“Most people who dislike networking actually just haven’t found the format of networking that works for them and their personality,” states Payton Moran, a Mobile-based business coach, brand messaging strategist and host of the Piece of Cake Marketing Podcast.
For local service providers and personal brand builders across the Gulf Coast, traditional business networking has long felt disconnected from daily operational reality. Moran launched the Build Your Own Brand (BYOB) Conference specifically to address the alienation many entrepreneurs feel when trying to establish professional relationships. Recalling her early career experiences, she noted the discomfort of entering traditional spaces where attendees naturally separated into exclusive groups.
“The first time that I went to a networking event where everyone was just kind of floating around the room, and I was expected to like infiltrate these groups of men in polos passing out their business cards, I was like, ‘No, thanks. I’m not doing this again, this doesn’t work for me,'” Moran said.
Recommitting to In-Person Trust
The 3rd Annual Build Your Own Brand Conference opens this week in Mobile, built on a structural philosophy that directly rejects passive listening. Moran emphasizes that face-to-face relationship building has become a critical separator for small businesses struggling to convert digital audiences online.
“In the state of online business right now, I really believe that networking and in-person relationship building is going to be the difference that separates people who are seeing that rapid growth from the people who are staying stagnant,” Moran explained. “There’s an element of trust that you just can’t get online when you’re having a face-to-face conversation with someone.”
Instead of a stationary audience watching a series of keynote speeches, the event utilizes a customizable breakdown model at The Venue On Johnson. Attendees receive a menu at the door to plan their schedule across four rounds of breakout sessions, choosing between three actionable business topics during each round.
The breakout roster requires attendees to actively work on their business systems during the conference. Sessions include constructing a 10-post blog framework with Jaci Schreckengost, making your website findable on AI Platforms with Julia Bocchese, and group coaching using memberships with Samantha Boss. Additional tracks cover business expense travel strategies with Megan Lanford, raising your capacity to receive more money with Heidy Caminero, and Money Panel featuring Meaghan Wall, Heidy Caminero, and Michelle DeNio
Applying the Experience
The emphasis on active workshop tracks is designed specifically for entrepreneurs who handle the majority of their own operational tasks. Previous conference attendees state that the collaborative environment leads to concrete business adjustments rather than temporary inspiration.
April Willhelm, a regional speaker and tech founder, utilized her past attendance to format her current professional work. Sharing her review on the conference website, Willhelm noted that the execution-focused layout directly impacted her platform preparation.
“As I put the final touches on my script for next month’s summit I’ll be speaking at, I keep coming back to my experience at BYOB. The speakers were so engaging, inspiring, and impactful. It completely shifted how I want to show up for my own audience. BYOB reminded me what it feels like to be part of something tangible, empowering, and transformative.”
That long-term impact is echoed by other regional service providers who attended the previous conference. One past attendee noted that the environment forced a major shift in her daily business planning.
“BYOB encouraged me to put down my really big dreams on paper and be held accountable for them,” she stated, noting that the conference helped her connect with women who actively inspired her to create better content for her own followers.
Another past creator explained that staying in shared quarters with the event speakers sparked direct operational growth heading into the new year.
“We had the best business conversations with other women in the same spot in business that I was, and it just like lit me up and like literally sparked my fire,” she stated. “BYOB encouraged me to actually start my panel and podcast tour that’s going to be coming in 2026.”
To accommodate different communication styles and professional needs, the venue layout includes quiet spaces designed specifically for neurodivergent business owners to recharge between sessions. On-site brand photographers and content creators are also integrated into the layout to help attendees capture professional headshots and media assets during the active sessions.
Event Details and Registration
The Build Your Own Brand Conference takes place on Wednesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 8, 2026. Daily programming runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at The Venue On Johnson, located at 9014 Johnson Road South, Mobile, AL, 36695.
General Admission tickets are available for $147. Registration includes access to all customizable breakout tracks, complimentary coffee and tea selections, and a build-your-own burger slider bar for lunch. Complete registration details and scheduling menus can be accessed directly through the official Build Your Own Brand Conference Portal or via the localized calendar profile on UpLift Events.
