Skip to content

Next up

RSVP on Luma

Share your story

Share practical lessons with Triangle operators

RDU SMB Meetup is built for owners and operators who trade real-world lessons — not polished keynotes. If you have something useful to teach, we want to hear your pitch.

Why speak

A room full of peers who get it

  • Visibility with the right audience

    Connect with engaged SMB owners across Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill who are actively building and growing.

  • Low-pressure, high-signal format

    Talks sit alongside networking — practical, conversational, and designed for operators not spectators.

  • Honest feedback from peers

    Test ideas, frameworks, and stories with founders who will push back thoughtfully and share their own experience.

  • Give back to the community

    Help the next operator avoid a costly mistake or unlock a relationship that changes their trajectory.

Featured voices

Operators who've taken the stage

  • Liam Darmody

    Liam Darmody

    VP of Customer Success & GTM Operations · Brandi AI

    VP of CS & GTM Ops at Brandi AI and a LinkedIn Learning instructor who teaches LinkedIn branding and AI visibility, and proves it on his own brand: 49,000+ followers built by replying to everyone.

    Featured at From Posts to Pipeline: LinkedIn Social Selling for Business Owners Who Hate Selling · Wednesday, November 18, 2026

  • Scott Ball

    Scott Ball

    Owner · Scott Ball Insurance

    Owner of Scott Ball Insurance, helping individuals, families and small business owners in the Raleigh area find health coverage that fits their needs and their budget.

    Featured at Health Insurance Without HR: Understanding Your Options When You're Self-Employed · Friday, November 13, 2026

  • Chris Ratte

    Chris Ratte

    Fidelity Bank

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Loans, Lenders & Brokers · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

  • Shirley Polanco

    Shirley Polanco

    Fidelity Bank

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Loans, Lenders & Brokers · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

  • Eric Glickstein

    Eric Glickstein

    Commercial Loans Made Easy, LLC

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Loans, Lenders & Brokers · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

  • Alejandro Morales
    Alejandro Morales

    Founder & COO · STOA Digital Solutions

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — SMB Owner & Operating Challenges · Tuesday, September 22, 2026

  • Jane Sommers-Kelly
    Jane Sommers-Kelly

    Founder · JSK Leadership

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — SMB Owner & Operating Challenges · Tuesday, September 22, 2026

  • Josh Donahue

    Owner · Audrey's Barkyard

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — SMB Owner & Operating Challenges · Tuesday, September 22, 2026

  • Monte Marcum
    Monte Marcum

    Owner · Filta Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Under the Hood: How Three Owners Actually Run Their Businesses on AI · Tuesday, August 25, 2026

  • Steve Rock
    Steve Rock

    President · Rock Grading

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Under the Hood: How Three Owners Actually Run Their Businesses on AI · Tuesday, August 25, 2026

  • Brandon Smith
    Brandon Smith

    Partner · Disruptive Process Solutions

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Under the Hood: How Three Owners Actually Run Their Businesses on AI · Tuesday, August 25, 2026

  • Noa Ronen
    Noa Ronen

    Founder & CEO · ADVAgo

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Ask Better Questions · Tuesday, July 28, 2026

  • Mark McNally

    Vice President · AIRCON Service Group

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Deals, Risk, and Day One · Tuesday, June 23, 2026

  • Michael Johnson

    President · Speedpro NW Raleigh

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Deals, Risk, and Day One · Tuesday, June 23, 2026

  • Jeff Matuszak
    Jeff Matuszak

    Managing Partner · Directus Holdings LLC

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Deals, Risk, and Day One · Tuesday, June 23, 2026

  • Jeff Weingrad
    Jeff Weingrad

    Value Growth Advisor & Executive-in-Residence

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Owner or Leader? · Tuesday, May 26, 2026

  • Scott J. Medeiros
    Scott J. Medeiros

    Chief Execution Officer · Rosewood Family of Companies / Helmwise

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Owner or Leader? · Tuesday, May 26, 2026

  • Traci Philips
    Traci Philips

    Executive Leadership & Performance Coach

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Owner or Leader? · Tuesday, May 26, 2026

  • Abigail Merrill
    Abigail Merrill

    CEO · GrowthUP Partners

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — AI in Action · Tuesday, April 28, 2026

  • Kellie Bradley

    Founder · byteKraft Workshops

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — AI in Action · Tuesday, April 28, 2026

  • Rod Passalacqua

    Managing Partner · Exit Factor Raleigh

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — The Exit Equation · Tuesday, March 24, 2026

  • Van Daughtry
    Van Daughtry

    Owner & Business Broker · Van Daughtry Consulting

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — The Exit Equation · Tuesday, March 24, 2026

  • Brent Roberts
    Brent Roberts

    Managing Partner · Exit Factor Raleigh

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — The Exit Equation · Tuesday, March 24, 2026

  • Wendy Coulter
    Wendy Coulter

    CEO · Hummingbird Creative Group

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Marketing & Branding in the Age of AI · Tuesday, February 24, 2026

  • Marc Sirkin
    Marc Sirkin

    Founder · Marc Sirkin Consulting

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Marketing & Branding in the Age of AI · Tuesday, February 24, 2026

  • Paul Watson

    Founder · Ten Fifteen Communications

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Marketing & Branding in the Age of AI · Tuesday, February 24, 2026

  • Michael Ehrler
    Michael Ehrler

    Business Coach & Speaker · Growth Coach

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — People, Process, Technology · Tuesday, January 27, 2026

  • Bryan Coble
    Bryan Coble

    President · ACC Go to Market Consulting

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — People, Process, Technology · Tuesday, January 27, 2026

  • Liz Rossilli
    Liz Rossilli

    President · Sales Savvy

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — People, Process, Technology · Tuesday, January 27, 2026

  • Aradhana Aggarwal, CPA
    Aradhana Aggarwal, CPA

    CEO/President · Aradhana Aggarwal CPA, PLLC

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — End 2025 Strong / Start 2026 Smarter · Tuesday, December 16, 2025

  • John Hoffman
    John Hoffman

    Partner/CFO · Futurise Growth Partners

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — End 2025 Strong / Start 2026 Smarter · Tuesday, December 16, 2025

  • Ginger Miley, PhD
    Ginger Miley, PhD

    Talent Manager · Performentor

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Scaling Through People · Monday, November 3, 2025

  • Donna Brown
    Donna Brown

    Principal Consultant · Cultivation HR

    Featured at RDU SMB Meetup — Scaling Through People · Monday, November 3, 2025

What we look for

Operator-focused, not sales pitches

We prioritize sessions that leave attendees with something they can use Monday morning — frameworks, stories, and tactics from people in the arena.

  • Practical lessons from running or growing a business
  • Interactive formats welcome — panels, workshops, Q&A
  • No vendor demos or hard sales pitches
  • Topics that spark conversation during networking

Typical session formats

  • 20–30 minute talk + audience Q&A
  • Panel with 2–3 operators on a shared theme
  • Interactive workshop or facilitated discussion
  • Lightning lessons tied to a current business challenge

Apply to speak

Tell us about your talk

Share a short pitch — what you'd cover, who it's for, and why it matters to Triangle SMB owners. We review submissions before each meetup and follow up if there's a fit. Questions? Email hi@rdusmb.com.

  • No speaking fee — this is a community stage
  • Events are typically weekday evenings in the Triangle
  • 40–60 operators in the room, plus networking before and after