Schedule

Mar 26-27, 2026

8:00a - 9:00a

REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

9:00a - 9:50a

KEYNOTE | CROWD FUNDING YOUR WAY TO LAUNCH

Alex West Steinman is a nationally recognized speaker, entrepreneur, and dynamic leader helping people and organizations turn purpose into power. As the co-founder and CEO of The Coven, a fast-growing network of inclusive coworking spaces and communities across the U.S., Alex leads with a mission to make work better for everyone. After raising $350,000 via crowdfunding, Alex knows the ins and outs of building a successful crowdfunding campaign and will share her insight on crowdfunding your way to launch in this session.

Alex West Steinman

10:00a - 10:50a

WOMEN IN BUSINESS PANEL DISCUSSION

Lucy Seitz, Brooke Grondin, Nikki Odom

Join us for a conversation with three local business owners who are helping shape Marquette’s entrepreneurial community: Lucy Seitz, professional hairstylist, social media creator, and beauty entrepreneur who has built a national audience through her work and online content about cosmetology and the beauty business. Brooke Grondin, owner of Girly Pop, a popular custom beverage business that grew from a pop-up to its own drive-thru storefront in Marquette. Nikki Odom, owner of Read My Lips Bookshop, a romance-focused independent bookstore that has become a beloved community destination During this panel, we’ll hear how these women turned their ideas into real, thriving businesses and what it takes to be a small business owner. They will share insights into overcoming challenges, finding opportunities in community support, and the role that storytelling and social media play in growing their brands and connecting with customers.

11:00a - 11:50a

Morning Breakout Sessions

ANYONE CAN BE AN INNOVATOR

Jason Williams

Jason A. Williams is an innovation strategist and ecosystem builder who helps organizations and communities turn insight into action. He serves as CEO of the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest, where he leads initiatives that advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development across Northwest Indiana. Jason is also the founder of Spycomps, a business intelligence platform that helps consumer and retail-focused organizations better understand their markets, competitors, and opportunities for growth. Previously, Jason spent more than a decade in corporate leadership roles within global consumer products manufacturing, including serving as U.S. Marketing Director for one of the world’s largest household and garden brands, working closely with major mass-market retailers. Drawing on experience across corporate strategy, community leadership, and market intelligence, Jason works at the intersection of people, insight, and opportunity. He is the creator of the Six Building Blocks of Innovation framework and is deeply engaged in regional and national innovation networks.

MAKING ENTREPRENEURSHIP APPROACHABLE

Joe Thiel

More Info Coming Soon...

1:00p - 1:50p

Afternoon Breakout Session #1

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING CUSTOMER LOYALTY THAT YOU CAN ACTIVATE TODAY

Adela Piper

More Info Coming Soon...

FINANCIAL CLARITY FOR BUSINESS GROWTH AND FINANCING

Julie Olson & Lisa DeCaire

Your financials tell the story of your business, and understanding them can unlock real growth opportunities. In this session, you’ll learn how to confidently read profit and loss statements, understand balance sheets, and see why your business structure matters. We’ll also break down what lenders look for when reviewing loan applications and how strong financials can position you for approval. Walk away with practical insights and a clearer path to funding and future growth.

2:00p - 2:50p

Afternoon Breakout Session #2

LEARN YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE WITH CLIFTON STRENGTHS

Katie Korpi

More Info Coming Soon...

HOW TO LEAD A MORE INCLUSIVE DESIGN PROCESS

Bonnie Fahoome

This interactive session will introduce inclusive design as a best practice and offer practical recommendations and tools for adopting the process in the development of programs, places, products and systems. The information and exercises shared can be applied universally to any government, academic, business or community work.

3:00p - 4:30p

MAKERS FAIR

Innovate Marquette Protolab

More Info Coming Soon...

5:00p - 7:00p

Innovation Party

Ore Dock Brewing Company

8:00a - 9:00a

REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

Innovation Hall Lobby

9:00a - 9:50a

KEYNOTE

Bill Hawker

Bill Hawker is the Director of Business Development at Elevate97 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he helps organizations build their brands and strategy through interior branding, vehicle graphics, printing and more. Prior to Elevate97, Bill spent 20 years developing corporate partnerships for the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions.

Innovation Hall

10:00a - 12:30p

DESIGN JAM

Design Core Detroit

Innovation Hall

This interactive workshop is for anyone teaching, learning or practicing creative problem-solving in product, program or process development. Design Jams bring together makers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, educators, students, professional designers, and end users to collectively brainstorm and prototype new ideas using a human centered design thinking methodology. Learn how this approach to product development leads to better business outcomes and gain the skills and resources needed to teach and practice this method. Why attend? ○ Learn to develop empathy and creative problem solving skills to meet the challenges and demands of today’s industry leaders. ○ Practice new ways of designing and innovating by bringing diverse perspectives together to do problem finding and problem solving. ○ Foster mutual respect for the diverse experiences of all individuals and groups ○ Learn how to apply and use the Design Jam process to create collaborative teams.

12:30p - 1:00p

LUNCH

Innovation Hall

1:00p - 2:00p

KICK YOUR FEAR IN THE FACE

Nancy Lyons

Innovation Hall

None of us knows what we’re doing, not fully. Not your CEO, not that person who seems to know everything, not even the smartest person in the room. And yet, some people seem to move through work so confidently, like they aren’t held back by the typical fears many of us have. Like fear of failure or fear of looking dumb. But the thing is: some people let fear get in their way, and others have learned to keep on going in spite of it. Fear is the four-letter f-word that we rarely dig into because it’s scary and vulnerable. But the only way to deal with it is to face it. In this talk, I walk through five types of fear I see every day in workplaces everywhere and actions you can start taking today to kick them in the face.

2:30p - 5:00p

BIG PITCH AND OUTDOOR PITCH

Outdoor Pitch: During Peak26, competitors will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. Pitch competition finalists will compete live on stage on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Innovation Hall on Northern Michigan University's campus in Marquette, MI for the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes. Eligibility: Michigan-based startup company Eligible companies must be focused on outdoor recreation Eligible companies should have received less than $2,500,000 in private-sector investments Eligible companies should have less than $1,500,000 in revenue in the immediately preceding 12-month period. How to apply: Complete this application form and upload a pitch deck or executive summary. Pitch deck requirements and instructions on how to upload are provided below. The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM EST on March 3, 2026. Grand Prize: One (1) "Grand Prize" will be awarded. The "Grand Prize" winner will receive up to $50,000 in services and investments from the MI Outdoor Innovation Fund* Investment from the MI Outdoor Innovation Fund is pending the results of the competition, completion of due diligence, and will be provided in investment in the form of a convertible note or SAFE. Make it in Michigan Award: One (1) "Make it in Michigan Award" will be awarded and the winner will receive up to $5,000 in product development services. The "Make it in Michigan Award" is sponsored by Centrepolis Accelerator, Innovate Marquette, and the MI Outdoor Innovation Fund. **The "Make it in Michigan Award" winner will receive product development services up to $5,000 in value. The services will be available through Centrepolis Accelerator and/or other Michigan service providers. Eligible services include product design, engineering, prototyping and/or manufacturing readiness services. Applying companies will be reviewed and the finalists will be invited to advance to the live pitch competition. Finalists will pitch live to a panel of judges on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Marquette, MI. The Big Pitch: The Big Pitch is the culminating event of the annual New Business Venture competition at NMU. The campus and Marquette communities are welcome to attend this "Shark Tank" style competition where students pitch their ideas to a panel of judges as they try to win thousands of dollars to get their business ideas off the ground. Designed to encourage entrepreneurial activity among students by recognizing and rewarding those who present detailed plans on designing and creating new business enterprises, drawing on their own ideas and inventions or those of others, the competition provides a forum for these students to: Present their new venture plans to investors, receive meaningful feedback, have the opportunity to start a new business, apply classroom learning to real-world projects. The business plans must propose ventures that will be financially profitable, create new jobs, and be lawful.

Innovation Hall

5:00p - 6:00p

PITCH RECEPTION