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Steamboat Springs — Organizers hope this year's Economic Summit injects optimism into the business community.

The May 20 to 21 event is titled Thriving in Tough Economic Times, a nod toward sunnier dispositions. The two days will include social-networking sessions, as well as talks from an economist, a state government representative, business consultants and business experts.

"We wanted to go back to kind of business basics to give people the foundation to have some fresh ideas and some confidence to counter some of the frustrations I see people going through," said Randy Rudasics, an organizer and small-business counselor.

The Steamboat Springs Economic Development Council, a subcommittee of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, puts on the event. Deloitte economist Carl Steidtmann, a Steamboat resident, will give the opening address.

"I think I'm going to try to make the case for optimism as to why the economy is going to recover this year and ultimately what that means for Steamboat and for Colorado," Steidtmann said.

Rudasics said he looked forward to hearing from Steidtmann. Deloitte is an international firm that provides consulting and other services.

"I think he'll do a very good job as a very high-end economist who speaks in laymen's language about where we are now and how that will affect the Yampa Valley," Rudasics said.

Susan Kirkpatrick, executive director of the state Department of Local Affairs, will speak after Steidtmann on May 20. Also on the agenda are personal business consulting sessions. Volunteers from SCORE, a small-business counseling group, will provide those services. Businesspeople who need advice about how to start, sustain or build a business are welcome, volunteer Roger Good said.

Those sessions will be part of breakout workshops that include discussions of social networking and industries that are growing.

Daniel Levine, Karl Mecklenburg and Craig Storey are scheduled to speak to the full group the second day. Levine and Mecklenburg, a former Denver Bronco, are professional speakers.

"We believe these folks will be really useful in helping get people charged up so they can manage the next six to 12 months, where things could be difficult around here," Rudasics said.

Storey is chief executive of Sprig Toys, a Fort Collins company that produces battery-free, environmentally friendly children's toys. The toys are powered by the energy of the child, Storey said. The company started in October 2007 and is growing, he said.

Part of its success results from Sprig's philosophy, he said.

"We're not green for the sake of being green," Storey said. "We're a toy company first, so our product does have great play, and it's very innovative."

Storey and the company's founders have about 60 combined years of experience in the toy industry. David Bowen, Chris Clemmer, Justin Discoe and David Monahan founded the company.

Storey said he planned to discuss Sprig's trials and successes.

"Most of the talk is going to be about some of the challenges that have faced us as a startup company in a bad economy and the steps we've taken to kind of overcome them," he said. "It's tough for everybody right now, and introducing a new product in a market like this has probably been the biggest challenge of my life."

Those who want to hear Storey and others can register through the Chamber. The event costs $60, or $50 for people who attended the Chamber's forum series this winter. The event is open to the entire community, Rudasics said.

"This is a chance to get some good speakers up here that can provide not only some knowledge, but also some inspiration and motivation," he said.