Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is excited to announce the upcoming FIN FIT (Financially Fit) “Fearless Fundraising for Your Small Business” event which will be held on Tuesday, June 16 from 8:30am-12:30pm at Cunningham Center at Columbus State, Blanchard B&C Halls, Columbus, Georgia.

The Secretary of State’s office is proud to partner with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, UGA SBDC in Columbus, VBOC, Georgia VECTR Center (Veterans Education Career Transition Resource), & Georgia Department of Veterans Service for this free small business event.

This event is free and open to all Georgians. Free continental breakfast and a workbook are included with registration. This event is for educational purposes only; no products or services will be sold.

Starting a business and making it profitable is challenging. Secretary Raffensperger is dedicated to empowering Georgians to acquire the necessary skills for success in starting their business and growing it.

Whether you’re a veteran or civilian small business owner, join us for a powerful event designed to equip you with real-world insight and actionable tools.

• Panel Discussion with insights and resources to grow and sustain a small business.
• Hands-On Learning Lab to help sharpen your strategy and move your business forward. You will learn about the Invest Georgia Exemption (IGE), a powerful tool for Georgians looking to raise capital to fund their new venture or grow their already thriving business.
• Network with fellow entrepreneurs, community leaders, and growth-minded professionals.

“Funding is the lifeblood of any new venture, but navigating the fundraising landscape can be daunting for entrepreneurs,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. “By partnering with incredible veteran and business organizations in Columbus, we are bringing real-world capital strategies directly to our small business owners so they can grow, hire, and succeed in Georgia.”

The first part of the event will be a panel discussion moderated by Donna Lowry, Award Winning Journalist. Panelists will include Brittany Haines, CFE, President & CEO, Growing Room Child Development Centers; Marguerite Pressley Davis, Growth-Stage CFO | Angel Investor, Founder, Finance Savvy CEO®; Greg Ray, Vice President, Business Development Officer; Reginald "Reggie" Thompson, Director, Program Manager, Georgia Veterans Business Outreach Center (GA VBOC), Georgia VECTR Center; and Phil Wise, Area Director for the UGA SBDC in Columbus. The second part of the event will be a hands-on learning lab, with a free workbook for each attendee. This will be led by Marguerite Pressley Davis, Founder & CEO, Finance Savvy CEO®, Angel Investor & Small Business Advisor. 

FIN FIT is a financial empowerment seminar series hosted by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger as part of his multi-faceted financial literacy effort and is administered through the Securities and Charities divisions of the Office of Secretary of State. These free programs feature industry leaders who discuss resources that can help increase attendees’ knowledge about money, their relationship to money, and financial issues and strategies for growing their wealth.

The office of the Secretary of State invites all Georgians to attend these free and informational events.

To register for this free event, click here.

To learn more about FIN FIT, click here.

To review and download our free financial resources, click here.