NSME Dinner - January 14, 2025

"What is your Goliath? " by Fred Koury, co-founded Smart Business Network

During our lifetime there is a good chance we are going to face something that is out of our control. This could be an issue in our marriage, health issue, financial issue, national disaster. Etc.  

When going through adversity we are going to go through it one of two ways. Either emotionally victorious or defeated. 

How many people are familiar with the book Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl? While he was suffering in a Nazi concentration camp during World War 2. he always had hope that there was a purpose to his life by one of three ways. 1. Completion of tasks. 2. Caring for another person. 3. Finding meaning by facing suffering with dignity. This kept him going. He taught us never to give up when going through the worst adversity. 

Although my experience pales in comparison to his 17 years ago, I had my own Goliath experience and would like to share it with you. 

Fred Koury Bio

Fred Koury co-founded Smart Business Network in 1989 with a single business publication in Cleveland, Ohio. In the years since, he has built the company into a leading media and events company focused on the middle market on a national basis.

The company’s offerings include management journals in 3 major U.S. markets, more than 50 B2B events across 17 cities, the Smart Business Dealmakers website and www.SBNOnline.com, which is home to more than 27,000 management and leadership articles on such successful CEOs as Steve Wozniak, Dan Gilbert and Mark Cuban.

Live events are an integral part of the Smart Business brand — with several dozen event and conference properties in the company’s portfolio. These include the company’s signature event, Smart Business Dealmakers, and a day-long conference that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and advisers to share their expertise on how deals get done. The Dealmakers Conference is held annually in major cities across the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia.

Fred has served on a number of boards, including the United Way of Greater Cleveland, and US Bank’s Northeast Ohio Advisory Board. He currently acts as the Director Emeritus for the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Board.
Fred's formal education includes a business finance degree from Bowling Green State University in 1985 and graduate work at The Ohio State University. He currently resides in Westlake with his wife, Lena, and sons, Michael and Joseph.