Events/Workshops

Think owning a franchise is only about fast food and French fries? Then you need to attend this informative, fun session to learn the facts! Food, retail, automotive, business and consumer services, children’s educational services—these are just a few of the industries with strong business models in the franchise industry. With many franchise investments starting under $100K, you owe it to yourself to attend this session to see if a franchise could be the right option for you. Be in business FOR yourself, but not BY yourself! Join Stacy Swift of FranNet Colorado to get all your franchise questions answered!

Speaker: Stacy Swift of FranNet Colorado

The Southern Colorado SBDC and sponsors are excited to announce the 5th annual Southern Colorado Small Business Expo to be held Saturday, March 3th at the Pueblo Convention Center! Join over 90 small business vendors who will be present to market and sell their products and services and take advantage of the many discounts and one day specials that will be offered. The March 3rd Expo will be open to the public at no cost (free admission). Other day’s activities will include a small business appreciation program, live entertainment, a Kid Zone area, mini car show and free document shredding. Join us for this one day marketplace Expo specifically featuring all small business vendors. For more details please contact SBDC. Vendor and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact the Southern Colorado SBDC with questions at SBDC@pueblocc.edu or 719-549-3224, 1-888-642-6017 ext. 3224.

5 hour seminar on various aspect of starting a business including: registration issues, legal structure, business planning process, financing your business, etc.

Speaker: Joe Keck, Jack Llewellyn, Brad Broyles, Chuck Fredrick, Lindsey Nicholson

Learn about legal structures, registration, licenses, market research, business planning, obtaining financing, insurance, taxes, employer responsibilities, and sources of assistance.

Speaker: North Metro SBDC

Do you understand the nitty gritty of what it takes to start your business? This helpful overview seminar covers the necessary steps to successfully launch your new business venture. Bring your questions about launching your business and meet others who are doing the same! How will you benefit? • Learn about legal structures, licenses and forms, and tax requirements • Uncover potential financing considerations

Speaker: Rosy McDonough, Denver SBDC As an SBDC consultant, Rosy McDonough assists clients with business plan writing, financial analysis and start-up assistance. She owns a nationwide and international credit reporting agency that has provided service to the mortgage, real estate and tenant screening industries since 2001. With her broad financial and credit experience acquired as an entrepreneur and in corporate banking, she is an advocate of educating consumers about credit and financial analysis. McDonough has an undergraduate degree in actuarial science and a graduate degree in risk management from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She also holds an MBA in finance and international business from the University of Colorado at Denver.

A 2 1/2 hour overview of everything you need to know to start and grow your company including business licensing requirements, the business planning process and business financing options.

Speaker: Mariah Zerbe, M.B.A, SBDC Assistant Director

As a business owner, you may not feel that you have time to make a business plan. Why do you need to? Well, for one, lenders will require a business plan if you’re seeking outside financing. But more importantly, a business plan gives you a goal to aim at and a roadmap for how to get there. In this seminar, you will learn why you need a business plan and what goes in it. How Will You Benefit: • Understand what financial documents you need • Learn how to realistically determine your start-up costs • Take home a sample business plan of your own

Speaker: Rosy McDonough, Denver Metro SBDC As an SBDC consultant, Rosy McDonough assists clients with business plan writing, financial analysis and start-up assistance. She owns a nationwide and international credit reporting agency that has provided service to the mortgage, real estate and tenant screening industries since 2001. With her broad financial and credit experience acquired as an entrepreneur and in corporate banking, she is an advocate of educating consumers about credit and financial analysis. McDonough has an undergraduate degree in actuarial science and a graduate degree in risk management from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She also holds an MBA in finance and international business from the University of Colorado at Denver.

An early morning two-hour workshop that covers business registration and forms, business entity-type selection and other timely tips every prospective entrepreneur needs before starting a new business venture.

Speaker: Attorney Tom Selken

This FREE class is a prerequisite for start-ups to schedule a counseling session at the Larimer SBDC. Explore the basics of business ownership, including entrepreneurship, planning for a profitable business, pitfalls to avoid and how to reach your customers. This workshop will be held at the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce.

Speaker: Andrea Grant

This workshop will cover common legal issues when starting a small business, including legal entities, business licenses and taxes, contracts and leases, marketing and advertising practices, Consumer Credit and debt collection, employment practices, intellectual property protection and bankruptcy. This is a great workshop for current small business owners, or for those who are thinking of starting a small business and struggle with the legalities of owning your own business. You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking on the link below.

Speaker: Kevin Hancock, attorney

This workshop is designed for the entrepreneur with little or no experience in business accounting, and is taught by a local CPA. The workshop will cover functions of record keeping; cash versus accrual systems; recording transactions; revenue, expenses, and depreciations; and accounts payable and receivable. This seminar is great for both small business owners, or business assistants in charge of financial transactions and record-keeping. You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking on the link below.

Speaker: Patti Asher, CPA

Learn about legal structures, registration, licenses, market research, business planning, obtaining financing, insurance, taxes, employer responsibilities, and sources of assistance.

Speaker: North Metro SBDC

Do you understand the nitty gritty of what it takes to start your business? This helpful overview seminar covers the necessary steps to successfully launch your new business venture. Bring your questions about launching your business and meet others who are doing the same! How will you benefit? • Learn about legal structures, licenses and forms, and tax requirements • Uncover potential financing considerations

Speaker: Jayne Reiter

This workshop is designed to teach you the details of each type of business entity. The differences between Sole-Proprietor, LLC, S-Corp, & C-Corp will be discussed. If you are not sure how you want your company to be formed, this is the class for you! You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking on the link below.

Speaker: Jeff Mohrmann, Attorney at Law and Len Martin, CPA

This free seminar introduces the attendee to the business, economic, and legal requirements of self-employment. Attendees of this workshop will learn the process of selecting the most appropriate business structure, business requirements, and taxation fundamentals.

Speaker: Chuck Hahn, Small Business Specialist

Learn differences between starting a business from scratch, buying an existing business, and buying a franchise • Learn about the various entities: C-corporation, S-corporation, LLC, LLP or Partnership • Understand the tax benefits of self-employment • Learn how to make a decision about the business you want to invest in • Learn about financial readiness

Speaker: A panel of small business and self-employment experts will each give brief educational presentations and offer a Q&A session to answer your questions and help you decide if business ownership is right for you.

This information-packed workshop will give you a good understanding of what you need to consider in order to start a profitable business. Get your questions answered and learn all about starting a successful business, including some of the basic requirements needed to launch your business. Topics discussed will include: •Legal Structure •Registration Requirements •Necessary Recordkeeping •Marketing •Financing Your New Venture

Speaker: Chuck Hahn, SBDC General Business and Marketing Consultant

This FREE class is a prerequisite for start-ups to schedule a counseling session at the Larimer SBDC. Explore the basics of business ownership, including entrepreneurship, planning for a profitable business, pitfalls to avoid and how to reach your customers.

Speaker: Andrea Grant

Durante este seminario, usted aprenderá procesos acerca de cómo empezar su proprio negocio en el estado de Colorado, incluyendo diferentes estructuras legales, licencias y formatos necesarios, impuestos, opciones de financiamiento, y más. Aliste sus preguntas para empezar un negocio y prepárese para conocer a otros empresarios.

Speaker: Rosy Aburto McDonough, Denver Metro SBDC

This 10-week course addresses the special needs of small business owners by providing a practical, hands-on, common sense approach to successful business development.  It helps entrepreneurs develop the “blueprint” for their future, provides interaction with other business owners, and connections with business experts from around the area.  As a class participant, you will be immersed in every aspect of running your business, from concept to strategy, record keeping to financing, and marketing to management.  The fee includes a textbook, workbook and resource guide. Instructors:

Speaker: Jesse Esparza and Jayne Reiter

The Leading Edge NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training Program is a comprehensive 12 week program which teaches participants better business practices while completing a practical business plan. Join us for one session, or for the entire course!

Speaker: Rich Lindblad, Lois Higgins

Experienced and new farmers, ranchers, and agriculture related businesses are invited attend the widely acclaimed NxLevel© "Tilling the Soil of Opportunity". This innovative, farmer and rancher friendly business planning course focuses teaching the art of better agricultural business practices. Participants will be provided with with information, professional advice and tools to develop business plans to start new or grow existing agricultural operations. Course Location to be Announced.

This 6 week business planning course is designed to help creative businesses create a practical, real world business plan. Course will feature business and artist/gallery guest speakers.

Speaker: Erich Bussian and Pat Senecal

The Leading Edge NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training Program is a comprehensive 12 week program which teaches participants better business practices while completing a practical business plan. Join us for one session, or for the entire course!

Speaker: Rich Lindblad, Lois Higgins

Experienced and new farmers, ranchers, and agriculture related businesses are invited attend the widely acclaimed NxLevel© "Tilling the Soil of Opportunity". This innovative, farmer and rancher friendly business planning course focuses teaching the art of better agricultural business practices. Participants will be provided with with information, professional advice and tools to develop business plans to start new or grow existing agricultural operations. Course Location to be Announced.

This 6 week business planning course is designed to help creative businesses create a practical, real world business plan. Course will feature business and artist/gallery guest speakers.

Speaker: Erich Bussian and Pat Senecal

The Leading Edge NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training Program is a comprehensive 12 week program which teaches participants better business practices while completing a practical business plan. Join us for one session, or for the entire course!

Speaker: Rich Lindblad, Lois Higgins

Experienced and new farmers, ranchers, and agriculture related businesses are invited attend the widely acclaimed NxLevel© "Tilling the Soil of Opportunity". This innovative, farmer and rancher friendly business planning course focuses teaching the art of better agricultural business practices. Participants will be provided with with information, professional advice and tools to develop business plans to start new or grow existing agricultural operations. Course Location to be Announced.

Join us for this informative seminar that covers the basics of preparing a successful business plan. Topics to be discussed include: •The purpose of a business plan •What information your plan should contain •The financial documents you will need •How to determine start-up costs •Market research and its importance •What lenders look for

Speaker: Chuck Hahn, SBDC General Business and Marketing Consultant

This 6 week business planning course is designed to help creative businesses create a practical, real world business plan. Course will feature business and artist/gallery guest speakers.

Speaker: Erich Bussian and Pat Senecal

The Leading Edge NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training Program is a comprehensive 12 week program which teaches participants better business practices while completing a practical business plan. Join us for one session, or for the entire course!

Speaker: Rich Lindblad, Lois Higgins

A Business Plan articulates the business concept, potential markets, financial requirements risks, problems and trade offs. Make the most of your resources and prepare yourself for success with the "Business Planning for Success" workshop.

Speaker: Jill Rickards

Experienced and new farmers, ranchers, and agriculture related businesses are invited attend the widely acclaimed NxLevel© "Tilling the Soil of Opportunity". This innovative, farmer and rancher friendly business planning course focuses teaching the art of better agricultural business practices. Participants will be provided with with information, professional advice and tools to develop business plans to start new or grow existing agricultural operations. Course Location to be Announced.

This class will cover how to prepare a business plan. We will cover the essential components of a business plan and how to put these together. These components are: Marketing Plan, Management & Operations, Competition Analysis, product/Service Plan, Growth Plan, Operations and Contingency Plans. Participants will receive resources for additional support as well as templates for writing the plan. Please call us at 303-460-1032 to register. Thank you.

Speaker: Jesse Esparza

This workshop will assist you in knowing what the banks are looking for in a borrower. You will learn what issues the banks are dealing with on their side of the table and how to approach those challenges. Find out what type of loans fit your situation and how they can be used with an emphasis on Small Business Administration (SBA) lending. Discover what to provide and what to expect when you approach a financial institution to meet your company's capital needs. Money, you need it to get started, you need it to establish yourself and you need it to grow, so learn what's involved with borrowing it!

Speaker: Todd Guymon, SBA Expert

Designed for businesses looking for money to start or expand their business. Taught by a local banker, topics covered include business loans over $100K, micro loans, and SBA loans. The seminar will also explain the lending process and what lenders are looking for; organizing your loan proposal; how to negotiate a loan; identifying internal and external sources of money; and differentiating between equity & debt financing. Basic topics to include in a business plan to prepare for funding will also be included. You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking on the link below.

Speaker: Todd Karl, US Bank

Relationship-building through networking has been proven more effective than other forms of prospecting. But you need to understand the rules of the game and learn how to play to win by giving back first. Find out how to turn networking contacts into real business leads. And most importantly? Take the pressure off of YOU, relax, and have fun with the networking process! How you will benefit: • Identify your "ideal client" to qualify those you meet at a networking event. • Learn how to turn networking event contacts into business leads. • Develop essential conversation skills. • Create a networking event follow-up process. • Stimulate a potential client's interest.

Speaker: Debbie Scott, Achievement Dynamics Gordon Miller is a nationally recognized executive coach and workplace expert. He has appeared in over 100 business publications, including Wall St Journal, Fortune, and Kiplinger. He is the best-selling author of two books. Miller has appeared nationally on CNN several times, appears weekly on Denver television as The Career Coach for the last eight years, and has trained over 700 professional to build powerful relationships with powerful people.

The Leading Edge Program is a 12-week program that helps move your business to the next level. This intensive training course provides business owners and entrepreneurs expert guidance in the areas of cash flow management, marketing, finance, personnel, legal issues, and more. Each participant will receive hands-on assistance in preparing a complete business plan. The Leading Edge Program uses the NxLevel™ for Entrepreneurs curriculum to train small businesses which show potential for growth in aspects of marketing, financial analysis, pricing, cash flow management, personnel, and legal issues as they relate to the successful management of their business. The program is geared to help the business by providing them with the skills necessary to execute a viable, marketable business plan. Each participant receives hands-on individualized assistance in preparing a business plan. The course includes 36 hours of intensive training facilitated by a State Certified Instructor, and a minimum of 4 hours of individual consulting. The program is highly interactive, which ensures the flow of information not just from the instructor, but between the participants as well. The principal requirements for graduation are regular attendance and participation in each session, in addition to completion of a formal business plan or feasibility study for each business. Participants are also expected to make a presentation to the class at the end of the course. Graduates are honored each year at a statewide graduation. Each course is asked to submit a business plan to the statewide “Best Business Plan Competition”. Leading Edge Entrepreneur course uses the NxLeveL materials prepared by NxLeveL Education. The NxLeveL programs are now offered in more than 35 states nationwide. Materials are customized to best meet the needs of the local market and to incorporate “real-life” experience into the class. Guest speakers are invited regularly to share their areas of expertise on a variety of topics. Participants also receive four hours of individualized one-on-one counseling with the instructor to address the specific needs of each individual business. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Owners of start-up and existing businesses. Sixty percent of our Leading Edge participants have been existing businesses and efforts have been made to provide specialized classes within the Leading Edge program to address special needs of both start-up and existing businesses.

Do you feel overwhelmed with the stack of papers piling up on your desk? Do you find yourself losing important documents? Are you spending too much time printing and filing and not enough time on your business? This workshop is designed to help you overcome these old methods and successfully transition into the digital age of organization!

Speaker: Diane Snead, Type A Professional Organizers, LLC

Rick Castellini has owned and operated a computer training and consulting business in Grand Junction since 1995; Grand Valley PC Partners and he is a Microsoft Certified Professional. He hosts a call-in radio talk show, “Castellini on Computers” on 88.1 KAFM and is a freelance feature writer for newspapers around the country and Internet sites. His website, HelpMeRick.com attracts more than 50,000 visits each month. Join us as we learn how to: • Open Source software (free) available for business • Online cloud applications available for business (Web 2.0) • Importance of owning a domain name and what to do with it • Purchasing the right technology • Backup solutions • Properly securing and maintaining computers.

Speaker: Rick Castellini

This fee-based seminar introduces the legal foundations of the Internet and social media. The attendees will learn about trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names, and linking and framing issues that arise when developing a Web site. For payment options, please contact the Aurora SBDC.

Speaker: Elizabeth Lewis, Attorney At Law, Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C.

Whether you are creating video, programming websites, or taking pictures as your profession, you probably are creating intellectual property as part of your trade. This primer on intellectual property law will talk about the differences between copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade secrets and how to protect what you create.

Speaker: Elizabeth Lewis, Law Office of E.C. Lewis, P.C.

As a business owner you fight small fires every day. But outside of your day-to-day efforts, do you have a vision of your future? This four-hour, hands-on workshop will guide you through a four-step evaluation and action process to grow your business—and your profits—now and into the future. How Will You Benefit: • Learn critical evaluation tools to grow your business • Create a plan to achieve your business vision

Speaker: John Green, Johnson & Wales University John Green is an accomplished organizational, business and professional development mentor with a demonstrated ability for helping people identify, utilize and grow their talents, strengths and abilities. He has developed and cultivated personal and professional growth in hundreds of clients, business owners and professionals. He is an effective program designer, implementer and presenter, recognized for improving individual, workplace and entrepreneur performance. Greene has provided one-on-one counseling and workshop delivery to displaced professionals from technology, telecom, manufacturing, marketing and distribution environments. He has successfully transitioned these experiences and skill sets to a variety of programs including Career Continuation, Resume Creation, interviewing Skills, Change Management, Best Hiring Practices, Successful Goal Planning, Business Planning and Implementation workshops, as well as personal development experiences.

Common Factors that Drive, Detract From the Value of Your Business and Steps to Increase, Protect Your Company's Value Presented by Minor & Brown, P.C.

Speaker: Jim Thomas, Director/Shareholder, Minor & Brown, P.C.

This class will speak to how to manage your employees - even the difficult ones, employee recognition and how to best protect yourself and your business when you terminate an employee. By taking this class, you will be able to: learn good employee maintenance; deal with difficult employees; implement employee recognition programs; decide to do, or not do performance evaluations; legally maintain employee files; learn legal and humane ways to terminate employees and perform exit interviews. (Minimum class size is 6 and 20 maximum)

Speaker: Karolynn St-Pierre, SPHR, Symmetry Consulting

So, you want to hire an employee? What paperwork do you have to complete? How much should you pay them? What if you have to fire them? This course will not only help you answer those questions, but will also provide a solid framework to help you hire the right person and better manage them, so they do what you ask. As a class participant, you will learn the steps in the employee life cycle: what to do before you hire someone, how to orient them to your company, and how to effectively set expectations and manage their behavior. (Minimum class size is 6 and 20 maximum)

Speaker: Courtney Berg, SPHR

Learn the what, how and why of bookkeeping. Understand what bookkeeping can tell you about your business and how it can help you manage. Learn what data you need to keep track of, how to avoid common mistakes and when to call in a bookkeeper or accountant. Discover effective bookkeeping from chart of accounts to financial statements.

Speaker: Beth Dixon, CPA

This is a great course for the small business owner, or for assistants, who primarily handle the finances! This interactive QuickBooks Pro - Part 1 introductory course will cover: 1. How the software works and how to navigate through the program; 2. How to create a new Company with QuickBooks including settings preferences, setting open balance, and entering customers, vendors, and accounts; 3. How to enter vendor information, as well as descriptions & prices for products and services; 4. How to work with registers, including opening registers, making entries, and reconciliation; and 5. How to handle bills in QuickBooks, including how to enter & pay bills; entering discounts from vendors You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking the link below:,This is a great course for the small business owner, or for assistants, who primarily handle the finances! This interactive QuickBooks Pro - Part 1 introductory course will cover:

Speaker: Len Martin, CPA

Since you've learned the basics of QuickBooks - Pro in Part-1, this class will build on that foundation to teach you more advanced processes within the software. This interactive course will cover: 1. Credit card accounts and transactions; how to create and track asset and liability accounts; and an introduction to equity accounts; 2. Sales and purchase forms; how to create a new invoice; the QuickBooks Item list and how to add new items; how to create invoice letters & sales orders; and how to track backorders; 3. How to record customer payments; how to handle customer discounts, partial payments, overpayments, or down payments; how to record a deposit, including cash back; how to process credit cards 4. Financial data tools: QuickReports, preset reports, and graphs; how to save reports in Excel or PDF format. You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking on the link below:

Speaker: Denice Tinsley, CPA

Do financial statements seem intimidating? Let us make them easy to understand! This seminar is an advanced continuation of Basics of Bookkeeping, and is taught by a local CPA. The class will cover balance sheets, income statements, statement of cash flow, financial projections, and budgeting. (Basics of Bookkeeping is recommended as a prerequisite only if you've no prior experience in bookkeeping). You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking on the link below.

Speaker: Patti Asher, CPA

Avoid bringing your accountant a shoebox full of disorganized receipts. In this hands-on Introduction to QuickBooks, you will learn how accurate bookkeeping and the right software will make your life easier come tax season. How Will You Benefit: • Learn QuickBooks’s basic features • Understand what information to track • Practice entering that information to ensure accurate bookkeeping

Speaker: Alicia Nelson, EKSH

This fee-based seminars explores how effective recordkeeping is an essential part of financing a business. Attendees of this workshop will explore the basics of accounting principles, bookkeeping systems, accepted internal control procedures, creating an information system that will enhance other business functions, and creating a business information system with QuickBooks (a two-session class). QuickBooks for Beginners II -- held the following week, March 15th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM -- builds on QuickBooks I and provides hands-on practice. Attendees will create invoices, add and modify accounts, add and pay vendors, create sales tax items and groups, add inventory items, add fixed assets and write checks. Familiarity with a computer keyboard and Windows operating system required. QuickBooks I is a pre-requisite. Contact the Aurora SBDC for payment options.

Speaker: Santos Blan, Small Business Specialist

This information packed workshop will give you a good understanding of how your money flows in and out of your business. Get your questions answered and learn all about starting a successful business. You will learn and understand how to use and apply: •Positive Cash Flow •Flow of Money •How to Figure Cost of Goods for Products & Services •Sales Forecasting •Gross Profit

Speaker: Dale Clack, SBDC Financial Consultant

This free seminar introduces the attendee to the practical issues of assessing and collecting sales and use tax. Attendees will learn about home rule, licensing requirements, sales tax rate application, how a nexus is formed for sales taxation, sales tax-exemption, use tax liabilities, using online services and appropriate sales and use tax forms.

Speaker: Caron Notarmuzi

This informative presentation will help you simplify some otherwise confusing tax issues such as tracking and paying business taxes, depreciation of home or auto use in business and other allowable business expenses.

Speaker: Pamela J. Belcher, CPA

The idea of navigating your taxes can make a small business owner nervous—how do you keep it all straight? In Business Tax 101, you will learn the basics of business taxes and specific Colorado Department of Revenue tax requirements. This is a great opportunity to get answers to all your tax questions in one place! How Will You Benefit: • Understand the differences in filing for different business entities; • Know how to claim your home, car, health insurance, and retirement for business • Discover which records to track • Understanding Schedules C, SE, and ES Form 1040

Speaker: Vonnie Hergett, EKSH Vonnie Hergett is a principal in the tax service area of EKS&H and has been involved in public accounting since 1987. She has extensive experience in all areas of taxation providing tax consulting and compliance services to individuals, corporations, trusts, partnerships and retirement plans. She services closely held businesses, professional service corporations and privately held companies in a variety of industries. Hergett has a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from the Montana University System - Billings. Hergett's professional affiliations include membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Having a true competitive advantage is more than 'good service' or 'good price' - it's all about knowing what makes your business special, and being able to specifically explain it to your customers. This is your unique selling proposition - the thing that sets you apart from your competitors. This workshop teaches you how to set yourself apart in the eyes of your customer. This is the next step in your marketing success story. From this point on, you'll have a real point of difference and you'll know how to use it. You might be surprised by how much this program reveals about your business. It may get you thinking about important issues that have never crossed your mind. You'll hear examples of unique businesses, with an explanation of what they do differently and how it works for them. Some are real - some are imagined. You may even find a business like yours, and be able to directly steal and idea or two. Now is the time to get moving - there has never been a better time to start using your uniqueness to your advantage.

Speaker: Lee Porter, Sales & Marketing Maven

Small business owners often struggle to find marketing that brings them business without wasting their time or money. In this interactive seminar, learn how to create your own marketing plan. You’ll focus your efforts so you avoid wasting time and money on marketing that doesn’t work. How Will You Benefit: • Discover who your customers are • Learn how to reach them • Develop a marketing message • Leave with building blocks for your own marketing plan

Speaker: Mischa Danaceau, MESH Strategies, LLC Mischa Danaceau is the marketing director for Illumen and owner of MESH Strategies LLC. He has consulted with more than 200 businesses over the past 10 years, helping to create effective solutions that foster business growth. Specializing in marketing strategy, marketing research and customer loyalty management, Danaceau has experience in various industries, including information technology, telecom and non-profit. Danaceau holds an MBA with an emphasis in B2B marketing from the University of Colorado at Denver.

With more than 500 million users the world over having a Fan Page for your business is more important than ever before. In this session, you’ll learn the most important details that go into making yours stand out; some best practices for engaging your customers; and making the most of your time when managing your Fan Page.

Speaker: Deb Kolaras

This fee-based seminar examines low-cost, efficient methods of promoting and advertising a business. The attendee will learn how to identify the appropriate strategy for your audience, provide the right information to them and how to motivate the customer to close the deal. Topics will consist of turning local newspapers into a publicity partner, bartering for print and radio advertising, creating copy, and distributing effective do-it-yourself promotional materials, including direct mail, fliers and brochures, and how to incorporate this into an effective media. For payment options, please contact the Aurora SBDC.

Speaker: Chuck Hahn, Small Business Specialist

This 90-minute workshop covers tips and tricks you can use to build a great-looking website from scratch or fix the one you've got. We'll also give a quick intro into WordPress - a content management system (CMS) which allows quick and easy edits of website content without the need to hire a web designer. You also have the opportunity to submit your web address ahead of time for professional critique during class.

Speaker: Nick Armstrong, Web Strategist

This workshop will arm you and your sales team with the knowledge and skills to generate sales beyond your wildest expectations. Here's a selection of what you'll learn: how the sales process should flow, how to get the customer to sell themselves, and how to ask for the sale. Conversion techniques, rapport building skills and communications strategies are also discussed to cover the full spectrum of successful relationship selling!

Speaker: Lee Porter, Sales & Marketing Maven

This fee-based seminar introduces the fundamentals of creating an online presence with free software. The attendee will learn how to harness the power of a WordPress Blog, build and modify a WordPress site, use and modify themes, install widgets, use WordPress content management system, create menus, modify the CSS (cascading style sheets) behind the theme, and add video and podcasts. Every student will set up and create a web site and customize it. Familiarity with a computer keyboard and Windows operating system required. For payment options, please contact the Aurora SBDC.

Speaker: Chuck Hahn, Small Business Specialist

This fee-based seminar introduces the principles of exporting goods and services to other countries. The attendee will learn about the reasons to export, export resources, funding exports, financial risks of exporting, protection against risk, methods of payment, setting payment terms, collection sight drafts, and export letter of credit cycle. For payment options, please contact the Aurora SBDC.

It's never been easier for your prospects to buy elsewhere the products and services that you sell. But the one thing they can't get elsewhere is YOU. Learn how to give your clients a reason to choose you by promoting your personal brand and establishing yourself as a uniquely-qualified, one-of-a-kind expert. How You Will Benefit? • Learn how to best create and communicate your personal brand. • Build an immediate demand for your services. • Differentiate yourself from competitors and stand out in the marketplace. • Develop a compelling elevator speech.

Speaker: Fred Berns, Business by Design, INC This seminar will help you to create a strong brand for your company. There are nine distinct pillards to creating a basis to every strong brand. These pillards are not dissimilar from clubs, tribes, churches, or cults. During this seminar, you will identify each of these nine pillars and see examples of them in practice using a diverse set of national and regional brands, including Cessna and Stetson. Leave this seminar with a checklist of the components of strong brands, as well as a fresh mindset toward developing your own company's brand.

What exactly is social media? In its simplest definition, social media uses online and mobile tools to communicate user generated content. Why is this so important? User driven means you and your potential clients can drive the conversation. The result? Connections with people that generate better information, better ideas, more directed sharing and better leads. Social media tools, such as: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogging, YouTube and Social Bookmarking are completely changing the way people are marketing their companies and themselves. Social Media IS NOT for everyone. It demands time, authenticity, integrity and humanity. But for those who are ready and willing to commit to a social media marketing plan, be prepared to experience powerful results from your efforts. You must have opportunity before you have success. Leveraging the resources of social media, social networking and web 2.0 technologies will allow you to take full advantage of this new world of opportunity.

Speaker: Amy Alcorn

This fee-based seminar introduces principles of importing goods to the United States. The attendee will learn about sales terms, the Incoterms (International commercial terms) that bind seller and purchaser of goods, Incoterm groupings, freight brokering, and types of import methods of payment. For payment options, contact the Aurora SBDC.

This 90-minute live demonstration allows attendees to see how to set-up Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts with some tips and tricks thrown in to make you stand out on each network.

Speaker: Nick Armstrong, Web Strategist

“What’s a Tweet?”, “How can blogging build my business?” “Why should I ‘friend’ YOU?”, “How can I get my site to the top of the search?”, “Isn’t social networking just for kids and a colossal waste of time?” If these are questions you’ve ever asked, come hear how this small business owner harnessed the Internet and doubled her income in less than six months! With do-it-yourself determination, she strengthened her brand, broadened her reach and attracted new clients - all on a shoestring. Now she helps independent business owners leverage technology, raise revenue, and communicate value through no-cost, new media and social networking tools. This lively, interactive “nuts and bolts” program demystifies terms, shares how-to tips and step-by-step strategies so business owners can choose tools that give the best bang for the buck. By the end of this session participants will have learned how to: -Leverage blogging for immediate, relevant, page-one search results -Strike a balance between time and tangible outcomes -Integrate blogging as a business marketing strategy -Create domain names with dominant market draw -Evaluate Email, “Feeds” and RSS distribution methods -Analyze the good, bad and ugly of competitor sites -Choose tags and keywords to attract and capture qualified buyers -Use social media tools as free market research -Write provocative subject titles with headline-like appeal -Use virtual interviews, current events and guest writers to grow your blog -Evaluate pro’s and con’s of blog programs like Wordpress and Typepad -Recognize benefits of “socially acceptable stalking” -Integrate social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking on the link below.

Speaker: Paul Berry, Head of Social Media Marketing for The Gazette

This fee-based seminar introduces techniques used in social media marketing as an integral component of marketing campaigns for building brand awareness and promoting business. The attendee will learn tools which include internet forums, message boards, blogs, wikis, podcasts, picture sharing, video sharing, and social networking. For payment options, contact the Aurora SBDC.

"Springing Up Businesses Through Networking" Network and communicate with other business professionals in the Colorado Springs area in order to benefit your own business as well as connect with other businesses in the community. To participate with the theme, feel free to either wear and/or bring in spring-related items - be creative! You can register by calling (719) 255-3844, or by clicking on the link below.

Speaker: Scott Eaton

A fee-based, four-part marketing series — Subsequent dates are every Tuesday in March, same time and place: March 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th. A more detailed approach to the Marketing Your Business workshop, building upon the general concept with practical application. Attendees will write a marketing plan by incorporating materials learned in each previous workshop. Focus is on the marketing vision, identification of the ideal customer, unique selling proposition, core strategy, product/service innovation, marketing materials, web plan, lead generation, lead conversion, service experience, marketing schedule, sales forecast, and marketing expense budget. The goal is to have a completed marketing plan by April. The first session is a pre-requisite; all four sessions required.

Speaker: Small Business Specialist Chuck Hahn

Introduction and information that will teach small businesses the power of the FBO tool, why it is used and how to tailor searches for primary NAICS, Geographical area, Contracting office etc A must have class for anyone doing contract work with government agencies and preparing bids.

Speaker: Cathy Bond, Bond Contracting & Consulting, Inc.

On Wednesday, February 29th, the Small Business Development Center and the U.S. Small Business Administration, will host a business training and networking event focused on Federal Contracting Certifications and Opportunities for Small Businesses, hosted by the Colorado Springs SBDC.

Speaker: SBA