Workshop Agendas

Strategies to Achieve Your Goals

Presenter... Sarah Meaker, Meaker & Associates

Overview... Goal setting is an important part of establishing and growing a successful business. It is an essential management tool that will help you realize success. The focus of this session is knowing how to set business goals. Session topics include:

• The connection between improving professionally and individually and achieving goals
• The aspects of goal setting

During this session, participants will

• Create a goal meaningful to their organization's success
• Walk through the goal setting processand leave with the tools necessary to set and achieve their goals

Do Your Homework!

Presenters... Bob Coleman, Kathy Koch, Sarah Meaker, Patricia Simmons and Karen Tibbs

Overview... This is a brief introduction of each member within our collaboration and the workshop series. We'll provide the basis for questions you can ask before you make business purchases such as

• computer hardware and software
• promotional products
• printing supplies
• any business service provider

Are You Planning a Website?

Presenter... Patricia Simmons, Web Wise Concepts

Overview... Give your business an edge with a website that will enhance your promotional efforts and provide a return on your investment. The focus of this session is planning a successful website. Session topics include:

• The importance of planning a business web site
• Using a design planning brief
• The responsibilities of the client and the designer

During this session, participants will

• Define a primary objective for their business web site
• Start their planning process using a design planning brief template

Computer Essentials for Small Business

Presenter... Bob Coleman, Web Pro Solutions

Overview... Having the right equipment is essential to a good business operation. Knowing how to use and protect the equipment is what will keep your business running smoothly. Session topics include:

• Quality equipment & vendor support
• Backup procedures
  • Software
  • Schedule
  • Location
• Firewalls and Anti-virus protection
  • Block intrusions
  • Update regularly
• Security Procedures
  • Passwords
  • Wireless network security

During this session, participants will complete a fun questionnaire about these computer essentials.

Get the Most out of Your Printing Budget

Presenter... Karen Tibbs, CMC

Overview... Does your printing budget only include the necessary items to run your business? Would you like to include some marketing and sales material but afraid you can’t afford it? This workshop will not only help you set your budget but will show you the least expensive way to get everything you need and want within your budget.  The more knowledge you have about printing the better buyer you become.

Session topics include:

• Using a Professional verses “Do it yourself”
• Most cost effective way of printing what you need
• New cost savings on small quantities
• Best promotional items available to fit your business

During this session participants will

• Prepare a printing budget to get the most out of it
• Learn the different types of printing and which will be the most cost effective for your business
• See samples of various printed material that you will be given to take with you. These samples will give you ideas to use.  If applied, the knowledge you gain from this session will help keep down the future expense while building up the success of your business.

Keeping and Growing your Small Business

Presenter... Kathy Koch, Koch Enterprises

Overview... This session focuses on the importance of a gift and incentive program. Participants will learn how this type of program will help grow their business and retain customers. Session topics include:

• Going beyond the ordinary
• Customer/client appreciation
• Employee recognition
• Sales contests

During this sesssion there will be a fun role playing activity to help demonstrate the impact on your business.