ScaleUp↑
The resources. The connections. The momentum to grow.
Two days of practical business education, access-to-capital resources, entrepreneur insights and meaningful connections designed to help Mississippi businesses move forward.
ScaleUp 2026
578 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS
Presented in Partnership With
Move your business forward.
ScaleUp brings together entrepreneurs, business leaders, lenders, resource partners and subject-matter experts for two focused days of learning and connection.
Whether you are building a new venture, strengthening an established business or preparing for your next stage of growth, the program is designed to give you practical information and relationships you can put to work.
Come ready to learn. Leave ready to act.
From funding and financial readiness to AI, legal strategy, innovation, community engagement and sustainable growth, ScaleUp focuses on the decisions business owners are making right now.
Business growth that lasts.
Capitalize
Day 1 is centered on capital, financial readiness and the real-world decisions involved in building and scaling a business.
Hear directly from lenders, entrepreneurs, legal and financial experts, and business leaders about what it takes to position a company for growth.
101 Women in Business
Day 2 explores innovation, leadership, AI, entrepreneurship, community engagement and building a business that can grow sustainably.
Capitalize: Sessions & Conversations
A full day focused on financial readiness, access to capital, smart growth decisions and lessons from people doing the work.
Trademark & Monetize Your Brand
Lauren Morgan • Activated Law
Vendor Spotlight
Jasmine Dodd • Herban Skin Bar LLC
Cash Flow & Financial Reports
Flint Brent • SSBCI Business Counselor, Mississippi SBDC Network
Lessons Learned: Pros, Cons & Mistakes in Business
Practical conversation on lessons learned through entrepreneurship, including insights from Flint Brent, SSBCI Business Counselor with the Mississippi SBDC Network, and the program team.
Lender Panel
Moderated by Anthony Montgomery, Hancock Whitney, with Derek Eady (U.S. Small Business Administration), representatives from Hancock Whitney, Regions Bank and Community Bank, Ronnie Emile (SMPDD), Monica Walker (HOPE Credit Union), Jamey Warr (RCLF), and Flint Brent (SSBCI Business Counselor, Mississippi SBDC Network).
Lunch & Executive Roundtable
Featuring Nicole Jones (ASAAP; Business Counselor, Mississippi SBDC at the Gulf Coast), Jansen Cohoon (Vice President, Magnet Forensics) and Dorothy Wilson (GCW Media 360).
Entrepreneur Spotlight
Shyra Galloway • EXIT By Faith Realty
Where Business Happens: Bricks, Clicks, or Virtual?
Dorothy Wilson (GCW Media 360), Jansen Cohoon (Vice President, Magnet Forensics), Corianne Green (People Aligned HR, TBD) and Savanna Jones (Little Lighthouse Productions).
AI Digital Transformation
Kendall Causey • Digital Transformation Specialist, Mississippi SBDC Network
Closing Remarks
LaShaundra McCarty • Center Director, Mississippi SBDC at the Gulf Coast
Lauren Morgan
About Lauren
Founding attorney behind Activated Law and The Legal Know, Lauren works with business owners and creative entrepreneurs on entities, contracts, intellectual property and employment law, helping them protect and leverage the value already inside their businesses.
Anthony Montgomery
About Anthony
Anthony brings more than 30 years of experience in banking, credit risk and community development, with a focus on expanding access to capital, supporting small businesses and advancing community reinvestment across Mississippi and Alabama.
Derek Eady
About Derek
Derek assists entrepreneurs with starting and expanding small businesses, supports firms interested in federal contracting opportunities and helps connect businesses with SBA lending programs and development resources.
Monica Walker
About Monica
Monica has more than 35 years of experience in consumer and business finance, including decades of work with small and commercial businesses across the Gulf Coast region. Her personal mission is helping small businesses grow and individuals achieve business ownership.
Dorothy P. Wilson
About Dorothy
An award-winning publisher, entrepreneur, media strategist and business coach, Dorothy has more than three decades of experience in publishing, marketing and business development and helps businesses combine traditional, digital and AI-powered strategies for growth.
Savanna Jones
About Savanna
Savanna is a filmmaker, cinematographer and creative entrepreneur who founded Little Lighthouse Productions and has grown the Gulf Coast company while working with clients ranging from local organizations to national brands and productions.
Shyra Galloway
About Shyra
Shyra is an entrepreneur and multimillion-dollar real estate producer who leads EXIT By Faith Realty, the first Black-owned real estate brokerage in Stone County. Her work centers on creating opportunities through faith, service and purpose.
Nicole Jones
Kendall Causey
About Kendall
Kendall helps Mississippi entrepreneurs apply AI, digital marketing and emerging technology to strengthen their businesses. She leads digital transformation initiatives and training for the Mississippi SBDC Network and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Mississippi.
101 Women in Business: Sessions & Conversations
A day of entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, AI and sustainable growth. While the program celebrates the experiences and perspectives of women in business, attendance is open to all genders.
Opening Remarks
Sharon Nichols • State Director, Mississippi SBDC Network
Welcome, Introductions & Sponsor Recognition
Mistress of Ceremony Dr. Ada Womack-Bell and Deanna Smith
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Natalie Guess • She Innovates: Turning Bold Ideas into Real Impact
AI in Operations
Amber Coeur • Program Director, ConnectMS / Innovate Mississippi
LaShaundra McCarty • Center Director, Mississippi SBDC at the Gulf Coast
Love & LLCs: Marriage, Divorce, Dating & Doing Business
Dr. Alexandria White • Training Specialist, Mississippi SBDC Network
From Hero Mode to Sustainable Mode
Yolanda Wilson • Co-Founder & Managing Partner, AdvIntell, LLC
Pitch Competition
Geneva Dummer • Founder / Owner / Operator, The Meeting Place, LLC
How Community Engagement Builds Business Success
Moderated by Angela Juzang, with Dorothy Roberts, Shyra Galloway and William Harrison.
AI Panel
Moderated by Dr. Alexandria White (Training Specialist, Mississippi SBDC Network), with AJ Williams, Pam Berry, LaShaundra McCarty (Center Director, Mississippi SBDC at the Gulf Coast) and Amber Coeur (Program Director, ConnectMS / Innovate Mississippi).
Closing Remarks
Closing remarks from sponsors and founders.
Natalie Guess
About Natalie
Natalie is a strategic leader, entrepreneur and innovation professional whose work spans business development, emerging technologies and the blue economy. At Southern Miss, she supports partnerships that advance innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development.
Dr. Alexandria White
About Alexandria
Dr. White brings more than 20 years of experience in training and leadership and increasingly focuses on helping entrepreneurs and organizations adopt artificial intelligence in practical ways.
Yolanda Wilson
Dorothy Roberts
About Dorothy
Dorothy opened Robin’s Nest in the Pass in downtown Pass Christian in 2015 and later added Roberts Place Cafe. Her entrepreneurial experience reflects lessons in community involvement, relationship building and learning what you do not yet know as a business owner.
Shyra Galloway
About Shyra
Shyra is an entrepreneur, community leader and multimillion-dollar real estate producer whose work is grounded in creating opportunity, service and purposeful leadership.
William Harrison
Build what comes next.
Access Capital
Learn what lenders look for and strengthen your financial readiness.
Learn from Experience
Hear candid lessons from entrepreneurs, executives and business advisors.
Use New Tools
Explore AI, digital transformation, innovation and practical growth strategies.
Build Connections
Meet people and organizations that can support your next stage of business.
Ready to ScaleUp?
Registration is available at no cost. Complete the form below to reserve your spot for ScaleUp 2026.
Start. Grow. ScaleUp.
Join entrepreneurs, business leaders, lenders and resource partners for two days focused on helping Mississippi businesses move forward.
Register for ScaleUp