Jon Colby leads a two-hour session on Nov. 17, the Growth Council's final workshop of the year
MARION, Ind. (Nov. 12, 2026): The Grant County Economic Growth Council will present "Create and Innovate," a free workshop for Grant County business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at NearSpace Education in Upland.
Led by Jon Colby, an international keynote speaker with more than 25 years of experience in improv-based learning, the session focuses on "Yes, And," the improv principle of building ideas instead of shutting them down. Participants will leave with practical tools to think more expansively and solve problems with their teams, without awkward role-play or forced participation.
Led by Jon Colby, an international keynote speaker with more than 25 years of experience in improv-based learning, the session focuses on "Yes, And," the improv principle of building on ideas instead of shutting them down. Participants will leave with practical tools to think more expansively and solve problems with their teams, without awkward role-play or forced participation.
Colby is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory and spent more than 15 years as a classroom educator. Vistage named him a Top Speaker on Communication from 2021 through 2023, and Real Leaders recognized him as a 2026 Top Impact Speaker. His clients include Honda, Salesforce, OneAmerica, and the NCAA.
The workshop is part of a series of free, practical sessions the Growth Council offers as Grant County's Entrepreneurial Support Organization. Earlier sessions this fall covered networking and customer experience. Nov. 17 is the final session of 2026; the series resumes in February 2027.
“Whether you are sketching a business plan on a napkin or planning to hand off the reins of your business after thirty+ years, we are creating an informal network where Grant County business founders can learn from one another, grow together, and never have to figure it out alone,” said C. Ted Ward II, executive director of the Grant County Economic Growth Council.
The workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is requested at create-and-innovate.eventbrite.com.
About NearSpace Education
NearSpace Education is a nonprofit based in Upland that delivers hands-on STEM programs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
About the Grant County Economic Growth Council
The Grant County Economic Growth Council is a nonprofit economic development organization founded in 1985. It supports business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and site selection across Grant County, Indiana. Learn more at grantcounty.com.
Media contact
Loretta Tappan, Marketing Coordinator | Grant County Economic Growth Council | communications@grantcounty.com | 765-662-0650