Selling and marketing your business and cultivating sustainable funding in an ever-changing business landscape can be a challenge, but panelists at this year’s Ignite Conference are here to help.

Panelists at this year’s conference – including Lisa Mueller, Brooke Welch, Matt Melinkovich, Jim Schellinger, Bob Grammens, Julie Chadwick, Steven Schreffler, Nadine Gale, Emily Kremers and Adelita Duryea – will cover a variety of topics related to money and marketing, from cultivating sustainable funding for nonprofits and value-added sales to tradeshow and event marketing and building a marketing plan for 2025.

At 8:30 a.m., Mueller and Welch of MC2 Collaborative will lead “Beyond Grants: Cultivating Sustainable Funding Through Collaboration.” This session will explore innovative funding strategies for nonprofits and moving beyond traditional grant reliance. Attendees will learn how to leverage the power of networking and collaboration to build strong cohorts and open doors to diversified funding options. Participants will leave this session with actionable strategies to expand their funding portfolios and create a more sustainable future for their organization.

Mueller currently serves as chief operating officer and division director of resource acquisition and government affairs for MC2 Collaborative. A certified grant writer and grant administrator, Mueller specializes in business development, resource development, grant writing and administration and assisting with community and economic development needs and public relations for municipalities, private business, non-profit and cultural centers and colleges and universities.

Welch has 18 years of experience in marketing and graphic design that began at a small business in Bozeman. Her expertise has made her a sought-after source for teaching social media courses tailored to small businesses in the U.S. and abroad. As the vice president of marketing and digital content for MC2 Collaborative, Welch provides her specialized skills in crafting and designing digital content, curating and managing MC2’s social media and developing informative, educational content.

At 9:45 a.m., Melinkovich will lead “Value-Added Sales.” He will discuss how to increase sales revenue by helping leadership, sales and customer services representatives understand how value-added selling works and how to fully embrace the value-added philosophy. Attendees will learn how to develop and communicate their value-added selling points to customers.

Melinkovich initiated Timberline Training to educate and empower business professionals with tools for success. As a certified Innovation Growth Coach, a level two Family Business Advisor and an accredited trust facilitator, Melinkovich brings a wealth of knowledge and business experience on the topics of efficiency, innovation, leadership, trust, team building, customer interaction and value-added sales. For the past 13 years, he has been using his entrepreneurial skills and business experience to help small businesses become more efficient, grow their operations and increase profits.

Also at 9:45 a.m., Schellinger, Grammens, Chadwick and Schreffler of Sheridan Media will lead “Combining Media in Today’s Business World.” In this session, the presenters will share their advice on how and when to use various types of media, including digital, social media, videos, radio, print, television and billboards. Participants will also learn how to define their unique business qualities and how to reach potential customers needing their product or service.

Currently sales manager, Schellinger joined Sheridan Media in 1989 after two years of prior sales experience with KWIV in Douglas. Since then, he has been involved in the Sheridan area and throughout the state through several organizations, including Wyoming Jaycees, the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce and Sheridan City Council. Schellinger holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is a Certified Radio Marketing Consultant.

Employed at Sheridan Media for over 39 years, Grammens currently serves as general manager. Under Grammens’ leadership, Sheridan Media has diversified to become a multi-media marketing and entertainment company which includes 10 radio stations, digital media, social media, video and a print publication. Today, Sheridan Media is an employee-owned, 30-person company. Grammens has served on the board of the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters and as the organization’s president.

A Sheridan College alumna, Chadwick has lived and worked in Oregon, Texas, Colorado, Florida and Wyoming and currently is the digital director at Sheridan Media. Chadwick has 19 years of experience in broadcasting, 14 years in print and website and eight years of digital marketing experience. Chadwick has twice been recognized nationally by Radio Ink Magazine as one of radio’s Top 20 Digital Sales Professionals in the country. Chadwick implemented Sheridan Media’s popular online auction, online contests and promotions as well as digital marketing capabilities.

Schreffler is the interactive media manager for Sheridan Media. He has 19 years of experience in photography and video as well as 12 years of website management.

At 11 a.m., Nadine Gale and Emily Kremers of AlphaGraphics will lead “A Guide to Tradeshow and Event Marketing for Small Businesses and Nonprofits.” This seminar provides business owners and nonprofit leaders with practical insights into planning, executing and following up on event engagements. Attendees will discover how to elevate their tradeshow and event marketing strategies to achieve remarkable results and be equipped with the tools they need to captivate their audience, maximize interactions and drive success at any event.

Gale is the co-owner and CEO of AlphaGraphics. As an owner/operator of a printing and marketing company since 2010, she specializes in helping companies reach their target audience through effective visual marketing strategies. Under her leadership, AlphaGraphics in Sheridan has grown to a team of 10 people.

Kremers is a results-driven marketing professional with a background in business marketing and extensive experience in digital and social media strategy. Before joining AlphaGraphics, she worked in economic development, gaining valuable expertise in program management and data analytics. Kremers excels at crafting impactful marketing campaigns that drive engagement and growth.

At 1:45 p.m., Duryea will lead “Building a Marketing Plan for 2025.” This session will offer step-by-step guidance for developing a marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals. Attendees will learn how to create a targeted results-driven plan to help them attract customers, boost engagement and maximize return on investment in 2025.

Duryea has been carrying a passion for marketing and digital design since her first career in graphic design began in 2018. She founded Sprout & Scale Marketing in September 2022. Since then, Sprout & Scale has grown into a full marketing and branding agency, working with more than 65 brands and collaborating with some of the finest businesses in Wyoming.

The 2025 Ignite Conference will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at Sheridan College. For more information on this session and others, visit https://sheridanwyomingchamber.org/2025-ignite-conference/.

Registration costs $175 for chamber members and $210 for non-chamber members. Additional registrations from the same company will receive a $10 discount per registration. Your registration includes five breakout sessions, morning and breaktime refreshments, lunch and bonus keynote and wrap-up sessions.

For any questions, contact the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce at 307-672-2485 or email info@sheridanwyomingchamber.org.