Let these words from past FastTrac New Ventures participants "speak for themselves": 

 
"I enjoyed this program so much! I came into this class with a business idea but no knowledge of what to do or how to start. I learned the right things to research and how to calculate if the business will generate enough income and still enough time to sleep!"
 
"I really enjoyed this class and I learned a great deal about business.  I feel like I am much more equipped to take my idea and see if I can build it into a sound business!"
 
"I learned so much - and it was wonderful to be in the company of such bright, optimistic and passionate women."

Classes are held on Thursday evenings from 6 - 9 pm for 10 consecutive weeks. The last day of class is April 14, 2011.

Cost: $450

Email Judy Mathews to register: jmathews@kansaswbc.com

Many Small Business owners feel that the absence of a quality website is a real 'gap' or 'hole' in their business presence or that they are really missing out on opportunities to 'connect' with their audience. They are right! But, how many of us realize the full extent of what consumers expect?
 

Each ITSOkcWorkshop will cover one or two (maybe even 3) aspects of what we call Interactive Marketing in the Digital Age.

Jan. 19 - Social Marketing / Networking  / Engagement

Discusses social engagement, so important to creating an effective multi-dimensional marketing and business development strategy

Feb. 2 - SEO and Copywriting

Understand the importance of words, messages and the continuous flow of value to create an effective Interactive Marketing strategy

Feb. 9 - Website Design, Development and Promotion

Understand what makes a great website and how you can make sure your website is the 'value hub' of your strategy

Feb. 23 - Five Online Places Your Business Can't Ignore in 2011

Explores the top social places to be online for prospecting, business conversations, client management, and promotion

Mar. 2 - What a Business Blog and an Email Newsletter Can Do For You

Understand how to use your news, advice and stories to reach your audience in a way that moves them into action

Mar. 9 - Online Lead Generation, Business Development, and Reputation Mgmt.

Understand how to create buzz around your name in order to create relationships that lead to business

Mar. 23 - Analytics - Measuring Digital Channels

Know your customer and your market better using analytics and social listening systems.

Classes will be on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 - 10:00 am

Registration fee for each workshop will be $20 

Email Judy Mathews if you are interested in registering: jmathews@kansaswbc.com

Together the organizations are working to address the concern expressed by small businesses that exporting is too complicated. The Commerce Department recently re-launched the primary federal government exporting Web site, www.export.gov, to better serve beginning exporters.
 
A new button on the export.gov home page, Begin Exporting, directs businesses to an easy-to-follow six-step process. The first step is a self-assessment. Depending on the assessment score, small businesses are referred to specific training and counseling programs in Step 2. Steps 3-6 include: Create an Export Business Plan; Conduct Market Research; Find Buyers; and Investigate Financing Your Small Business Exports, Foreign Investments or Projects.

The event will recognize achievements in the area of supplier diversity and MBE growth as well as the unprecedented success of the stadium renovation. you will want to attend this extraordinary celebration marking 25 years of exceptional advances in the area of minority business growth and the proactive steps from corporations and advocates towards increasing the potential for minority businesses to participate and flourish in the free enterprise systems.

January 27, 2011

Arrowhead Stadium

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

www.mambdc.org 

Join Thinking Bigger Business Media as they honor the 25 Under 25 Class of 2011, Kansas City's top 25 companies with fewer than 25 employees. Cocktails, dinner, awards and an evening of live entertainment will bring together area business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Tickets available at www.25Under25.com

Associated Equipment Sales
Affinity Group Management
Affordable Elegance
Bark to Basics
Boyer & Corporon Wealth Management
Freedom Bank
GreenAcres Market
Harper's Fabric & Quilt Co.
Heartland Fabrication & Machine
HushMat
ikros.com
Kansas City Center for Anxiety Treatment
Lakewood Animal Health Center
Light Bulbs Etc
Marathon Moving & Delivery
MidWest Vascular Access
Nationwide Transportation and Logistics Services
Northland Physical Therapy
New Horizons Enterprises
Oncimmune USA
The Corridor Group
The RED Force Fire & Security
The Roasterie Café
The Wellington Group
Veracity Solutions

2011 Entrepreneurial Legacy Award Recipient:

Danny O'Neill, founder and Bean Baron at The Roasterie

Futurallia is an international business-to-business, speed-networking event. Over 800 countries from 30 different countries are expected to come to Kansas City next May. This is a great opportunity for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to connect with people from around the United States and the world in order to do business.

May 18-20, 2011

www.futuralliakc2011.com

info@Futuralliakc2011.com

You know the Twitter basics - what it is and how it works. Now learn how to make Twitter an effective and efficient business tool for you. Whether your business goal is brand promotion, buzz creation, lead generation, sales, customer service or, more likely, all of the above, Twitter can be used to achieve your objectives. This workshop is designed to show you how to use desktop and web-based management tools, Twitter lists, Twitter searches, URL shorteners, communication scheduling tools and analytics programs to make meaningful business connections in an increasingly crowded online space. Learn about the importance of online listening/monitoring, Twitter etiquette and more.

January 27, 2011

Enterprise Center of Johnson County

8527 Bluejacket Street

Lenexa, KS 66214

www.ecjc.com/advancedtwitter012711

The Women's Business Center
The Women's Business Center offers mentoring, resources, and consulting to women in the Kansas City Metropolitan area who wish to become an entrepreneur or who are currently operating their own business.  Through business consulting, classes, workshops, networking, and peer mentoring the WBC is the key to running a successful business for Kansas City's women.

Find out how the Women's Business Center can help you. Click here to learn more!

Join Our Mailing List!

Women's Employment Network Celebrates 25 Years (1986 - 2011)

Twenty-five years ago, two Kansas City philanthropists and visionaries had a profound idea of how to "help women help themselves" and they worked to form the Women's Employment Network (WEN).  Beth K. Smith and Marjorie Powell Allen have blazed a path of positive change for thousands of women in the Kansas City community and after 25 years - their vision is stronger than ever! Visit www.kcwen.org for more information.

Maximizing Opportunities or Minimizing Risks? Do you Have to Choose? 

Does a company really need to focus on one or the other? Or is it feasible to do both well?

As CEO of a firm specializing in providing client leadership with insight about all things external to an organization - customers, markets, market segments, competitors, as well as local, regional, national and often global events - to make the best business decisions, I believe both are achievable. However, they require different mindsets, strategies and efforts. 

Read the full article by Lisa Hays

Cleaning for a Reason 

Do you know a women who is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment? There is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. 

www.cleaningforareason.org