2010 Winner, Better Business Bureau of North Alabama Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
2010 Alabama Women's Business Center of Excellence
2007 Non-Profit of the Year
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| Women's Business Center of North Alabama
August 2011 Newsletter
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Newsletter Sponsored by
www.services-sps.com |
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Society of 75 Member Profile
Bancorp South
603 Madison Street
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
256-564-8440
8 Branch Locations across North Alabama
www.bancorpsouth.com
In Business Since: 1876; in Huntsville since 2006
Division President: Penny Billings
Number of Employees: Approximately 4,500; locally 34
Describe what your company does:
BancorpSouth is a large regional bank serving eight states throughout the Southeast. With $13.4 billion in assets, the bank operates approximately 300 commercial banking, mortgage, insurance, trust and broker/dealer offices, including four in the Huntsville metropolitan area. BancorpSouth's continuing goal is to enhance customer service and strengthen customer relationships by expanding our ability to be a single source provider for all our customers' financial services needs.
Type of customers: BancorpSouth offers financial products and services to meet the needs of individuals and businesses.
What sets your company apart from your competitors:
There are differences in what financial services are offered from bank to bank, and BancorpSouth can match the breadth of its options against any of its competitors. What separates banks from one another is usually access and customer service, old-fashioned concepts that are the cornerstone of any successful enterprise. And that's where BancorpSouth excels. Decisions are made locally, which means everything that's done is done to serve the specific needs of its Huntsville customers. This includes friendly, knowledgeable bankers who know the business, know the people and communities they are serving, and know how to make decisions.
Your advice to budding entrepreneurs: Have a plan and trusted advisors - Banker, accountant and attorney. Review and adjust your plan regularly. Favorite Quote: One my team hears me say often, "You will never have the time, you must make the time." -Marty Cohen |
August Lunch and Learn
"Getting Bank Financing - What Matters!"
Sponsored by:
Friday, August 19, 2011
11:15 a.m. Registration
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Luncheon & Program
(last half hour reserved for networking)
Speaker: Rob Heard, Renasant Bank
[Huntsville, AL] - The WBCNA has partnered with the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville-Madison County to present a Lunch & Learn session in August . The Lunch & Learn event will take place on Friday, August 19, 2011, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Registration begins at 11:15 a.m. The topic for August's Lunch & Learn is "Getting Bank Financing - What Matters!" and our speaker is Rob Heard, Renasant Bank. The event is sponsored by Bethel University.
What are the factors that go into establishing financing for small businesses? Why can't I get my loan approved? How important are the "Three C's"--Character, Capital and Capacity? What real steps can I take to improve your chances of getting your loan request approved.
The Lunch & Learn will be held at the Chamber of Commerce Auditorium at 225 Church Street in downtown Huntsville. A map with directions can be found on the website.
Reservations are required. The cost is $20 for WBCNA clients and Chamber members. Please call 256-535-2038 for the discount code prior to registering online. Cost for all others is $25. Credit card payment is required at the time of online registration. Reservations can be made online via our calendar at www.wbcna.org.
Registration/Cancellation Policy: Lunch registrations and/or cancellations must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday before the Lunch & Learn. If you are unable to attend and do not cancel by the deadline, you will be responsible for payment.
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Know the Law: Alabama's Immigration Law and the Impact on Small Business
Hosted by WBCNA and the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
Sponsored by:
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Seminar
Speakers: Distinguished Attorneys from Sirote & Permutt, PC
Alabama's new immigration law will go into affect on September 1, 2011 and it WILL change the way you conduct business in our state. The attorneys of Sirote & Permutt, PC will provide you an overview of the law and what to expect. This information is critical and too important for you, your business, and the future of business in our state to be missed.
- Overview of the New Law & Pending Lawsuits- Julian Butler
- How Does this Affect You and Your Business? - Jeff Rich
- e-verify System: How does it work? -Benjamin Little
Cost to attend is $99.00 per person. Debit/credit card payments are required at the time of online registration. WBCNA training gift certificates may be used to cover part of the cost to attend this event. Log on to www.wbcna.org to register.
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Only a few spots left for the Expos!
The Home-Based Business Expo (HBBE), held in collaboration with the DSEF, the Association of Women's Business Centers, and WBCNA, highlights the direct selling industry's business opportunity for many women and men who welcome a low-risk, low-cost entry into entrepreneurship.
Are you ready to grow your team? Are you building for a successful 2012? The HBBE is a great way to get exposure, generate leads and build new relationships with potential customers.
The Home-Based Business Expo Dates:
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2011
Location: Parkway Place Mall
Contact: WBCNA, 256-535-2039
Email: tina.bennett@wbcna.org
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2011
Location: Madison Square Mall
Contact: WBCNA, 256-535-2039
Email: tina.bennett@wbcna.org
The registration fee is $250.00 which can be split between multiple representatives of the same company. There are limited spaces available; please register ASAP! Contact Tina Bennett with the WBCNA at 256-535-2039.
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| SBA News Corner
Here's the latest news, headlines and resources from the SBA to help you propel your business forward!
Open for Business Blog
Keep up with SBA's top leaders and hear the latest news, including new tools and tips to grow your business. Here's a few highlights we found:
What's New?
- The SBA is rolling out two new 7(a) initiatives to help serve small businesses: Small Loan Advantage and Community Advantage. Click here to learn about these programs, their benefits and how to qualify.
- SBA's July Web Chat Offered Tips and Advice on Growing a Home-Based Business. Click here to access the archive of the webchat.
- SBA and Agility Recovery Solutions Hosted a Webinar on Disaster Recovery Best Practices. Small business owners can access business continuity strategies via a new website called PrepareMyBusiness. The site provides access to previous webinars as well as preparedness tips.
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WBCNA's Talk Radio Show for Entrepreneurs
Every Tuesday on Your Morning Drive 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
WTKI (1450 AM) Huntsville and WEKI (1490 AM) Decatur have returned to the air with a business-slanted format they call "Talk Radio for Real Life."
"Talk Radio for Entrepreneurs," hosted by Marianne and Darin Windham, is a weekly hour-long program focusing on entrepreneurs who share their best practices and lessons learned with listeners. If you would like to come on the air to talk about your business, the cost is ONLY $100.
Please contact the WBCNA at 256-535-2038.
 
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WBCNA Needs You to Get Involved!
The WBCNA is currently overwhelmed with demand for our services (which is a good thing). We welcome your time and support as a WBCNA volunteer. Here's just a few ways to get involved:
- Administrative Support
- Business Plan Review Committee
- FastTrac Business Coach
For every two hours of volunteer time, we will provide a $25 gift certificate to use toward WBCNA workshops (one per workshop; excludes Lunch and Learn & FastTrac).
Call Stephanie at (256) 535-2038 if you are interested and want to know more about how YOU can make a difference!
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FREE Business Plan Review from WBCNA!
The WBCNA Business Plan Review Committee is comprised of bankers, entrepreneurs, lenders, accountants, and others who can review your business plan and offer suggestions on how to make it stronger.
The need for business planning and a business plan for a new venture cannot be overemphasized. It forces entrepreneurs to consider every facet of the business and places decisions on paper; where they can be evaluated and considered before getting started.
Writing a Business Plan can be a time-consuming task. Software programs or instruction manuals can assist you with preparing your plan, but it is still important to polish and perfect the document before submitting it to investors or lenders. The best way to refine a Business Plan is to have it reviewed by other business professionals who are accustomed to seeing and reviewing Business Plans.
WBCNA's Business Plan Review Committee will help you answer these important questions:
- Is your business plan complete or are there missing components?
- Have you thought through everything?
- Is marketing sufficiently addressed?
- Is the format readable and free of typographical and grammatical errors?
To learn how WBCNA can assist you with Business Plan review, please call 256-535-2038 or email info@wbcna.org.
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QUICK LINKS
WBCNA Services
More About Us
About our Training
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UPCOMING WBCNA EVENTS
AND WORKSHOPS
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HUNTSVILLE
How to Make the Most of a Business MatchMaker- Presented by BID Designs August 4
Small Business Certifications: 8(a) and HUB Zone- Presented by BID Designs August 4
Know the Law: Alabama Immigration Law and the Effect on Small Business- Sponsored by Sirote- August 9
Financing your Business- Sponsored by RFCU- August 9Business Opportunities Matchmaker- Sponsored by Northrop Grumman August 11QuickBites with QuickBooks- August 11August Lunch &Learn- Sponsored by Bethel University- August 15
FastTrac NewVenture Begins- August 23 Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Business Series-Presented by BID Designs August 2410 Steps to Drive More customers Through Your Door- August 25Every Tuesday: Talk Radio for Entrepreneurs
DECATUR
Quarterly Breafast & Biz-
August 26
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NETWORKING
OPPORTUNITIES AND WORKSHOPS ACROSS
NORTH ALABAMA
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MADISON COUNTY
Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce New Member Luncheon- August 16
Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards- September 1
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WHO IS A WBCNA CLIENT?
Our clients are women and men in North Alabama who want to start or grow a business.
Our clients are our most important stakeholders.
Our clients are not dependent on us; we are dependent on them.
Our clients are not an interruption of our work; they are the reason for it.
We are not doing our clients a favor by serving them; they are doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to serve them.
Adapted from the words of Mahatma Gandhi
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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Stephanie Sellers at WBCNA, 225 Church Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801, or by phone at 256-535-2038 or email info@wbcna.org
 The BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organizations high standards of ethical business behavior.The BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability Reports, charity BBB"Wise Giving" Reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust,the BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints.
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GPAC offers services to the growing number of small businesses that want to do business with the government.
Services offered include:
-One-on-one individualized coaching
- CCR registration assistance
- NAICS Codes identification
- Online training
- Certifications (8a, HUBZone, MBE, WBE, DBE)
- Networking opportunities and business matchmaking
- Assistance with Capabilities Statement development and review
- Identification of Small Business Specialists (government and prime)
- Website resources for small businesses
- Identification of business opportunities and bid match assistance
Training is a major component of the GPAC.
The GPAC is presented by:
 If you would like more information on the GPAC and doing business with the government, call (256) 535-2038.
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VBAC offers critical training and resources to the Veterans in our region who are starting or growing small businesses that contribute to our community's economic growth and job creation.
Services are available for:
-All U.S. Military Veterans
-Service-Disabled Veterans -Reservists
-National Guard Members
-Active Duty business owners and start-up entrepreneurs in North Alabama.
The VBAC is presented by:
 If you would like more information on the VBAC and our specialized Veteran's resources, call (256) 535-2038.------------------------------------------------
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Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Summit and Disaster Recovery Information Exchange
August 11-12, 2011
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
4800 Bradford Dr. building 406
Huntsville, Alabama Deadline to Register: August 3, 2011 The Huntsville Advanced Defense Technology Cluster Initiative (HADTCI) is hosting a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Summit designed to facilitate deliberate establishment of partnerships between small businesses in North Alabama and universities within the larger region to compete for STTR funding. Twenty-seven research universities and engineering schools located within approximately two hundred miles of Huntsville will be invited to the event to be held 11-12 August, 2011. The date was selected to align with the pre-solicitation period of the next Department of Defense STTR solicitation. Universities and small businesses will be asked to review the available STTR topics to identify the ones of specific interest. Small businesses around North Alabama who wish to participate in the STTR Summit are encouraged to: - Register early
- Prepare short presentations identifying the STTR topics of interest
- Define the subset of their capabilities they intend to apply toward competing for and executing efforts under those topics.
Participating Speakers: - Mo Brooks, U.S. Representative - Alabama 5th Congressional District
- Sean Greene, SBA Associate Administrator for Investment and Special Advisor for Innovation - Invited
- John W. Holly, Major General (RET) Vice President, Lockheed Martin Missile Defense Systems
- Steven G. Smith RADM USN (RET) Director - SBA Office of Disaster Planning
- Dr. Malcolm Portera, Chancellor of the University of Alabama System and Interim President of UAHuntsville
- Tom Todt, SBA District Director of the Alabama District Office
- Jim Santaferrara, Business Development Manager for Radiance Technology
- Jim Blasingame, The Small Business Advocate
- Rick Davis, Director, Cummings Research Park
Click here to register for the event.
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NEW! Proposal Series for Government Contractors
Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Business
Presented by:
A new series presented by BID Designs that helps small and mid-sized businesses as well as non-profit organizations and public-sector agencies to achieve effective, efficient, and disciplined business development, proposal development, and capture management processes. The ultimate goal: increased contract awards and enhanced levels of revenue. Session 2: RFP and Proposal Response Process Fundamentals August 24, 2011 Sponsored by:   Session 3: Pursuing Opportunities and Developing Win Themes, Strategies, and Solution Sets October 26, 2011 Session 4: Planning, Managing, and Developing the Proposal December 7, 2011 Session 5: Proposal Reviews and Production to Ensure Compliance and Responsiveness February 22, 2012 For more information about each individual session and to register, please visit the Calendar via www.wbcna.org. |
WIPP Online Training
Training 252: 120: Putting your Business in Order: Build Your Team
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
1:00 p.m. A discussion of the importance of: - Having an advisory team, who is on it and defining their roles
- Learn how to find the players
- Examining various business models to utilize an advisory team
Course Instructor: Nicolina A. Stewart, CPA, PFS, CLU, ChFC, President and CEO, Capital Management Advisors
Click here to register for this course.
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Meet our GPAC Coaches
WBCNA recommends that every entrepreneur who wants to do business with the government get familiar with the process. Below is a list of GPAC business coaches that support WBCNA and its clients.
- Dr. Jay Billings, Defense Management Systems Corporation
- Defense Systems Acquisition, Project Management, Contract Management, Organizational Development, ISO 9000, ISO 14000
- Aerospace, Defense and Education
- Jeff Irons, ironSclad Solutions
- Communication, Strategic Planning, Marketing/Sales
- Aerospace, Defense
- Steve Reed, Go To Market Solutions
- Contracting, General Management, Marketing/Sales, Public Relations, Business Plans, Communication, Consulting, 8(a) issues, Government Contracting, IPOs, Marketing Research, Negotiation, Partnering, Recruiting, Software
- Advertising, Aerospace, Biotechnology, Computer H/W & S/W, Defense, Electronics, Healthcare, Mfg, Medical, Publishing, Telecommunication, Transportation
- Gerry Johnson, SAIC
- General Management, Consulting, Government Contracting, Recruiting, Team-Building
- Aerospace
- Janet Phillips, CohesionForce, Inc.
- Contracting, General Management, Human Resources, 8(a) Issues, Retail, Software Development, Team Building
- Computer Software, Defense
- Garfield Boon, Advoco Technology Solutions, Inc.
- Contracting, General Management, Federal Acquisition Process, Consulting, Government Contracting, Negotiation
- Defense
- Sharon Steelman, Bama Jammer Mini-Storage
- General Management, Marketing/Sales, Compensation/Incentives, 8(a) Issues, Retail
- Advertising
- Chad Rogers, Paradigm Technologies/MDA
- Marketing/Sales, Government Contracting
- Defense
- Dr. Roger Schwerman, SPS
- Engineering/Science, General Management, Public Relations, Business Plans, Government Contracting, International Business, Team Building
- Aerospace, Agriculture, Architecture, Defense, Environmental
If you would like to meet with one of these business coaches, please contact WBCNA at 256-535-2038 or email us at info@wbcna.org. |
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You've Served the American People...Now Let WBCNA Serve You! 
WBCNA has established a business coaching program that matches Veterans who want to start their own business or grow an existing one with seasoned professionals. Our VBAC Business Coaches are Veterans who are successful business owners and dedicated to helping Veterans to develop valuable relationships and action plans needed to be successful in business.
Participation is free.
Call WBCNA at 256-535-2038 to schedule an appointment.
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VA Strengthens Veteran-Owned Small Business Eligibility Process
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, July 25, 2011 The Department of Veterans Affairs reaffirmed its ongonig commitment to support legitimate veteran-owned small businesses seeking contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs after the VA Inspector General (VAIG) released an audit report critical of its small business verification and contract oversight program.
The VAIG report audited the VA's Veteran-Owned and Small and Disadvantaged Business eligibility verification and contract award process from May 2009 to May 2010. The findings pre-date the implementation of strong reforms VA put in place in December 2010 to strengthen the veteran-owned small business verification process. In December 2010, VA identified an expanded and extensive set of business-related documents required to be submitted for review as part of the verification process and greatly expanded the number of applications that received the additional scrutiny of an on-site examination.
Since January 1, 2011, VA has processed over 7,500 applications. Nearly 1,500 companies were verified as Veteran-owned small businesses while 1,135 companies were denied verification as a result of the more rigorous review process. An additional 5,000 firms withdrew their applications or were denied for incomplete documentation. Some of the reasons for rejection include the inability to verify that the owner is a Veteran or disabled Veteran, failure to prove a Veteran is the majority owner, and lack of day-to-day operational management of the company by a Veteran.
The Center for Veteran Enterprise (VCE) has also implemented extensive quality controls to ensure those firms verified are in fact eligible to compete as veteran owned firms. For more information contact: Josh Taylor 202-461-7216.
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Meet our VBAC Business Coaches
WBCNA recommends that every Veteran entrepreneur who wants to do business with the government get familiar with the process. Below is a list of VBAC business coaches who are Veterans themselves, and who work to support WBCNA and its clients.
- Ron Klein, Belzon
- Contracting/Agreements, General Management, Business Plans, Consulting, Government Contracting, Strategic Planning
- Aerospace, Defense
- Robert J. Kuehn, Jr., Silver Eagle Consulting, Inc.
- General Management, Marketing/Sales, Strategic Planning, Process and Organizational Enhancement (IDIQ Contract Management), Business Writing (Pipeline Development, Oportunity Capture, Proposal Support, Color Review Team Support), Training (Leadership, Business Winning Functions), Business Plans, Consulting, Due Diligence, Marketing & Research, Strategic Planning, Team Building
- Aerospace, Defense
- Larry Anderson, Alatec, Inc.
- Contracting/Agreements, Finance, General Management, DoD Program Management
- Aerospace, Computer Software, Defense
- Kris McGuire, Victory Solutions, Inc.
- Public Relations, R&D, Business Plans, Consulting, Team-Building
- Aerospace, Defense
- Thad Mauldin, Qualis Corporation
- Bill Whipple, Logistics Plus Associates
- Joe Fitzgerald, Decision Sciences
If you would like to meet with one of these business coaches, please contact WBCNA at 256-535-2038 or email us at info@wbcna.org.
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