Speaking Services
Florence Hardy, Esq, MBA
Speaker on the topics of business development, corporate wellness, crowdfunding, and cannabis.
B.B.A Howard University
M.B.A. DePaul University
J.D. The John Marshall Law School
Upcoming Classes
May 1, 2021 10 am - 4 pm
Fee: $950 / Deposit $150
SPEAKER BIO
A graduate of the John Marshall Law School, she has been a successful business consultant for over 15 years. She began working toward a Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship. During this time, she worked within the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center as a Business Consultant. In this position, she created business plans, completed marketing studies, and provided financial analysis assistance to current and prospective business owners in the Chicagoland area. Her clients ranged from large retail distribution companies to small bed and breakfast clients.
She worked for the City of Chicago, DePaul University, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Trucrowd Illinois, Inc, the first registered equity Crowdfunding platform in Illinois. A serial entrepreneur, she also operates her own law firm focusing on corporate, intellectual property, fundraising and cannabis law and owns/operates businesses in retail, racing, financing, and self-care. Florence is also an Adjunct Professor of Business Ethics and Entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the author of “Practice Beats Planning”, a workbook that helps prospective entrepreneurs move from idea to action. Florence is also a Certified Mediator with the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago.
Florence has lived and studied in Chicago, Illinois, Washington, DC and Berlin, Germany.
SPEAKING EXPERIENCE
Conversation Magazine
National Association of Social Workers
North Lawndale Employment Network
Next Door Cafe Workshop
Lakeview Chamber of Commerce
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Bellwood Chamber of Commerce
Monroe Foundation
Independent Writers of Chicago
Central Exchange
Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program
University of Illinois at Chicago
Sage Summit
Small Business Administration – Illinois District Office
Founder Institute
Comptia
City of Chicago
Redeye Chicago
Chicago Innovation Exchange
Cobb County Chamber of Commerce
Beverly Area Planning Association
Chicago Urban League
University of Illinois at Chicago
Columbia College
Argosy University
University of Phoenix
1871
Fund Conference
Far South Community Development Corporation
Illinois Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth Association
Small Business Majority
Bethel New Life
The Mid-America Club of Chicago
Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition
Illinois CannaExpo
Norml Chicago Annual Conference
CannaCon
Women's Business Development Center
Addison Public Library
Arlington Heights Library
Event Testimonials
Florence Hardy does an excellent job of demystifying the cannabis industry in Illinois. She delivered a program to our library customers in a friendly and professional manner that was very informative. Attendees finished the program knowing the actual steps they would need to take and the pitfalls to avoid if they moved forward with starting a cannabis or cannabis-related business.
- Diane, Arlington Heights
We had the pleasure of hosting Florence to present her "10 Things to Know About Starting a Cannabis Business in IL Program." She was easy to work with, an engaging speaker, and had a ton of great information to share. We know our community will gain a lot from watching her presentation!
- Lesley, Addison