Greg Wessling will keynote the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce small business event May 3 at The Peninsula Club.

April 26. The Towns of Huntersville, Davidson, and Cornelius have joined with the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce in celebrating the contribution of small business to the Lake Norman regional economy during Small Business Week, May 1-7.

Each of the three towns has issued proclamations citing the contributions of the Lake Norman Chamber, Lake Norman Economic Development Corporation, and Visit Lake Norman, the three regional economic and business development organizations charged with promoting and nurturing economic vitality for North Mecklenburg and the Lake Norman region.

Every year since 1963, the president of the United States, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration, has issued a proclamation announcing Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create roughly two out of three new jobs in the United States each year.

The Lake Norman Chamber will kick of the week with the annual Lunch and Launch entitled “Seize Opportunities! Build Momentum!” The premier small business event in the Lake Norman region, attended by approximately 100 local small business owners, will be held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 3 at The Peninsula Club.The keynote speaker for the event is Greg Wessling, retired senior vice president of store operations for Lowe’s, Inc.

The event’s speakers include SPARK Publications President Fabi Preslar, John Bradford, president and CEO of Park Avenue Properties, and Allen Clark with the Charlotte Business Journal. A panel of marketing leaders and entrepreneurs include Matt Glidden, founder and brewer of Ass Clown Brewing, Sally Ashworth, executive director of Visit Lake Norman, Thomas Finlay, executive director of Carolina Rapids, Joe Kindred, executive chef of Kindred Restaurant, and Mary Wilson, former board member of the Lake Norman Tennis Association. The cost is $25 per person. Registrations are accepted online at www.LakeNormanChamber.org.

Parks Chevrolet in Huntersville, Moliver Chiropractic in Davidson and Pet Paradise in Huntersville will host events throughout the week.

The Lake Norman Small Business of the Year will be announced at 4 p.m. May 6 at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.

For a complete and detailed list of the week’s events, visit the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce website or Facebook page.