Bethel University is set to host the fourth annual Starting Small Summit April 2, 2025. 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.
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 Summit will enable students, businesses and the surrounding community to hear stories of resilient entrepreneurship that have been featured on my podcast. The philosophy of Staring Small reminds listeners that even the biggest brands started small,” says Nagle.
To learn more and register, visit BethelUniversity.edu/StartingSmall.
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. In her capacity as Chief Business Officer, Suze collaborates closely with the CEO, leadership team, and Board of Directors to actualize Pattern’s full potential and meet its projected goals. Her purview spans all operational facets of the company, including the establishment of new functions geared towards fostering sustainable growth. This encompasses oversight of Brand General Management, Revenue, and Core Shared Service Functions. A recognized thought leader in the industry, Suze is sought after to share insights on scaling omnichannel growth, achieving profitability, and optimizing brand performance at prestigious industry events. Her expertise and perspectives are also regularly featured in prominent business and consumer press outlets. Passionate about helping founders navigate the intersection of innovation and practicality, 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. Here, she excelled in balancing growth, profitability, and quality while overseeing the agency’s P&L. 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’ philanthropic initiatives have an equally broad focus, including serving a three-term seat on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, acting as the former Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and serving on the board of directors for institutions such as UT Southwestern Medical School, Cooper Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dallas Performing Arts Center, SMU Cox School of Business, Columbia Business School, and his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross. He has had a lifelong commitment to education, serving as a founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and is the founder of the Education Is Freedom Foundation. He is the author of Education is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands which provides the “what,” “why,” and “how” of learning. It outlines the importance of education for all mankind, the power of education to change our world, and the wisdom to unlock our personal freedom while reserving our democracy. 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. Pumpkin’s mission is to enable all cats and dogs to live their healthiest lives by removing the economic barriers that can prevent pet owners from providing their pets with veterinary care. 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. Alex has also spearheaded a series of optional, non-insurance wellness products to help cover routine costs for essential preventive care, like vaccines and annual wellness visits. 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. Through a credible and fast-growing list of recognizable brands, 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. Starting Small 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. In their first year, MOSH generated +$6M in revenue, released four new flavor launches, and activated growth campaigns with Delta airlines, A-list celebrities and more. In 2023, Cameron also applied for Schwarzenegger and Shriver to go on ABC’s Shark Tank, in which you can see that appearance in Season 15. 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.