Polk County is filled with talented business owners, nonprofit leaders, educators, corporate partners, resource organizations, and community builders. But too often, these important parts of the business ecosystem operate in separate circles.
After years of working throughout the community with thousands of businesses and organizations, it became clear that Polk County did not lack ambition, expertise, or opportunity. What it needed was a place where these pieces could come together with intention—to build relationships, share resources, create opportunities, and strengthen the impact of the work being done across the region.
The Central Florida Business Expo was founded by Chrissanne Long, Craig Hosking, Jim Mosier, and Angela Mosier.
The idea began taking shape when Jim and Angela suggested that Polk County needed a world-class business conference capable of activating connections and convening the region’s leaders and decision-makers.
That idea led to a larger question:
What if Polk County were recognized as a destination for innovation, commerce, leadership, and business growth throughout Central Florida?
From the beginning, all four founders worked together to shape the vision and move it from an ambitious idea into action.
Today, that work continues under the leadership of Chrissanne and Craig, alongside a small team of doers who are passionate about the vision and committed to building an event that strengthens connections, creates opportunity, and elevates Polk County’s place in the Central Florida business community.
Polk County’s location between Tampa and Orlando has long been considered one of its greatest assets. Yet that same proximity can sometimes cause the region’s leadership, economic strength, educational resources, and business capacity to be overshadowed by its larger neighbors.
CFLBE was created to help change that narrative.
The Expo brings together entrepreneurs, major employers, emerging companies, established organizations, educators, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and resource partners serving businesses locally, along with economic development leaders and other key decision-makers.
It creates opportunities for a business owner to discover a valuable resource, a corporate leader to meet a local vendor, or people from different sectors to begin relationships that continue creating value long after the event ends.
CFLBE is more than a trade show or conference. It is a regional convening designed to make Polk County’s momentum visible and help businesses of every size connect, grow, adapt, and lead.
The development of the Expo would not have been possible without the partnership of the City of Lakeland and the RP Funding Center.
Hosting CFLBE at the RP Funding Center allows the event to showcase one of Lakeland’s most important local amenities while demonstrating the city’s ability to welcome a large-scale, professional business conference.
This opportunity was made possible through the support of City of Lakeland staff members who believed in the vision, encouraged its development, and helped create a pathway for it to grow.
The early support of then-Mayor Bill Mutz, along with Commissioners Stephanie Madden, Mike Musick, and Guy LaLonde, reflected a shared belief that Lakeland and Polk County deserved a signature event capable of convening the people shaping the region’s future.
Today, the Central Florida Business Expo is developing into a signature event for the business community across Polk County and throughout Central Florida.
Each sponsor, exhibitor, speaker, resource partner, and attendee contributes to a larger story—one that positions the region as a destination for innovation, collaboration, commerce, education, and shared prosperity.
When the right people come together with a clear purpose, connections become relationships, relationships create opportunities, and those opportunities produce breakthroughs that strengthen the entire region.
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