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Women's Business Roundtable

The Women’s Business Roundtable (WBR) is an educational and advisory program for women owned businesses.

Cost: $145 per 3-session module
Tuition assistance available

Register today!The WBR brings together groups of 8-12 women business owners in related industries to provide resources they need to take their businesses to the next level, share promising practices, and get assistance from local experts.

Each group is facilitated by a business adviser who helps assess group needs, arranges speakers, provides individual technical assistance, and connects participants to other resources available through the Entrepreneurial Center and the community.

The roundtables meet on a monthly basis in three different modules lasting three months each.  The modules will focus on:

1. Small Business Financial Management: Use Your Financial Information to Make Better Decisions, Winter/Spring 2013
2. Understanding Your Market Opportunity and Developing a Marketing Plan, Includes focus on social branding and social media, Spring/Summer 2013
3. Reaching New Markets and Improving Sales, Summer/Fall 2013

Benefits of Participation

The WBR provides a much needed forum for business owners to step back from day-to day operations and engage in a structured strategic planning process that promotes long term growth. WBR participants who participate in the year long program will have the opportunity to:

• develop and implement marketing, business, and financial plans
• identify capital needs and access financing programs
• improve cash flow and financial management
• reach new markets and improve sales

How the Program Works

Once accepted to the program, each member meets with a business adviser, and is guided through the process of developing a three year vision for their business, identifying challenges and gaps, prioritizing needs, and setting meaningful goals. At the beginning of each segment, members set four month technical assistance goals that will lead to an increase in their capacity in the focus area.

Groups meet monthly for two hours with an EC business adviser and guest experts to explore strategies and tactics of growing a business as related to the needs identified within each group. The monthly meetings also assist members in solving immediate business problems, encourage accountability for progress toward their goals, and foster the exchange of ideas. Members may also meet with an EC business adviser or a guest expert for individual mentoring on an as needed basis.

At the beginning of each segment A Power & Progress Symposium is held featuring guest speakers, structured networking, business experts and other community businesses.  These forums provide additional training, expand support networks, provide visibility to member businesses, recognize the progress of the members, and expose new potential participants to the benefits of the WBR.

Requirements to participate

• Must be the owner of an emerging business with established clientele for at least 1 year
• Must be looking to take your business to the next level
• Must be interested in joining a peer group where you can share ideas, discuss business issues and work through complex issues facing your business
• Must be available to attend roundtable meetings once a month

To learn more or register, contact the Entrepreneurial Center.