The Rural Advantage Conference

The Rural Advantage Conference - 

Strong communities don’t happen by accident — they’re built through collaboration, communication, and forward-thinking leadership.

Join us on October 13, 2026 for The Rural Advantage Conference, a half-day gathering focused on strengthening our regional economy, improving collaboration, and creating practical strategies that help businesses and organizations move forward together.

This year’s conference will bring together business leaders, nonprofits, elected officials, community organizations, and decision-makers for honest conversations about the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities — and how we can work together more effectively to support long-term success.

Conference highlights include:

Opening Address: Col. Gaudinski, 173rd Kingsley Field

An update ont he 173rd's mission and readiness, framed around the themes of resilience and adaptability that carry through the rest of the day.

Business Owner Panel Discussion
Learn from local business owners who have navigated economic uncertainty, staffing challenges, changing markets, and unexpected disruptions — and discover the strategies, partnerships, and lessons that helped them adapt and move forward.

Keynote - The Power of Connection, Collaboration & Community with Lisa McClease-Kelly 

Move beyond exchanging business cards. This three-part interactive experience helps you go beyond networking to build meaningful relationships, spark collaboration and solve real challenges.

Lisa McClease-Kelly, fondly known as the "Connection Queen," has spent more than two decades building businesses - and helping others build theirs - through the power of relationships. 

Lisa and her husband, Dave, have howed Kelly's Automotive Service in Grants Pass and Medford for 22 years, growing it into an award-winning Southern Oregon business. Lisa spent seven years as the Area Director for BNI in Southern Oregon, where she helped launch four chapters and received international recognition for her work. For the past five years, she has owned and led Networkk in Action Oregon, part of an international mastermind and networking organization connecting business owners and professionals locally, nationally and around the world. 

A business coach, speaker and long time community leader, Lisa has also served twice as President of the Greater Grants Pass Rotary Club and served on nonprofit boards. 

At the heart of everything Lisa does is a simple belief: relationships are the key to success - both professionally and personally. She is passionate about helping people move beyond simply "networking" to building genuine connections, creating meaningful collaborations and finding ways to help one another succeed. 

Community Calendar Build for 2027
One of the most practical and interactive portions of the event, this collaborative session will help identify major events, initiatives, campaigns, and projects planned throughout 2027 — creating opportunities for cross-promotion, partnerships, resource-sharing, and smarter scheduling across organizations and industries.

Networking & Connection Opportunities
Build relationships with community leaders, business professionals, nonprofits, and organizations invested in creating a stronger future for rural communities.

The Rural Advantage is more than a conference — it’s the beginning of an ongoing initiative focused on helping rural businesses and communities become more connected, coordinated, adaptable, and prepared for whatever comes next.

The conversation continues beyond the conference through quarterly meetings in January, April, and July 2027 focused on collaboration, strategy, and shared community success.