SEED – Planters Bank

For those interested in starting or expanding

their business.

Planters Bank is excited to announce the 2025 SEED Summit, set to take place on January 31, 2025 at The Bruce on Conference Center Drive in Hopkinsville, KY. This dynamic, in person event promises a full day of inspiration, education, and networking for entrepreneurs, innovators and business professionals. The SEED Summit offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable business knowledge, discover new growth strategies, and connect with like-minded professionals. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your business, this event is your gateway to entrepreneurial success.

This year, at the end of the day, participants can choose to either attend a Business Plan Workshop (especially helpful for those planning to apply for the SEED Grant, but useful for everyone) OR schedule a 1:1 Marketing session with a professional. There will also be bankers available all day for individual sessions.

We'll contact you after registration to schedule the 1:1 individual sessions.

Agenda

Dec 20, 2024

8:00 AM

Registration & Networking
Dec 20, 2024

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM

Welcome from Elizabeth McCoy
Dec 20, 2024

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM (Choose One)

Is This a Good Idea for a Business or Just Something I Like To Do? With Chris Wooldridge
This session will focus on what research you should do to vet your idea. If you’re considering starting a business or are in its early stages, join Chris Wooldridge as he walks you through:
o How to find out if your business idea is a need in your market
o How to determine which market to be in
o Who do you need to talk to before launching your business
o How to get a business mentor
o How to build a financial projection based in accurate numbers
o Finding your unique value, determining your competitive advantage, and how you communicate that to get customers
o How to focus on your core competencies & your ideal customers only
o How to disrupt consumer behavior & have customers that patron your business?
Dec 20, 2024

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM (Choose One)

Culture & People Topics With Talia Bateman
In today’s workforce, people are choosing their day to day based on companies that align with their values. How your company communicates its values influences who your employees are. Hear from Talia Bateman on identifying your company values, and how to communicate them to your team. Also work with Talia in this session to understand generational and personality differences in the workplace.
Stay for additional 1:1's on Culture & People Topics, or schedule for a later date.
Dec 20, 2024

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Small Business Panel:
Hal McCoy, McCoy Properties
Graham & Heather Dawson, The Mixer
Jeff & Sherri Robinson, Blackhorse Pub & Brewery
Dec 20, 2024

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

How to Find & Target Your Customers with Meta Tools With Sarah Whitaker
Join Sarah Whitaker for this tactical session on finding your customers on social media and targeting messaging that reaches them, specifically on Meta tools. In this session she will go over:
o Meta Business Suite & how you can be using its tools for planning organic Facebook & Instagram content.
o Ads targeting on Facebook & Instagram
Dec 20, 2024

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Lunch, Time with Exhibitors, Cat Lacy Headshots
Dec 20, 2024

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

The 3 Reports You Need to Understand to Effectively Run Your Business With Eric Coleman
In this session, we’ll break down which financial reports you need to know & understand. Come prepared with your accounting software to follow along if you like. We’ll cover:
o What you should look for in your P&L
o What to use a balance sheet for o How to set pricing based on costs (and a brief touch on how to pull those costs in software like QBO)
o How frequently you should look at your accounting reports
o Why garbage in is garbage out
o Why revenue day 1 looks different than year 3 & projections around that
o Examining whether your marketing budget is getting enough attention
o A huge quantity at a bad margin is still bad margin, just now it’s at scale.
o The do’s & don’ts of setting up customer terms & how to managing AR
Dec 20, 2024

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Scaling Your Business: A Small Business Panel
Bradley Jackson, Byers & Harvey Real Estate & Property Management
Jeremiah Hussung, Wendy's of Bowling Green
Jeff Truitt, ServPro
Chris McEnaney, McDonald's
Dec 20, 2024

2:30 PM

Closing
Dec 20, 2024

(Optional) 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

5 Things You Need in Your Business Plan with Chris Wooldridge
For those interested in participating in the 2025 SEED Grant program, stay and hear about the 5 things that have been missing in past business plans that have been submitted to the SEED grant competition. This session is good for anyone that wishes to learn about ways to improve your business strategy.
Dec 20, 2024

(Optional) 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Schedule a 1:1 Marketing Session With a Professional (limited spots available)

About SEED

Join us for an exciting in-person event at The Bruce, located on Conference Center Drive in Hopkinsville, KY, USA. The Planters Bank SEED Summit is a must-attend gathering for entrepreneurs, innovators, and business enthusiasts. Get ready to be inspired by insightful speakers, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and network with like-minded individuals. This event is your opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, discover new opportunities, and nurture your entrepreneurial spirit. Don't miss out on this incredible chance to connect, learn, and grow. See you at the Planters Bank SEED Summit!

The 2024 SEED Summit registration is $25. 100% of your registration fee will be donated to the United Way.

About Planters Bank

Five enterprising business leaders founded and opened a new community bank in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on Sept. 12, 1996.

Since first opening its doors in 1996, Planters Bank has made a name for itself as an energetic, forward-looking player on the financial services landscape. Contributing to our success is the flexibility afforded by being well-capitalized, locally owned and responsibly managed.

Today, Planters Bank has full-service offices, Commercial Services offices, Mortgage Services and Trust Services serving Hopkinsville, Western Kentucky and Clarksville, Tennessee.

Planters Bank is committed to being a leader for the benefit of our customers and the communities we serve. Planters Bank takes on the responsibility of offering unique, progressive and flexible products and services to better serve our customers. We include technological convenience, personalized products and helpful service to provide for each customer attaining financial goals.

We promise to place utmost importance on hometown values and local decision making, because we live in the same communities as you. Your family and your business are important to us and we are prepared to help you make sound banking decisions.

2023 SEED Summit Testimonials

I honestly can't stop my head for spinning. I honestly took away so much. It has really been a long time since I have been able to take away something from every session. I can not thank you enough! Thank you from the bottom on my heart.

Enjoyed all content and all speakers. Planters Bank went above and beyond.

It was an amazing experience from the presenters to the food. The speakers were all great and answered a lot of questions of current and aspiring entrepreneurs. I can tell that Planters cares and when I start my business I can almost guarantee using your bank. Thank you again for this.

I had the best time. Each speaker hit on something that I have been struggling with. I feel like this has been the best business seminar I have been to in a while.