InUnison

09/03/2026

But wait, there's more.... We've already introduced you to our 2026 InnovateLocal keynote speaker, Dr. Bob Kelley. But after the keynote, we're bringing local business owners onstage for Culture in Practice: a candid conversation about building teams, trust, and competitive advantage with three local leaders:

• Jill Lemon
Co-Founder, Sandbox

• Andy Frank
Founder & CEO, UDig

• William Groves
President & CEO, New Horizon Bank

✨ Expect honest stories about what's worked, what hasn't, and how each of them has built a culture that holds up under pressure.

09/01/2026

What if your small team could do more without going over budget?

Our panel of experienced business and financial leaders is sharing practical strategies to improve cash flow, strengthen financial planning, and build systems that help small teams do more with less during our Finance Panel on September 9.

Whether you're looking to increase profitability, create stability during uncertain times, or prepare for your next stage of growth, you'll leave with actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Bring your questions, learn from real-world success stories, and connect with fellow business owners facing the same challenges.

👉 Register at the link below.

Panelists:

• Chris Clark, Director of Finance — Gelati Celesti
Chris is the Director of Finance at Gelati Celesti, where he specializes in accounting, database development, and automation for the multi-location, multi-market supplier.

• Cari Shannon, Vice President of Marketing & Operations — Mango Salon
Cari is the is the VP of Marketing and Operations at Mango Salon, where she oversees the financial and operational strategy including annual budget planning, pricing analysis, and revenue forecasting.

• Kevin Reardon, Owner — Franco’s Fine Clothier
Kevin is the co-owner of Franco’s Fine Clothier, where he oversees the day-to-day operations of their Lakeside location in addition to managing payroll, benefits, and 401(k) administration.

• Yann Reichelt, Chief Financial Officer - Capital Interior Contractors
Yann is the Chief Financial Officer at Capital Interior Contractors, where he provides financial oversight and strategic planning for the company's management team.

08/31/2026

How is your business approaching AI? We're excited to share that InUnison’s research on how local businesses are approaching AI made the front page of Sunday's Richmond Times-Dispatch. In the article, InUnison VP Diana McMahon shared insights on the numbers, and InUnison members, including Shapes & Colors by Jolinda, Blue Sage Bridal, LaDiff, and Gelati Celesti, opened up about how they're navigating it.

Despite all the buzz around it, most Richmond businesses haven't embraced AI.

08/28/2026

Is your business ready for a $15 minimum wage?

It's closer than you think. Virginia's minimum wage rose to $12.77 in January, climbs to $13.75 in 2027, and hits $15 in 2028. And the impact can ripple through your entire payroll.

In our latest Learning Lab, we walk you through what to do now, from budgeting for the increases to spotting wage compression before it becomes a retention problem. Log in to the Community below to read more.

08/27/2026

Next up in our Tier Talk series, InUnison Vice President Diana McMahon talks about the new tiers, what they mean, and what types of businesses they may be best suited for as we transition our membership structure in October.

👉 Questions? Send us a DM, and our membership team will reach out.

08/26/2026

Meet our 2026 InnovateLocal Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bob Kelley, Ed.D. A culture consultant, Bob is a seasoned senior executive, speaker, and entrepreneur with over 35 years in food retailing, consumer products, and management consulting.

At InnovateLocal, he'll bring that experience home, showing how intentional culture becomes a real competitive advantage for local, independent businesses.

👉 Have you registered yet? Snag your spot at the link below.

08/25/2026

Last week, we were honored to attend the 2026 BLK RVA Community Awards, presented by Wells Fargo, as a proud Community Sponsor. The event honored the history, resilience, innovation, and economic impact of the Black community in the Richmond Region.

The celebration highlighted the impact of Black-owned businesses, innovators, and community initiatives that create jobs, anchor neighborhoods, preserve culture, and draw people to Richmond.

Congratulations to all of this year's winners. Your work makes this region stronger, richer, and more connected.

08/24/2026

Hiring in 2026 looks different. Let's talk about it.

Join InUnison and Sandbox's HR pros TOMORROW, August 25, for practical strategies for building a more transparent, consistent, and effective hiring process, including creating meaningful pay ranges, asking appropriate application questions, and more.

👉 Register at the link below.

08/20/2026

Are your daily customer practices keeping up with the latest Virginia laws?

Virginia’s newest consumer protection laws don’t require sweeping operational changes to your sales, data, and marketing practices, but they do require businesses to take a closer look at how they serve customers every day.

From subscription and auto-renewal programs to penny rounding procedures, our latest Learning Lab shares five takeaways from Virginia’s latest laws that your business should review.

👉 Read the full list linked below to see how your business stacks up.

08/18/2026

If you can only make it to one InUnison event this year, make it InnovateLocal. Our signature half-day workshop returns for its 4th year on September 24, and this year, Dr. Bob Kelley from Pure Culture Consulting and VCU will talk about how to build a team people genuinely want to be part of. 👉 Early bird pricing ends Friday, August 21, so register today at the link below!