Presented by The Amanda Manigault Company
Saturday, October 16, 2027
The Annual Business & Apprenticeship Summit & Awards
Build. Grow. Scale. Through Apprenticeship.
A powerful gathering of business owners, employers, schools, workforce-development agencies, apprenticeship partners, community leaders, sponsors, and professionals committed to developing businesses and building the workforce of tomorrow.
About the Summit
Why This Summit Matters
The Annual Business & Apprenticeship Summit & Awards brings businesses, schools, workforce-development agencies, apprenticeship partners, sponsors, and community leaders together for education, strategic connections, recognition, and growth.
The summit prepares businesses to enter the new year with practical strategies to build, grow, and scale. It also promotes Amanda Manigault's vision that businesses in every industry can benefit from developing an apprentice and creating a stronger talent pipeline.
The summit is not limited to the beauty industry. It welcomes employers and professionals from industries such as beauty and barbering, skilled trades, administration, recruiting, technology, media, entertainment, creative arts, education, and professional services.
Attendance
Who Should Attend?
Event Day
Saturday Summit Schedule
Registration, Vendors & Light Refreshments
Guests check in, visit vendors, meet sponsors, and begin networking.
Breakout Session Round One
Attendees select one educational breakout session.
Break
Breakout Session Round Two
Sessions are repeated so attendees can participate in a second topic.
Vendor Marketplace & Networking
Official Welcome & Summit Opening
Opening Keynote
Main Business & Apprenticeship Panel
Why Every Business Needs an Apprentice
Reception & Vendor Experience
Dinner, Awards & Scholarship Announcements
Build, Grow & Scale: Preparing for the New Year
Closing Remarks & Call to Action
Transition to Evening Networking
The BGB Connections Lounge
Where Conversations Become Partnerships — an invitation-based networking experience with speakers, sponsors, and business leaders.
Education
Breakout Sessions
AI and the Future of Business
Explore how artificial intelligence is changing marketing, customer service, administration, recruiting, training, productivity, and daily business operations. Attendees will learn practical ways to use AI responsibly to save time, improve services, and prepare their businesses for the future.
Build, Grow & Scale
A practical session for business owners who want to strengthen their operations, improve their systems, increase revenue, develop partnerships, and prepare for sustainable growth. Topics include branding, marketing, funding readiness, staffing, leadership, and strategic planning.
Workforce & Apprenticeship: Building Your Talent Pipeline
This combined session explains how workforce-development agencies, schools, employers, and apprenticeship partners can work together to create opportunities, recruit qualified candidates, connect classroom instruction with employment, and build a reliable workforce pipeline.
Recognition
Summit Awards & Recognition
The Amanda Manigault Company will recognize businesses, organizations, agencies, schools, and individuals demonstrating excellence in entrepreneurship, workforce development, apprenticeship, education, partnership, and community impact.
Investing in the Next Generation
Scholarship Announcements
During the Summit Awards Dinner, scholarship recipients will be announced for programs beginning in the following year. Scholarships and sponsorships may support approved tuition, related technical instruction, educational materials, tools, equipment, certification preparation, testing, career readiness, mentoring, and other approved program expenses.
Enrollment fees are separate and must be paid by each applicant. Enrollment fees are not included in any scholarship or sponsorship.
Partnership
Partner With the Summit
We invite corporations, small businesses, government agencies, workforce organizations, schools, community organizations, and industry leaders to participate as sponsors, vendors, or partners.
Share Your Expertise
Speakers & Presenters
We invite qualified business owners, workforce professionals, apprenticeship leaders, educators, technology experts, and industry professionals to apply as speakers, panelists, or breakout-session presenters.
Speaker applications should include your name and organization, professional biography, proposed session title and description, area of expertise, previous speaking experience, headshot, website and social-media links, and audio-visual requirements. Participation does not guarantee unlimited individual consulting. Special speaker connections occur during designated sessions or inside The Connections Lounge.
Join Us
Registration
General Admission
Access to breakout sessions, main-stage programming, vendor marketplace, dinner, and awards ceremony.
Business Owner Admission
All General Admission benefits plus priority seating and access to business-focused networking.
Apprentice or Student Admission
Discounted access to all breakout sessions, main-stage programming, and the awards dinner.
VIP Summit Experience
Premium access including reserved seating, priority check-in, and exclusive VIP reception.
Connections Lounge Access
Invitation-based evening networking with speakers, sponsors, and business leaders.
Vendor Registration
Exhibit space during registration, marketplace, and reception hours.
Sponsor Registration
Customized packages with logo placement, stage recognition, and reserved seating.
The Annual Business & Apprenticeship Summit & Awards is presented by The Amanda Manigault Company in collaboration with participating businesses, schools, workforce-development agencies, apprenticeship partners, sponsors, and community organizations.