Introducing

MPM Vendor Summit

My People’s Market Vendor Summit

April 22, 2025

Oregon Convention Center

A full-day vendor community summit featuring speakers across three themes:

Community - visioning for the future, connecting with vendors, food, and music
Retail readiness - creating a price sheet, labeling, brick and mortar
Buyer connections - get the scoop on what buyers are looking for

Get Your Ticket

Details

Date & Time

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 9:00a - 4:30p

Location

Oregon Convention Center| 777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd

Cost $20

The ticket includes access to the full-day summit, break-out sessions, catering throughout the day, wellness retreat, and closing happy hour and celebration.

AGENDA

The My People's Market Summit is a build-your-own-adventure event. Take all the workshops or none. In addition to the agenda, there are plenty of unstructured spaces for folks to connect and create their own experiences.

Check in and enjoy coffee pastries. Late registration and break out session sign up.
Morning break out sessions:
Session (1) 10:00-10:45
Session (2) 11:00-11:45
Catered lunch
Business resources
Interactive MPM visioning activities
Afternoon break out sessions:
Session (3) 1:30p - 2:15p
Session (4) 2:30p - 3:15p
Music, drinks, and light snack

Your SESSIONS

Home Goods Connect

Meet with Katherine Nagy, New Season’s Program and Category Manager for home goods, and learn more about their purchasing process.

Trade Show readiness

Discover the essentials for showcasing your product on the road at trade shows and expos, including Fancy Food Show, Expo West, and Newtopia. Panelists include Junea Rocha, founder of Brazi Bites, and Michael Pan, founder of Pan’s Mushroom Jerky; moderated by Yvonne Smoker, Prosper Portland lead for Food and Beverage Manufacturing.

Meet Built

Join Built Oregon to discover how our community-powered approach is helping Oregon's consumer packaged goods companies thrive. We create direct pathways to growth through targeted farmer's market programs, retail, catering, and restaurant pitch opportunities while connecting you with Oregon's most successful business leaders who serve as mentors.

Wellness Room

Take a minute to relax and rejuvenate in the MPM Wellness room with a rotating list of daily services, including chair massage, acupuncture, and sound bath.

Future of MPM

Have a conversation with market founders to learn what is new and discuss the future of the market.

More!

Enjoy a free session and explore a small business resource fair and ample opportunities to network with other businesses.

Explore Brick and Mortar

If opening a brick-and-mortar location is on your mind, join Anielis Raas, project manager for the Affordable Commercial Tenanting (ACT) Grant program at Prosper Portland, for the scoop on what you need to consider and the support available from Prosper Portland. You’ll discuss what it takes to open a shop and the available resources to help you.

Packaged Foods Connect

Meet with John Boyle from Market of Choice and learn more about their purchasing process.

MPM @ the Port

Meet Malia Sajko from WHSmith North America and Hello from Portland and hear about their newest airport travel convenience store concepts, including the MPM Shop in Shop at the Port!

Design from Label to Table

Hear tips from the founder of HAB Sauce (and long-time MPM vendor) on labeling, packaging, and building out your market stall to attract attention and increase sales.

Tourism and your business

Hear from Angela Nelson, VP of Equity and Partnerships at Travel Portland, as she shares ways your business can tap into the multi-billion-dollar tourism industry, including an estimated $384 million spent in retail and $1.1 billion spent on food and restaurants.

Office of Small Business - Office Hours

Do you have a question about your business and don't know who to ask? Let the new Portland Office of Small Business help! Connect for a quick 15-minute consultation and connect to the support the city has to offer.

Headshots with KRP Photography

Thank you

to OUR PARTNERS

Frequently Asked Questions

Let us know if you have any questions. Reach out to Amanda at parka@prosperportland.us

WHO, WHAT, WHY

The MPM Summit is a chance for the My People’s Market vendor community, past and future, to connect.

The Summit was launched to:

provide a way for vendors to help shape the future of the market and
share business resources

The MPM Summit is a place to be audacious and dream about the future of My People’s Market and your business!

Where can I park?

The Oregon Convention Center has paid parking available. Convention Center Parking

Blue | Green | Red line | Street Car A, B Loop

Bus lines: 6, 8, 77

Do I have to stay for the whole event?

You don’t have to stay for the whole event. We do ask that you do not join workshops that are in session.

How do I sign up for a workshop?

Workshop sign ups will be sent out a week before the event. You can also sign up on the day of the event. Space is limited, so we recommend signing up early.

CAn I sell my products at this event?

The vendor summit is an a day of connection and resource sharing. There is not a marketplace or opportunities for small businesses to sell products at this event.

I’ve never been a vendor, can I still join?

Of course! The agenda is designed around packaged food and consumer product companies, as well as ample opportunities to connect with other businesses.

Can I bring my children?

Children are welcome to attend. We do not currently have on-site childcare available, but we are working to secure childcare support.