WORK Lakes Region announces 2026 "How I Built This" speaker series featuring 7 local entrepreneurs

The free speaker series will showcase the unfiltered stories behind building successful businesses in the Lakes Region.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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WORK Lakes Region, a co-working and event space in Laconia, New Hampshire, is launching its second annual "How I Built This" (HIBT) Speaker Series in 2026. The series will feature seven successful local entrepreneurs sharing the behind-the-scenes stories of building their businesses, from bold decisions to messy pivots. The lineup includes business owners across diverse industries like construction, manufacturing, food service, staffing, and technology.

Why it matters

The HIBT Speaker Series has become a cornerstone of the Lakes Region's entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing practical insights and a peer network for local business owners, entrepreneurs, and aspiring founders. By highlighting the real experiences of building companies in New Hampshire, the series aims to inspire and educate the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The details

Running from March through October 2026, the HIBT Speaker Series will host 90-minute sessions every month at the WORK Lakes Region co-working space. Each event will feature candid conversations with the featured entrepreneurs, emphasizing the challenges and lessons learned over corporate presentations. The lineup includes business owners like Leslie Bryant of Bryant Paving, Dr. Terry Clayton, the Jordan family of Jordan's Ice Creamery, Cole Glaude of Social Club Creamery, Mary Leddy of Leddy Group, Wes Kogelman of BuyaTimeshare.com, and the team from BPS Construction Management.

  • The HIBT Speaker Series will run from March through October 2026.
  • The first event is scheduled for March 18, 2026.

The players

WORK Lakes Region

A co-working and event space in Laconia, New Hampshire, that is hosting the HIBT Speaker Series.

Jodie Gallant

The founder of WORK Lakes Region and organizer of the HIBT Speaker Series.

Leslie Bryant

The owner of Bryant Paving and the first speaker in the 2026 HIBT series.

Dr. Terry Clayton

A chemist and product development expert who is a featured speaker in the 2026 HIBT series.

Craig and Kristin Jordan

The former owners of Jordan's Ice Creamery who are now leading The Village Store in Gilford and are featured speakers.

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What they’re saying

“You're not learning business theory here. You're learning from your neighbors who've built businesses right here, the pivots, the failures, the mistakes you're probably making right now, and what actually works. That's worth way more than any TED Talk.”

— Jodie Gallant, Founder, WORK Lakes Region

“We're not trying to inspire people with fairy tale success stories. We're giving them the playbook, what actually worked, what failed spectacularly, and what they'd do differently. Business owners leave with practical insights they can apply immediately, plus a network of peers who understand the unique challenges of building a business in New Hampshire.”

— Jodie Gallant, Founder, WORK Lakes Region

What’s next

The HIBT Speaker Series will continue with additional events scheduled from March through October 2026.

The takeaway

The WORK Lakes Region HIBT Speaker Series provides a valuable platform for local entrepreneurs to share their unfiltered stories and insights, empowering the next generation of business builders in the Lakes Region.