Latino Business Conexión of Michigan - Seminar & Mixer
Kick off the 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend with us!
Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Lansing City Hall | 124 W. Michigan Avenue | Downtown Lansing, MI
In partnership with Latino Business Conexión of Michigan
The 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend begins Thursday evening with the Business Seminar & Mixer, an educational and networking event designed for small business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, founders, and community leaders, centered on the long-term health of both the entrepreneur and the business.
The program is built around the idea that personal wellbeing and business health are interconnected. Using the nationally recognized 8 Dimensions of Wellness framework, the seminar will explore how physical, mental and emotional, social, occupational, financial, intellectual, environmental, and spiritual wellness can influence leadership, decision-making, business performance, longevity, and sustainability.
The evening's featured Wellness & Small Business Panel will examine several of those dimensions through the experiences of entrepreneurs and community leaders. The panel includes:
Mando Gutierrez, professional MMA fighter, artist, and small business owner, will discuss physical and mental wellness, including discipline, training, recovery, mental toughness, and how maintaining personal health translates into operating and leading a business under pressure.
Luis Martinez of LAFCU and Martinez Financial will focus on financial wellness for entrepreneurs, including cash flow, access to capital, financial literacy, financial habits, and resources that can help small business owners build more stable businesses.
Justin Hidalgo, owner of Premier Cleaning & Restoration Services, will share his experience building businesses from the ground up and discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, and spiritual wellness, including the role that personal values and spiritual grounding can play during difficult seasons of business ownership.
The conversation will be moderated by Arianna Ridderbusch, Vice President of Community Impact at MSU Federal Credit Union, who will guide the discussion across the different dimensions of wellness and connect each speaker's experience to practical lessons for entrepreneurs.
The program will also feature Gift of Life Michigan, sharing the stories of Mike Lopez and Omar Garcia and discussing preventative care, everyday wellness practices, and the importance of maintaining personal health while building, working, and leading. The discussion is designed to connect preventative wellness with an entrepreneur's ability to continue showing up for their family, employees, customers, and community.
Following the program, attendees will have an extended opportunity to network with speakers, sponsors, entrepreneurs, and other guests during an open mixer featuring refreshments, music, and conversation. Attendees will be able to connect directly with panelists, ask additional questions, exchange resources, and build relationships with other business owners and professionals throughout Greater Lansing.
Featured Partners & Sponsors:
Latino Business Conexión of Michigan • LAFCU • MSU Federal Credit Union • Gift of Life Michigan
Event Schedule:
Networking and refreshments begin at 5:30 PM, with the seminar program from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM.
The evening concludes with networking and the business mixer through 8:00 PM.