Helping business owners navigate challenges with confidence and purpose brought nearly 250 entrepreneurs, faith leaders, business professionals, and community partners together on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Hosted by AmPac Business Capital, in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration and several small business partners, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport, the 18th Annual Connecting Faith & Business Conference continued an 18-year tradition of connecting faith and business.
In her welcome, AmPac Founder and President Hilda Kennedy reflected on the conference’s 18th year, comparing the milestone to reaching adulthood, when new opportunities come with the responsibility of charting your own course. That idea shaped this year’s theme, Finding True North: Navigate with Confidence, which carried through the day’s conversations about leadership, business strategy, technology, and faith.
Opening the Day
The program opened with worship led by Kevin Henderson, President of Nuen Music. Barry E. Knight, CEO of BEK Impact, gave the opening prayer and words of inspiration. Bill Cortus, Wealth Advisor with U.S. Bancorp Advisors, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Tom Burciaga, Chairman of the Latino Business Council, sang the national anthem. Emcees Michael Garcia, AVP and Corporate Sales Manager at America’s Christian Credit Union, and Wendy Gladney, Founder of The Purpose Partner, guided the program. It also featured remarks from Elmy Bermejo, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate; Christapher Bess, District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Orange County/Inland Empire District Office; and Congresswoman Norma Torres of California’s 35th District.
Keynote and Business Tip
Keynote speaker Eric Goodman, CEO of MVS, Inc., shared his personal testimony and what he calls his “Forrest Gump” story. He traced the experiences that shaped his path, from childhood challenges to leadership in his family’s business. His message centered on mindset and how the way we view our circumstances influences how we respond to challenges and find direction. Afterward, he signed copies of his bestselling book, What’s Your Mindset? Eric later shared on LinkedIn that it was the best conference he attended this year.
Peter Jackson, Executive Director with Chase’s Coaching for Impact Program, followed with a practical business tip on the importance of a strong business ecosystem and the trusted partners who can help a company move forward.
Two Panels, One Theme
Two panels brought the theme into everyday business decisions. The first, Charting the Course: Strategic Planning in Uncertain Times, explored how business owners can prepare for uncertainty, protect what they have built, and plan for the future, with faith serving as a compass for leadership. Janise Graham, Founder and CEO of Leaving In Style and Entrepreneur’s Insurance Services, moderated the conversation. Panelists were Dr. Heidi Stance, President of Stance Commercial Real Estate; Rose Study, Founder and Owner of Roses Say Floral Design; Viraj Sehgal, CEO of Two Nutty Brothers; and Vanessa Casillas, Co-Founder and CEO of Changing Lives Staffing.
The second panel, Tools of Navigation: Technology, AI, and Data for Business, focused on how these tools can help entrepreneurs improve operations, understand their customers, and make better-informed decisions while keeping discernment, faith, and purpose at the center. Brian Kennedy, Jr., Entrepreneur Ecosystem Director at AmPac Business Capital, moderated the discussion. Panelists were Dr. Thomas Fryer, Assistant Professor and Director of the Family Business Center at California Baptist University; Yadira Dominguez, Small Business Consultant with the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center; Cornelius Bryant, Founder and CEO of The Renaissance Man School of Life Skills, Leadership and Etiquette; Laura Neubauer, CEO of Kaleidoscope Media Services; and Dr. Sharon Barnes, CEO of ADU Advantage.
Prayer at the Heart of the Day
Prayer has been part of Connecting Faith & Business since its beginnings in conversations with local pastors. Throughout the morning, attendees submitted prayer cards with concerns and requests related to their lives and businesses. Before lunch, Dr. Brian Kennedy, Sr., Senior Pastor of Mt. Zion Church of Ontario, blessed the meal and prayed over every card collected. This tradition remains a meaningful reminder that business owners need community and support alongside practical guidance.
Honoring This Year’s Award Recipients
The awards luncheon recognized individuals and organizations whose work reflects the values at the heart of Connecting Faith & Business.
- CFB Character Award: Vickie Lobo, Founder and CEO of Knock Knock Angels, for her work furnishing homes for Inland Empire families rebuilding their lives after homelessness, domestic violence, or addiction.
- CFB Faith Through Works Award: Water of Life Community Church, for its CityLink ministry, which supports residents in Fontana and surrounding Inland Empire communities who are facing homelessness and poverty.
- CFB Development Award: Maria Molina Solano, Executive Director of the National Latina Business Women Association, Inland Empire, for connecting Latina entrepreneurs with capital, contracts, and business training.
This year also introduced the U.S. 250th Anniversary CFB Award, created in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary. With 1,080 votes cast in the public ballot, Shaquan Young, CEO and Artistic Director of Uplifting Arts Academy, received the award, which honors ethical leadership, social responsibility, community service, patriotism, and civic engagement. Monica Robles, Founder and President of Asociación de Emprendedor@s, also received special recognition with a U.S. 250th Anniversary CFB Plaque for her commitment to these same values.
Congratulations to all the nominees and recipients. Thank you to our award presenters: Wanda Jones, Senior Vice President and Senior Loan & Credit Manager at American Business Bank; Victor Parker, former Deputy Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration; Claudia Viek, Founder of the Invest in Women Entrepreneurs Initiative; and Peter Jackson of JPMorgan Chase, our Platinum Sponsor.
Closing in Service
Following Hilda Kennedy’s closing remarks and a closing prayer led by Dave Ireland of Marketplace Chaplains, the day ended with a new addition to the conference: a community service project. Working alongside Inland SoCal United Way, attendees packed 400 snack packs for local schoolchildren, putting the day’s message of purpose and service into action. Guests also returned to the vendor expo to continue the day’s conversations before heading home.
Thank You
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, JPMorgan Chase, and to our sponsors: FFB Bancorp, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Columbia Bank, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank, American Business Bank, Cathay Bank, Fifth Third Bank, City National Bank, and First Citizens Bank. We also appreciate our media sponsor, The Urban Business Journal, and our community partners, including the U.S. Small Business Administration – Orange County/Inland Empire District Office, Another Brilliant Idea, the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center, the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center, and the United States Postal Service. To our 18 vendors, volunteers, speakers, panelists, and the DoubleTree team, thank you for helping make this gathering possible.
As we reflect on the 18th Annual Connecting Faith & Business Conference, we are thankful for the connections made, the ideas shared, and the opportunity to bring faith and business into the same conversation. Finding True North is an ongoing journey, and we’re grateful to everyone who joined us in exploring what it means to lead with faith, purpose, and confidence. Connecting Faith & Business inspires us that: “You can do good and do well.”
If you attended, we would love to hear from you. Please take a minute to complete our feedback survey at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/ipNM7ea/CFBEvaluation. We look forward to continuing the conversation at the 19th Annual Connecting Faith & Business Conference on October 21, 2027. Visit www.connectingfaithandbusiness.com for updates.