Global Café Connects International Entrepreneurs with Surprise’s Small Business Community
Global Ties Arizona recently brought local and international business leaders together at Surprise City Center for a Global Café focused on entrepreneurship and small business development.
The event welcomed a delegation of entrepreneurs and business leaders from the Near East and North Africa participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. Throughout the morning, participants explored business creation, financing, management, marketing, and the partnerships that help entrepreneurs strengthen local and global economies.
City of Surprise Councilmember Johnny Melton opened the program with a warm welcome on behalf of the city. Dr. Anastasia Psomiadi, founder of APSON and the SOTL Global Movement, also offered special remarks and shared her perspective on entrepreneurship and leadership.
The featured panel brought together:
Samuel Peña, Project Manager for the City of Surprise and leader of SPARK Surprise AZ
Justin Foster, owner of The Neuro Performance Center
Benji Salcido, owner of Seventy-Seven’s Barbershop
Karin York, owner of Spencer’s Place
Each speaker shared valuable insights into building a business, developing strong teams, overcoming barriers, creating community impact, and cultivating an entrepreneurial ecosystem where businesses can grow and thrive. The conversation also created opportunities for Arizona business owners and international visitors to exchange experiences, identify shared challenges, and learn from one another’s approaches.
Global Ties Arizona extends a special thank-you to our event partners, the City of Surprise and SPARK Surprise AZ, for assembling an engaging panel and welcoming us into their space. We also thank our hospitality partner, Peddler’s Son, for providing refreshments for the morning.
Finally, thank you to our speakers, international visitors, and community members who made this gathering a meaningful morning of global exchange. By connecting entrepreneurs across borders, programs like this demonstrate how local knowledge, international perspectives, and people-to-people relationships can help build stronger and more connected economies.
