A warm, honest and insight-rich afternoon of storytelling unfolded last week as the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce hosted Small Business Stories—a Small Business Month luncheon designed to spotlight the start-up grit, scale-up grind, and succession dilemmas facing local business owners.
The relaxed luncheon at Harrup Park featured a powerhouse panel of local talent: Dr Suzanne Francisco (Habitude), Dan Shaw (Primal Coffee Roasters), and Jason Sharam (CSE Linked), with keynote insights from Peter Trifelly of High Performance Coaching. Each shared candid reflections from their own business journeys, some still in the early hustle, others deep in growth or legacy planning.
The result? A room full of laughs, nods, aha moments, and conversations that lingered long after dessert.
Chamber Vice President Vicki Smith acted as MC for the day, setting the tone with personal reflections on growing up in a small family business.
“There’s something powerful about getting beyond the elevator pitch and hearing what really drives people to build and grow something of their own,” she said.
More than just a business event, Small Business Stories was a celebration of people behind the ventures—warts and all—and a reminder of the courage and creativity that fuels our local economy.
The Chamber deliberately chose to showcase homegrown talent, proving that some of the most valuable business insights come from right here in our own backyard.
Sincere thanks go to the event sponsors, Mackay Regional Council, and the Local Buying Foundation for their continued support of Mackay’s small business sector.
Small Business Stories forms part of the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to supporting and celebrating local businesses at every stage—whether just starting out, scaling up, or planning what’s next.
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