Welcome back!

Elevate

A summit for Central & Southwest Virginia businesses and nonprofits

October 3, 2025

Freedom First Headquarters

207 Bullitt Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24013

Early Bird Registration is Now Open!

Elevate is a conference designed with the goal of providing local businesses and nonprofits with information, resources, and motivation to generate growth. We’re bringing you valuable content and engaging speakers. Learn new tactics to implement in your business or nonprofit and make valuable connections with other business owners and leaders in the community.

Want to know more about what to expect from Elevate? Here's a 2024 recap! (PDF)

Click on the photos below for more information on speakers and sessions:

Location Information

(Directions, Parking, etc.)

Zenith Barrett

The Zenith Agency, LLC

Greg Brock

Firefli

Daniel Brooks

Good Counsel, LLC

Gary Campbell

Impact2Lead / Johnson Health Center

Brent Cochran

Renewal3 Real Estate Group

Holly Kobia

Kobia Consulting

Quincy Randolph

RND Coffee & Food Hut

Evan Ross, CPA

Brown Edwards

Matt Schubert

AI Strategist & Investor

JJ (Justin) Seymore, CPA

Brown Edwards

Detective Betsy VanPatten

Roanoke County Police Department

Early Bird Registration is now open until 8/29!

Get Your Early Bird Discount Today

Elevate 2025 Schedule

Time	Session	Room
8:00 - 9:00 am	Registration & Catered Breakfast	The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)
9:00 - 9:15 am	Welcome & Introductions	The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)
9:15 - 10:00 am	Keynote: Inspiring a Culture of Excellence with Gary Campbell	The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)
10:15 - 11:00 am	General Session: Positioning with Purpose - How to Make Your Brand Matter in a Noisy World with Greg Brock	The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)
11:15 am - 12:15 pm	Breakout 1: The Power of Networking: Building and Cultivating Relationships with Zenith Barrett Breakout 2: AI Advantage: Practical Tools to Grow Your Small Business in 2025 with Matt Schubert	B1: The Blue Ridge Room (2nd Floor) B2: The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)
12:15 - 1:00 pm	Catered Networking Lunch	The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)
1:00 - 1:45 pm	General Session: The Power of Self - Self-Awareness, Self-Care, and Self-Confidence with Daniel Brooks	The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)
2:00 - 3:00 pm	Breakout 1: Fraud that Businesses Encounter with Detective Betsy VanPatten Breakout 2: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What Every Business Owner Should Know with Evan Ross & JJ Seymore	B1: The Blue Ridge Room (2nd Floor) B2: The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)
3:15 - 4:00 pm	Closing Panel: With Holly Kobia, Quincy Randolph, and Brent Cochran	The Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

Conference Pricing

Early Bird Discount

(Register on or Before 8/29/25):

$124.99

Standard Registration

(Register on or After 8/30/25):

$149.99

Secure Your Spot Today!

Questions about Elevate?

Contact & Help Center

We're available to our members day and night. Our Help Center is here to assist you with any questions you may have.

540-389-0244 866-389-0244 Routing #: 251483023

Freedom First Headquarters

207 Bullitt Ave SE

Roanoke, VA 24013

Directions

You can easily access our headquarters at 207 Bullitt Ave SE from I-581 (Elm Ave exit) or via Williamson Road (Route 11). Please note that you may experience delays at the train tracks due to passing trains.

Parking

We encourage you to use Freedom First's gated parking lot that surrounds our building (Lot A). We have an overflow lot available to you across Bullitt Ave next to Lloyd Electric as well (Lot B). Please enter the building from the front entrance under the large awning facing south (towards Elm Ave).

Aerial map showing how to access Freedom First headquarters building

There is also short-term street parking available on Bullitt Ave and 3rd St SE, but please be mindful of time limits. If there are no other free options available, the paid Elmwood lot and Elmwood Garage operated by the City of Roanoke are also nearby, across the train tracks.

Zenith Barrett

Founder, The Zenith Agency, LLC

The Power of Networking: Building and Cultivating Relationships

11:15 am - 12:15 pm in the Blue Ridge Room (2nd Floor)

In this session, leaders, changemakers and business owners will discover practical strategies to cultivate relationships, foster authentic connections and grow a powerful network.

Zenith is a dynamic strategic executive with more than 14 years of leadership experience spanning workforce development, fund development, and community-business engagement within the nonprofit sector.

Most recently, Zenith served as Vice President of Advancement, where she led philanthropy, government affairs, economic development, and business engagement. In this role, Zenith leveraged strategic insight and collaborative leadership to engage business and community leaders, as well as elected officials, addressing industry-specific needs, emerging trends, and key community initiatives.

After years of leading change in the nonprofit sector, Zenith founded The Zenith Agency—a consulting firm built on the belief that relationships are the most powerful currency of change.

Greg Brock

Founder and CEO, Firefli

Positioning with Purpose: How to Make Your Brand Matter in a Noisy World

10:15 - 11:00 am in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

In an era where the noise-level to be seen and heard is overwhelming, it’s not about being louder — it’s about being clearer, more human, and unshakably aligned with what you stand for. This talk will explore how purpose-driven positioning can help any business — no matter how small — punch above its weight.

With over 30 years of experience at the intersection of media, management, and digital strategy, Greg Brock has built a career defined by thoughtful leadership and a deep understanding of the evolving digital landscape. As the founder and CEO of Firefli, a Virginia-based digital agency recognized as one of the state’s Top 20 Best Places to Work, Greg leads with a passion for cultivating environments where trust, collaboration, and excellence can thrive.

He is also deeply engaged in community leadership, having served as Board Chair for the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and currently chairing the Jefferson Center Foundation.

Daniel Brooks

Licensed Clinical Therapist / Founder, Good Counsel, LLC

The Power of Self: Self-Awareness, Self-Care, and Self-Confidence

1:00 - 1:45 pm in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

Join us for an inspiring presentation led by a licensed clinical social worker and mental health entrepreneur Daniel Brooks, where he takes us on a transformative journey through the Power of Self, self awareness, self care & self confidence. Drawing from years of experience in both therapy and business, Daniel combines his life story with firsthand insights into how these three pillars are essential for achieving not just financial success, but holistic growth in your personal and professional life.

Daniel is a Licensed Clinical Social worker and mental wellness visionary dedicated to improving mental health healing for all. In 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, he bravely resigned from his position in the school systems to pursue his calling in creating Good Counsel, LLC, a sanctuary for mental wellness and the home of the acclaimed Motivate the Game mental wellness studio. With a natural gift for connecting, supporting and empowering, Daniel has nurtured countless individuals from various walks of life, guiding them to unlock their full potential and embrace their authentic selves.

As a pioneer in the Roanoke valley, he combines his mental health expertise, innovative approaches, and inspirational ability to revolutionize the landscape of mental health support. Through his compassionate guidance and tailored therapies, Daniel has lightened the path for many during their darkest moments, instilling hope and inspiring transformative change.

Gary Campbell

Founder and Owner, Impact2Lead / President & CEO, Johnson Health Center

Inspiring a Culture of Excellence

9:15 - 10:00 am in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

More details to come!

As the founder and owner of Impact2Lead, LLC and the President and CEO of Johnson Health Center, Gary Campbell has been on a leadership journey that now allows him to share his success and challenges to audiences all over the country.

Having worked in leadership positions for LexisNexis, Ensemble Chimes Global, Bayer and Johnson Health Center, Gary has had the opportunity to continually leverage his passion around people development to build strong relationships and grow the bottom line. He is also the co-owner of Mellow Mushroom, Playa Bowls and Campbell Land Holding in Lynchburg, VA.

Brent Cochran

President, Renewal3 Real Estate Group

Panel with Brent Cochran, Holly Kobia, and Quincy Randolph

3:15 - 4:00 pm in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

Brent is a native of Roanoke who holds an MBA in Sustainable Business. He has created and operated a variety non-profit and for-profit entrepreneurial ventures. He's currently focused on real estate development within greater Southwest and Southside, VA, with an emphasis on providing desperately needed housing. He lives in Roanoke City with his wife and two children.

Holly Kobia

Founder, Kobia Consulting

Panel with Brent Cochran, Holly Kobia, and Quincy Randolph

3:15 - 4:00 pm in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

With more than two decades of experience in communications and fundraising, Holly Kobia is a nationally respected fundraising strategist and founder of Kobia Consulting. She has helped nonprofit leaders across the country drive transformational growth—raising more than $100 million, including many 7- and 8-figure gifts. Her expertise spans everything from Giving Day campaigns to principal gift strategy. Holly led high-performing advancement teams at Virginia Tech and held a senior leadership role at a national nonprofit, where she built sustainable fundraising systems that delivered mission-aligned results.

She began her career as a television anchor and reporter at WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia, where she developed the storytelling and message clarity that now shape her fundraising approach. Today, Holly partners with CEOs, boards, and development leaders to sharpen vision, build strategy, and dramatically increase giving.

Quincy Randolph

Chef and Owner of RND Coffee & Food Hut

Panel with Brent Cochran, Holly Kobia, and Quincy Randolph

3:15 - 4:00 pm in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

Chef Quincy Randolph is a distinguished culinary professional and entrepreneur based in Roanoke, Virginia. He co-owns RND Coffee and Food Hut, establishments that have become cornerstones of the local food and beverage scene.

Since relocating to Roanoke, Quincy and RND Coffee have become integral to the community. His innovative approach has garnered national attention, with features in publications like Coffee Review, Southern Living, and Barista Magazine. Locally, he was honored as a "40 Under 40 Rising Star" by The Roanoker magazine and received the Reverend E.E. Alexander Award for Business, reflecting his commitment to excellence and community engagement.

Evan Ross, CPA

Tax Director, Brown Edwards

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What Every Business Owner Should Know

2:00 - 3:00 pm in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings important changes for business owners. This session will explain what it means for your business, with practical tips for record keeping, tax deadlines you need to know, and tracking operations. We’ll also cover credits and incentives designed to help new and growing businesses, so you can stay compliant and make the most of available opportunities.

With over 10 years of experience, Evan specializes on tax compliance, consulting, and planning concerning federal and state operations for businesses, individuals, and tax-exempt organizations in various industries. His niche focuses are real estate investment and development and manufacturing. Evan's experience and relationship focus allows him to provide guidance and information to clients that help reach their goals.

Evan graduated from Virginia Tech in 2013 with a Master of Accountancy specializing in taxation. He graduated cum laude from Roanoke College in 2012 with a Bachelor of Business Administration – concentration in accounting. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He serves on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee for Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia. He is a member and former President (2018-2020) of the Roanoke Chapter of the Virginia Society of Public Accountants. Evan was also named to Roanoker Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024 and graduated from the nationally recognized Rainmaker Academy (2024).

Matt Schubert

AI Strategist & Investor

AI Advantage: Practical Tools to Grow Your Small Business in 2025

11:15 am - 12:15 pm in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

AI isn’t just for the tech giants anymore. This high-impact session will empower small business owners to understand, implement, and benefit from artificial intelligence—without needing a technical background. Learn how to automate tasks, accelerate sales, and boost your bottom line using accessible, budget-friendly tools.

Matt Schubert has founded, led, and scaled multiple companies, including:

Velaro ($0 to $1M)
Social Solutions ($700K to $15M+)
ProfitKeeper ($1M to $4M+)
Selective Wealth Management

Most recently he was the Chief Strategy Officer for a private equity backed payroll & HR software company where he used AI to drive efficiency, support marketing, and enhance implementations. Recently, he's been using AI to model Unit Economics and implement EOS in support of his MosquitoNix Franchise territories in Charlotte.

A Lynchburg native and Liberty University grad, Matt has been married for nearly 29 years, serves as an Elder at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian, and has 4 children (2 adopted). He enjoys applying technology but is most passionate about building great teams that outperform, with a focus on serving others.

JJ (Justin) Seymore, CPA

Senior Tax Associate, Brown Edwards

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What Every Business Owner Should Know

2:00 - 3:00 pm in the Elmwood Room (1st Floor)

With five years of experience, JJ mostly works with high net-worth individuals and small to mid-size businesses focusing on tax planning, compliance, and strategic decision making. JJ takes a proactive approach to ensure clients have practical and actionable strategies to make informed choices that protect and grow their wealth.

JJ holds a Master of Accountancy degree with a focus in taxation from Virginia Tech. He also graduated summa cum laude for his bachelor’s degree in accounting and information systems from Virginia Tech. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JJ currently serves as President of the Roanoke Chapter of the Virginia Society of Public Accountants, where he works to promote professional development and community engagement among local CPAs.

Detective Betsy VanPatten

Detective, Roanoke County Police Department

Member, International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators

Fraud that Businesses Encounter

2:00 - 3:00 pm in the Blue Ridge Room (2nd Floor)

Fraud that Businesses Encounter will cover some of the current fraud trends we are seeing with our local businesses and things to look out for. These guys are smart - never try to outsmart them! Some of the featured topics will be compromised business email, stolen checks, and stolen bank cards.

Det. Betsy Van Patten has been a police officer for 27 years and employed by the Roanoke County Police Department for 24 years. She has worked in the investigations division for 20 of those years. She has experience in the Criminal Investigations Division investigating check fraud, credit card fraud, construction fraud, and other scams, as well as gun trafficking, complex narcotics trafficking cases, home invasions, and more with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

When investigating fraud, Betsy quickly learned about gas pump skimmers and worked to arrest approximately 10 different defendants all from south Florida. Many of those defendants were prosecuted at a federal level, receiving several years in prison. She is contacted by investigators from all over as a resource for her knowledge related to these types of cases and their complexities. She continues to work credit card cases, check cases, and SCAMS, SCAMS, SCAMS!