2026 ARUNDEL BIZ EXPO
2026 ARUNDEL BIZ EXPO
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
8:30AM – 3:30PM
The Hotel at Arundel Preserve
7795 Arundel Mills Blvd,
Hanover, MD 21076
About The Event
Presented by AAEDC, the inaugural Arundel Biz Expo took place on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 8:30AM-3:30PM at The Hotel at Arundel Preserve.
As the first event of its kind in Anne Arundel County, the Expo offered a unique, all-in-one experience designed exclusively for local businesses of every size, age, and sector.
What Made The Expo Unique
Through a powerful mix of engaging presentations, interactive panels, and meaningful connections, the Arundel Biz Expo offered an all-in-one event for businesses ready to grow, collaborate, and thrive in Anne Arundel County.
- Connect: For the first time, businesses and community partners across every industry and corner of Anne Arundel County came together under one roof. Nearly 50 exhibitors shared their services and resources at the event, which included three dedicated networking periods – including a morning hour powered by Rise Up Coffee Roasters and an afternoon break sponsored by Sweet Hearts Patisserie.
- Learn: The jam-packed agenda (see below) featured dynamic speakers and industry leaders discussing timely topics and actionable tools for business growth.
- Advance: Attendees discovered new opportunities for growth with direct access to lenders, partner organizations, and key resource providers ready to help their business tap into county, state, and federal programs built for success.
Agenda
Morning
- Coffee Networking Hour Sponsored by Rise Up Coffee Roasters & Exhibit Hall Open
- Welcome & Opening Remarks, Sponsor Thank You & Morning Raffle (1-2 prizes)
- Amy Gowan, AAEDC
- Opening Session “The State of Our Economy: Key Tourism & Business Trends in Anne Arundel County”
- Amy Gowan, AAEDC
- Kristen Pironis, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
- AI Panel “Approachable AI: Turning Innovation into Everyday Business Tools”
- Victoria Zelefsky, AAEDC (Moderator)
- Sabrina Amjad, Vanbri Consulting
- Tom Popomaronis, Phantom IQ
- Kenny Clash, Finance and Operations Intentional Philanthropy
- Will Mapp III, Qlarant
- Keynote Address
- Sandeep Mathrani, Managing Partner at Atlas Hill RE
Afternoon
- Lunch & Exhibit Hall Open
- Welcome Back & Remarks
- Mark Hanna, Bank of Glen Burnie
- Panel “From Vision to Growth: Business Success Stories in Anne Arundel County”
- Wes MacQuilliam, AAEDC (Moderator)
- Sharon Wilder, The Oaks Hospitality Group/The Oaks Bed & Breakfast
- Bailey Feldman, Founder and Flourish
- Saeed Ashrafzadeh, Ashling Kitchen
- Zo Olumese, Zokpia
- Session “Scaling Smart Without Burnout”
- Candace Pruett, Maryland SBDC
- Break with Grab & Go Sweet Treats Sponsored by Sweet Hearts Patisserie & Exhibit Hall Open
- Panel “Access to Capital 101: From Preparation to Approval”
- Moderator: Will Holmes, WHC
- Steve Primosch, AAEDC
- Katherine Hill Ritchie, Venture Funds
- Jason Weisberg, M&T Bank
- Anthony Williams, MMG Capital Group
- Steve Coppinger, Republic Capital Access
- Closing Remarks, Impact Report Preview & Raffle featuring 22 amazing prizes donated by local businesses – including two roundtrip Southwest Airlines tickets valued at $400 each!
- Amy Gowan, AAEDC
Expo Exhibitors
Resource Partners
- Anne Arundel Community College
- Anne Arundel County Purchasing & The PAVE Program
- Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation
- Comptroller of Maryland
- Maryland APEX Accelerator
- Maryland Department of Commerce
- Maryland Department of Transportation
- Maryland Small Business Development Center
- Maryland Business Opportunity Center
AAEDC Business Accelerator (IVP) Graduate B2B Businesses
- Alchemi Design
- Aprovechar Language Solutions
- Frontwood Strategies
- Himmel’s Garden Center
- Krissia’s Cleaning Services
- Strata Language Services, LLC
- The Journey 2 Well, Wellness Sponsor of the Expo
- Wellness Rebranded LLC
- ZOKPIA Accounting & Consulting
Expo Sponsors – See Graphic Below
Want To Be A Part of It?
The 2026 Expo sold out quickly, so if you haven’t already please sign up for our emails to learn about future events.
Stay In The Know!
Follow @arundelbiz on social media for the latest updates on all AAEDC news, events, and opportunities.
*The Arundel Biz Expo was supported by the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund through the Baltimore Community Foundation.
