NOVEMBER 2011  

Topic of the Month: Jobs

This month's topic was inspired by Michael Shuman, one of the nation's leading experts on community economics.  Shuman presented "Revitalizing Cheshire County From the Inside Out: A Serious Jobs Strategy" to a record turnout of 140 entrepreneurs and community members at the Hannah Grimes Center's CONNECT 2011 on October 12, 2011 at Alyson's Orchard in Walpole. 

 

Whether or not you were able to attend, the learning and sharing can continue:

  • Listen to Shuman's interview on NHPR's The Exchange.
  • View the slideshow and other photos from the event
  • Watch a rebroadcasting of this event on Cheshire TV (view the event on your own tv or online) on the following dates:
    • Saturday, 11/12 - 8- 9:30 pm
    • Sunday, 11/13, 8 - 9:30 pm
    • Tuesday, 11/15 7 - 8:30pm

Eventually we will have this video on our website - and we hope to have Shuman back to New Hampshire in 2012

CONNECT 2011 Slides

Job Growth Continues to Lag

 Originally Posted on CBS News 

 

Meanwhile, one of our local business, W.S.Badger Company of Gilsum, was highlighted last week on CBS News. If you bear through the ad, you can view this segment online

Badger CBS  Read more articles on jobs below. 

FROM MAK

Collaborative Innovation 

Lots of talk about innovation these days.   "Innovation" has become one  of those grossly overused words, perhaps because we all know it likely is the key to unlocking the secret of managing the fast-paced change and increasing complexity of every aspect of our lives here on earth.   Its overuse and lack of common understanding are almost as notable as "marketing", "goals" and "entrepreneur".  One can innovate in process, product, business model, service, customer engagement and much more.  One can also innovate incrementally or create fundamental innovations--and there is every level of innovation in between.

bag

I would love 2012 to unfold as a year that the Hannah Grimes Center explores with you the ideas of how a community can stay innovative-- especially a rural community like ours. What does it mean?  How does one do it?  How are we already doing it?

 

I have recently come across the concept of collaborative innovation.  I do think that NH and the Monadnock Region already have a strong culture of collaborative innovation that may help keep us innovatively in step with those high tech rock stars in big cities.

I recall a quote from Dan Bartlett, Business Incubator Graduate and Architect for our renovation project that reinforced the importance of a collaborative effort: "I guess I've had this theory that good design does not necessarily result from one person's strongly held vision, but rather comes from the variety of forces that come to bear on it--personalities, regulations, ideas, costs, existing realities and fortuitous coincidences - and that the result is a certain richness that feels genuine," he said in an email about our newly-completed space. "I agree with Robert Venturi when he says 'I'm for messy vitality over obvious unity'...."

Dan's elegant summary of our design-build process captures how this creative, practical-minded community works together. With a wide variety of forces bringing change--economic, environmental, social-- this community's propensity for collaborative innovation will result, I firmly believe, in a genuine richness in the "new economy".

Now there's another overused word....

Keep up the good work
& keep me apprised on your thoughts on innovation.

MAK

[email protected]


Editor's Note: In case you missed it, check out our
May 2011 Hannah Grimes Times focusing on Innovation
HANNAH GRIMES NEWS
GKCC Business After Hours
At the Hannah Grimes Center
Wednesday, November 16, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
25 Roxbury Street - Suite C, Keene

You're invited to meet and join the staff of The Hannah Grimes Center for a Business After Hours in their beautiful new space on 25 Roxbury Street.  Enjoy an evening sampling locally made and grown food in an after-hour's business-to-business atmosphere.  In addition to great food there will be a raffle and other giveaways.  Register online

 

 

Part-Time Position at  

The Hannah Grimes Center

 

This one-year, half-time position is intended to maximize the impact of the renovation and expansion of the Hannah Grimes Center (HGC) and its Business Incubator Program.  This person will also be responsible for completing a broad range of tasks as needed related to ensuring that by December 2012 HGC has a more effective and efficient infrastructure and programming to fully utilize our expanded capacity in the short term and ensure sustainability of those efforts in the longer term.

Please email (no phone calls please) to [email protected] a current resume along with a cover letter that addresses the application questions on our website

Upcoming WORKSHOPS & EVENTS
CLASSIFIEDS
Entrepreneurial Needs & Offerings*
Call for Proposals: NHBSR Seeks Presenters for the 2012 Webinar Series .  The NHBSR Webinar Series offers its members an innovative opportunity to promote and share Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability best-practices in a real-time, interactive forum. The Webinar Series also enables organizations to connect around CSR issues and learn ways to become more environmentally sustainable, improve workplace culture, and support local communities, while boosting the bottom line.  DEADLINE: November 15th, 2011. Contact NHBSR.

Office Space Available:  33 Center St., Keene. Vintage 5 room brick cape w/ potential for more space by finishing lg. enclosed porch.  Good storage. Has been used as a 2 bdrm. residence but is zoned office. Great location. Please call Barbara Tattersall, Keller Williams Tattersall at 209-4723 or email [email protected].

 

*The Hannah Grimes Center is posting these classifieds as a service to readers and does not imply endorsement.  Add your own classified ad: Send a 20-30 word description of your service or product that is directly supporting entrepreneurs to [email protected].  Make sure to include the best way to contact you.
MONADNOCK REGION EVENTS

The Fundamentals of  

Internet Marketing Series

Monadnock SCORE

Tuesday, November 15, 6 - 9 p.m.  

Saving Bank of Walpole, Keene


There are thousands of companies worldwide growing their businesses with social media. Get ready to join them.  This seminar will show you: 

  • How to set up your social media sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter)
  • How to build a social media plan that takes only 30 minutes per day to manage
  • Plus, examples of do's and don'ts

Fee: $30 per person/$50 per couple.   Register at 

http://www.monadnockscore.org/seminars.html.


Improve Your Cash Flow & Profitability
Citizens Bank
Monday & Wednesday,
November 14 & 30, 2 - 3 p.m.
Online Webinars

This webinar, presented in 2 one-hour sessions, cuts straight to the bottom line with a discussion about why you need to perform cash flow analysis, how to do it, and the impact it can have on the profitability of your company. Register online.

Part 1 - NOVEMBER 14: SEVEN STEPS TO FISCAL FITNESS
A step-by-step explanation of tools and best practices for evaluating and managing cash flow.
  • Increase understanding of key financial tools and analytical processes
  • Identify key performance drivers and build action plan to achieve "fiscal fitness"
  • Use the Biz FIT checklist tool

Part 2 - NOVEMBER 30: PUTTING KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION
Use Profitability Ratios and other metrics to drill down into your own company's financials as you master the best practices learned in Part 1.
  • Learn advanced financial statement analysis
  • Work through real-life scenarios
  • Calculate profit margin, return on assets and other profitability ratios
  • Use Roadmap Management Tool to create operational framework

Health and the Business Owner:
Healthy and Wealthy

Women Empowered By Business
Thursday, November 17, 2 p.m.
Online Webinar

What's good for Your Waistline is Good for you Bottom Line - Linda Gottlieb is a nationally recognized master fitness coach, cancer exercise trainer, fitness author and speaker with 30 years of extensive experience in helping women move their bodies and improve their lives. As a frequent speaker, she champions the power of daily physical activity, its deep connection to energy and stamina, and the relationship between a positive body image and a confident professional image.

Her first book, No Ifs, Ands, or Butts: How to Turn the Top 10 Exercise Excuses into Fitness Triumphs, is already receiving praise and being enjoyed by people who are looking for realistic lifelong fitness solutions in a hectic, harried world.  All are welcome to take this free webinar.  Read more.


Engagement Marketing Seminar:
Building Relationships, Building Success
Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce & the Hannah Grimes Center
Wednesday, November 30, 9 - 11:30 a.m.
Antioch University New England, Keene

Combine email marketing & social media marketing to make connections, monitor feedback, share interesting content & build lasting business success.

Having an Engagement Marketing strategy is the key to inspiring your most passionate customers and advocates to: have conversations with you and fellow customers, share stories and opinions, and share your content with their own social circle.  In this seminar, you'll discover the three components that lead to Engagement Marketing success:
  • Providing an excellent customer experience,
  • Making connections that engage your audience and enable an ongoing dialog, and
  • Using email and social media to deepen relationships and broaden your reach.
Come learn how other small businesses, non-profit associations, and organizations combine email marketing and social media marketing to make connections, monitor feedback, share interesting content, and build lasting business success.  FEE: $10 for Chamber members and Hannah Grimes guests.  $20 for non-members.  Register Now!


State of the State Civic Luncheon
Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce
Friday, December 9, Noon - 2:00 p.m.
Keene Country Club, Keene

 The State of the State Civic Luncheon will bring Governor John Lynch to the Monadnock Region to share his views on New Hampshire: its strengths, weaknesses and status in New England.  There will be a generous question and answer period.  Fee: $25 for GKCC Members, $35 for Not-Yet Members, $175 for a table of 8.  Please RSVP by Friday, December 2, 2011. Please make your check payable to the GKCC Civic Luncheon and send to GKCC, 48 Central Square, Keene, NH 03431.  If paying by credit card, please call the Keene Chamber Office at 352-1303.
Looking for More Events?

 

abi Innovation Hub, Nashua
Wednesday, Nov. 16, Noon to 1 p.m. 

 

NH365.org
NH Small Business Development Center
NH Business Resource Center
LOCAL LIVING ECONOMY UPDATES
 Events that help business owners give back and strengthen our region's local living economy.

2011 Member Social

NH Businesses for Social Responsibility 

Wednesday, November 16, 5 p.m.

Grappone Honda Showroom, Bow 

 

More networking! As with last year's event we're going heavy on the "social," light on presentations! Join NHBSR for an evening of high-caliber networking with business professionals interested in social responsibility and sustainability issues in New Hampshire. With over 100 business leaders in the room, it promises to deliver valuable education, networking and promotional opportunity for you and your business. Please join us!  Cost: Varies for NHBSR Members and non-members.  Register online

 

 

Stay in NH Strategy Breakfast

Take Steps to Keep Our Young Professionals
In New Hampshire

Antioch University New England 

Friday, November 18, 8:15am-10:30 a.m. 

AUNE, Keene


The public is invited to the free breakfast.  Join other people from around the state in working to solve the urgent problem of young professionals who find it a challenge to remain here. Representatives from AUNE, New Hampshire Business for Social Responsibility, Stay Work Play, Keene Young Professionals of the Keene Chamber of Commerce, and AUNE's Net Impact Chapter will be here. More details online.


NEWS & RESOURCES
JobsJob Growth in U.S. Driven Entirely By Start-ups

Originally Posted at Kauffman Foundation Website  

When it comes to U.S. job growth, startup companies aren't everything. They're the only thing. It's well understood that existing companies of all sizes constantly create - and destroy - jobs. Conventional wisdom, then, might suppose that annual net job gain is positive at these companies. A study released today by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, however, shows that this rarely is the case. In fact, net job growth occurs in the U.S. economy only through startup firms.


New Livelihoods
Originally Posted at YES! Magazine

bagWhen we decided to do this issue in early 2011, the jobs crisis had slipped off the political radar. We decided to focus on jobs and livelihoods anyway, because it was clear that to ordinary Americans, jobs and the economy are the issues they most worry about. This issue shows that we can build strong local economies that can sustain us, even in an era of ecological limits. And it shows how we can support each other in challenging times and begin to build a more just and sustainable American Dream.



We Can All Become Job Creators
By Joe Nocera, Originally Posted on NY Times

Starbucks is going to create a mechanism that will allow us citizens to do what the government and the banks won't: lend money to small businesses. This mechanism is scheduled to be rolled out on Nov. 1... It didn't take long for Starbucks to find the perfect financial partner: Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs {such as the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund}. These are lenders, mostly under the radar, that specialize in underserved communities. Most, but not all, CDFIs are nonprofit, and their loan default rates are extremely low.

Do you know about other articles and resources that should have been included above?  Please share them with us.
2011 Hannah Grimes Center
Key Partners
2011 Key Sponsors

3 HGT logo 2010

In This Issue
NOTE FROM MAK
CLASSIFIEDS
MONADNOCK REGION BUSINESS EVENTS
LOCAL LIVING ECONOMY EVENTS
MANUFACTURING RESOURCES
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