Supporting small businesses builds a stronger community.
Join the Bartow CRA and The Well on November 5 for the 1 Million Cups Business Community Town Hall, bringing entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community partners from across Polk County together for an evening of learning and connection.
Our featured speakers bring experience in financial planning, banking, business development, law, and market research.
Whether you are starting a business or looking to expand, join us to ask questions and connect with helpful resources. Business owners throughout Polk County are welcome.
You can also learn about Bartow CRA grant programs that may support eligible businesses within the Bartow CRA district.
Come as a stranger leave as a friend!
Entrepreneurs Supporting Entrepreneurs
A supportive network for startups, small businesses, and innovators. Meet the people who can help grow your business.
1 Million Cups
Polk Street Community Center
1255 Polk St., Bartow, FL 33830
Starting @ 5 PM
To RSVP, email Cheryl at bartowcra@cityofbartow.net
Featured Speakers
Grayson O'Cain
Edward Jones
Grayson joined Edward Jones in 2020 after a career in government and public service. A lifelong Bartow resident, he holds Series 7 and Series 66 registrations and a bachelor’s degree in business and professional leadership from Southeastern University. He uses a personalized, five-step process to help clients develop financial strategies aligned with their goals and dreams, building lasting relationships through face-to-face guidance. Outside of work, Grayson serves as a deacon at 2021 Church in Bartow and enjoys giving back to the community. He and his wife, Heather, have two children, Lily and Griffin, and enjoy spending time together, golfing, fishing, and hunting. Grayson welcomes the opportunity to discuss your financial goals and help you plan for the future.
Valerie Tillmon
Citizens Bank & Trust
With 30 years of banking experience, Valerie serves as Bank Manager at Citizens Bank and Trust in Bartow, where she builds lasting client relationships and provides personalized financial solutions. Passionate about relationship banking, business development, and community involvement, she works closely with local businesses and residents to support financial success and strengthen the Bartow community. Valerie believes trust, integrity, and strong relationships are the foundation of successful banking and lasting community growth.
Tarneshia Peters
West Florida BBIF
Committed to providing a quality education to all students, promoting the importance of economic development, and working to build lasting relationships with those who are most at risk of failing in life’s endeavors as well as creating a culture of learning that values collaboration, respect, and creativity. I seek out opportunities for professional development to better myself and others around me. I also have extensive experience in the fields of finance, Leadership, management, human resources, training, marketing, and business development
Savannah Cerullo
Boswell & Dunlap
Savannah Young Cerullo’s primary areas of practice are real property law, probate law, estate planning, and landlord tenant law. Savannah has been with Boswell & Dunlap since 2013. Prior to joining Boswell & Dunlap, Savannah was a staff attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, working primarily the in Felony Criminal Law Division.
Married with two children, Savannah is a Polk County native and a fifth generation Floridian. She attended high school at All Saints Academy and received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from the University of Richmond. She attended Levin College of Law at the University of Florida, obtaining her Juris Doctorate in 2009. During law school, she served as Vice President of the University of Florida’s Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, Law Fraternity. She is a proud member of the Bartow Kiwanis Club, currently serving as President-Elect, and an active member of her church.
Robert Allen
HCP Associates
As Vice President at HCP, Allen leads and manages corporate operations, including all market research services and the operational infrastructure of the company. He oversees the daily operations and future planning of HCP’s growing research department, leveraging new technologies and optimization methods to keep its research capabilities at the forefront of an evolving digital landscape. His projects include corporate market research, KPIs, competitive benchmarking, and broad-based market awareness, perception, and satisfaction studies within the government sector.
In addition, Allen oversees day-to-day staff support for HCP’s expanding service platform, emphasizing quality and efficiency to strengthen and grow client relationships. Working closely with HCP’s Managing Partners, he focuses on goal-setting and directs company operations to support quarterly objectives.
