Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is excited to announce the first 2025 FIN FIT (Financially Fit) event will be held on Wednesday, August 27 from 8:30am-12:30pm at the Century of Flight Hangar, Warner Robins, GA. We are proud to partner with the Georgia VECTR Center (Veterans Education Career Transition Resource), Robins Regional Chamber, and Perry Area Chamber of Commerce for this free small business event. This event is free and open to all Georgians. Free continental breakfast and workbook is included with registration.

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.

This event will feature:

• 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 just grow their already thriving business.

• Networking with fellow entrepreneurs, community leaders, and growth-minded professionals.

“Small business is the backbone of Georgia’s future,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. “FIN FIT is serious about bringing skills, connections, and knowledge to every corner of Georgia and unleashing small business growth.”

The first part of the event will be a panel discussion moderated by Donna Lowry, Award Winning Journalist. Panelists will include Marguerite Pressley Davis, Founder & CEO, Finance Savvy CEO®, Angel Investor & Small Business Advisor; Shane Gottwals, CEO of Gottwals Books and Gottwals Properties; Scottie A. Johnson, Chef/Owner, Blessed and Highly Flavored Cuisine, LLC, Private Chef Services; Kent Jordan, Vice President Commercial Lender, Planters First Bank; Lisa Rackley, Area Director, UGA Small Business Development Center, Macon; and Patricia “Trish” Ross, EdD, Colonel, USAF Retired Commissioner, Commissioner of Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS).

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. 

“We encourage Georgians to hear from our all-star panel,” said Noula Zaharis, Assistant Commissioner of Securities, “Decades of expertise is here to help you on your path to entrepreneurship.”

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.

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