Baltimore’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem will take center stage this spring as Strategic Collaboration Network (SCN) prepares to host its Unlocked 2026 Business Conference on April 18 at the Maryland Center for History & Culture.

Bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders, and decision-makers from across the region and beyond, the one-day conference is designed to move beyond traditional networking and focus on real collaboration, strategy, and sustainable growth.

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At the heart of the event is a vision rooted in purpose and community impact.

“I started Strategic Collaboration Network because I saw a gap in the business community, and I wanted to redefine what it means to build a business through alignment, access, and authentic relationships,” said Catherine E. Trotter. “When business owners are aligned, supported, and intentional about how they grow together, it doesn’t just transform their companies — it uplifts entire communities. That’s the heartbeat of SCN.”

Curated by Kat Eyz Productions and powered by SCN, with support from Constellation Energy, Unlocked 2026 will feature keynote speakers, interactive workshops, and curated networking experiences aimed at equipping attendees with actionable tools and meaningful connections.

Sessions throughout the day will focus on critical areas for business success, including scaling strategies, access to funding and contracting opportunities, marketing and operations, and building strategic partnerships. Attendees will also participate in business matchmaking opportunities and an After-Conference Exchange designed to foster long-term collaboration.

“Unlocked 2026 is where vision meets alignment, and collaboration becomes the key that unlocks doors we were never meant to open alone,” Trotter said.

Hosted in Baltimore, the conference underscores the city’s continued emergence as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. By connecting local founders with regional and national networks, the event aims to strengthen Baltimore’s business ecosystem while creating pathways for growth and opportunity.

As SCN continues to expand its reach, its mission remains clear: to transform connections into collaboration, resources into results, and ideas into sustainable success—not just for individual businesses, but for the communities they serve.