The School of Business Speaker Series is an engaging event platform where industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts share insights, experiences, and strategies that shape the world of business today.
Through powerful conversations, these speakers delve into topics such as resilience, leadership, innovation, and the entrepreneurial mindset, providing invaluable lessons for students, professionals, and aspiring leaders.
Join us to hear from accomplished individuals who have made significant contributions to their fields and learn how you can apply their wisdom to unlock your own potential and drive success in your career.
🟢 Opportunities on How to Grow Your Business
Discover proven strategies and practical advice for expanding your business as Dick Lewis, an experienced SCORE mentor, shares his expertise on growth and overcoming common challenges.
Presenter: Dick Lewis, SCORE Mentor
March 27, 2025 - 4:30pm to 6pm
Prescott Campus: Building 4, Room 102
➡️ Join Zoom
🟢 Small Business and Entrepreneurship Panel
Discover insights into small business success and entrepreneurship from an expert panel featuring professionals from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE, the School of Business, and other industry leaders. Connect, learn, and be inspired by real-world stories and practical advice to help you start, grow, or enhance your business journey.
Presenter: SBDC, SCORE, YC School of Business, and More!
April 24, 2025 - 4:30pm to 6pm
Prescott Campus: Building 4, Room 102
➡️ Join Zoom
Summer 2025
🟢 Networking and Mentorship
Join seasoned SCORE mentors Logan Enright and John Dwan to discover strategies for building meaningful connections and leveraging mentorship for personal and business growth. Don’t miss this chance to expand your network and gain insights into the lasting impact of strong professional relationships.
Presenter: Logan Enright, John Dwan, and Friends
June 26, 2025 - 4:30pm to 6pm
Prescott Campus: Building 4, Room 102
➡️ Join Zoom
2025–2026 School of Business Mixers
Save the Dates!
Join us for the School of Business Mixer series during the 2025–2026 academic year! These events offer a valuable opportunity for students, alumni, and community members to connect, network, and explore important business topics.
Each mixer features a guest speaker or panel of professionals who will share their expertise on timely issues in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and more. Whether you're seeking new insights, career connections, or a chance to engage with the Yavapai College business community, we invite you to attend.
Location:
- Prescott Campus, Building 19, Room 147
- Virtual option available via Zoom (see links below)
Time: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Mixer Schedule:
- September 18, 2025 — Building 19, Room 147 and Join via Zoom
- October 23, 2025 — Building 19, Room 147 and Join via Zoom
- November 20, 2025 — Building 19, Room 147 and Join via Zoom
- February 19, 2026 — Building 19, Room 147 and Join via Zoom
- March 19, 2026 — Building 19, Room 147 and Join via Zoom
- April 16, 2026 — Building 19, Room 147 and Join via Zoom
- June 25, 2026 — Building 19, Room 147 and Join via Zoom
Completed 2025 Presentations and Notes
🟡 Small Business and Entrepreneurship Panel
On April 24, 2025, a panel of experts, including John Manning from the SBDC, Vivian Eisenecher from SCORE, and Dr. Corey Carlson from the REDC, shared valuable insights into small business ownership and entrepreneurship. The panel, moderated by Dick Milon from SCORE, highlighted real-world experiences, tips for success, and strategies for starting and growing a business.
Panelists: John Manning (SBDC), Vivian Eisenecher (SCORE), Dr. Corey Carlson (REDC)
Moderator: Dick Milon, SCORE
April 24, 2025
Location: Prescott Campus, Building 4, Room 102
🟡 Opportunities on How to Grow Your Business
On March 27, 2025, Dick Lewis, an experienced SCORE mentor, shared proven strategies and practical advice for expanding a business. Participants learned about common challenges businesses face and explored actionable approaches to support growth and long-term success.
Presenter: Dick Lewis, SCORE Mentor
March 27, 2025
Location: Prescott Campus, Building 4, Room 102
🟡 Business Insurance
Jeffry Baker, a SCORE mentor, shared valuable knowledge about business insurance during his presentation. He broke down key coverage options, risk management strategies, and essential tips to protect and grow your business. You can view notes from the presentation by clicking the link below.
Presenter: Jeffry Baker, SCORE Mentor
February 27, 2025
A Conversation with Jordan Tarver took place April 11, 2024
Watch the Recording of Jordan Tarver's Talk
A lead editor at Forbes, global bestselling author and change expert Jordan Tarver transformed over 30,000 lives through his book, amassed more than 200,000 devoted followers, and garnered over 60 million views online. Jordan is on a mission to empower people and organizations to unlock exponential growth and expansive possibilities. He will speak about the power of resilience and how it shapes future success.
A Conversation with Richard Bitner took place February 27, 2024
A lifelong entrepreneur, Richard Bitner has become an expert in the mortgage and publishing industries. A founder of the real estate website HousingWire, and author of three books, Richard has run and operated seven companies, and appeared on CNN, Fox and Bloomberg. He will discuss mentorship, turning ideas into business plans, and the entrepreneurial mindset.
Richard Bitner is a lifelong entrepreneur, having owned and operated seven companies since 2000. With over 30 years of experience in the mortgage lending and publishing industries, he has become a leading authority on the housing and mortgage markets, having appeared on a wide range of media platforms including CNN, Fox, Bloomberg, Larry King Live, and the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
From 2000 to 2005, he was the President of Kellner Mortgage Investments, a nationwide wholesale mortgage lender. He sold his interest in the company two years before the housing crisis, believing that a significant market correction was on the horizon. In 2007, he was a founding partner at HousingWire, a financial trade media and publishing company. He spent 9 years building it into the “go-to” resource for mortgage and housing industry news until its sale in 2016. Since then he has served as a mortgage industry expert, testifying in trials related to the lending industry. He is also the chief strategy officer for MTG services, a mortgage consultancy.
In 2008 he published his book, Confessions of a Subprime Lender: An Insider’s Tale of Greed, Fraud & Ignorance, which was named a top 10 business book in China that same year. In 2010, he provided expert testimony in Washington DC to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC) in an effort to discuss the root causes of the housing crisis.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Northern Arizona University and a master's degree in communications from Cornell University. He currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.