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Greetings!
 | | Kelly Manning |
It is important to stay up to speed with legal issues that might affect your small business. I would like to share a recent court ruling that is important for innovative small businesses throughout the U.S.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a small high-tech company in their patent infringement suit against Microsoft. The case originated in 2009 when i4i sued Microsoft citing the inclusion of i4i-invented XML editing technology in Microsoft Word, a technology on which i4i holds the patent.
"The win for i4i is a win for all entrepreneurs, innovators and small businesses," stated NSBA Past Chair Keith Ashmus. "The Supreme Court took a firm stand that small-business innovation, patents and property rights mean something. It still will take solid proof to undermine a patent."NSBA member and i4i chairman Loudon Owen responded to the ruling by stating that, ""It is one of the more important business law decisions made by the Supreme Court in decades..."
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small-entity patents cover more original and broader technologies than large-patenting firms, as their measured impact level across downstream technologies is broader than that of large-entity patents. Small-business patenting entities also are more likely to develop emerging technologies than large firms.
This is great news for any small business that has their own patents. Hopefully this story will help boost your confidence in the courts ability to defend small business and encourage you to get out there and be a leader in innovation.
Sincerely,
Kelly Manning
State Director
Colorado Small Business Development Centers |
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Success Story: Crank Up the Voltage with Lopez Electric |
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Lopez Electric, LLC is a new business in the San Luis Valley. The owner, Jessie Lopez, graduated from Centauri High School and came back to the Valley after gaining invaluable work experience in California. As a master electrician, he completed the Leading Edge Business seminar, a class sponsored by the Small Business Development Center, and has since been steadily growing his clientele.
In California at NAPA Electric, he received safety training such as OSHA and CPR and also developed management skills. As a job foreman, he gained experience in residential, commercial and even industrial situations. He was part of a team that specialized in lighting controls, such as Watt Stopper, Graffic Eyes, and Lutron. He learned about the high end components for dimming controls, incandescent and fluorescent lighting, magnetic & electronic low voltage & LED.
With the help of the SBDC, Jessie set up his own business back in the San Luis Valley and he is here to stay. He enjoys smaller residential jobs as much as the challenge of the larger commercial work. He also has a niche in wiring homes and commercial buildings for electronic systems such as stereo surround sound or when someone upgrades their TV. He can also do data wiring for networks, telecommunications and has worked in wiring and installing security and fire alarm systems.
To contact Jessie, call him at 719.588.6904. To contact the San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center for private one-on-one counseling or to sign up for business classes, call Donna Wehe at 719.589.3682. |
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Women's Small Business Conferences - Register Now! | | |
The Colorado SBDC is hosting two Women's Small Business Conferences in July. These conference will feature breakout sessions that were chosen using responses from a survey we sent out to Women Owned Businesses and Women Leaders across the state. Check out the agendas for more details but some highlights include: Marketing with Social Media, Cash Flow Training, Hiring and Firing, Funding Your Business, CEO's Path to Peace of Mind, and many more. We will have exciting keynote speakers, resource tables, networking opportunities, and free business counseling for existing businesses and start ups. The conferences include breakfast, lunch, a networking reception and every attendee will receive a resource bag with conference materials and "Wordfood" by Julia Hubbel. There are a limited amount of scholarships available for both conferences, please email Alex.Markovich@state.co.us
Southwest Colorado Women' s Small Business Conference
Register Here
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
Durango Doubletree Hotel
Info Flyer: SW Colorado Women's Conference Flyer
Tentative Schedule: Durango Agenda
Breckenridge Women's Small Business Conference
Register Here
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Village Hotel Breckenridge
Info Flyer: Breckenridge Women's Conference Flyer
Tentative Schedule: Breckenridge Agenda |
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Increase Profitability as you Save Energy, Tap the Best Talent, and Attract Customers - New Boulder SBDC Program - July 13 |
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Would you like to increase profits, save money by reducing energy use, achieve greater productivity, and create a company that employees and customers love? If you answered yes, you will love Colorado Entrepreneur Sustainable Profits, a new program making its debut with the Boulder SBDC starting July 13.
When you realize that simple measures like efficient lighting practices can yield returns on your money of well over 40%, you'll understand why well-managed companies are making sustainability part of their everyday business practices. What's more, companies that embrace these strategies also experience greater productivity, attract higher caliber talent, and have greater market appeal.
You can enjoy these benefits too when you participate in Colorado Entrepreneur Sustainable Profits, a program developed in partnership with Natural Capitalism Solutions (www.NatCapSolutions.org), a global leader in business sustainability practices. The program package includes:
- A 3-workshop series that will educate you about the opportunities for increasing your results and the process of developing a Sustainable Energy Use Plan
- A year-long license to the powerful online tool, "Solutions at the Speed of Business," created by our partner Natural Capitalism Solutions, featuring modules on Lighting and Office Equipment
- Up to five hours of free consultation by trained SBDC specialists to help you implement basic sustainable practices
To learn more, contact Boulder SBDC consultants Julio Blanco (303-246-5194) or Marianne Ballantine (303-530-1882), or the Boulder SBDC Director, Sharon King, at 303-442-1475 x3. |
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Contract Opportunities! | | |
Baker Concrete Construction Inc. the nation's leading concrete specialty subcontractor, is seeking a few good local area SBE firms with concrete construction experience to learn more on how to participate in the building of the new Denver VA Replacement Medical Center Facility. Baker Concrete is searching for contractors and invites you to a Small Business Open House:
Crowne Plaza Denver International Airport
15500 East 40th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80239
June 21, 2011
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Small business, service-disabled, veteran-owned, HUB Zone, disadvantaged, minority-owned and women-owned companies are welcome! Baker is specifically looking for firms with concrete construction experience and who have been in business for a minimum of one year. They would like contractors with commercial experience who have done work forming and pouring foundations, walls, slab on grade and elevated structures. Space is limited so please contact us in advance.
To register, please call 303-367-8111 or email
PedrazaB@bakerconcrete.com
Hull Tech Construction would like to invite local area Veteran owned business and other SBE companies with concrete experience to join us in gaining knowledge on how to participate in the building of the upcoming VA Medical Hospital in Denver, CO. The Hull Tech/ Mcclone Diamond Team are looking for sub contractors and would like to extend an invitation to our Open House.
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
1445 Market St.
Denver, Colorado 80202
June 24th, 2011 3:00pm-5:00pm
Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Veteran Owned and other SBE such as HUB Zone, Minority-owned, Disadvantaged, and Women owned companies are welcome! Space is limited so please contact us in advance.
To register please call 720-223-6400 or email
info@hulltechconstruction.com |
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Call for Outdoor Retailers on 16th Street Mall in Denver | | |
The Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) and the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District (BID) are inviting retailers interested in outdoor retail opportunities on the Marketplace on the Mall to contact the new 16th Street Marketplace Manager, Cord Rauba, for information on existing cart retail opportunities and to learn about an addition to the program launching in summer of 2011.
"Marketplace on the Mall" is a year-round program that showcases local, regional and national retailers through an outdoor retail component on the 16th Street Mall. This program has historically included push carts, sampling opportunities and special events and promotions. In 2011, the program will expand to include a variety of retailers for eight new semi-permanent retail merchandising units (RMUs). The BID will own and lease each of the RMUs. New retail participants in this program will be selected based on creativity, presentation, quality, uniqueness of product and overall value to the existing Downtown retail mix. In addition to the current outdoor retail offerings, the RMUs will showcase an eclectic mix of merchandise that may include traditional cart uses with a focus on local products, small business expansion and retail exposure for the creative community.
"This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to introduce their unique products to the Downtown market," said Tami Door, President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. "We believe that successful outdoor retailers can eventually transition to inline stores in the Downtown area."
With over 100 restaurant and retail establishments along the 16th Street Mall, it is no surprise that the Mall has been rated the #1 visitor attraction in the metro area by Longwood International Studies. On the average weekday, 48,000 people utilize the RTD FREE MallRide, which runs the length of the 16th Street Mall.
To learn more about the vision for the Marketplace on the Mall please contact info@downtowndenver.com or 303-534-6161
The Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc |
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Business Plan Scholarships for Start Up Energy Companies | | |
The SBDC and Workforce Centers have created an opportunity for energy start-up businesses to attend the Leading Edge (LE) business plan course and start-up classes at no charge. The Workforce Centers will pay $500.00 per attendee to go through the LE course and $25.00 per attendee to go to a start up class.
If you or someone you know is interested in starting an energy business (preservation, solar, audits etc.) and they are unemployed, send them to the local Workforce Center to get more information and to sign up for the scholarship.
Scholarships will be given depending on the level of completeness the business is in. If you have a great idea but have not begun any of the startup procedures you might qualify for the start up class. If you business is ready to start and you need a structured course to clarify and improve your business plan then the Leading Edge course might be right for you. Regardless of where your business is, the SBDC and Workforce Centers are here to help and our aim is to help 30 people through the Leading Edge business plan course in the next 2 years. |
| Business Tip: Employee Training | | |
Solid goal-oriented employee training is one of the best investments a company can make. Effective training develops teams that do the work well because employees know what to do. The following are a few thoughts to keep your training on track:
- Determine and document your standards: What is your operating philosophy? Do you have solid goals that are expected to be met? Do you reward thinking outside current company policy or is it critical employees follow a set process?
- Develop training tools to support your standards keeping in mind that human beings have different learning styles. A combination of visual images, documented details on standards, and hands-on learning should be combined to get the best results.
- Create an atmosphere where experimentation is encouraged. Talent has a wonderful way of growing with confidence. If you provide supportive guidance, that confidence will grow.
- Check in periodically. Taking a new employee out to lunch or even just grabbing a cup of coffee is an easy way to get a sense of how well you are hitting your mark with development, and it also creates relationships. We tend to do our best for the people we like and trust.
- Provide additional training. Your best staff will likely always be hungry for greater challenges and opportunities. Keep them fed!
- Review your standards and training methods from time to time. If the message isn't getting through, shake things up and try something unexpected or new.
- Most important of all, remember that employee education is just as critical to company growth as fertilizer is to the growth of a seedling. Make sure your training tools are well developed and effective!
Robin Enright is the founder of Merchandising Matters which provides retail visual merchandising and marketing support and training.
This tip was submitted by the Boulder SBDC
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| Minority Business Office | | |
 Upcoming MBO Events
Small Business Resource Fair
Coming together to help your small business:
- One-on-One Conseling
- Small Business Panel Discussion
- Exhibitors:
- Bankers
- Gov. Contractors
- Bus. Resources
- Networking Partners
- Business Workshops
- Lending Matchmaking
Date: Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Time: 10:15 am - 3:45 pm
Place: Denver Public Library
10 West 14th Ave.
Denver, CO 80204
Register here
For information related to minority business events please contact LeRoy Romero at: l.romero@state.co.us |
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Upcoming SBDC Events | | |
South Metro Denver:
Tuesday, June 28th
Business Start Up
Learn the Basic Steps to Starting a New Business
Cost: No Charge
Parker Library
10851 S. Crossroads Drive
Parker, CO 80134
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Wednesday, July 14th
Success Tracks Information Meeting
Learn About this Strategic Planning Program for Existing Busiensses
Cost: No Charge
South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce
6840 S University Blvd.
Centennial, CO 80122
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Please register at the South Metro Denver SBDC.
San Luis Valley
Tuesday, June 21st
Google Places for Your Business
Cost: Free
Monte Vista Info Center
947 1st Ave.
Monte Vista 81144
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Wednesday, July 20th
Hire Your First Employee
Cost: $20 (Half price for chamber members)
Upstairs at the Depot
610 State Avenue
Alamosa, CO 81101
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
To register please contact Donna Wehe at 589-3682 or donna@slv-sbdc.com
Grand Junction
Wednesday, July 6 - September 7
IDEA Workshop
Refine an idea, apply practical business skills, and analyz early stage concepts
Cost: $150 (10 week program)
Grand Junction SBDC
2591 B 3/4 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81503
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesday, July 6th
Your Website, Your Image, Who Builds It?
Understand website terms, navigate building a website, and choosing a developer
Cost: $50
Grand Junction SBDC
2591 B 3/4 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81503
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Please register online Here
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  Colorado Small Business Development Centers A division of
Denver, CO 80202 | |
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