Renowned entrepreneur, investor, reality TV star, and Camping World Chairman & CEO Marcus Lemonis will be the latest headliner at Tallahassee’s premier business event — the Power Forward Speaker Series — in January 2026.
As part of First Commerce’s dedication to the business community, Tallahassee’s largest locally based credit union created the Power Forward Speaker Series 12 years ago, which is hosted in partnership with the Florida State University Division of Research at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. On January 27, the Power Forward legacy as Tallahassee’s largest annual business event continues as Lemonis shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he drives transformative change, with tangible takeaways including his 3 P’s® philosophy — People, Process, and Product. “As just one way First Commerce helps our local businesses Power Forward, we are proud to bring Marcus Lemonis right here to Tallahassee as the latest in a long line of speakers that has included some of the world’s foremost entrepreneurs, innovators and thought leaders,” said First Commerce CEO Cecilia Homison. “For the 12th installment, we’re excited to give local business leaders the opportunity to engage with an entrepreneurial powerhouse who is passionate about helping others succeed.”
Lemonis’ inspiring background boasts a track record that redefines entrepreneurship. He revolutionized the RV industry by transforming Camping World into the nation’s largest RV retailer, then scaled new heights as executive chairman of Beyond, a global e-commerce powerhouse. Lemonis didn’t stop there. He brought his expertise to television with CNBC’s hit series The Profit, where he turned struggling businesses into success stories. His bold approach and relentless drive, coupled with a people-first mindset, offer a blueprint for innovation that will resonate with local business leaders aiming to disrupt and dominate their markets. Now Lemonis is back with his new FOX reality series The Fixer. Each episode follows Lemonis as he meets business owners at a crossroads, evaluates their challenges, and selects one company to help transform its prospects and drive profitability.
Power Forward has a track record of bringing some of the most successful and well-known entrepreneurs and innovators to Tallahassee, delivering dynamic stories and actionable insights that empower local businesses and help fuel economic growth. Held at FSU’s Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, the annual event provides an intimate atmosphere for learning and networking, attracting an average of 1,000 attendees with some events fully selling out! “Florida State is proud to help bring Marcus Lemonis to Tallahassee for this year’s Power Forward event,” said Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “Power Forward exemplifies FSU and First Commerce Credit Union’s shared commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem in North Florida. Events like this inspire our business leaders, inventors, and innovators to embrace bold ideas and transformative strategies that drive growth and strengthen our community.”
In 2025, First Commerce brought AI futurist Zack Kass to the stage. Kass brought insights from his more than a decade in AI leadership where he built sales, partnerships, and solutions teams at OpenAI, the research and deployment company behind ChatGPT. Other past speakers have included Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, and Kevin O’Leary of ABC’s entrepreneurial hit, Shark Tank; Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak; Randi Zuckerberg from Facebook’s startup team; Spencer Rascoff, Zillow co-founder and tech entrepreneur; Chris Gardner, CEO of Happyness whose story was featured in the hit movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith; Peter Diamandis, founder of the X-Prize Foundation; Chip Conley of Airbnb; and NFL legend and entrepreneur Jim Kelly.
Power Forward with Marcus Lemonis will be on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at FSU’s Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Tickets start at $20 ($10 for students with a valid ID) and are on sale through the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office at tickets.fsu.edu.
For more information about the Power Forward Speaker Series, visit FirstCommerceCU.org/PowerForward. Stay connected to the latest Power Forward news on social media by following @FirstCommerceCU and @FSUResearch and the hashtag #PwrFwd for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
2026 Power Forward Speaker Series, presented by First Commerce and the FSU Division of Research
Who: Entrepreneur, investor, reality TV star, and Camping World Chairman & CEO Marcus Lemonis
When: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Where: Ruby Diamond Concert Hall at Florida State University
Tickets: FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office, tickets.fsu.edu
