Uncertainty to Strategy – Delivering a Strong 2026

Focus: Identifying your biggest challenges for 2026. We will be discussing practical budgeting strategies, opportunities, and blind spots, all while strengthen peer connections within the business community. 

• Top-down and bottom-up budgeting approaches. Which is best for your business and why?
• Cash Flow Management; Seasonal fluctuations or large one-time expenses (like expansion or inventory purchasing) can cause temporary cash shortages. How to best plan and manage these fluctuations?
• Rising Operation Costs (Cost of labor, insurance, benefits and compliance, rent, energy and technology). What to consider when budgeting for these costs?
• Driving Efficiency with the P&L How time management and operational efficiency impact the P&L. COGS Impact: In a service business, labor time is a major COGS factor. Tracking billable hours vs. non-billable hours - essential for a healthy Gross Margin.
• OpEx Impact: Wasted time in administration, poor workflow, or redundant tasks increases OpEx (e.g., higher admin payroll).

• Interpreting P&L’s (reading & revising)
• Budgeting approach that works best for you
• Team, time & money, the impact of each on future business performance
• Insights & actions (Walk away with a clear plan for 2026)

• We are proud to partner with the NC Chamber and Blue Cross NC to ensure affordable, high-quality health care is no longer out of reach for small businesses.
• We are excited to launch Carolina HealthWorks upon approval by the Department of Insurance.
• Insurance specialists will be available following the meeting to offer clarification and answer questions.

What is Carolina HealthWorks?

• A Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA) designed specifically for small businesses in North Carolina with 2–50 employees.
• Employers are now able to band together for better health plan options.
• Benefits include:
• Affordability and flexibility: ~38 plan options, including medical, dental, and vision.
• Risk-based pricing: rewards groups with better-than-average health outcomes.
• Predictable costs and simple administration: peace of mind for business owners.
• Eligibility: Carolina HealthWorks plans will be available to employers who have 2 to 50 eligible employees, are headquartered in North Carolina, are members of the NC Chamber or a participating local chamber
• Access: Offered through Blue Cross NC appointed agents, or direct enrollment for those without agents.
• We will provide details on how to enroll upon health plan approval.

Matt Morris 

Matt Morris is a certified Business Coach with ActionCOACH, the world’s #1 business coaching firm, serving as a strategic advisor dedicated to empowering business leaders who build thriving businesses. With over twenty-five years of experience leading projects, building teams, and working across businesses of diverse scales, Matt brings a unique breadth of expertise to his clients. From his foundational work in the nonprofit sector to pivotal roles in large corporations and the firsthand success of owning and operating retail franchises. Matt’s journey as a business owner, alongside his wife Brooke, saw their local automotive franchises achieve remarkable growth in revenue, profit, and customer satisfaction, displaying his practical understanding of building success from the ground up. Not only that but how to build sellable businesses!

Steve (Steven) Garris

Strategic Operations Executive with 20+ years of experience building and leading global cross-functional teams across Revenue, Product, Marketing, and Finance. Trusted by Executive Leadership to turn vision into strategy and execute at scale with clarity. Served as CRO, led 230+ Global Ops and Finance professionals, and built operational infrastructure at companies like Red Hat, CloudBees, and FLYR.