Entrepreneurial ‘Meet & Greet’ at The Exchange

Shown in the photo at left, is Kristina Smekens, co-owner of Smekens Education, while the right photo shows the inside of Son-Rise Bakery both in Warren. Brady Smekens, co-owner of Smekens Education, and Krysta Fornal, owner, Son-Rise Bakery will be the entrepreneurial speakers at the February 26 ‘Meet & Greet’ at The Exchange, 201 N. Wayne Street in Warren.

The Entrepreneurial Leadership Council, a committee of the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce, will hold its third entrepreneurial ‘Meet & Greet’ on Monday, February 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at The Exchange, 201 N. Wayne Street, Warren.

The gathering will feature guest speakers Brady Smekens, co-owner of Smekens Education Solutions, and Krysta Fornal, owner of Son-Rise Bakery.

Brady and Kristina Smekens are the entrepreneurs behind Smekens Education Solutions, a consulting firm that serves schools and districts throughout the United States. Smekens Education provides in-person and virtual professional development training to help K-12 teachers improve instruction and achievement in reading and writing. Headquartered in downtown Warren, Smekens Education has five full-time literacy consultants who are located throughout Indiana along with a staff of nine others, most of whom work out of the Warren office.

Krysta Fornal grew up in Warren, went to college in Indianapolis and returned to Warren in 2014 with her husband and first child. Shortly after the birth of their second child, she made the decision to purchase a bakery on November 1, 2016 and started to make Son-Rise Bakery her own. Many changes have been made over the seven years since then to engage customers and support the Warren community.

If you are an entrepreneur, aspiring entrepreneur, own your own business, thinking about starting a business or simply interested in learning more about growing entrepreneurial wealth in Huntington County, this gathering is for you. If you would like to attend this get-together reply to skimmel@huntington-chamber.com. There is no cost to attend, but you must RSVP as the Chamber needs to know how many will be attending. Food will be catered by Son-Rise Bakery and the Wagon Wheel.