Leaders and entrepreneurs are people whose work every day is an investment in their community. The jobs they create and the businesses they lead are the economic engines of every community, including Pensacola. That work doesn’t come without a lot of time, toil and sweat equity.

With EntreCon®, Studer Community Institute invests in those leaders and businesspeople, because building their skills builds a healthier, more vibrant community.

Entering its fifth year, EntreCon® has evolved into a leadership skill-building conference for business owners, employees, leaders and would-be entrepreneurs alike. The conference is presented by Pensacola International Airport and Southwest Airlines.

This year promises to be the most exciting yet, with big names like Tiffany Pham of Mogul.com and Jake Poore, previously of Disney, set to take the stage on Nov. 13-14, 2019, in downtown Pensacola. 

EntreCon®'s purpose is to challenge the more than 400 attendees from various industries and leadership levels to think differently about how they run their business and manage their people. 

“Businesses really need to prepare themselves for the changes that are coming, and that’s what we’re passionate about,” says Rachael Gillette, Chief Leadership Development Officer at Studer Community Institute. “Attendees will walk away with actionable steps to help them become better leaders and better employers, which ties back to our mission of improving the lives of those in our community.” 

By hosting EntreCon® sessions at venues including the Pensacola Little Theatre, the Museum of Commerce, 5eleven Palafox, Skopelos at New World, and the SCI Building, the conference also highlights the dynamic growth and vibrancy of downtown Pensacola.

“EntreCon® is a great opportunity to get to know other locals, participate in a fantastic networking opportunity, and give others the opportunity to learn more about our business and what we do and stand for,” says Shaun Carpentier of Complete DKI, a local restoration contractor.

Some of the best in the business— on topics like leadership, employee engagement and team building — will take the stage at EntreCon® as keynote speakers, including big names like:

• Tiffany Pham, Founder and CEO of Mogul will inspire attendees to find the confidence, community and commitment to change the world.

• Jake Poore, President & Chief Experience Officer at Integrated Loyalty Systems will share from his experience at Disney on how to gain a “world-class” status - becoming both an employer of choice and destination of choice.

• Keith Hoskins, Senior Vice President of Greater Pensacola Operations at Navy Federal Credit Union will reveal the “secret sauce” behind the credit union’s mission of member service and what is being done to re-skill and up-skill its workforce for continued success.

The afternoon breakout sessions are designed to take a deeper dive into some of the key issues that are most relevant to individual attendees. These hour-long sessions broken into three tracks — Better Jobs, Better Lives and Better Futures — provide practical tools that attendees can use as soon as they return to the office.

EntreCon® has experienced tremendous growth in its five-year history. The conference now offers valuable insight and training for leaders and employees at every level of a business or organization — all without having to leave the Pensacola area. 

Pensacola is on a trajectory of becoming the best place to live in the world. For that to happen, it takes leaders who are willing to invest in professional development for themselves and their staff. 

“Studer Community Institute believes that in order to make Pensacola the greatest city, it takes everything from education, opportunities for our children, great places to work, attracting and retaining talent, open spaces, urban design, and quality business leaders,” says Gillette. “EntreCon® is one piece of the puzzle. By providing learning opportunities to build the skills of our community leaders, we are one step closer to our vision.”

This year, there are more ticket options to fit everyone’s needs and budgets, including a Flex Pass that allows one ticket to be shared between multiple attendees a new VIP pass with all the extra bells and whistles for attendees to enjoy.

Visit the EntreCon® website to view the full list of keynote speakers and the EntreCon® 2019 agenda and purchase tickets today.