AV EDGE announces the 2025 Spring Business Summit Keynote Speaker

Provided.

Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.).

The Antelope Valley Economic Development & Growth Enterprise (AV EDGE) will host the annual Spring Business Summit on March 20, at the AV Fair & Event Center from 7 a.m. to noon. This year's keynote speaker will be Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.), a jet fighter pilot, combat veteran and first woman on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron.

In addition to her distinguished 21-year Air Force career, Malachowski is a White House Fellow and an inductee into both the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. She even has a Star Trek Federation starship named after her, the USS Malachowski (NCC-1619).

Nicole's prestigious career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent. Nicole empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk are the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – "Nobody wants to lead a scripted life."

Provided.

Steven Derryberry.

AV EDGE Executive Director Drew Mercy says, "The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well here in the Antelope Valley. Every business sector, whether education, real estate, aerospace, small business, or corporate America, embraces doing things out of the norm. I believe that Ms. Malachowski's presentation will underscore this region's leadership quest to overcome challenges, expand our economic growth, and ignite attendees to be even more enthusiastic, creative, and committed to fostering a culture of success in everything we do."

Joining this year's speaker lineup will be acclaimed economist Dr. Robert Eyler, President of Economic Forensics and Analytics, specializing in public policy analysis. Eyler is back by popular demand and will provide an in-depth economic forecast. In addition to being a well-respected, well-known subject matter expert in economics who is in high demand for public speaking engagements and media interviews, Dr. Eyler is also a professor of Economics at Sonoma State University. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, and a B.A. in economics at CSU, Chico. Eyler has authored two books, including one on international economic sanctions.

For the second consecutive year, highly regarded local attorney and community advocate Steven Derryberry will emcee this year's event.

"This year's Spring Business Summit will be exhilarating, providing key takeaways for all who attend. We'll be inspired by Ms. Malachowski's personal stories and motivated by Dr. Eyler's forecast. There will be additional event announcements soon, so I encourage everyone to mark the date and buy tickets early. This event is definitely the region's must-attend gathering for everyone," said AV EDGE Board of Directors President Martin Tompkins.

Individual tickets start at $125 for AV EDGE members and $150 for non-members. Interested 2025 Spring Business Summit attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as seating is limited. For event details, including sponsorship opportunities and detailed ticket information, visit http://www.avedgeca.org/.