Brantford’s business spirit was on full display Monday evening at the Best Western Conference Centre, where the second annual Success Summit Brantford gathered close to 90 local entrepreneurs and professionals under one roof — nearly doubling last year’s attendance.
The two-hour event, led by MC and co-founder Jeff Meiusi, aimed to do more than just inspire — it was a calculated response to a need long left unmet.
“Thomas, Sherri and I noticed there was a lack of business events in Brantford for local and small businesses,” Meiusi told BrantBlog.
“So we created something accessible, affordable, and community-focused — and the turnout proves there’s real hunger for this.”
Originally from Mississauga, Meiusi moved to Brantford in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like many new residents, he found the city welcoming but fragmented in terms of accessible information and professional networking.
That experience led him to launch Living in Brantford, a YouTube channel spotlighting everything from neighbourhoods to eateries.
But the Success Summit was always about something bigger: “rebuilding the local business community after the isolation of COVID,” Meiusi says.
The Summit’s co-organizer and featured speaker Sherri Barna, founder of Purple Bean Media, reinforced that idea.
“Events like this came out of a need,” Barna said. “Post-COVID, local businesses were surviving — but we wanted to see them thrive.”
Barna, a longtime Brantford local who now resides in nearby St. George, built her career in international nonprofit marketing before pivoting to entrepreneurship in 2017.
Her firm helps clients craft and execute digital strategies — and her advice to new business owners today? Start showing up online.
“Get on social media, say yes to every chance to talk about your business,” she said. “And build relationships. That’s what will carry you forward.”
Barna’s definition of success has evolved over time: it’s not just about income or influence, but freedom — the freedom to choose projects, people, and purpose.
Unlike larger conferences that can feel corporate and impersonal, the Success Summit is intentionally small in scale and high in relevance.
Monday’s gathering offered presentations on marketing, finance, growth strategies, and — perhaps most critically — practical steps attendees could apply immediately.
“Tomorrow morning, someone will wake up and take action based on what they learned tonight,” Barna emphasized. “That’s the goal.”
The Summit also benefits from a growing Facebook community — Brantford Events and Local Businesses — where participants can promote services, connect with others, and stay informed about upcoming monthly events like Coffee & Collaborations and Cocktails & Collaborations, held every second Tuesday and third Thursday respectively.
Returning attendee Bev Hoekman said she was drawn back this year not only by the strong speaker lineup but the sense of momentum.
“You can tell there’s a real need for this. Every time, more people are showing up,” she said.
A relative newcomer to the networking scene, Hoekman believes events like these are reshaping how Brantford’s business community sees itself — not as an afterthought between Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo, but as a hub of its own.
“There’s financial advice, real estate tips, graphics and branding — you name it. It’s diverse, useful, and clearly growing.”
For Meiusi, this year’s near-90 turnout is just the beginning. His goal for 2025? Double the size again — to 160 participants.
“We’re humbled. But the possibilities are endless,” he said, pausing to acknowledge the buzz of conversation still humming through the conference hall long after the closing remarks. “This is how it starts. With people showing up — and connecting.”
As Brantford continues to carve out its identity as a business-forward city, events like the Success Summit aren’t just about networking.
They’re about rewriting the story of what’s possible — when local entrepreneurs come together, share knowledge, and build community from the ground up.
BrantBlog will continue covering grassroots events shaping Brantford’s future. Got a story tip? Reach out: info@brantblog.ca
