Bethel University’s fourth annual Starting Small Summit, happening April 2, 2025, on campus, will feature more than $3,000 in wellness-related giveaways, including Olli Pop soda, Mosh bars, journals, a smart ring and a sauna blanket. This year, the entire summit will be filmed for the documentary, “Behind the Curtain: Making of the Starting Small Summit.”
The event will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., in the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium located on Bethel University’s campus. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Tickets for the event will be $50. Students are free! (Contact Cameron@StartingSmallMedia.org for an access code).
The Starting Small Summit will provide the South Bend/Mishawaka community with an opportunity to learn from high-profile entrepreneurs from around the nation. Moderated by Bethel University business alumnus Cameron Nagle, founder and host of Starting Small Podcast, this year’s summit will feature entrepreneurial stories from Suze Dowling, founder of Pattern; James W. Keyes, former CEO of Block Buster and 7-Eleven; and Alex Douzet, founder of Ollie and Pumpkin.
“The Starting Small Summit is for anyone looking to grow—whether in business, leadership, or personal development. This event isn’t just for entrepreneurs; it’s for anyone eager to learn from industry leaders who have built billion-dollar brands, led global companies, and solved real challenges. It’s such an honor to bring the event back to our community and at Bethel,” says Nagle.
To learn more and register, visit BethelUniversity.edu/StartingSmall.
About the Documentary
“Behind the Curtain: Making of the Starting Small Summit” will pull back the layers of what it truly takes to produce a high-caliber live event. From the late-night planning and last-minute pivots to the energy backstage before speakers take the stage, this documentary will capture the reality of building something that brings people together in a meaningful way. The film will follow key moments—the arrival of world-class founders, candid conversations offstage, and the unfiltered highs and lows of hosting an event designed to challenge, inspire, and push people toward growth. This isn’t just about what happens on stage; it’s about everything leading up to it and the lasting impact it leaves behind.
About the Speakers
Suze Dowling, founder of Pattern
Suze Dowling is the Chief Business Officer at Pattern Brands, leveraging her extensive experience in the early-stage landscape to drive the company’s revenue and business operations. Suze’s playbook, The DTC Operator, is a ‘how-to’ for turning entrepreneurial vision into reality. From guiding entrepreneurs through the ideation phase to navigating multiple successful exits, Suze has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of numerous ventures. Before co-founding Pattern, Suze held the position of General Manager at Gin Lane, a prominent NY-based independent agency specializing in launching challenger start-ups. During her tenure, Gin Lane played a pivotal role in launching over 50 digitally native vertical brands, including Harry’s, Hims, and SmileDirectClub, contributing to a staggering $15 billion in aggregate startup value. Originally hailing from Australia, Suze graduated with Honors from the University of Technology, Sydney.
James (Jim) W. Keyes, Former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, Inc.
James (Jim) W. Keyes is a global business leader, best-selling author, philanthropist, artist, musician, and commercial pilot—a true modern renaissance man. He is the former CEO of two internally recognized Fortune 500 companies, 7-Eleven, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc. His other business interests cover a broad range of industries from retail, consumer products, technology, healthcare, cyber security, new space, energy, and advanced nuclear. He sits on several public company boards and serves as a board adviser to a venture capital firm and a number of start-up companies. Keyes is a personification of the American Dream, as he comes from humble beginnings. He was inducted in 2005 as a Member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In 2024, he received the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award presented by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize demonstrated community leadership.
Alex Douzet, co-founder and CEO of Pumpkin
Alex Douzet is the co-founder and CEO of Pumpkin®, the highest-rated pet insurance provider on Google as of January 2024, and one of the fastest growing pet insurance and wellness brands in the U.S. Under Alex’s leadership, Pumpkin’s best-in-class insurance plans help make it easier for pet owners to provide their dogs and cats with advanced veterinary treatments, emergency care, and alternative or rehabilitative therapies if needed. Throughout his 20-year career as a serial entrepreneur, Alex has disrupted industries, scaled businesses, and built ‘people-first’ companies where employees grow and thrive. Prior to Pumpkin, he spent five years as CEO and Co-founder of Ollie, a next-gen, natural, and human-grade pet food brand. Alex is also a competitive Triathlete and an 11X Ironman finisher. He is proud to have two rescue dogs: Belle, a 13-year-old Shar Pei Golden Retriever mix and Simon, a 6-year-old Dachshund mix.
Cameron Nagle, Starting Small
Cameron Nagle, a 2022 Bethel University graduate, launched Starting Small in January 2020 with the vision to share transparent startup stories to inspire and provide guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs that everyone starts small. Starting Small has scaled to host the annual Starting Small Summit, flying in founders of companies such as Reebok, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Kodiak Cakes, and more. The podcast has now covered the stories of 220 industry-leading founders, who have amassed over $40 billion in annual revenue. In 2022, Cameron relocated to Los Angeles to launch brain wellness startup MOSH alongside co-founders Maria Shriver and Patrick Scwarzenegger, as the third member of the founding team. Now, Cameron resides in Elkhart, Ind., working in marketing at Kem Krest, a total supply chain company for leading auto OEM’s. Relocating back to his roots was a long-term decision for the growth of Starting Small and the summit locally, and to make an impact on the entrepreneurship ecosystem here in the Michiana community.