Build a Business That Gives You More Choices

✔️ October 22, 2026

✔️ 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

✔️ Maggiano’s Little Italy, 203 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, FL 33609

Would Someone Want to Buy the Business You are Building?

Most owners aren't thinking about selling. They're thinking about running the place. But many of the same things that make a business attractive to a buyer are the things that make it stronger and easier to own right now: steady demand you can count on, work that doesn't stop when you step away, important decisions that don't all run through you, and capabilities the company can rely on without depending on one person.

In this working session, a business broker, a marketing strategist, and a revenue engine advisor will examine the questions that reveal what makes a business stronger, where dependence is hiding, and what can limit its future value and options.

Using real company outcomes and practical examples, we'll look at how businesses with similar financial results can become very different companies underneath the numbers.

You'll work through the same questions in a workbook you keep and leave with a clearer idea of which part of your own business deserves attention first, including where AI can strengthen a capability you already understand and where using it too early can simply make a weak process move faster.

Session Format

The conversation will be moderated by BTC President Michael Valdez, who will lead the panelists through a focused, executive-level dialogue on building resilient organizations.

Through a series of structured questions, he will explore each panelist’s unique approach to strategy, reputation management, and long-term continuity—ensuring a dynamic and actionable learning experience for attendees.

Meet Our Speakers

Daniel Ruth

ARGen | Revenue Engine Advisor

Dan Ruth is a revenue engine advisor who helps owner-led businesses build more dependable, repeatable ways to generate, convert, deliver, and grow revenue.

Dan works with business owners to identify where revenue still depends too heavily on the owner, a few key people, or undocumented judgment. His work focuses on strengthening the full path from opportunity and qualification through delivery, retention, and expansion, while improving the visibility owners need to make better decisions.

Dan’s perspective is centered on a practical question: can the business continue to make good revenue decisions and serve customers well without the owner personally interpreting, approving, or rescuing the process?

Robert Bishop

Bishop Marketing Strategy | Entrepreneur | Mentor

Robert Bishop is the founder of Bishop Marketing Strategy, where he helps owners of skilled trades, home service, and construction businesses build demand that doesn't depend on the owner. His work covers the full path from brand foundation to lead generation — messaging, SEO, paid ads, and the CRM and tracking systems that turn scattered referrals into a repeatable pipeline.

Robert focuses on a question most owners never ask until it's too late: if you stepped back tomorrow, would the phone still ring? A business built on the owner's relationships is worth less than one built on a system, and the difference shows up long before anyone talks about selling. He works with clients across Tampa Bay and nationally.

Brian Stephens

Legacy Business Sales and Valuation | Founder

Brian Stephens, founder of Legacy Business Sales and Valuation, helps business owners, buyers, and advisors understand what drives business value—and how powerful storytelling can bring that value to life. His people-first approach recognizes that every owner has both a business journey and a personal journey.

Brian invests heavily in continuing education each year and has developed courses for the International Business Brokers Association, business owners, and professional advisors. He is dedicated to helping owners build lasting value, find the right buyer, achieve the best possible price, and gain peace of mind knowing their legacy will continue.Brian earned his MBA from Loyola University and studied engineering and human behavior at the University of Florida.

Business owners and their advisors will gain deeper insight into what makes a business valuable and transferable—and how the decisions owners make today can transform their companies, their lives, and the lives of the people impacted by them.

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