Seminar Highlights: This eight-hour course is designed to provide entrepreneur-authors with specific in-class exercises and interactive feedback from an expert instructor to help them to plan and then complete each section of a Phase II SBIR/STTR proposal. All agencies are covered in this workshop. The program will concentrate on two critical portions: the work plan and the commercialization plan. Although all interested parties are welcome, the workshop is designed specifically for those companies that have been awarded at least one Phase I effort on the SBIR Program and are confident they will be invited to submit a Phase II proposal (each agency is different!). Proposal outlines from various agencies will be examined and each major proposal section will be discussed, with methods, techniques and in-class exercises that specifically address the content for each of these proposal sections. The majority of the course will focus on two major areas key to winning: the work plan (and how one integrates knowledge of the state of the art with the work plan) and the commercialization plan (we are assuming that the principal investigator and the team are strong). Specific steps to attract commercialization partners will be examined. Tools, techniques, methods and examples of administrative, financial and project management aids and samples of materials that ease doing business with the government will also be provided. In addition, staffing strategies will be explored since a Phase II effort typically requires new and additional skills. At the end of this workshop, the participants will have the essential elements of their Phase II proposals outlined and have the benefit of 'struggling with the key winning elements' and receive feedback and advice from multiple-SBIR Phase II awardees, and experienced entrepreneurial coaches and instructors.
Speaker: Sharon C. Ballard, President/CEO, EnableVentures, Inc.
Cosponsor: Arkansas EPSCoR, Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, National Science Foundation
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "How to Write a Business Plan." No matter how large or small, all businesses must have a business plan! A business plan will help you define your concept, evaluate your competition, determine risks, and estimate your costs. This seminar will explain and illustrate the business plan format.
Speaker: ASBTDC Representative, SCORE Representatives and Metropolitan National Bank Representative
Cosponsor: Metropolitan National Bank
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Starting a Business in Arkansas." This seminar prepares you for the intensive business planning process, identifies major steps crucial to starting a business, discusses key issues that affect your business success, and discusses start-up requirements and common pitfalls you will face as an entrepreneur. Free 50-page Feasibility Workbook!
Speaker: SCORE Representatives and Metropolitan National Bank Representative
Cosponsor: Metropolitan National Bank
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Devleopment Center presents "Understanding Financial Statements." This seminar is for the small business owner or manager. The seminar takes an in-depth look at the numbers on your balance sheet and income statement and helps you better understand what is happening to your business. Topics include: understanding the financial position of a business, understanding the presentation of the numbers, and how to use the numbers in evaluating business profitability.
Speaker: Michael Singleton, ASBTDC Representative
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Rural Retailing." Are you a small, independent retail business or a start-up retail enterprise? Are your consumers being lured from shopping downtown to regional malls, "big box" retailers or on-line. Are there abandoned or vacant storefronts in your hometown? Why do some shops close and others thrive? This two-part seminar will help you understand the competitive retail environment so you can revitalize your retail sales. These highly interactive sessions will include fun group and individual activities, workbooks and more. Bring your key employees and join us!
Speaker: Nancy Knighten, ASBTDC Representative
Cosponsor: Phillips Community College - DeWitt
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Guerrilla Marketing: Basic Training." Chances are, your business could use some help about now. Let's face it, we all could. Once you realize this, you will see how much you will benefit from Guerrilla Marketing. That's because this treasure-trove of marketing tactics will help you weather the toughest times. It tells you exactly how to position your business so that you can propel to new heights that you never dreamt were possible. This seminar will cover topics such as: the importance of understanding your customer and how to better meet their needs, branding, e-marketing, 18 monumental secrets of a guerrilla marketer and the steps you need to take to put it all into action! **Mountain View Chamber Members can attend Guerrilla Marketing FREE**
Speaker: ASBTDC Representative
Cosponsor: Mountain View Chamber of Commerce
Seminar Highlights: Looking for ways to recession-proof your existing business? Learn how your small business can survive and thrive. This seminar will cover Guerrilla Marketing, cash flow and inventory management, customer satisfaction and retention.
Speaker: Heather Robinette, ASBTDC Representative
Cosponsor: Searcy Chamber of Commerce and Chesapeake Energy
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Guerrilla Marketing: Basic Training." Chances are, your business could use some help about now. Let's face it, we all could. Once you realize this, you will see how much you will benefit from Guerrilla Marketing. That's because this treasure-trove of marketing tactics will help you weather the toughest times. It tells you exactly how to position your business so that you can propel to new heights that you never dreamt were possible. This seminar will cover topics such as: the importance of understanding your customer and how to better meet their needs, branding, e-marketing, 18 monumental secrets of a guerrilla marketer and the steps you need to take to put it all into action!
Speaker: Jennifer Bonds, ASBTDC Representative
Cosponsor: Searcy Chamber of Commerce, Chesapeake Energy
Seminar Highlights: Looking for ways to recession-proof your existing business? Learn how your small business can survive and thrive. This seminar will cover Guerrilla Marketing, cash flow and inventory management, customer satisfaction and retention.
Speaker: ASBTDC Representative
Cosponsor: Bank of the Ozarks and Clarksville Chamber of Commerce
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "First Steps to e-commerce." Do buzzwords like "new economy," "information highway," and "e-Commerce" leave you confused? This 3-hour seminar will teach you the basics of e-Commerce. Learn how to plan and develop an on-line business. You'll learn about web hosting, Internet marketing, shopping cart software, credit card processing, customer order fulfillment, and much more! A 30-page workbook is included in your registration fee.
Speaker: Timothy Lee, ASBTDC Representative
Cosponsor: AT&T
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Starting a Business in Arkansas." This seminar prepares you for the intensive business planning process, identifies major steps crucial to starting a business, discusses key issues that affect the success of your business, and discusses start-up requirements and common pitfalls that you will face as an entrepreneur. Free New Business Guide and Feasibility Workbook!
Speaker: SCORE Representative and Metropolitan National Bank Representative
Cosponsor: Metropolitan National Bank
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Growing Your Business in Tough Economic Times." Looking for ways to recession-proof your existing business? Learn how your small business can survive and thrive. This seminar will cover Guerrilla Marketing, cash flow and inventory management, customer satisfaction and retention.
Speaker: Heather Robinette, ASBTDC Representative
Cosponsor: Bank of the Ozarks and the Cabot Chamber of Commerce
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Arkansas Sales and Use Tax and Business Incentives." This seminar is designed to inform business owners of current sales tax laws, to help them to prevent overpayment of sales tax, to educate them about the increased audit risk that they all face due to increased compliance audits anticipated in the future, and to show them how to protect themselves from failure to comply with the new regulations. The seminar will also discuss state of Arkansas incentives and tax credits that are available to many eligible businesses.
Speaker: Arkansas Tax Associates
Cosponsor: Arkansas Tax Associates
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Introduction to QuickBooks." Introduction to QuickBooks introduces this popular accounting software program to small business owners with little or no experience using it. Topics include: setting up a new company, chart of accounts overview, working with lists, and how to view transactions records and find information in your company file. Prerequisite: Intermediate computer, accounting and Windows operating system knowledge required. **Please note that seating is limited. Payment is required at time of registration to guarantee your seat.**
Speaker: Paul Bax, Bax & Associates
Cosponsor: Bax & Associates
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Guerrilla Marketing: Basic Training." Chances are, your business could use some help about now. Let's face it, we all could. Once you realize this, you will see how much you will benefit from Guerrilla Marketing. That's because this treasure-trove of marketing tactics will help you weather the toughest times. It tells you exactly how to position your business so that you can propel to new heights that you never dreamt were possible. This seminar will cover topics such as: the importance of understanding your customer and how to better meet their needs, branding, e-marketing, 18 monumental secrets of a guerrilla marketer and the steps you need to take to put it all into action!
Speaker: Jennifer Bonds, ASBTDC Representative
Cosponsor: Bank of the Ozarks and the Clinton Career Center
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents"Intermediate QuickBooks." Intermediate QuickBooks offers instruction in recording transactions and maintaining your company's accounting information using this software package. Topics include: purchases, inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable, classes, and reports. **Please note that seating is limited. Payment is required at time of registration to guarantee your seat.**
Speaker: Paul Bax, Bax & Associates
Cosponsor: Bax & Associates
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "How to Write a Business Plan." No matter how large or small, all businesses must have a business plan! A business plan will help you define your concept, evaluate your competition, determine risks, and estimate your costs. This seminar will explain and illustrate the business plan format.
Speaker: ASBTDC Representative; Centennial Bank Representative
Cosponsor: Centennial Bank Representative
Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "How to Write a Business Plan." No matter how large or small, all businesses must have a business plan! A business plan will help you define your concept, evaluate your competition, determine risks, and estimate your costs. This seminar will explain and illustrate the business plan format.
Speaker: ASBTDC Representative, Metropolitan National Bank Representative
Cosponsor: Metropolitan National Bank