The Moore County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) announced the 2025 Sandhills Entrepreneur Summit taking place on Nov. 13 in Pinehurst. This third annual summit has been expanded to a full day of interactive workshops, expert presentations, and networking designed to accelerate business growth in Moore County and the surrounding Sandhills region.
The summit comes at a critical time for small business development, with Moore County designated as a Certified Entrepreneurial Community® and experiencing significant economic growth. This year’s program focuses on practical, actionable strategies that entrepreneurs can implement immediately.
Event Highlights
Keynote Address – Advancing Entrepreneurship in NC
Thom Ruhe, president & CEO of NC IDEA, will explain why North Carolina is one of the nation’s leading hubs for entrepreneurship and explore the strengths and resources of this innovation ecosystem.
Three Interactive Workshops
-Laying the Foundation – Is Your Business Built to Last? – Market validation strategies with Rachael Newberry, program director at RIoT
-How to Achieve Your Goals with a Single-Page Plan – A single-page plan for achieving even the most ambitious goals with Dr. Sarah Glova, CEO of Reify Media & TedX speaker
-AI Prompt Engineering for Entrepreneurs – Practical AI tools demonstration with Don Shin, founder & CEO of CrossComm, covering ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot
Additional Features
-Entrepreneur Success Story from a Sanford business owner during lunch
-Resource Expo with 12+ organizations offering free business coaching and financial services
-Extensive networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs and industry experts
Registration Details
-Date & Time: Thursday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
-Location: The Fair Barn, 200 Beulah Hill Rd S., Pinehurst
-Cost: $25 Early Bird (before Oct. 15), $30 regular registration
-Capacity: Limited to 200 attendees
-Deadline: Nov. 7
-Register: www.moorecountyedp.org/2025entsummit
*Registration fee includes all meals and beverages*
“This summit represents our commitment to Moore County’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Natalie Hawkins, MCEDP president, in a press release. “We’ve designed this year’s program to provide immediate, actionable insights that entrepreneurs can use to build a stronger business.”
Hawkins emphasizes that both aspiring entrepreneurs and established small business owners will benefit from the programming. “Attendees should bring laptops or tablets to maximize their experience in our hands-on workshops,” she added.
The summit is made possible through partnerships with presenting sponsors MCEDP, NC IDEA, and RIoT, along with support from other organizations committed to fostering entrepreneurial success, including Sandhills Community College Small Business Center, The Pilot, First Capital Bank, First Bank, Robbins May & Rich LLP, The Insurance Center, C.F. Smith Property Group, Clark Chevrolet Cadillac, Summit Retirement Partners, and Tri South Builders.
With limited capacity, early registration is encouraged at www.moorecountyedp.org/2025entsummit. Follow MCEDP on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for regular updates and announcements. Email [email protected] or call 910-246-0311 with any questions.
Moore County Economic Development Partnership is a 501c (3) not-for-profit economic development organization and public-private partnership serving all of Moore County. MCEDP’s mission is to “increase economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for Moore County’s citizens through the creation of quality jobs and capital investment in our communities.” To enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem, MCEDP facilitated Moore County being designated a Certified Entrepreneurial Community® in 2022 and provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information about MCEDP, visit www.moorecountyedp.org.
Contributed article/photo.
