Sessions
SESSION 1
9:00-10:00
BUSINESS PLAN BASICS
Jay Peterson, Western Dairyland EOC, Inc.
Business planning is one of the fundamental elements for creating, operating, and growing your venture. This session will illustrate the fundamental elements of a business plan, the importance of planning, and how to use it as a continual tool for business success.
YOUR ATTITUDE IS YOUR BUSINESS
Michelle Madl-Soehren, Nicolet College
Attitude affects every aspect of our lives, including both business and personal experiences. Your attitude determines if you will succeed or fail, see opportunity or difficulty. This session will teach you the powerful affect attitude has on business, relationships, and how it can either help or hinder business owners’ networking efforts.
OWN YOUR BRAND ONLINE
Ben Holmen, Ben Holmen Web Development, LLC
Developing an online brand is an important aspect of business. Don’t let others tell your story for you – take charge! During this session, attendees will learn how to develop a strategy to actively maintain your brand and customer relationships online.
WHAT’S YOUR FRAUD IQ?
Jennifer Thompson, Wipfli LLP
Every organization is susceptible to being the victim of fraud. An important first step is to effectively and efficiently manage those risks and develop a strong anti-fraud culture. Attendees will gain a basic understanding of fraud risks, methods for managing them, and how to handle fraud if it occurs.
PASSION MEETS PRACTICAL – FINDING YOUR NICHE
Rose Vincent, Offbeats Violin and Guitar Studio
Are you interested in developing your career or business within the art/music industries? This roundtable discussion will provide inspiration, troubleshooting, and answers to your questions related to following your passion for the arts.
SESSION 2
10:30 - 11:30
AVENUES TO SUCCESS: PUBLIC SPEAKING AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Arlene Radtke, Chippewa Valley Toastmasters
Barb Weisenberger, Chippewa Valley Toastmasters
Success requires an investment in yourself. Discover tried-and-true methods for finding your voice, crafting eye-catching presentations, and developing interpersonal skills. Learn what to say, when to say it, and how to say it.
USING PINTEREST TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS
Amanda Mouttaki, Mouttaki Consulting, LLC
Pinterest is one of the newer social media platforms and it is growing rapidly. This session will show you how to strategically use Pinterest to promote your business.
IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU?
Cindy Hangartner, Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci SC
Many entrepreneurs consider their start-up business idea more suitable to a non-profit organization than a for-profit business. This session will compare the requirements for starting a non-profit organization with the requirements for other business models.
UNDERSTANDING TAX AS A SOLE PROPRIETOR
Mary Stabenow, Nohre & Co
Lisa Geist, Nohre & Co
If you have an established business, it is time to streamline your financial information. This session will help you understand your business tax information filed on a Schedule C. You will learn organizational tips to help alleviate end-of-the-year frustrations.
ENCORE ENTREPRENEURS
Joan Sosalla, UW-Eau Claire
If you are ready to turn your hobby or interest into a business, you need to consider many details. This session will outline an approach that assesses how to proceed in following your dreams, setting up a plan for success, and taking the next step in your career.
SESSION 3
2:00 - 3:00
UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF INSURANCE
Rod Schultz, CVTC (retired)
Insurance is an integral part of everyone’s lives. What can you expect from your insurance and financial professional? Why use a local agent when you can buy insurance online? And, how do you know if you have adequate coverage? These are all questions that must be asked when researching and purchasing insurance. Attendees will learn how to discover the truth about insurance and make informed buying decisions.
MARKETING WITH THE END IN MIND: A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH
Linda Pophal, Strategic Communications, LLC
A marketing plan is a key tool to help businesses ensure they are spending their marketing dollars wisely. The marketing goal? Spend the least to get the most. This session will provide a step-by-step approach for marketing with the end in mind. The session will also include tips on how to identify, access, and influence target markets.
WORK – LIFE BALANCE
Linda DeVries, Wipfli LLP
Learn how highly effectively people accomplish more, have a reputation as a “go-to-person” and experience more of a work-life balance. This session will allow you to develop tools that help you achieve better time management and a process that can be implemented immediately.
LIFECYCLES OF YOUR BUSINESS: GROWING, PROTECTING, AND EXITING YOUR BUSINESS
Laurie Klinkhammer, Spangler, Nodolf, Bruder & Klinkhammer, LLC
David Hopkins, Woita & Associates Inc.
Paul Woita, Woita & Associates Inc.
This session will provide helpful hints for growing your business. We will also identify ‘alligators’ that can derail your plans, what to do about them, and how to exit your business in style.
FOOD INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE
Erin Nutter, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Laurel Robertson, Fired Up Pizza Company
The food industry is a heavily regulated industry. Whether you are canning jam, selling at a farmer’s market, or opening a restaurant, you will benefit from this roundtable discussion. Learn from area professionals that have experience in this challenging and fun industry.
SESSION 4
3:30-4:30
MIND OVER MATTER
Marcia Arneson, Sacred Heart Hospital
Everyone needs to make conscious and well-informed decisions about our health. Our thoughts, actions, and reactions are connected to our body responses from the inside out! Learn how you can break free from your overscheduled routine and balance your life by getting back to the basics.
GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH FACEBOOK
Shelly Cedarblade, Woo! Social Media Marketing
Over one billion people like and comment an average of 3.2 billion times every day. Your prospects are on Facebook, and you should be, too! This session will show you how to optimize your Facebook presence, promote your business page, generate leads, increase your engagement, and time saving tips.
CREATING JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS
Mindy Dale, Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci SC
This session will focus on the benefits of creating job descriptions and employee handbooks, and the legal risks if they are completed incorrectly. Topics will include essential elements of job descriptions and a sample employee handbook will be provided as a starting point for your business.
FUNDING PANEL
Chris Brooke, WESTconsin Credit Union
Mike Schatz, City of Eau Claire
Char Gurney, West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Mary Trimmier, SBA
Pat Dillon, Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network
Learn where and how to find funding sources for your small business start-up or expansion. Listen to professionals that can provide information regarding traditional lenders, community-based revolving loan funds, grants, and contest awards.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES
Aina Vilumsons, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
Cheryl Jordan, SBA
Businesses who are veteran-owned, woman-owned, minority-owned or owned by a person with disabilities may qualify for specific opportunities when competing for certain federal contracts. Discuss how to successfully access these opportunities in an informal discussion with industry experts.
