Lucas Center Celebrates National Small Business Week with Region’s Largest Entrepreneurship Event Series
The Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship celebrated National Small Business Week with a full lineup of events designed to recognize, support, and elevate entrepreneurs across coastal Georgia.
Throughout the week, entrepreneurs, investors, community leaders, business owners, and supporters came together for the Lucas Center’s annual Entrepreneurship Awards, three program pitch competitions, a marketing panel, a women-in-business mixer, and Lucas Forum, the organization’s monthly gathering for the local entrepreneurial community.
Together, the events reflected the Lucas Center’s mission to build a region where entrepreneurship has real infrastructure, strong community support, and shared investment in the success of local businesses.
A major highlight of the week was the pitch competition series, featuring participants from the Lucas Center’s 6SEED, ACCELER8, and ACCELER8 NonProfit programs. More than $50,000 in prizes were awarded to support founders and organizations as they continue growing their businesses and community impact.
Participants in 6SEED spent six weeks developing go-to-market strategies to help move their ideas from side hustle to full-time business. ACCELER8 and ACCELER8 NonProfit participants completed eight weeks of advanced business training focused on growth, strategy, and long-term sustainability. The pitch competitions gave each participant the opportunity to showcase their work before panels of judges and the broader community.
The week also included Lucas Forum, the organization’s monthly community coffee held on the first Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Lucas Center’s downtown Brunswick location. Formerly known as 1 Million Cups, Lucas Forum is an open gathering for founders, supporters, and anyone interested in entrepreneurship in the region. During National Small Business Week, the featured presenter was the soon-to-open La Playa Park, a food truck venue on Norwich Street.
Lucas Forum concluded with the annual Entrepreneurship Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations whose leadership, vision, perseverance, and dedication to growth continue to strengthen the local business community.
This year’s honorees included:
Entrepreneur of the Year — Evie Staples
Woman Entrepreneur of the Year — Lourdes Alejandro
Non-Profit Leader of the Year — Charmaine Richardson, Opportunity Uplifted
Student Entrepreneur of the Year — Madisynn Sutton, Maddi’s Lemonade
Family Business of the Year — Flexer Enterprises
“Our awardees are people chosen by the community for their leadership, vision, and incredibly hard work,” said Ande Noktes, President and CEO of the Lucas Center. “Taking the time to recognize our local entrepreneurs, founders, and small business leaders who commit their full selves to their work is one of the most important things we can do as a community to support them.”
The Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Brunswick, Georgia, dedicated to creating economic opportunity through entrepreneurship education and resources. The organization connects founders with the mentors, tools, capital, and networks they need to build thriving businesses on the Georgia coast and beyond.
To learn more or connect with the Lucas Center, visit www.lucascenter.com.
