cream Lounge, with her husband, Mike, in 2015, becoming Lexington's first dessert lounge. The Lounge serves Crank & Boom ice cream, pastries, sundaes, floats, espresso drinks and dessert cocktails. She is the daughter of Thai immigrants and the first in her family born in the United States. Having been born in Lexington and grown up in Frankfort, Toa bleeds Kentucky Blue through and through despite having attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
CAREY SMITH
CEO, Big Ass Fans
CEO, Big Ass Fans
As the name suggests, Big Ass Fans isn’t your traditional business, and Carey Smith isn’t a traditional CEO. In fact he forgoes the title altogether, answering to Chief Big Ass. At age 9, Carey started working and never stopped. He gained a tireless work ethic as he sold shoes and Christmas cards, changed bedpans and newspaper type, and washed shirts and floors—all before graduating high school. Dissatisfied with working in a traditional corporate environment, Carey left an insurance job in 1981 to begin his first company, Sprinkool, which installed sprinklers on the roofs of industrial buildings as a cooling mechanism. While revenue grew to $1.4 million, the profits weren’t enough to sustain long-term growth. At age 46, he launched the unremarkably named HVLS Fan Company (that’s High Volume, Low Speed). Taking a cue from customers who asked again and again about “those big ass fans,” Carey renamed the company and adopted a strategy of direct sales, so customer feedback would continue to drive innovation. Today, the Big Ass approach centers around investing in research and development, as well as offering top wages and benefits. Since 2010, annual revenue has increased from $49.9 million to a projected $225 million in 2015, landing the company annual spots on the Inc. 5000 and Forbes’ list of America’s Most Promising Companies.
MICHAEL TETTERTON
CEO and Co-Founder, Creative Lodging Solutions
CEO and Co-Founder, Creative Lodging Solutions
Mike Tetterton, a perennial entrepreneur with an extensive hotel background, created his first start-up at the young age of 19. In 1999, Tetterton established his own extended stay lodging hotel brand, Home-Towne Suites. Three years later, Tetterton recognized an industry need for better project lodging management and responded with Creative Lodging Solutions®, an award-winning travel partner that has already reserved over 10 million traveler nights and counting!
AGENDA
6-7 PM
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
Take this opportunity to make lasting connections and expand your network with local-area entrepreneurs and businss leaders over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
Take this opportunity to make lasting connections and expand your network with local-area entrepreneurs and businss leaders over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
7-8 PM
PANEL DISCUSSION
During this lively panel discussion, local business leaders will discuss the importance small business plays in Lexington and how to be and stay successful, thrive amongst robust competition and make a significant difference in your community.
During this lively panel discussion, local business leaders will discuss the importance small business plays in Lexington and how to be and stay successful, thrive amongst robust competition and make a significant difference in your community.
8-9 PM
CLOSING NETWORKING RECEPTION
Spend your remaining time at the Power to the Small event by conversing with your peers and local business leaders. Grab a bite, enjoy a drink, and continue to make lasting connections and share your thoughts on evening's discussion during this fun and casual soiree.
Spend your remaining time at the Power to the Small event by conversing with your peers and local business leaders. Grab a bite, enjoy a drink, and continue to make lasting connections and share your thoughts on evening's discussion during this fun and casual soiree.