Sessions
Special Sessions
Big Dreams with "Spunkitudinality" (Morning Keynote Address @ 8:15 - 8:45 am)
by: Sherri Yukel, Big Dot Of Happiness
Since founding Big Dot of Happiness, as an online "event party company" in 1999, Sherri Yukel has successfully turned a hobby into a thriving business and national brand. Learn Yukel’s three main points on how to reach your big dreams with "spunkitudinality".
- Love What You Do!
- Fail Forward.
- Be Remarkable!
Remember to always dream big and never do anything half way, and you will reach your goals with "spunkitudinality".
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Women and Wisconsin's Green Economy (Afternoon Keynote Address @ 12:30 - 1:30 pm)
by: State Representative Kristen Dexter, 68th Assembly District
From developing new products to adopting sustainable business practices to identifying alternative fuel sources, being "green" is more than just a trendy topic for today's entrepreneur. In fact, according to State Representative, Kristen Dexter, green jobs and the new economy can help make economic security a reality for generations of women workers and entrepreneurs - women from a wide variety of backgrounds, including single mothers, older women, women of color and women veterans.
Dexter will be detailing Wisconsin's new green economy by providing an overview of current initiatives within the state legislature and their potential ramifications for business women and entrepreneurs.
Track 1: Business Basics
Planned, Purposeful & Productive Networking (Session 1 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am)
by: Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, Feather Communications
Meeting the potential clients, colleagues and advisors who will propel your business forward is no accident. In this interactive workshop, you will learn and practice skills that will allow you to plan ahead and purposefully place yourself in situations where business can follow.
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Record Keeping (Session 2 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am)
by: Eylyn Carlile, Simple Office Solutions
Record keeping 101 will guide you in the right direction for your company bookkeeping. Information will be presented on setting up a record keeping system that will help you not only at tax season but throughout the year with making business decisions.
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10 Steps For Maximizing the Power of Your Brand (Session 3 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm)
by: Linda Pophal, Strategic Communications
Whether you're attempting to create a powerful brand for a business, a product - or yourself! - some important rules apply. It can take years to build a strong brand, but just one misstep to destroy it. This session will provide a step-by-step process for building a strong brand - and will bust some common myths and mispercpetions along the way. You'll leave with a sense of some specific things you can do to leverage - and protect - the power of your brand.
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Panel Discussion: Taking the First Steps (Session 4 @ 3:30 - 4:30 pm )
by: Jim Mishefske, UWEC SBDC; Barb Rolland, SCORE; and Renee Walz, WD WBC.
Ready to launch your small business, but not sure how to take that first step? Attend this panel discussion with representatives from SCORE, the Small Business Development Center and the Western Dairyland Business Center and learn from local business consulting and development experts on how to put your best foot forward while avoiding common pitfalls in launching a small business. The majority of this session will be attendee driven Q&A.
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Track 2: Advanced Business
Beyond Sales Effectiveness: Creating Sales-Winning Relationships (Session 1 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am)
by: Karen Kohler, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Strong interpersonal communication skills are a proven factor in creating long-term customer relations. Karen will actively involve participants in the learning process by using personal assessment, interactive dialogue, and group discussion. Attendees will leave the session with distinctive tools and resources to build dynamic customer relations - the key to successful sales.
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New Concepts in Business Exit Strategies (Session 2 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am)
by: David Czysz, Principal Financial
Leaving a thriving business can be more difficult than starting one. Learn what you can do today to prepare for the future, including a seven step process to successful succession and exit planning - for you and your business.
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Mixing a New Media Cocktail: Leveraging Traditional And New Promotional Techniques (To Taste) (Session 3 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm)
by: Nick Meyer and Mike Paulus, Volume One
Like you, we at Volume One were pretty much sick of hearing about "new media" - about how amazing and mind-blowing tools like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are - before we even tried using it. But - we stumbled across some amazingly practical and mind-blowingly engaging ways to mix new media (websites and social networks) with traditional media (print ads, press kits, and mailings) to effectively promote just about anything in a market like the Chippewa Valley. Volume One's promotional cocktail - exceptional events, advertising, corporate communication, and social networking - has served up some delicious results. Stop by for a taste.
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Panel Discussion: Growing Business Success Stories (Session 4 @ 3:30 - 4:30 pm )
by: Michelle Lovelien, The Living Room; Deb Shefchik, Shefchik Builders; Denise Wurtzel, Williams Diamond Center
Ready to grow your small business, but not sure how to take that next step? Meet local business owners and learn the story behind three local success stories - The Living Room, Shefchik Builders and Williams Diamond Center. Learn how they each started, overcame adversity and grew to achieve success and recognition locally and beyond.
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Track 3: Trends in Business
Panel Discussion: Balancing Work & Home (Session 1 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am)
by: Mindy Dale, Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci; Melinda Duncan, The Wedding Genie, Nancy Rothwell, Straighten-Up Organizing
Whether you work in your home, from your home or out of your home, women in particular often encounter additional obstacles when pursuing a healthy balance between work, home and family. Hear from three local business women and learn tips on how to successfully manage this delicate relationship between professional and personal life.
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Business Mailing & Shipping (Session 2 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am)
by: Kelly Crawford, Advanced Mail; Sue McInnis, US Postal Service
Whether you have a database of customers you would like to contact, are interested in identifying a targeted list of potential customers to market or simply need to know the most cost effective ways to ship products from your business -- this session will provide you with the expertise you need to accomplish all of your business mailing and shipping goals.
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Panel Discussion: Surviving an Economic Downturn (Session 3 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm)
by: Clara Nohre, Nohre & Co.; Mary Trimmier, Small Business Administration
Meet with business finance and accounting experts in this panel discussion on how you and can begin to develop a strategy that will ultimately position your business to survive or even thrive in an economic downturn.
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Panel Discussion: Buy Local (Session 3 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm)
by: Lorraine Dixon, Cadeaux; Scott Hahn, Hahn's Market; Ann Lee, Viking Brewery
Meet with area professionals who have made the concept of buying local and collaborating with local businesses a priority. Learn why buying local not only makes sense for the sustainability of your business but for your entire community.
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Track 4: Roundtables
Roundtable: Child Care (Session 1 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am)
Moderated by: Julie Brunner and Carla Sumner, Eau Claire County
Although an accessible and rewarding option for many women interested in pursuing self-employment, child care is a highly regulated industry. Meet with child care certification experts and area child care professionals to discuss the process of becoming certified or licensed and the benefits this yields.
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Roundtable: Food Industry (Session 2 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am)
Moderated by: Erin Nutter, Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
Few industries are as heavily regulated as the food industry. Whether you are canning jam or opening a restaurant, you will benefit from this roundtable discussion.
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Roundtable: Fitness & Wellness Industry (Session 3 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm)
Moderated by: Cheri Dostal, Evolve Wellness
Fitness and wellness, as an industry, continues to grow in size and diversity. Meet with other area professionals in this industry to discuss cooperative marketing and share best practices. Discussion will focus on topics such as, How do we educate the public about their potential for vitality? How do we increase their awareness and desire for our goods and services? What can we do to reach people new to fitness and wellness?
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Roundtable: Arts & Crafts (Session 4 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm)
Moderated by: Laurie Bieze, Bieze Sculpture
You may be an artist, but you need not be starving! Meet with local artists to discuss the business of art - branding yourself, marketing your product and making the sale to support you and your family.
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Counseling
Would you like to discuss your business one-on-one with a local business counselor?
Sign-up for 60 minutes of individualized counseling on General Business Planning during Sessions 1, 2, 3 or 4. Counseling will be provided by SCORE, UWEC Small Business Development Center, and Western Dairyland Women's Business Center
Attendees may request a counseling session during the registration process. Each attendee is allowed only one counseling session during the WBC.
Happy Hour Networking
Join us in Brewski's Pub & Grill for a relaxing network session - all attendees, exhibitors, presenters and WBC staff are invited!
