Thursday, May 7th, 2026
Agenda
*Please note: The agenda has not been finalized and is subject to change8:30am- Registration Opens
9:00-9:45am- Registration, Breakfast and Resource Fair
9:45-10:00am- Opening Remarks
10:00-10:45am- Keynote Speaker
10:45-11:00am- Break
11:00am-12:00pm- Session One
12:00-1:00pm- Enjoy lunch provided by Culinary Incubator Members while exploring the Resource Fair.
1:00-2:00pm- Session Two
Resource Fair Participants
9:00-9:45am- Registration, Breakfast and Resource Fair
9:45-10:00am- Opening Remarks
10:00-10:45am- Keynote Speaker
10:45-11:00am- Break
11:00am-12:00pm- Session One
12:00-1:00pm- Enjoy lunch provided by Culinary Incubator Members while exploring the Resource Fair.
1:00-2:00pm- Session Two
Resource Fair Participants
- Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development
- Maryland Tech Council
- Middletown Valley Bank
- Maryland Comptrollers Office
- Tri-County Council
- Small Business Administration
- Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education at Hagerstown Community College
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Visit Hagerstown
- The US Small Business Administration
- Sum of the Digits Bookkeeping
- M&T Bank
- Hagerstown Department of Planning and Economic Development
Keynote Speaker: Patrick McQuown on Demystifying Venture Creation
Patrick McQuown is the Founding Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Learning, Science of Innovation, and University Spinouts (CELSIUS) at Merrimack College, where he is building a cross-disciplinary innovation engine connecting science, engineering, and business to accelerate venture creation and research commercialization.
CELSIUS is launching an accelerator open to founders anywhere, providing applied mentorship, capital-readiness programming, and direct access to faculty collaboration. In parallel, Patrick is working with senior leadership and regional business executives to structure a $100 million investment fund to back select high-growth ventures emerging from the ecosystem.
Patrick is also the founder of ECLECTIC Sphere, a holding and venture platform investing in and advising early-stage companies across technology, consumer, and applied innovation sectors.
A two-time exited founder, Patrick has built and led nationally recognized accelerators whose ventures have raised more than $330 million in capital. His university-driven innovation model has been recognized by Maryland Governor Wes Moore as a blueprint for economic growth and applied impact.
Patrick operates at the intersection of venture capital, institutional strategy, and founder development — focused on turning colleges into engines of scalable economic and technological growth.
Session One Options (11am-12pm)
- Stop Guessing With Money: How Owners Become Confident Financial Leaders
- Fueling Business Success: How the HCC Incubators + Labs Can Support Every Entrepreneur
- Your New Brainstorming Partner
Session Two Options (1-2pm)
- Build Your Financial Foundation: Systems Every New Owner Should Master
- Intellectual Property Basics for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
- No More Wantrepreneur Energy: The Mindset Shift That Separates Dreamers from Builders
Session One Descriptions:
Stop Guessing With Money: How Owners Become Confident Financial Leaders: Any owner could benefit from this presentation, but it's for owners who are already profitable and want to move from a reactive state to a real strategic financial leader. I give common areas that keep owners reactive and strategies on how to create a solution to them.
Fueling Business Success: How the HCC Incubators + Labs Can Support Every Entrepreneur: This session reveals everything the Hagerstown Community College Incubators + Labs help business owners build, grow, and sustain momentum. Attendees will explore services available to startups, seasoned business owners, and even entrepreneurs who don’t need dedicated office space. From strategic planning and coaching to workshops, networking, and operational support, this session shows how our incubator acts as a powerful engine for long-term business success.
Your New Brainstorming Partner: This session takes the fear out of AI. We will show entrepreneurs that they don't need a computer science degree to use AI; they just need to know how to have a conversation. AI is here to cure "blank page syndrome" and help them punch above their weight class.
Session Two Descriptions:
Build Your Financial Foundation: Systems Every New Owner Should Master: Running a business is exciting — but without the right financial systems, growth can quickly turn stressful. This hands‑on workshop gives new and early‑stage entrepreneurs the essential tools to build a strong financial foundation from day one. We’ll walk through the key systems every owner should have in place, including how to set up simple bookkeeping practices, create and manage invoices, track expenses, prepare for taxes, and price your products or services with confidence. You’ll also learn how to conduct a CEO‑level financial review to monitor your business’s health and make informed decisions. Whether you’re just getting started or finally ready to get organized, this session will help you replace guesswork with clarity, structure, and confidence — so you can spend less time stressing about numbers and more time building the business you love.
Intellectual Property Basics for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: Understanding how to protect your ideas is essential to building and growing a successful business. This introductory session provides entrepreneurs and small business owners with a clear overview of intellectual property: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Participants will learn what each type of protection covers, how they differ, and when a business might need one or more of them. We’ll also walk through common IP pitfalls, how to avoid accidental infringement, and practical steps for identifying which assets in your business may be eligible for protection. Whether you’re developing a product, creating content, or building a brand, this workshop will give you the foundational knowledge needed to safeguard your business’s most valuable ideas.
No More Wantrepreneur Energy: The Mindset Shift That Separates Dreamers from Builders: Designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneur and business owners seeking consistent execution, this session helps participants bridge the gap between ideas and action. In this workshop, attendees will explore the key differences between employee thinking and ownership thinking, gaining clarity on what it truly takes to build something of lasting value. Participants will learn how to distinguish busy work from value-building work, understand the mindset required for growth and momentum, and adopt the disciplined execution habits that turn vision into measurable progress. By the end of the session, participants will leave equipped to take action, build momentum, and lead with ownership—ready to step out of “wantrepreneur” mode and into confident, strategic business building.