Becky McCray is a small town entrepreneur, with a cattle ranch, a retail liquor store and other businesses in Woods County, Oklahoma. 

A recognized small business and social media expert, she has spoken internationally to over 100 conferences on small business, rural issues and social media, including SXSW Interactive, BlogWorld Expo, the International Economic Development Council, 140 Characters Conferences, Revitalize Washington, and the Michigan Small Town and Rural Development Conference.

Becky has been featured in The New York Times, BusinessWeek, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Her blog, Small Biz Survival, ranks in the top 20 small business blogs worldwide. She is listed among the 100 Most Powerful Women on Twitter. Along with Sheila Scarborough, she co-founded Tourism Currents to teach tourism professionals about social media marketing. They are considered highly influential in the tourism industry.

In April 2012, Becky co-authored Small Town Rules, a book that shows how the business world is like a global small town, and how even the largest companies must compete for customers as if they were small, local businesses.

It was Becky’s passion in promoting the message that small businesses and small towns matter, that was pivotal in persuading Jeff Pulver to bring his internationally acclaimed 140 Conference from New York City to Hutchinson, Kansas for the first “140 Local.”

During this special evening at Lawrence Library, Becky will share valuable highlights from Small Town Rules, give a special preview of this year’s 140 Local and explain why the event recently changed names to be known as “The State of Now.” There will be audience Q&A and informal networking. We’ll also have door prizes and light refreshments.

This free event is presented by Social: IRL and sponsored by Lawrence Public Library and the Social Media Club of Lawrence.