See flyer below for information about the Canton SBDC’s 4th Annual Women’s Business Bootcamp to be held on March 4, 2010.
As in years past, a Women’s Resource Expo will be held in conjunction with the conference. Availability of display tables in this year’s expo is limited since we have moved it to a smaller venue. So if you’re interested in reserving you’ll want to act soon!
Six-foot display tables will be provided and this year’s expo will include wireless internet access. The conference will feature two breaks during the day when attendees can browse the expo displays. In addition, there will be a half-hour reception at the conclusion of the conference to allow more time for visiting the expo and for networking.
Included in the expo fee is the opportunity to enjoy lunch with the conference attendees and listen to the keynote speaker of the day. (Information is also provided on the attached flyer if you are interested in attending the full conference program.)
We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to network your organization to the women entrepreneurs of St. Lawrence County.
By Rick Leibowitz
Plutarch once wrote, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” As a business counselor for the North Country Small Business Development Center (SBDC), I find this provides an important piece of advice when it comes to educating entrepreneurs.
‘Entrepreneur’ is defined in Merriam Webster’s Dictionary as “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprises.” It is these people who start new businesses and bring innovation to the marketplace. The risk of starting a business venture shouldn’t be taken lightly, as there is no denying the statistics that business success is difficult to achieve.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, less than one-third of businesses survive five years of operations. Business is based on a simple concept— you need to have more income than expenses. With such a simple concept, why is there such a high failure rate? Listing all the challenges small business owners typically face would take me well beyond my space allotment by the editors of this magazine. One of the biggest challenges in educating entrepreneurs is that there is a vast expanse of information on business theory and best practices.
In his book, Ripples from the Zambezi: Passion, Entrepreneurship, and the Rebirth of Local Economies, Dr. Ernesto Sirolli succinctly identifies three areas of management expertise that are critical to success for all small businesses:
• financial management;
• marketing management; and
• operational management.
He argues that most entrepreneurs may have strengths in one or two areas of management, but few are strong in all three areas. He claims, “The death of the entrepreneur is solitude.” Most entrepreneurs need some support to compensate for the areas where they may not be as knowledgeable. That is why communities have embraced the SBDC program and/ or various other business technical assistance programs.
Yet as business educators, we need to recognize that any comprehensive lesson on business management can easily create information overload. While our intent may be to provide a thorough education, we need to be cognizant that key lessons may end up buried, like the needle in the proverbial haystack, if we provide too much extraneous information.
Even if we focus on providing assistance in the areas where our clients need it most, we are sometimes faced with another challenge. Many of our clients have no interest in certain aspects of business management. It is difficult to teach financial management to someone who dislikes working with numbers, marketing to someone who does not like sales, and operational management to someone who does not like to pay attention to detail.
Still, our goal as educators is to help kindle that entrepreneurial fire and often we can motivate our students by showing how a lesson can practically contribute to success. It takes some effort to flex to the different needs, learning styles and personalities of our clients to provide effective education, but it is a worthwhile investment of effort. Every company has a genesis and, most likely, the great companies of the future will evolve from the small businesses we support through the challenges of today.
Each day I am personally motivated by the successes of our clients, but I also recognize that there will always be new challenges. I’ve learned that it is not what I know, but what assistance our clients need that is of ultimate importance.
Growing up, my family had a magnet on our refrigerator with a saying from the Talmud that speaks volumes about the heart of education: “Much I have learned from my teachers, but most I have learned from my students.”
With the challenging economic times that we are facing, it is especially important for businesses to be smart about how they operate. Spending decisions that are easy to make when times are good come into question during a recession. Should I continue to advertise? What do I do if my bank won’t give me the financing I need? How can I keep my customers coming back? Is there anything for my business in the Stimulus Package?
These and other questions will be addressed at the 2009 Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce’s Business Fair, to be held on June 10 at Jefferson Community College in Watertown. This signature event has been scheduled earlier than usual this year in order to provide a series of workshops designed to specifically address issues that the business community is facing during this recession - in time to impact the bottom line for many businesses in 2009.
The one-hour workshops will be held throughout the day, some more than once, to make it as convenient as possible for business owners, managers and employees. The workshops, and a brief description of the content, include:
Effective Marketing in a Recession, Presented by Greg Gardner, Associate Professor of Business, SUNY Potsdam
In a recession, consumers become value oriented, distributors are concerned about cash, and employees worry about their jobs. But a downturn is no time to stop spending on marketing. The key is to understand how the needs of your customers and partners change, and to adapt your strategies to the new reality. Businesses that increase advertising during a downturn can improve market share and return on investment. Early-buy allowances, extended financing, and generous return policies motivate distributors to stock your full product line. These, plus other strategies, will be discussed to help you reorient your marketing to be more effective.
Is your Website Working for You? Presented by Bryan Garrant, Owner and Senior Web Developer, Garrant Consulting LLC.
Is your website achieving its goals? Is it driving sales to your company? Learn about the importance of having an internet presence, current website trends, how to keep your content current and a variety of other techniques to make your website work for your business.
These are difficult times for businesses all over the world. The recession has left many corporations - large and small - with lower revenues and shrinking budgets. During these challenging times, it is absolutely essential that marketing campaigns reach their desired targets with frequency and efficiency. And that is why, with marketing dollars so precious, that there has never been a better time to turn to the web as a means of reaching new customers.
It all starts with a great website. Your online presence should be an extension of your brand - offering visitors product information, answers to commonly asked question and an overall compelling experience that makes them want to come back time and time again. Think of your website as a storefront with little overhead and a 24/7 cycle of operation that customers can visit any time of day or night.
Tweet this: Connect TO current and potential customers through new, budget friendly ONLINE resources, Presented by Jonathan Bouman, Media Director-Internet Strategist, AdWorkshop and Inphorm �
Web 2.0: How to use social networking (facebook, twitter, linkedIn, etc) to promote your business and build your customer base. “Web 2.0″ refers to the second generation of web development and design that facilitates communication, secure information sharing, interoperability, and collaboration on the World Wide Web. These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities, hosted services, and applications; such as social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies. Although the term suggests a new version of the Web, it does not refer to an update to any technical specifications, but rather to changes in the ways software developers and end-users utilize the Web. Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the Internet as a platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform.
As people’s media habits have changed, their receptivity to marketing messages has as well. While consumers are continuously bombarded with ad intrusions, advertisers can no longer practice “telling and selling” - especially on the internet. With an emphasis on social networking, we’ll discuss how marketing transparency is vital and how to pull the consumer into our conversation, not just push static messages out to them.
SHARE THE PAIN - REALIZE THE GAIN: EmployeeS ARE FEELING IT TOO, Presented by Mary Lu Moriarty, SPHR, Assistant Professor of Business, Jefferson Community College
During these difficult economic times companies are forced to make very tough decisions. But how do you carry out your strategic plans that may include reductions in force without negatively impacting your employment brand? First we’ll look at mistakes employers commonly make when downsizing. Then we’ll explore alternatives to layoffs, looking at some strategies innovative companies are using to avoid pink slips. Finally, when downsizing becomes inevitable, we’ll discuss strategies for doing it humanely, including “do’s and don’ts” of layoffs. Learn how to keep your organization’s brand positive even while you’re carrying out painful strategies.
Small Business Check-Up, Presented by Peter Whitmore, Director of Corporate Relations, Jreck Subs Inc.
Businesses are facing challenges on many fronts during this economic recession, including lower consumer spending, rising unemployment, tightening credit, and inflation pressures that hit both businesses and customers. Business owners can consider a number of ways to take stock of their current situation, make changes to reduce costs and increase their profitability. By assessing business conditions and focusing on what you can control about your business, you can plan to preserve cash and map a plan for sales success. This workshop provides a general discussion on evaluating current business practices including; marketing, customer service, money management and vendor/customer relationships. It is the goal to take a closer look and see if good operations are in place and being executed professionally.
How the Stimulus Package can Help Your Business, Presented by Joan Gleason, New York Business Development Corp; Andy Gray, Key Bank; Michelle Pfaff, Community Bank, NA; Christine Powers, Watertown Savings Bank; Deb McAtee, M&T Bank
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has identified approximately $800 billion to stimulate the economy, with $730 million provided for small businesses through new and existing SBA programs. The funding includes:
- $375 million for temporary fee reductions or eliminations on SBA loans, and increased SBA loan guarantees from current levels to up to 90% for certain loans
- $255 million for a new deferred-payment loan program to help small businesses meet existing debt payments
- $30 million for expanding SBA’s microloan program, enough to finance up to $50 million in new lending and $24 million in technical assistance grants to micro-lenders
- $20 or technology systems to streamline SBA’s lending and oversight processes
- $15 million for expanding SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee program
- $25 million for staffing up to meet demands for new programs
- $10 million for the Office of Inspector General
The bill also authorizes refinancing for certain SBA loans so borrowers can expand their business on favorable terms, and expands leverage capability for small business investment companies. It also authorizes the SBA to establish a secondary market with federal guarantees for pools of “first lien” loans under the 504 program
If you are interested in how your business might benefit from loan fee reductions, higher loan guarantees, new programs, secondary market incentives and enhancements to current SBA programs, this workshop will help you understand what it all means.
Great Personal Credit is Good for Business, Presented by Jennifer Huttemann-Kall, Vice President and Commercial Lending Officer for Community Bank, N.A. and Sarah O’Connell, Certified Business Advisor, NYS Small Business Development Center
Personal credit isn’t just a good idea at home, it can also affect your ability as a business to get commercial loans and establish relationships with vendors. All businesses, no matter what size, will need to develop credit and likely need to access capital at some time. For small businesses, the owner may be able to dip into his or her personal savings, or friends may be able to lend the needed money. Usually, however, the owner will have to look to outside sources for financing and lines of credit. Obtaining money when you need it is as necessary to the operation of your business as a good location or an adequate labor force. But before a bank or a vendor will lend you money or extend credit, they must feel that you and your firm are credit worthy. Learn what your personal credit report really means and how you can improve it.
Customer Service PAYS! Presented by Pope Vickers, Assistant Professor of Hospitality & Tourism, Jefferson Community College
In the business world, good customer service often isn’t good enough anymore. Customers and clients are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the merely adequate. For them, extraordinary service is the rule, not the exception. Anything less and they’re happy to vote with their feet and their wallets. That makes extraordinary service necessary, not just desirable. And that, in turn, mandates a strategy to help ensure that your business matches that standout service standard on a daily basis. Learn valuable customer service techniques that bring long-term dividends to your business and keep customers coming back for more.
GREENING YOUR BUSINESS, Presented by James Juczak, Author and Lecturer
Bring environmental sensitivity into your business strategy with ideas that will save energy, save materials, save money-and reduce your impact on the Earth. Learn that by spending a little time and money on things for your business, you can reap a greater profit. Energy conservation, critical pathways, recycling, and having a healthy workplace are all factors that must be considered in this goal. In this workshop, you’ll discuss the nuts and bolts of these practical and mostly easy changes.
Incentives Programs to Help You Grow Your Business, Presented by Cheryl Mayforth, The Workplace; Jill Bettinger, Jefferson Community College; , Lyle Eaton, Jefferson County Job Development Corporation; Don Rutherford, Watertown Local Development Corporation; Claire Seiferth Procurement Technical Assistance Program
From workforce development services (including customized employee testing and assessment, on-the-job training wage reimbursement, training grants, job seeker services, funding and grant opportunities) to business development assistance (including capital financing, low-cost facility options, assistance selling to the government, and economic development incentives) the county’s leading economic and workforce development agencies will provide information on services that can help your company grow through these challenging times.
How to Keep your Young Workforce Engaged, Presented by: Michelle Capone, Greater watertown JayCees; Jill Bettinger, Emerge; Alicia Dewey, Thousand Islands Young Leaders Organization; Jason Brown, North Country Artists Guild
The region’s leading young professionals’ organizations will be providing information on how to get the young professionals in your business involved and engaged in the community.
The Greater Watertown Jaycees is the local chapter of a national leadership development organization, which builds tomorrow’s leaders with the focus on self-growth for our members. This is accomplished through a hands-on approach to running projects that enhance the local members’ communities. Chartered in July of 2003, the members include media professionals, teachers, outreach professionals, military population, consultants, and retail managers. They offer many programs and ideas that are directed at the needs of the community
Emerge NNY, an off-shoot of the Jaycees, was conceived by a core group of young professionals that recognized that the region was experiencing a “brain drain,” or loss of educated, ambitious young people who left the North Country to live and work elsewhere. Their goals are to ENCOURAGE creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation in the North Country; EMPOWER those who wish to impact the direction which the area advances; EMBOLDEN those who don’t believe that they have a voice; EXCITE young professionals who live and work in the region, and ENACT a new way of thinking about what young professionals can accomplish in our community.
Based in Clayton, the Thousand Islands Young Leaders Organization’s mission is to help young leaders
- connect to other young professionals and to the area’s top business and community leaders;
- develop professionally through networking, skills development and through giving back to the community;
- explore career opportunities, local issues & challenges and their potential;
- understand the issues going on in their community;
- contribute service and leadership to their community;
- empower young leaders by strengthening their influence in the community;
- attract & retain young leaders in this region;
- enhance the quality of life in the Thousand Islands
The North Country Artists’ Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and promoting the arts in northern New York. They represent all areas of the arts - music, theatre, dance, literary arts, visual arts, and crafts and are committed to promoting and providing opportunities for growth in and through the arts. Their belief is that a vibrant arts community is good for individuals of all ages, families and businesses.
A complete workshop schedule can be found on the Chamber’s website, www.watertownny.com. Registration is appreciated but not required. Workshops are free to all businesses exhibiting at the Business Fair, and for those not participating; a $10 fee provides unlimited access to any or all of the workshops plus “A Taste of Success” featuring samples of local restaurant specialties. There is no cost to visit the exhibits and displays that will run from 9AM to 5:30PM
This year’s Business Fair should be one of the most exciting ever. Along with the great local products and services that will be featured, we are hosting “A Taste of Success”, an auto show highlighting the newest in technology and hybrid cars, and valuable educational programs to help businesses succeed during tough economic times. The 2009 Business Fair is all about “Smart Business in the New Economy” and will help you plan for success today and into the economy of the future that will emerge when the recession is over.
Want to get healthy and stay healthy for life? A great first step is to join the Y. Just ask YMCA Association Chief Executive Officer Peter Schmitt. He’ll give you a few thousand choice reasons for embracing the Watertown Family YMCA and its many programs. Schmitt is the perfect person to answer the question, “Why the Y?” Read more
When people are sick or injured, they want the best healthcare possible. They want the best doctors and staff; they want the most appropriate medications; and they want to feel at ease in the medical facility.
In other words, gone are the days of sterile white hallways and uncomfortable beds. Today’s medical facilities are being built in a way that increases productivity of staff and doctors and in turn reduces the patient’s stress level. Read more
It’s amazing - the changes Samaritan Medical Center has seen over the years. For an historian, the timeline zigzags from one side of Washington Street to the other. The facility started as the House of the Good Samaritan on Ten Eyck Street in 1881. It was a free city hospital with eleven beds. And, according to an 1882 publication of the Journal of the Diocese of Central New York, “…most of the furniture, bedding, etc, has been contributed and a number of citizens generously furnished the money to begin the undertaking. Our community is responding to an appeal for systematic pledges to continue the House, and we trust it will become a permanent institution for Christ’s blessed sake…” Read more
In recent years, our health and wellness have become of utmost importance. More and more individuals are recognizing the necessity of a broad, proactive approach to their health, including their body, mind and spirit.
Situated along the picturesque St. Lawrence River, a hub of relaxation, rejuvenation and healing, the River Wellness Center offers the tools crucial to attaining overall wellness. Read more
When Scott Skinner decided to take over a niche health food store, he entered into a world of clean, raw foods that not only forced him to learn the language of the holistic world, but also introduced him a lifestyle that so many Americans are looking for today. Read more
For this month’s Absolutely Business theme of Health and Welfare, it would be hard to find a better topic than the health and welfare of our dedicated soldiers, their spouses and children.
There seems to be a perception that the military has not been taking care of soldiers returning home from combat duty - including not just physically wounded soldiers, but also those who may be dealing with traumatic experiences from the war zone. Many more of today’s soldiers are married with families than during the Vietnam War. So what is really going on? And what would be a better place to start than Fort Drum and the most deployed division in the United States? Read more
I believe most everyone will agree that the country is in troubling economic times. When these times hit, businesses look for ways to cut costs. After the fat is removed, where do you go? I am starting to hear of companies cutting back on safety. This thought process is wrong. Companies need to maintain their safety processes and training. Good safety practices may be saving businesses tens of thousands of dollars a year or more. Some companies feel that safety is a negative impact on the bottom dollar. Nothing could be further from the truth. Read more
