Events/Workshops

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "SBA Lender Training." SBA lending is a critical tool, which can expand your bank's ability to offer customerized financial solutions to your customers in today's economy. SBA is committed to providing assistance to lenders that are willing to invest in the community and the people that provide the jobs and products to move our economy forward. Learn how your bank can become more profitable with less loan risk in your portfolio. If you have not used SBA loan projects before, it's never too late to get involved in the profitability of SBA lending. And now, it's easier than ever before.

Speaker: Pat Walker, SBA Representative

The Arkansas Small Business & Development Center presents "Business Bootcamp: Starting a Business in Arkansas". This seminar prepares participants for the intensive business planning process, identifies major steps crucial to starting a business, discusses key issues that affect your business success, start-up requirements and common pitfalls you will face as an entrepreneur. Free New Business Guide!! Cost: $99 Application Fee (includes all 5 Business Boot Camp sessions) or $30 per seminar.

Speaker: Tara Thornton, HSU SBTDC Training Coordinator

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Marketing Techniques for Small Businesses." A small marketing budget doesn’t have to mean restricted resources for your small business. Get an overview of general marketing techniques, accompanied by suggestions for small businesses with small budgets. Topics include how to create a marketing plan and calendar, determining your target markets, low cost marketing tools, image development and branding, and e-marketing.

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 included!

Speaker: Whitney West, ASBTDC Business Consultant

No matter how large or small, all businesses should have a written plan. A business plan helps to define concepts, evaluate the competition, analyze markets, determine risks and estimate financial potential. Business plans are required to obtain a small business loan. This in-depth seminar discusses the business planning process in detail. Participants will learn about the importance of planning and the elements that go into a good plan. For new entrepreneurs, Starting a Business in Arkansas is recommended as a first step.

Speaker: Tara Thornton, HSU SBTDC Training Coordinator

The Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center presents "Business Bootcamp Session II: How to Write a Business Plan". No matter how large or small, all businesses should have a written plan. A business plan helps to define concepts, evaluate the competition, analyze markets, determine risks and estimate financial potential. Business plans are required to obtain a small business loan. This in-depth seminar discusses the business planning process in detail. Participants will learn about the importance of planning and the elements that go into a good plan. For new entrepreneurs, Starting a Business in Arkansas is recommended as a first step. *ONE TIME $99 APPLICATION FEE (includes all 5 seminars in the Bootcamp Series) or $30 per seminar

Speaker: Tara Thornton, HSU SBTDC Training Coordinator

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Protecting Your Personal Assets When Starting A Business." Starting a new business can be one of the most exciting and potentially rewarding experiences of a lifetime. But there are risks. Eight out of ten new startups fail. Without taking some simple steps to protect your personal assets, you could lose everything. This course will introduce you to some ways to legally protect your personal assets as your start and operate your new business. Sample Topics Covered: Choice of Entity (corporation, partnership, limited liability company) Shareholder/Partner Agreements Operational Requirements Personal Guarantees Tax Issues Insurance

Speaker: Joseph F. Kolb and Clark J. Brown, Barber Law Firm

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "The Essentials Skills of Leadership." The Essential Skills of Leadership Seminar teaches contemporary techniques for effective leadership, thereby improving performance and increasing the productivity of both your team and business. Throughout the seminar, you will review video presentations and case studies, participate in group discussions, practice new skills, and receive immediate feedback. You will leave with valuable implementation tools, a troubleshooting guide and additional resources to help your employees apply the skills they have learned on the job.

Speaker: Terry Barclay, Peformance Solutions

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Advanced QuickBooks." Advanced QuickBooks is a hands-on class geared towards experienced QuickBooks users with an emphasis on the basics of day-to-day usage. It includes a review of entering transactions and generating reports and is great for exposing new ways of utilizing this accounting software system. Topics include: selling your product and services, working with lists, creating reports, and processing payments. **Please note that only 12 seats are available. No seating is available for walk-ins. Registration is required ahead of time to guarantee your seat.**

Speaker: Brandon Morris, Baron's Inc.

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Advanced QuickBooks." Advanced QuickBooks is a hands-on class geared towards experienced QuickBooks users with an emphasis on the basics of day-to-day usage. It includes a review of entering transactions and generating reports and is great for exposing new ways of utilizing this accounting software system. Topics include: selling your product and services, working with lists, creating reports, processing payments, and payroll. **Only 12 seats available. Payment must be received to reserve seat. No discounts available.**

Speaker: Paul Bax, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor

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 only 10 seats are available. Payment is required at time of registration to guarantee your seat. No seating available for walk-ins.**

Speaker: Paul Bax, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor

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 only 10 seats are available. No seating is available for walk-ins. Payment is required at time of registration to guarantee your seat.**

Speaker: Paul Bax, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Facebook Timeline for Business Pages (Hands On)." Worried about the new timeline changeover? Don't fret! This hands on course will show you how to use the new timeline set up to your business' advantage. 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

Speaker: Jennifer Terrell, Interim Training Coordinator ATU SBTDC

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at Southern Arkansas University presents "The Power of Email Marketing." Email marketing doesn't cost much, doesn't take a lot of time, and it's effective. A perfect fit for small businesses! Target the customer you want to reach and get results with email marketing. Learn how to get your email opened, how to grow your list, and how to use Constant Contact software to create professional-looking email campaigns in a snap. No technical expertise is needed.

Speaker: Megan Whitehead, SAU SBTDC Training Coordinator

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Networking." Get someone else to blow your horn and the sound will carry twice as far. - Will Rogers. This seminar will give you step by step ways to properly and successful market yourself at networking events. The basis of this class is face to face marketing and growing your brand. Let your marketing skills take you to the next level. Registration is Required.

Speaker: Ken Abernathy, Big HATS Consulting

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "5 Small Business Strategies for Social Media." Not sure where to begin with social media or why you should bother? Businesses of all sizes are using online tools like Facebook, Twitter, and blogs to connect with customers. We'll show you five low-cost ways social media can bolster your current marketing efforts. Learn which social media platforms are a good fit for you, where your target customers are looking online, and what it could mean for your business if you aren't involved in social networking. **Only 15 seats available. Payment must be received to reserve seat. No discounts available.**

Speaker: Maradyth McKenzie, ASBTDC Training Coordinator

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at Southern Arkansas University presents "The Power of Email Marketing". Email marketing doesn't cost much, doesn't take a lot of time, and it's effective. A perfect fit for small businesses! Target the customer you want to reach and get results with email marketing. Learn how to get your email opened, how to grow your list, and how to use Constant Contact software to create professional-looking email campaigns in a snap. No technical expertise is needed.

Speaker: Megan Whitehead, SAU SBTDC Training Coordinator

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Free & Local: Small Business Marketing." Many business owners consider marketing to be just advertising and selling. They don't consider additional techniques that are available to them. 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: image development, customer service, promotion, public relations, networking, advertising, and cross promoting. The seminar provides ideas on business cards, customer referrals,social media and customer appreciation rewards you can begin using immediately and see a difference in your bottom line.

Speaker: Jennifer Terrell, Interim Training Coordinator ATU SBTDC

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents E-Mail Marketing Made Easy. Email marketing doesn’t cost much. It doesn’t take a lot of time. And it’s effective! A perfect fit for small businesses! Target the customer you want to reach and get results with email marketing. Learn how to get your email opened, how to grow your list, and how to use Constant Contact software to create professional-looking email campaigns in a snap. No technical expertise is needed.

Speaker: Herb Lawrence, ASU SBTDC Director

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents E-Mail Marketing. Email marketing doesn’t cost much. It doesn’t take a lot of time. And it’s effective! A perfect fit for small businesses! Target the customer you want to reach and get results with email marketing. Learn how to get your email opened, how to grow your list, and how to use Constant Contact software to create professional-looking email campaigns in a snap. No technical expertise is needed.

Speaker: Herb Lawrence, ASU SBTDC Director

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 Computer Training Specialist

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents "Using Media Tablets for Your Business." Have you seen other business owners with tablet computers? Want to get a tablet for your business, but don’t know what you would use one for? Attend a hands-on workshop with the Arkansas SBTDC’s new iPad tablet lab. You’ll learn the basics of how to use a tablet computer. We’ll also explore built in applications as well as several downloadable tablet apps that are being used with success by other small businesses. Learn how you can process invoices in the field, teleconference with employees and customers, and much more! Your fee includes a workbook and hands-on training with a tablet. **Only 10 seats available. Payment must be received to reserve seat. No discounts available.**

Speaker: Timothy Lee, ASBTDC Computer Training Specialist

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents Get Listed Locally. Find out key words to use to receive maximum hits and see your business flourish! Is your business receiving the hits it should when someone searches it on the internet?

Speaker: Herb Lawrence, ASU SBTDC Center Director