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Calendar of Events
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March Highlights
3/9: Responsible Bidding 3/11: Women Business Leaders Breakfast Series
3/23: Quickbooks Made Easy
3/29: Legal Issues: Exports
Check out our website for the full list of events and training!
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Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium: Impacting Commerce and Community
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Date: Tuesday, March 8
Time: 8am to 12:30pm
Location: Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center
Keynote Speaker:
Marie Wilson, founder & President of The White House Project
Hosted By: Seton Hill University's E-Magnify
To register or for more information, visit Seton Hill University's E-Magnify website.
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Did you know?
Business coaching is an open-ended, goal-oriented conversation where awareness and action are increased through active listening and questioning. Coaching has been shown to improve satisfaction, motivation, accountability, relationships, and performance.
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SBA 504 Loans Update!
Need your owner-occupied building refinanced? As part of the Small Business Jobs Act, the SBA 504 loan program has temporarily expanded to refinance this type of project. Click here to learn more, or call us if you have questions.
February rates are fixed at 6.07% for 20 years.
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| Creating Buzz for Small Business |
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Greetings, entrepreneurs!
This month's newsletter focuses on creating buzz about your business using online social media and networking sites. The possibilities are endless, but successful execution of a social media strategy requires planning, flexibility and creativity. You should be creating quite the buzz in no time with the help of the resources below and regular practice.
Also, be sure to check out our new Guest Entrepreneur post from Jamie Ross of Ross Staffing Solutions on ways to brand yourself as an employer to recruit the best talent, and read introductions to two members of our Business Education staff.
As always, please let us know if there is anything you'd like to see in next month's newsletter by emailing Eileen Gallagher.
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 Social Media Marketing for your Small Business
Social networking is more than just starting a Facebook page or registering for a Twitter account - it's about creating ways for people to connect with your brand and building a network of ambassadors and supporters through a variety of online channels. Social media pros will tell you that practice makes perfect, so get started if you haven't yet.
One Bridgeway Capital borrower is quickly becoming a social media maven. Check out Bocktown Beer and Grill on Facebook and read a recent feature in Pop City on how this local restaurant entrepreneur uses social media to keep business buzzing.
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Guest Entrepreneur: Ross Staffing Solutions
Employment Branding to Drive Recruiting and Retention
By: Jamie Ross, Ross Staffing Solutions
What message are you sending to potential employees about why your company is a great (or not so great) place to work? Read Jamie's article to find out more about how a strong employer brand can impact your bottom line through improved recruiting and retention of top talent in this challenging hiring environment.
Ross Staffing Solutions provides focused consulting services in the area of Human Resources. If you have questions or would like to further discuss this topic, please contact Jamie Ross by email or phone at 412-855-9114.
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Business Education: Meet the Team
The business education staff is here to help our borrowers succeed, and we would like to introduce some of the team. Stay tuned for more intros next month!
Eric Swift is  a Business Consultant and Instructor whose mission is to improve the personal, professional, and financial performance of entrepreneurs through planning and coaching. Eric has coached over 350 start-ups in the areas of strategy, marketing, and finance. Eric has certificates in Professional Coaching, Human Performance Improvement, Communication, and Leadership. He received an MBA in 1993 and is currently pursuing a doctorate in leadership. Eric provides business, marketing, and strategic planning coaching to Bridgeway Capital microloan borrowers.
Renee Horn er has been a professional graphic designer for 15 years and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Michigan University. Her clients have included a variety of businesses, from large financial corporations to start-up restaurants. Renee has experience with a broad range of projects including logos, branding packages, brochures, web site design, trade show booth materials, handouts and giveaways, electronic and print ads, forms, handbooks, and presentations. Renee provides marketing coaching and graphic design to Bridgeway Capital microloan borrowers.
For more information on the business education program including eligibility guidelines for borrowers, please contact Eileen Gallagher, Business Education Coordinator. |
Nonprofit Entrepreneur's Corner
Nonprofit organizations are increasingly using social media outlets to raise awareness for a cause, increase donations, and recruit volunteers. Check out the articles below for tips on getting started with social media or improving current outreach. Also, be sure to connect with other local nonprofits through the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership.
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Website Gem
Have you heard of the popular personal financial management site, Mint.com? InDinero now provides a similar solution for managing your small business finances online and interactively from anywhere with an internet connection. |
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Please send your ideas and questions to Eileen Gallagher, Business Education Coordinator.
See you next time!
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Neither Bridgeway Capital nor its affiliates nor their respective employees, directors, officers or agents make any warranty, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assume any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information presented in this newsletter or on any website to which this newsletter is linked ("linked site"). Bridgeway Capital does not endorse and is not responsible for (a) the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, advice or statement made through this newsletter, (b) any content provided on linked sites, or (c) the capabilities or reliability of any opinion, advice, statement, product or service obtained from a linked site. It is the user's responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any opinion, advice or other content available through this newsletter or obtained from a linked site. |
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