Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Restaurant 101." Restaurants are among the hardest businesses to start up and to operate. This seminar will offer an overview of what it takes to open and run a successful restaurant by providing step by step details such as menu development, site configuration, personnel, financing, marketing, advertising and legal issues. Sign up now to guarantee your spot for this great seminar! Advance registration required. Lunch will be provided.

Speaker: Steve Lucchi, SCORE Representative

Co-sponsor: Lake Point Conference Center

Seminar Highlights: The Essential Skills of Communication Seminar helps small business owners and employees ensure that communication is a two-way process. You will learn to construct clear, concise messages, listen to improve communication, and manage nonverbal behaviors to reinforce the intent of the message. Furthermore, you will learn to create a climate of open communication that increases team members' motivation and commitment.

Speaker: Terry Barclay, Performance Solutions

Seminar Highlights: Many business owners consider marketing to be just advertising and selling; however, marketing is an ongoing customer relationship process that can be done cheaply and efficiently. In this presentation, the speaker shares approaches that are not only practical and low cost but also effective for any size business. Among the techniques to be covered are: free marketing avenues, referrals, competitive edge, public relations, business cards, the value of a database, the power of a thank you note and gifts, the importance of follow-up and how and when to use a postcard.

Speaker: Jennifer Terrell, Interim Training Cooridator of the ATU ASBTDC

Co-sponsor: Dardanelle Chamber of Commerce

Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents Facebook ABCs for Business (Hands On). This course will explain how to tap into one of the largest growing, free Social Media sites. You will learn how to create a profile and customize your page to highlight your business and incorporate your brand, what type of content to post on your Facebook page to keep fans engaged, how to use your existing network to promote and grow your Facebook Business page. The second half of the class is dedicated to creating your business profile. Attendees can bring a flash drive with their logo to upload onto their page. Follow up with our Facebook Business Pages Seminar on March 15th and receive both classes for only $50.

Speaker: Jennifer Terrell, Interim Training Coordinator of the ATU ASBTDC

Co-sponsor: Russellville Chamber of Commerce

Seminar Highlights: It doesn't matter how many employees you have, HR is a BIG part of every small business. Your approach to HR management can greatly affect customer service, company profitability and your enjoyment of your business. This interactive seminar will provide you with information and creative strategies you can put to use immediately. The seminar will cover HR management basics, laws and regulations, employee handbooks, employee recruitment and retention, interviewing techniques, compensation, job description, documentation, and performance appraisal. Bring your managers, supervisors, and key employees to set your business up for HR management success!

Speaker: Tracy Cline-Pew, HR Coordinator and Connie Holstein, Assistant Director of Finance; City of Russellville

Seminar Highlights: This interactive training workshop will introduce high-tech entrepreneurs and university researchers to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The SBIR/STTR program offers federal funding support for innovative research and development projects that meet specific agency needs. Participants will learn about the basic requirements for program participation, methods for assessing qualifying technologies and research projects, and how to get started with the SBIR/STTR program. Rebecca Norman, ASBTDC Innovation Consultant, will guide this training session and will be available for individualized consulting sessions following the training.

Speaker: Rebecca Norman, ASBTDC Innovation Consultant

Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Facebook Advanced: Business Pages." This hands on course is a step-up from our Facebook ABCs for Business seminar. This seminar is for the advanced Facebook user and the SBTDC will show the business how to find content to post, create contests, use third party sites to create custom welcome tabs and coupons. The seminar will show the business owner how to monitor the Facebook insights and understand what impressions use these insights to grow their fan base. The seminar will talk about posting pictures and how to tag people and other businesses. This is a hands on seminar and computers will be provided. Space is limited to 12 seats, register as soon as possible. Deadline to register is Friday, March 9th. If you go to our Facebook ABC's Class on March 7th the week before this seminar then receive both classes for only $50.

Speaker: Jennifer Terrell, Interim Training Coordinator ATU ASBTDC

Seminar Highlights: This seminar 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.

Speaker: Brandon Morris, Barons' Inc.

Seminar Highlights: Is your business prepared for a disaster? A disaster can be a natural catastrophe or it can be a malfunction with your computer that wipes out all your data and important company information. Join the ASBTDC for Continuity of Operations and learn why it is so important to have a disaster plan in place for your business. Still wonder why this is important? 43-60% of businesses never reopen after a disaster (US Small Business Administration). Our area has randomly been hit with a series of severe weather that no one could have predicted, why wait until disaster strikes?

Speaker: Tonya Roberts-Young, Director for Center of Preparedness and Recovery

Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Is Franchising Right for Me?" If you are interested in finding the business/franchise that is right for you, then this is an event that you will not want to miss! Learn the pros and cons of franchising, but most importantly, see how to find the franchise that's right for you. Also covered is the "4 step research approach", laws, financing methods, and different franchise sectors. Advance registration is required.

Speaker: Steve Lucchi, SCORE Representative

Co-sponsor: United Federal Credit Union & SCORE

Seminar Highlights: The purpose of this course is to help small business owners evaluate how Facebook can help their marketing efforts. Topics will include: What is Facebook? What type of content should be posted on the business page? How can I track my Facebook success? How do I set up a Facebook page for my business? The second half of the class is dedicated to creating your business profile. Attendees can bring a flash drive with their logo to upload onto their page. Attendees should have basic computer skills but workshop is definitely for novices. Pre-registration is required and there are only 15 spots available.

Speaker: Jennifer Terrell, Training Coordinator of the ATU ASBTDC

Co-sponsor: Morrilton Chamber of Commerce

Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents"Intermediate QuickBooks." Intermediate QuickBooks is a hands-on class that 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.

Speaker: Brandon Morris, Barons' Inc.

Seminar Highlights: Many business owners consider marketing to be just advertising and selling; however, marketing is an ongoing customer relationship process that can be done cheaply and efficiently. In this presentation, the speaker shares approaches that are not only practical and low cost but also effective for any size business. Among the techniques to be covered are: free marketing avenues, referrals, competitive edge, public relations, business cards, the value of a database, the power of a thank you note and gifts, the importance of follow-up and how and when to use a postcard.

Speaker: Jennifer Terrell, Interim Training Coordinator for the ATU ASBTDC

Co-sponsor: Russellville Chamber of Commerce