OCTOBER 24, 2025 9AM TO 4PM AT LAWRENCE TECH UNIVERSITY IN SOUTHFIELD MI
ABOUT THIS YEAR'S EVENT
The National Entrepreneurs Association presents the 2025 Entrepreneur & Small Business Conference: Collaboration. This one-day event is designed to provide high level training for entrepreneurs and small business owners to grow and sustain successful businesses from some of the best business minds in the country. This year's theme is "Collaboration" and will explore how entrepreneurs, organizations and professionals can work together to create new opportunities and accelerate growth. Sponsored by Comerica Bank and Lawrence Tech University.
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Conference registration $97. Includes breakfast & lunch. NEA member discount available with promo code. Parking free.
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2025 Afternoon Keynote Paula Tutman
Emmy Award Winning Journalist & Entrepreneur
Topic: Partnerships with Purpose: Driving Entrepreneurial Growth
Multi-Emmy winning broadcast journalist, Paula Tutman has spent more than 42 years in front of the camera as a broadcast news reporter and was inducted into the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2024. Paula is also a serial Creator-Preneur. She is the innovator of Bra-Less Bra. Paula teaches a Master Your Message Communication Course© to organizations and corporations. ​
A published author, her first novel series DEADLINE! won recognition from the International Thriller Writers organization, The Virginia Book Festival and the Hollywood Book Festival. A prolific writer and self-taught screenplay writer, she currently has numerous pilots and screenplays written and in various stages of development in the entertainment industry.
During the Covid shut-down, Paula taught herself sculpting. Her work caught the eye of several gallery owners and her work is currently exhibited at BlackBird Gallery in Farmington Hills, Michigan. ​In 2009 she took on her most extreme adventure underneath a crop of overgrown Evergreens at the tidal basin of an Alaskan glacier by getting married for the last time. She helped raise three step-daughters to productive adulthood and splits her time between rural Ontario and Suburban Detroit with her husband.
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2025 Morning Keynote Jon Jansen
Media Personality, Football Hall of Famer & Entrepreneur
Topic: Collaborating with Media
Jon Jansen is an 11 year NFL Veteran Offensive Tackle, University of Michigan Football Captain and National Champion, who grew up in the small town of Clawson, MI, a suburb of Detroit, MI. In 2017, Jon was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. While at Michigan, Jon was elected Captain twice by his teammates and his teams won the National Championship twice. In 1998, Jon was an All- American. In 1999, Jon was the 37th pick by the Washington Redskins in the NFL Draft. He played in Washington for 10 seasons, served as Captain for 4 of those seasons. He returned home to Detroit to play his final season for the Detroit Lions in 2009. In 2015, he was a nominee for the NFL Hall of Fame.
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Since his retirement from the NFL, Jon continued his work in the media with the Big Ten Network, where he co-hosted studio shows, sideline reported at games, and served as a color analyst from the booth. He owned and operated a successful small business, CrossFit Petoskey, for 6 years. He is currently employed back at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, where he serves as a co-host of the Michigan Football Tailgate pre-game show as well as color analysis of the games. In addition to his duties at Michigan, Jon continued his broadcasting career with Sirius XM as a host of shows on the ESPN, ESPNU and Big Ten channels and is currently co-host on 97.1 The Ticket during the morning drive with Costa and Jansen, a 2022 Marconi Award winning station.​
Speaker, Author and Senior Tax Counsel at Ayar Law
Topic: What Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Business Taxes
2025 Featured Speaker Agustin V. Arbulu
For over 30 years, Agustin V. Arbulu has been helping individuals and business owners climb out from under the weight of IRS pressure—and breathe again. As a highly respected tax attorney with a national reputation for strategic tax defense, Agustin has guided hundreds of business clients through audits, tax debt, unfiled returns, tax collections, and payroll trust-fund nightmares.
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​He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and Master of Law (in Taxation) from NYU Law School, an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. His personalized, client-focused approach has made him a go-to problem-solver for high-net-worth individuals, closely held businesses, and self-employed professionals who suddenly find themselves in the IRS’s crosshairs. Agustin is an active member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Court of Claims.
2025 Featured Speaker Megan Steenwyk
Senior Program Manager for Community Contracting at Vizient
Topic: Entrepreneurial Mentoring:The Collaborative Path to Success
Megan Steenwyk is a Senior Program Manager for Community Contracting at Vizient and is responsible for developing key relationships to improve health outcomes by driving economic development and social impact in Michigan, as well as contracting opportunities for diverse businesses in the Midwest region and beyond. She was previously the Senior Business Services Manager at Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. In this role, Megan executed and elevated programming for small business growth, with an emphasis on supplier diversity and economic inclusion. She facilitated a mentoring program for entrepreneurs of color, as well as led the West Michigan Minority Contractors program and the Business Growth Series. Prior to her role at the Chamber, Megan was a fundraising and communications professional at affordable housing organization, Family Promise. Her educational background includes a MBA from Michigan State University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration with a Community Health emphasis from Grand Valley State University.
2025 Conference Host Dr. ZaLonya Allen
President/CEO National Entrepreneurs Association
Topic: The Collaborative Advantage
From New York to Las Vegas Dr. ZaLonya Allen has been speaking about entrepreneur mindset for over 10 years to mastermind groups, entrepreneur bootcamps, business conferences and expos. Dr. Allen is President/CEO of the National Entrepreneurs Association and has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years. As a Speaker/Trainer specializing in leadership and entrepreneurship, she has delivered hundreds of talks for organizations throughout the country and coaches professionals in a variety of industries.
Dr. Allen has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Woman of Wonder Award from University of Phoenix, Unsung Hero Award from Wayne state University Association of Black Business Students, the Spirit of Detroit Award, the YMCA John W. Copeland Civility Award, the Leadership in Action Award from Career Mastered and others. She earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology & Sociology from the University of Michigan, a Masters in Industrial Relations from Wayne State University and a Doctorate in Psychology with honors from North Central University. Dr. Allen has been an educator since 2002 and enjoys teaching psychology. Learn more at zalonya.com.
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*Stay tuned for more speaker announcements
Attend the 2025 Entrepreneur and Small Business Conference and learn proven strategies from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts to collaborate, build partnerships and grow your business...
Event Highlights
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2 Dynamic Keynote Speakers
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6 Breakout Sessions
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Power Packed Panel Discussions
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Free Professional Headshots
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Business Resources
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Exhibitors/Vendors
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Breakfast
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Power Networking Lunch
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Entrepreneur Bootcamp All Class Reunion
*Picture from 2023 NEA Entrepreneurs Forum at Hollywood Casino Greektown in May.
Venue: Marburger Auditorium at Lawrence Tech University
Venue: Marburger Auditorium
at Lawrence Tech University
Address: 21000 W 10 Mile Road Southfield MI 48075
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Lawrence Technological University (LTU) is a private, doctoral-degree-granting university, specializing in engineering, architecture, science, and applied technology, founded in 1932. The university sits on a modern, 107-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, featuring advanced academic and research facilities, residence halls, and athletic facilities
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State of the Art Meeting Rooms
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Internet & Wifi Access
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Free Parking Available
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Holiday Inn: One Block
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Westin Hotel: Two Blocks
CONNECT WITH OUR EXHIBITORS AND VENDORS
Pictures from Past NEA Conferences
Attention entrepreneurs and professionals! Don't miss the opportunity to connect with our amazing exhibitors and vendors, representing a variety industries and awesome products and services. Some are experts that provide services to support your business while others are entrepreneurs that you can support in their professional growth and development. Make sure you visit them in the main hall outside of the Auditorium.
2025 Exhibitors/Vendors Package Includes:
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2 Full Conference Registrations
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Breakfast and Lunch
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6 Foot Table and 2 Chairs
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Name and Contact Info in Program
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Inclusion in Conference Email Blast
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Social Media Mentions
Early Registration: $350 (ends Sept 10th)
Regular Registration: $500 (Ends Oct 20th)
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Purchase Exhibitor/Vendor Space Now!
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Testimonials from the Previous NEA Conferences
It was an OUTSTANDING EVENT! Many thanks to Dr ZaLonya Allen for her vision to support small businesses with the creation of National Entrepreneurs Association! I was honored to serve as a panelist... Vickie Lewis, Founder and CEO of VMX International
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It was an excellent conference. You should feel extremely accomplished. Stacie Croffe, Healthcare Leadership
What a phenomenal event and amazing entrepreneurs Being the difference in the world! The generosity of support, laughter and wisdom shared was unparalleled! Bravo! Bernadette Johnson, Leadership Strategist
Dynamic. Spectacular. Incredible and any other inspiring and positive adjectives can only describe the forum... Colette Hughes, Real Estate Broker
Your event was amazing - fabulous. You should be super proud of what you have done. Linda Schlesinger-Wagner, Founder of Skinnytees
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Congratulations! I had an amazing time of learning and networking! Regina Hall, Founder of Enlighten Heart Services​​
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