Summit

Two days of honest conversations with entrepreneurs and owners to help you focus on your business strategy without the day to day interruptions of being in your business.

About Summit

The Summit brings you an experience designed to fast-track your growth and deepen your connections. Summit offers a blend of hands-on training, strategic networking, and unparalleled resource opportunities.

What You Can Expect

Facilitated Networking
Honest Conversations
Access to Resources
Hands-On Training
and more!

Speakers

Agenda

Register

Lodging

Map

Lead Boldly: Summit 2026

Join us in Medora on May 5–7, 2026 for a transformative experience crafted for women entrepreneurs and business owners across North Dakota. Designed to fast‑track your growth and deepen meaningful connections, this experience blends hands‑on training, strategic networking, and unparalleled access to resources.

Ticket Includes

Your Summit Essentials

✅ Your Choice of Workshops and Breakouts in Beginner or Advanced Tracks to Focus on Your Preferred Growth Areas

✅ Focused, Planned, and Casual Networking Time with Like-Minded Owners and Resource Partners for Your Business

✅ Meals + Snacks

✅ Single Location with Free Parking

✅ Printed and Digital Workbook

✅ Access to the Summit App Featuring Connections and Engagement, Both Before and After the Event

Testimonials

As a first-year attendee and speaker, I know this is an exceptional event that connects women business owners across North Dakota. It’s an event I won’t miss in the future! I’d love to see the event double in size next year to connect more women, so make sure to mark your calendar and attend next year!
– Kari Dunn, Owner of All In Development Company

This has been the best $500 I have spent for my business since I started. I have met so many incredible women who are smarter and know more about business than me. These women can be key figures to help grow my business. If you think you have your business all wrapped up, I promise there are women at Summit that can make your business better!

– Rebecca Moreno-Adam, Legendary Grains

These events allow me to meet other women in business who I can relate to. It allows me to feel as though I am not the only one dealing with some of the struggles. These connections allow me to give back and share my expertise and mentor as others have done for me.

– Sandi Luck, Owner of Bully Brew Coffee House

I often think of my business as too niche for most groups. I almost did not come. However, I was encouraged by another past participant, who also feels niche. She said that regardless there is so much good that will come from attending. This meeting did not disappoint.

– Anonymous

It’s been a fantastic couple of days at the NDWBC Women’s Business Summit. The stories shared are so raw and inspiring. They have really created a safe place here for business owners to connect and share ideas to overcome challenges. The 3 days of expert connection improves business in our communities.

– Tiffanie Honeyman, Owner of OpGo Marketing

Agenda

(May be subject to change. Times are MST)

Day 1 - May 5th

Boots bar & Grill

After Party

Optional

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8:00 AM

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ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

Breakfast with a local Business Owner

Start your day with a delicious breakfast, included in your ticket. Join us at the Rough Rider Hotel to get inspired by a Medora local who will share insights on business ownership. Don't miss this chance to fuel up and connect before the day's events.

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8:45 AM

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ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

Morning Affirmations: The Art of Daily Practice

Artist Nichole Rae

Artist Nichole Rae is a guide who teaches the Art of Daily Practice, helping individuals reconnect with their creativity, vision, and inner clarity through healing arts, journaling, and affirmation work. With over 15 years of creative experience and a decade rooted in metaphysical healing practices, she creates spaces that inspire reflection, alignment, and intentional growth. This experience isn’t just about business strategy, it’s about intentional reset. It’s about pausing long enough to reconnect with the vision that started it all, and building practices that keep you grounded as you grow.

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9:45 AM

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ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

Breakout

Beginner: Branding Your Business

Sommer Jacob, Branding Strategist & Founder of Studio North

Growth doesn’t fail because of effort; it falters because of misalignment. In this session, Sommer Jacob shares how branding, positioning, and strategic structure work together to strengthen trust and accelerate growth. Learn how to move from reactive decisions to intentional expansion, and build a business that scales with clarity and confidence.

Advanced: Revenue Is Not Growth: What Real Expansion Actually Looks Like

Dee Decimus Holmes, Founder of All Embracing Home Care

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10:30 AM

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ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

Breakout

Beginner: One Million Memories: The Human Power of Small Farms

Dirk & Jessie Monson, Ten Seven Acres

Advanced: The Local Marketing Playbook: Prioritizing Spend and Balancing DIY vs. Done-For-You

Emily Barvels, Client Success Lead, Flint Group

With more marketing platforms than ever and rising advertising costs, local businesses face increasing pressure to make every marketing dollar count. In this session, Emily Barvels, Client Success Lead at Flint Group, shares a practical framework for prioritizing marketing spend across channels while balancing in-house efforts with expert support. Attendees will learn how to apply the 70/20/10 budget framework to build a smarter marketing plan, evaluate which channels drive the strongest results, and determine when to manage marketing internally versus outsourcing for scale. Through real-world insights and actionable strategies, this session will help businesses make confident, data-driven decisions that maximize impact and efficiency in today’s evolving marketing landscape.

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11:15 AM

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ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

Breakout

Beginner: Your Numbers Called. They Want Attention

ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

The Architecture of Resilience: Why Personal Adversity is Reshaping Workplace Leadership

Tracy Jordre, Principal Architect and Workplace Design Expert at JLG Architects

In this presentation, Tracy examines how her teenage son’s mental health challenges, combined with the demands of full‑time work, profoundly reshaped her life and professional purpose. She shares how the experience redefined her understanding of workplace well-being and influenced her leadership as Principal of JLG’s Workplace Architecture team. That perspective has helped guide the creation of high-performing, human-centered environments and contributed to JLG’s recognition as a 2026 Top 50 Workplace Giant by Building Design + Construction magazine.

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2:30 PM

Adventures

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4:15 PM

ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

From Science Fair to Startup: What Building a Business Early Taught Me

Ava Hauck, Founder & CEO of Clinivue LLC

8:45 AM

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ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

Workshops

A: Social Media Workshop

Emily Avdem Nelson, Founder of Brandakin Social Media

This session is a crash course in Instagram strategy that actually drives results. We’ll cover what works, how to know what to post, and how to use engagement to nurture leads and turn followers into conversations. You’ll walk away with simple, practical steps to strengthen your social media presence with clarity and confidence.

B: AI Workshop

Stay tuned for updates

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10:00 AM

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ROUGH RIDER HOTEL

90 Day Planning

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10:45 AM

Summit Send‑Off: Until Next Year

LODGING OPTIONS:

Rough Rider Hotel

BADLANDS HOTEL

Lodging & More Information

Lodging Information

LODGING: Lodging is not included in your ticket price, nor is NDWBC responsible for managing your lodging. We want you to have the power to choose where you’re most comfortable. Room blocks have been set up at the Rough Riders Hotel (301 3rd Ave, Medora) and Badlands Hotel (501 Pacific Ave, Medora). Please use group code NDWBC2026 to reserve your room before the April 5 deadline.

Other options available are the AmericInn (75 E River Rd S, Medora), along with many Airbnbs. Camping spots are available, too!

TIME ZONES: Medora is on MST. The Summit begins at 5:00 PM CST, or 4:00 PM MST on May 5th.

Ticket Sales

CONFIRMATION: A confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address. Still haven’t received one? Check your Junk Folder. If it isn’t there, reach out to us at info@ctbnd.com.

REFUNDS: Full refunds may be issued if requested by April 6. After April 6, refunds are not available. These refunds do not include lodging, please contact your hotel for questions on those refunds.

PRICE INCREASE: Get your tickets early! Earlybird tickets are available until March 16. Price will increase to $550 on March 17. Ticket sales close at 9 PM on April 13.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our frequently asked questions or contact us at info@ctbnd.com to learn more.

When does Summit begin?

Registration will start at 4:00 PM MST at the Rough Rider and official programming will begin at 5:00 PM MST on May 5 at the Showhall.

What is the address for Adventures?

Information to be announced – we will update the schedule as we get closer to the event.

What if I need to skip a workshop or session?

We know that owners are busy. At the same time, you don’t want to miss the questions, connections, or topics that are in the schedule. However, think of Summit as a vacation for your business, so feel free to step out of a session or skip one to meet your needs.

If you can’t or don’t want to attend, you’ll miss the important points and won’t get the value out of Summit, but of course, you are free to spend your time at Summit in the best way for yourself and your business.

How many are coming to Summit?

NDWBC is expecting 100 business owners at this year’s Summit. There will also be a community of subject matter experts and ecosystem partners who will contribute to the thought-provoking discussions.

Is Summit breakfast included if I'm not staying at the Rough Rider's Hotel?

Yes, breakfast at the Rough Rider’s Hotel is included in your ticket price. Breakfast is invaluable networking time. Don’t miss a moment!

My car broke down, will you come and pick me up?

We are sorry to hear about this unfortunate event. Please call our Summit Help Line at 701-587-3071 to talk to our staff.

Where is an ATM for cash bar?

The two closest ATMs to the Summit include options in the Rough Rider Hotel lounge or at the First State Bank Of Golva (head East on 3rd street).

How can I find more information about business coaching?

Find an NDWBC staff member, and they will introduce you to one of our certified business coaches or you can sign up for your session online at www.ndwbc.com/business-coaching.

I can't find my confirmation email.

Your confirmation email may have gone into your Junk or Spam Folder. Check there. If you still haven’t received one, please reach out to us at info@ctbnd.com.

Can I bring my family?

Bringing your family to Summit is a way to enjoy Medora before the Summer rush and can be used as business expense, but NDWBC encourages you to see Summit as a vacation for your business it is not a vacation from your business.

Summit is an opportunity for invaluable business connections and training. Playtime is a bonus. While Summit offers you time to pause, relax, and recharge, your family’s purpose in Medora should be to play, explore, and relax.

I have food allergies, will I have options?

Yes, the Rough Rider Hotel will offer a variety of options to accommodate dietary needs. Dietary restrictions were collected during registration through Zeffy, so we should already have this information. If you have any additional concerns, please let us know and we’d be happy to connect you directly with the Rough Rider Hotel management.

When do we have free time in the evenings?

Summit programming on Tuesday and Wednesday is tentatively expected to conclude between 8:00–9:00 PM MST, though this is subject to change. Programming on Thursday is expected to conclude around 12:00 PM MST.

Is there a mother's room available?

While not an exclusive room for mothers, our staff will have a room close to the action, so you can feed your little one or pump without disruption. Please ask our staff about how you can access it.

How does NDWBC help business owners?

Our clients have access to low–cost or no–cost events and trainings. We provide best-in-class programming featuring opportunities for one-on-one and group learning. Our clients consistently trust us to connect them with resources and tools to equip them to start, grow, and pivot their businesses. Not sure where to start? See our annual programs page or our events page to find an opportunity to connect.

I don't know anyone here, how can I get connected?

Don’t miss the first day of Summit., it offers many opportunities to get plugged in. If you missed the Day 1 or are struggling to connect, here are a couple ways to start a conversation:

Name Tags – Be sure you have yours on. Try asking someone about their business and where they are from and see what you can learn.
Contact Sheet – Attendees who filled out our preregistration survey could opt-in to be on our list of contacts. If you don’t see it in your program, ask the person at registration for one. Find someone in your region or industry and ask what they are learning.
Share Notes – At each session, you are missing out on a session. If you want to meet someone ask them about the session they attended and if they will share their takeaways with you.