LEARN THE SECRETS TO SUCCESS
The NextGen™ Speaker Series Brings together business and community professionals to encourage Leadership, Mentorship, Empowerment and Philanthropy. Connect with business leaders in the community and hear inspirational stories of achievement from world-renowned entrepreneurs and CEOs.
NextGen™ Speaker Series
The prestigious NextGen™ Speaker Series is a gathering of America’s most distinguished business leaders, right here in Naples, Florida. Keynote speakers are world-renowned entrepreneurs and CEOs who share their extraordinary life journeys with an exclusive invitation-only audience.
The NextGen™ Speaker Series started with a simple question. Michael Benson, CEO of Benson Blackburn, asked industry leaders to visit his office for a mentorship session with his team. His team was so inspired by what they heard, they decided this information and these life journeys should be shared with the community. This led to the establishment of the NextGen™ Speaker Series, held multiple times per year at a private venue by invitation only.
To date, Benson Blackburn has hosted 25 NextGen™ Speaker Series events, with over 4,500 attendees. The speaker series was established to encourage Leadership, Mentorship, Empowerment and Philanthropy.
As part of a community outreach and mentorship process, the NextGen™ Speaker Series partners with the Greater Naples Chamber Leadership Collier Foundation and Community Foundation of Collier County along with Florida Gulf Coast University to encourage promising community businesspersons along with deans and students to attend and learn from these industry leaders.
Each session, Benson Blackburn nominates a “focused charitable organization” in honor of the featured speaker. Focused charities have included The Shelter for Abused Women and Children, The First Tee of Naples, The Immokalee Foundation, American Cancer Society, NCH Healthcare System, the Naples Children & Education Foundation and Leadership Collier Foundation.
2025 Season
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JOE SWEENEY
Wednesday, February 12th
NY Times Best Selling Author & Executive Coach
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FRANCIS ROONEY
Wednesday, March 19th
Former US Representative for Florida Chairman, Rooney Holdings
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DAVID MACLENNAN
Tuesday, April 15th
Former CEO & Executive Board Chair Cargill, Inc.
season pass
Get unlimited yearly access to the entire NextGen Speaker Series Library, including upcoming and past events. By invitation only.
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The NextGen Season Pass gives you a seat at this season’s live events.
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Get on-demand access to recorded events and interviews.
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Connect with other influencers in your community.
Event admission is by invitation only.
Request an admission to a single event or upgrade to the Season Pass. Contact us to find out if you qualify for access.
founding sponsor
Benson Blackburn
Michael D. Benson, Managing Partner
mbenson@bensonblackburn.com
239.348.1800
2025 visionary sponsors
2025 MEDIA PARTNERS
2025 ACADEMIC PARTNERS
