Event Notices From September 18
New Horizons Hosting Coil Group BYOD Event: Bring your own device (BYOD) policies can increase employee morale, cut costs, and get new mobile technologies working in the enterprise faster than ever before. However, a poorly executed BYOD strategy can have the opposite effect, derailing productivity, employee retention and compromising security. A seminar and Webinar from the Coil Group being hosted by New Horizons Computer Learning Centers of Michigan will provide a checklist of BYOD capabilities and requirements that successful enterprises are applying today, helping you to avoid downside risks. The event runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26 at New Horizons, 14115 Farmington Road in Livonia. To register for the free event, visit this link. http://www.nhdetroit.com/LocalWeb/Michigan/Detroit/byod-seminar.aspx. The Webinar, also Wednesday, Sept. 26, runs from 11 a.m. to noon. Sign up at this link. http://www.nhdetroit.com/LocalWeb/Michigan/Detroit/byod-seminar.aspx
Advanced Time Management Offers Workforce Management Seminar: Grand Rapids-based Advanced Time Management, provider of time and attendance products and services for business, announced its sponsorship of a workforce management seminar titled, "Labor Compliance 2013: Are You Gambling With Your Future?" The seminar is taking place on Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET at the J.W. Marriott in Grand Rapids. Jeffrey Shoskin, attorney with Frost, Brown, Todd LLC, will educate business leaders with critical compliance and labor law information essential for managing employees in today's lawsuit-driven environment. Webinar attendees will learn how the evolving landscape of labor compliance will change in 2013 and how to ensure your company is well prepared for the transition. Shoskin will review current human resources and timekeeping challenges as well as new requirements for 2013 wage and hour practices. He will also share best practices for compliance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act . Advanced Time Management executive Joe Thompson and Attendance on Demand representative Beth Baerman will lead an afternoon session focused on how time tracking and labor management assist with compliance. President Dan Corp will conclude the seminar with a session titled, "Leading through Change." More at www.advancedtime.com.
Merit Network to offer Leadership Boot Camp and Performance Coaching: Merit Network Inc. announced today the launch of Leadership Boot Camp and Performance Coaching through its Merit Professional Learning Program. Offered in partnership with Academy Leadership, the first boot camp will be held Oct. 22-24 in Ann Arbor. The three-day Boot Camp experience creates successful leaders through personal discovery that will help current and future leaders improve business results and accelerate their careers. Participants will develop a personal leadership philosophy and learn to articulate who they are as leaders. The course also includes work on important individual skills such as time management, meeting management and goal setting, as well as interactive skills like motivating others, conflict management and coaching. Such skills are fundamental to being a successful leader, though it is common for individuals to be placed in leadership roles without ever receiving formal training in these areas. The boot camp will be led by Dr. Donald J. Welch, president and CEO of Merit Network. Welch is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served in the U.S. Army for 25 years in a number command and leadership functions before joining the faculty at West Point as Professor of Computer Science and then serving as CIO. Welch believes so strongly in the Academy Leadership approach that he became a Boot Camp facilitator. Merit's entire leadership team will attend Leadership Boot Camp and Performance Coaching in the coming months. The Leadership Boot Camp and Performance Coaching curriculum was developed and tested by an elite group of West Point and U.S. Naval Academy graduates who went on to become successful entrepreneurs and CEOs after their military careers. Leadership Boot Camp and Performance Coaching class size is limited to 15 in order to ensure a high degree of attention for each participant. Though the course meets as a group on three consecutive days, it includes an additional 90 days of personalized leadership coaching from the instructor. Each participant receives follow-up support to implement new leadership skills and help in executing their Action Plan developed in the boot camp. The course to be offered Oct. 22-24 is the first in what will be an ongoing series offered through the Merit Professional Learning program. A foundational course, Leadership Boot Camp will be held multiple times throughout the year at Merit's offices in Ann Arbor. As leaders from Merit Network and its Member organizations complete the course, Merit will provide them with a community of practice around leadership. More at www.merit.edu/academyleadership. Merit Network is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan's public universities that provides high-performance networking and IT products and services to Michigan's public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.
Grand Valley To Host Risk Management Expert: Business leaders can learn to better define and manage risk at a Global Enterprise Risk Management event held by the Van Andel Global Trade Center at Grand Valley State University. The Sept. 26 event features Bart Kimmel, principal at Crowe Horwath's Risk Consulting Group. Kimmel will be sharing from his 26 years of experience in risk management -- including industries such as manufacturing, distribution, governmental agencies, food and agriculture, health care and life sciences, real estate, financial institutions, technology and retail and consumer products. The event runs from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the GVSU Bicycle Factory, 201 Front Ave. SW. Attendees will learn about defining, prioritizing and managing the enterprise-wide landscape to manage risk proactively in real time; synchronizing risk with global business strategy; and developing best practices to increase the ability to leverage existing risks. Business leaders can compare their risk management strategies to others. For more information, visit www.vagtc.org, call (616) 331-6811, or email vagtc@gvsu.edu.
2012 Brammer Lecture to feature William J. Kaiser, address wireless health: Wayne State University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will host the 2012 Forest E. Brammer Endowed Lecture from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, in the College of Engineering's Marvin I. Danto Engineering Development Center. This year's lecture, titled "Wireless Health: New Technology and a New Industry," will be given by William J. Kaiser, professor of electrical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. Wireless health -- a rapidly growing field -- aims to advance the quality and accessibility of health care through new and personal wireless platforms, networked sensing systems and embedded computing. Kaiser's presentation will describe a new form of detailed motion monitoring of individuals based on wireless health sensing, computing, networking and sensor fusion methods. Kaiser also will discuss how elite athletes can use wireless health motion analysis to measure and improve upon running efficiencies and techniques. In addition to his role as a professor at UCLA, Kaiser serves as co-director of the UCLA Wireless Health Institute. He received a Ph.D. in solid state physics from Wayne State University in 1984. From 1977 to 1986, as a member of the Ford Motor Co. research staff, his development of automotive sensor and embedded system technology resulted in large volume commercial sensor production that is still used today. From 1986 through 1994, at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he initiated the microinstrument program for distributed sensing and led instrument development for the prototype Mars rover. Kaiser served as chair of electrical engineering at UCLA from 1996 through 2000. He has written more than 220 publications, given more than 140 invited presentations, and holds 36 patents.The Forest E. Brammer Endowed Lecture Series was established in 1990 in recognition of Forest E. Brammer, a long-time Wayne State professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering who retired in 1982. The series, which is supported by family, alumni, students and friends, honors Brammer's many contributions and distinguished service to the department, college and university. The lecture is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in the lobby of the auditorium. For more information, contact Zhao at yzhao@wayne.edu.
Take a test drive into the future on National Plug-In Day, Sept. 23: Come on out and kick the tires of the automotive future in Saline and Ann Arbor on Sunday, Sept. 23 during local events being held as part of the celebration of National Plug-In Day. The local events will feature the country's first-ever parade of electric cars, street displays of all the plug-in vehicles on the road today, and ride-and-drive opportunities. It's a perfect opportunity for people who are curious about electric vehicles but aren't hooked yet to see the cars up close, talk with owners and look under the hood. The day's events will begin at 2 p.m. with a display of vehicles and ride-and-drive at the corner of S. Ann Arbor St. and Michigan Ave. in Saline. The country's first-ever parade of electric vehicles will leave Saline at 3 p.m. for Ann Arbor, arriving at the DTE parking lot at Main and William by 4 p.m., where a second street display and ride and drive event will be held.
Local Advertising Club Hosts Branding Seminar For Business Owners: The American Advertising Federation of Greater Flint is hosting a seminar on the "10 Commandments of Branding". The event is sponsored by 3Sixty Interactive, and will feature keynote speaker, Matt Harlow, a nationally known branding expert. 3Sixty Interactive Chief Strategist, Dale Keipert stated that "we like to educate local business owners and marketers on best practices in the industry. We are always providing free whitepapers, case studies and webinars on our website, so this event is a perfect fit for our sponsorship." Matt Harlow has been involved in the AAF for years and is now a teacher and speaker on current advertising industry topics. He will be covering the golden rules for growing and maintaining a divine brand and the dos and don'ts of branding, with real world examples and a high-energy presentation. The event is open to the public, and tickets are available in advance on the AAF-Greater Flint website, aafgreaterflint.com/events. Ticket price includes seminar attendance and lunch. The cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members and $10 for students. 3Sixty Interactive is a professional agency with more than 10 years of experience in the digital world. More at www.3SixtyInteractive.com.
October Business Workshops Offered by Oakland County
WATERFORD TOWNSHIP -- Business owners and entrepreneurs who need assistance are encouraged to attend seminars offered by the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center. Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. The building is west of Telegraph Road. For pre-registration and location specifics, visit www.AdvantageOakland.com/expand or call (248) 858-0783.
FastTrac NewVenture is an intensive, 10-week program that helps you evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning your own business. Written by entrepreneurs for aspiring entrepreneurs, FastTrac NewVenture offers essential business information to help you develop your entrepreneurial skills and build your business on a strong foundation. FastTrac® NewVenture provides the opportunity to objectively evaluate your concept and plans for moving forward, begin building an infrastructure for your business operations and processes, understand how to access the human, financial and business resources, and build an actionable business plan. The class is from Thursday, Oct. 2 through Dec. 4 (10 consecutive sessions) from 6 to 9 p.m. The fee is $140. No refunds.
Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business - Marketing is an essential of business success. All products/services must be sold to well-targeted audiences with a wide-ranging marketing mix. Our staff/SCORE counselors can guide you through successful techniques and marketing principles helping you to promote your products and services to the most promising customers-your target audience. Presented by The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC). Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. The fee is $40 per person. No refunds.
Business Research: Feasibility to Expansion - Thinking of starting a business and want to research your business idea? Are you a business owner who wants to benchmark your profit margin and other measures against similar size businesses? Do you want to identify market trends and opportunities to grow your sales? Are you looking for new customers or to diversify your market base? Business Research shows you ways to find your ideal customers, your competitors, perform competitive analysis and more. Presented by Oakland County Market Research and an Oakland County Public Library business reference librarian. Thursday, Oct. 4 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oxford Public Library, 530 Pontiac Road, Oxford. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.
Facebook for Business (Beginner) - Introduction to Social Media Marketing and using Facebook for Business. Millions of people are using Facebook and social media for fun, but it is also a powerful business tool that can connect you with your customers, potential customers and the world. Social media is a two-way marketing channel - a conversation with your customers. With social media marketing and Facebook you can leverage these conversations and relationships to: increase brand visibility and reach, be established as a thought leader and expert in your field, give real time customer service, stay on top of industry trends and conduct competitive research, build brand advocates, and yes - you can see a measurable ROI-even sales! But before you jump in and start using social media, learn how to get these results with an introduction to social media marketing and Facebook for business Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. The fee is $40 per person. No refunds.
Fundamentals of Starting a Business is a seminar for anyone thinking about going into business. Participants examine their entrepreneurial skills, learn how to implement their ideas and receive a list of pitfalls to avoid when starting a business. Thursday, Oct. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m.The fee is $30 person. No refunds.
Team SBA Financing Roundtable - This session is best suited to those who have good credit, a solid business idea, and some money to invest in their business. Before you apply for a business loan, we recommend that you first attend a Financing Roundtable. The roundtables are a free loan orientation conducted by a business banker, a business consultant from the SBA's network of Small Business Development Centers, and an SBA representative. During the roundtable, we'll debunk the myths and demystify the process of small business financing. You'll learn how the lending process works and what is expected of you and you'll understand how the SBA can assist with our SBA Guaranteed Loan Program. Because the SBA does not provide loan guarantees to real estate investment firms, including purchasing and rehabbing houses for sale, this type of financing is not discussed at the roundtables. Presented by: Small Business Administration Representative, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center Consultant, and Business Banker. Thursday, October 11 from 9 a.m. to noon. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.
CEED Microloan Orientation – Many small business owners face obstacles when trying to obtain a business loan. The recognition of the serious need for working capital for existing businesses, start-up or expansion, equipment purchases, and job creation is not the priority it once was. If you have a need for alternative financing consider the MicroLoan Program. Discover the requirements and process necessary to apply and obtain a microloan. Program presented by the Center for Empowerment & Economic Development (C.E.E.D.). Wednesday, October 17 from 9 to 11 a.m. This workshop is free but pre-registration is required.
Facebook for Business (Intermediate) - Create your Facebook Strategy. In this Intermediate session of Facebook for Business you will establish your social media objectives and goals for Facebook, create your Facebook social media marketing strategy and schedule, and integrate Facebook into your marketing strategy. Prerequisite for this session is Facebook for Business (Beginner). Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. The fee is $40 per person. No refunds.
Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan For small business owners who are developing their plan to success. Workshop participants discover the elements commonly found in effective plans and develop these for their own business. Thursday, Oct. 18, 6 to 9 p.m.The fee is $40 per person. No refunds.
Facebook for Business (Advanced) - Create and Launch your Facebook Campaign. In this Advanced session of Facebook for Business you will establish objectives and goals for a Facebook campaign, create and Launch a Facebook campaign, learn advanced strategies for reaching influencers and building a long-lasting online community, explore ways to take Facebook beyond social media marketing, acquire the tools you need to deputize your employees for organization-wide Facebook engagement, build a complete multi-channel, social media-enabled marketing strategy, integrate Facebook and traditional marketing channels to deliver a competitive advantage, establish a social media Facebook timeline, grow your base of fans and engage participants, learn how to advertise with Facebook, and how to effectively target your advertisements, learn how to run effective Facebook promotions and/or sweepstakes that meets Facebook's rules and guidelines and ensure a reasonable rate of return on your social media investment. Prerequisites for this session are Facebook for Business (Beginner) and Facebook for Business (Intermediate). Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. The fee is $40 per person. No refunds.
5 Keys to Achieving Fiscal Fitness – Fiscal management tools for the non-financial manager. This workshop provides the business owner an in-depth look at the essentials of using financial information to make effective decisions about improving their business performance. Topics include Ways to improve your company's cash flow, How to use the balance sheet and income statement to diagnose business problems and opportunities, how breakeven analysis helps you make better pricing and business decisions and How to insure you have enough working capital to support growth. Thursday, Oct. 25, from 8 a.m. to noon. The fee is $25 per person. No refunds.
Legal & Financial Basics for Small Business - "Legal & Financial Basics" provides new and existing Michigan entrepreneurs an understanding of the "key" legal and financial considerations when starting and operating a business in Michigan. The program addresses "how to" select the best legal entity for your business, "how to" protect your business interests when dealing with customers, suppliers or independent contractors and important information and guidelines for establishing short and long term succession plans for your business. Presented by Witzke Berry & Carter PLLC. Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to noon. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.
