raising kane BUSINESS summit
The Raising Kane Business Summit (RKBS) is Kane County's premier business event, gathering the area's top leaders and business owners in support of the county's economic development. Hosted in Kanab, Utah at the Kanab Event Center, RKBS provides the ideal platform for networking, innovation, sharing, and growth, where participants engage with some of the most influential topics impacting the economy of Kane County, Utah.
2026 SPEAKERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TRENT STAGGS
A proven leader in public service and business, Trent takes a business-minded approach to municipal government as the Mayor of Riverton, Utah, delivering results that include cutting taxes and reducing fees for residents. With a passion for business, government, and identifying better ways of doing things, Staggs is uniquely positioned as a Regional Advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration. He and his wife, Alisha, are the proud parents of two children.
SPEAKERS
Craig Embley
Kyler Ludwig
City Manager
Kanab, UT
Janette Peatross
Executive Director, Kane County Office of Tourism
Pat Guerrero
President, Kanab Area Chamber of Commerce
Camille Johnson
Director of Community and Partner Relations
Ashley Romero
& Sam Atkinson
Owners, Hot Mama's Pizza & Brew, Duck Creek, UT
Shannon Henderson
Operations Manager, Thunderbird Resort
thunderbirdutah.com
Celeste Meyeres
County Commissioner
Kane County, UT
Eric Sims
Singer/Songwriter
LIVE at the Summit
Don Jennings
Owner/Publisher
Southern Utah News
Kourtney Millard
Manager - Zion Fuel Up/
The Shop Coffee Company
Kelly Stowell
Director, Center for Business,
Education, and the Arts
AGENDA
7:30 AM - Check-In, Breakfast Buffet by Parry Lodge, Networking, Exhibitor Area Open
8:30 AM - Welcome - Kelly Stowell
8:35 AM - State of the County & What's Your New? - Celeste Meyeres
9:00 AM - State of Kanab City - Kyler Ludwig
9:10 AM - County Tourism Update - Janette Peatross
9:20 AM - County Economic Development Update - Kelly Stowell
9:30 AM - State of Utah Tourism - Camille Johnson
9:50 AM - Break/Snacks, Networking, Exhibitor Area Open, Music by Eric Sims
10:35 AM - Keynote: The Era of Deregulation - Trent Staggs
11:05 AM - Connections Become Community - Pat Guerrero
11:15 AM - Local Journalism is Infrastructure - Don Jennings
11:30 AM - Rise From the Ashes - Ashley Romero & Sam Atkinson
11:45 AM - Running a Business in a Small Town - Kourtney Millard
12:00 PM - Selling Your Story - Shannon Henderson
12:15 PM - Working Together Works - Craig Embley
12:30 PM - Lunch by Party in a Box, Networking, Exhibitor Area Open, Music by Eric Sims
2:00 PM - Event Ends
2026 EXHIBITORS
2026 SPONSORs
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