Small Business Breakthroughs with Rick Slark

Join the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College in partnership with the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center for a podcast-style discussion designed to dig into the topics that are impacting your business and keeping you up at night.

In this transformative edition of Small Business Breakthroughs, renowned growth experts Rick Slark and Kevin Hammond share critical strategies and tools that small business owners must deploy to successfully scale their companies. Grounded in time-tested principles, this session redefines the leader’s role in driving growth, offering fresh perspectives on elevating your business. Rick and Kevin will guide you through proven actions to optimize operations, attract top-tier talent, embrace cutting-edge technology, and secure critical funding for expansion. Packed with actionable insights, this event will empower you to overcome obstacles and skyrocket your business to new heights.

Register now to reserve your seat and hear first hand experiences on growing and sustaining small businesses and the valuable resources that are available to you locally.

Guest: Rick Slark of Slark Consulting Group
Rick Slark is a seasoned fractional strategist and founder of Slark Consulting Group, where he helps growth-stage businesses scale with purpose and precision. With a calm, no-nonsense approach, Rick works alongside founders and leadership teams to untangle complexity, sharpen strategy, and drive meaningful growth. He is also a frequent speaker and writer on business growth, leadership, and strategic clarity.

Guest: Kevin Hammond, SBDC Business Advisor Kevin Hammond has been a business management consultant for 13 years, mostly focused on small businesses and start-ups. Kevin has been on the SBDC team for almost ten years as a consultant. Prior to consulting Kevin was in financial services at Chase Manhattan. Kevin has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University and an MBA from Capital University.

Kevin loves entrepreneurship and its rewards, benefits, and challenges. In his little non-work time he mostly enjoys spending time with family, running, the very occasional golf game, and working some more.

Host: Michael Bowers, CBA – Director, Ohio SBDC at Columbus State Community College

Michael Bowers is a Business Advisor and Director for the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Columbus State Community College. The primary focus of the SBDC is to support prospective and existing entrepreneurs as they seek to start and grow businesses in Central Ohio.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from the University of North Alabama and a Master’s in Public Administration from The Ohio State University. Michael is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Public Administration from Liberty University.

Michael has worked with entrepreneurs and small business owners for over 30 years, 20 of which have been in Columbus leading the SBDC. He has a diverse business skill set with experience in banking, private equity, strategic planning, leadership, and public sector management.

Michael is the lead instructor for the Basis of A Successful Enterprise (B.A.S.E) business startup training, as well as the host of the Small Business Breakthroughs YouTube series.