Wyoming Women's Business Center

2012-02-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

Competition is always something for small businesses to think about. This video shares three tips for your success. The first tip discusses blogging and social media. Both the second and third tip can be aided through social media. If you would like help knocking the competitors out of the park using social media be sure to stop by for some social media marketing help and tips.

Small Business Tip for dealing with "Major League" Competitors

You can call the Wyoming Women's Business Center at 307.460.3947 to see what WWBC can do for you. You may also be interested in some of the social media marketing tips WOW offers on their blog. WOW is a project of the business center.

Creating an Employee Handbook Presentation at Laramie Business Roundtable March 1st

2012-02-24T14:12:00.002-08:00

Join us for our next Albany County Business Roundtable on Thursday, March 1st. Our topic is:

“Creating an Employee Handbook”

Megan Hayes, Esq. with Corthell and King, will provide some insights for writing an employee handbook for your business. Do you need an employee handbook at your business? What are the critical elements for an employee handbook? Are there any dos and don’ts that should be considered? Megan can answer those questions as well as provide us with some samples of appropriate content for a handbook.

If you would like to e-mail your questions to Megan in advance of the meeting, so she can understand some of your concerns with employee handbooks and employees in general, her e-mail address is mlhayes@wyoming.com.

Date: March 1, 2012 (always the 1st Thursday of every month)
Time: 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM
Where: First Interstate Bank
221 Ivinson Avenue, Laramie

Lunch and meeting space graciously provided by First Interstate Bank.

Please RSVP by noon Monday, February 27th to
wwbc@uwyo.edu or 307-460-3943

Share this notice with your associates who could benefit from the roundtable program. All interested parties are welcome. Business roundtable meetings are opportunities for businesses in Laramie and Albany County to network, share business expertise, and identify potential small business resources in their community.

wwbc@uwyo.edu or 307-460-3943

Torrington/Goshen County Roundtable Program March 14

2012-02-22T12:47:00.000-08:00

GOSHEN COUNTY ROUNDTABLE PROGRAM

The What, Why & How of Marketing:
What it is, Why you should care, and How you do it

If you have ever found yourself trying to understand just what Marketing is and why you should care about the process, then this Roundtable is the perfect venue for you to get those answers.

Elizabeth Parks, Researcher for the Wyoming Market Research Center will discuss the Marketing process and how to navigate through the critical marketing questions. The Market Research Center, a program of the Wyoming Entrepreneur, offers a variety of resources for getting you the critical information you need for developing your marketing plan.

Date: March 14, 2012
Time: 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM
Where: Goshen Enterprise Center
110 West 22nd Ave. Torrington

You must RSVP to Amy Duke at 307-532-5162 or by email at: progress@goshenwyo.com no later than Noon on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.

Lunch Graciously Provided by Points West Community Bank

Who should participate?
• Small business owners who have strong entrepreneurial skills and show potential for continued success;
• Small business owners who are willing to share ideas and to learn from the ideas of others;
• Individuals interested in starting their own business;
• Anyone interested in networking with small business owners and community members!

Bring plenty of business cards and/or brochures for networking!

All Roundtables are funded in part by:

SBA’s participation in this co-sponsorship is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs, services & cosponsored activities are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Wyoming Women’s Business Center, 307-460-3943, or wwbc@uwyo.edu. Wyoming Women’s Business Center Roundtables are funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Naming your Small Business

2012-02-20T07:43:00.000-08:00

Are you having trouble naming your small business? The Wyoming Women’s Business Center can help you come up with a name and help to develop a unique and conceptual logo. But for now here are some tips to help you get started brainstorming the perfect name for your business or product.

Small Business Tip: Creative Tips on How to Name your Business

When developing a logo, I always start with a bubble brainstorm chart. Ideally, I like to come up with a concept for the company to convey and create the logo and name together. This is just one strategy we can help you with.

There are more brainstorming tips where this came from.

Albany County Business Roundtable Thursday Feb 2nd.

2012-01-30T10:03:00.000-08:00

Please join us for our next Albany County Business Roundtable on Thursday, Feb. 2nd where we will learn about:

“A Wyoming Vision for Health Care Reform”

Continuing last month’s discussion on emerging changes in health care, Elizabeth W. Hoy, MHA and Health Care Policy Advisor for the Office of Governor Matt Mead will share the Governor's vision for health care reform in Wyoming. Elizabeth will be describing the options for a health benefits exchange program in Wyoming.

Date: February 2, 2012 (always the 1st Thursday of every month)
Time: 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM
Where: First Interstate Bank
221 Ivinson Avenue, Laramie

Please RSVP by noon Tuesday January 31st, 2012 to
wwbc@uwyo.edu or 307-460-3943

Meeting Space Graciously Provided by First Interstate Bank
This is a brown bag session so be sure to bring your lunch.

Share this notice with your associates who could benefit from the roundtable program. All interested parties are welcome. Business roundtable meetings are opportunities for businesses in Laramie and Albany County to network, share business expertise, and identify potential small business resources in their community.

Wheatland Business Roundtable

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that we are discussing: “Resources for Growing Your Small Business” at the Wheatland Business Roundtable & Lunch

Wheatland Business Roundtable & Lunch
Wednesday, January 25th at 11:45am
First State Bank Conference Center
1405 Sixteenth Street, Wheatland

Learn about the funding resources, business planning and counseling services, and other educational opportunities available to small businesses.

Presented by Kim Vincent, Business Counselor
Wyoming Women’s Business Center

Please RSVP for lunch by noon on Monday, January 23rd.
Contact Daphne Taylor, 307-322-4232 to RSVP

Hope to see you there!

Kim Vincent

Virtual Business Conference for Wyoming Women

2012-01-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

Social Media Seminar Series Grand Targhee Resort

2012-01-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

Rose Caiazzo is heading up a Social Media seminar series for the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce for January & part of February.
This is FREE to anyone that would like to attend.

More information + sign ups are here (the first is tomorrow at Grand Targhee Resort):
http://tetonvalleychamber.com/blog/2012/01/23/free-social-media-seminar-series/

Rose Caiazzo was born and raised in New York. Professionally trained in theatre and music at a young age, she continued showcasing her talents through her many performances and recordings. Years later, she was accepted into Marist College for the study of Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations. She was awarded a 4-year music scholarship by the college, in which she traveled and sang opera/secular pieces in some of the most beautiful cathedrals and basilicas in the world.

.Rose then returned to school for her graduate degree from the State University of Stony Brook in Technological Systems Management. She worked in the corporate culture of IT, Marketing and Online development for over 12 years, learning a wealth of information from large and small businesses alike.

In 2007, Rose traded the fast-paced tri-state area for a life of outdoor adventures in the wild west of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She explored work as an adventure travel guide and now finds a uniquely balanced work schedule by both consulting and guiding. She enjoys being a creative source for her clients, while staying well connected to the outdoors. Her passion for life is evident in everything she does!

Elizabeth Hoy at Wyoming Women's Business Roundtable on February 3rd

2012-01-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder to mark your calendar for Laramie’s next Business Roundtable:

February 2nd from 11:45 am – 1pm at First Interstate Bank on the corner of 3rd and Ivinson

We will continue our discussion regarding Health Care Policies in the workplace with our presenter Elizabeth Hoy, Health Care Policy Advisor on the Wyoming Governor’s staff. Elizabeth has served as VP of Strategic Development for Cheyenne Health Services Management. Her 30-year career includes health care management, policy and research from the perspectives of patients, providers, payers and purchasers.

This should be a very informative session about Wyoming's unique situation as it relates to upcoming changes to healthcare provision in the U.S.
This will be a brown bag session so be sure to bring your lunch.

See you on Feb 2nd! Kim Y Vincent, Business Counselor for Wyoming Women's Business Center

Women's Business Center Roundtables

2012-01-09T11:47:00.000-08:00

Succeeding In Business
Worland Business Roundtable

Worland Business Roundtables
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Washakie County Library
Easy Access off 11th Street

• Do you own your own business?
• Are you thinking about starting a business?
• Do you manage a business?
• Are you interested in networking with others in your community?
• Or maybe the presentation this month sounds interesting to you?

Please come and join us on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 11:45 a.m.!

FREE Luncheon and Presentation
“FEDERAL TAX UPDATE!” Presented by Susan Frank
Of Porter, Muirhead, Cornia & Howard.

“Lunch will be provided by Pascalite Inc., so if you plan to attend, please RSVP BY NOON on Monday, January 23, 2012 to: Nancy Trickey: WorlandCTD@northwestcollege.edu or 307 – 347-854

SPONSORS:
Big West Auto Plex & Pascalite, Inc., Worland, WY

Northwest College, Powell, WY

U. S. Small Business Administration

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Washakie County Library

Worland/Tensleep Chamber of Commerce
SBA’s participation in this co-sponsorship is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs, services & cosponsored activities are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Deb Farris 307-261-6510 or debra.farris@sba.gov. Co-sponsorship Authorization #: 10-0897-96

Book Arts Show At Works of Wyoming in Laramie Plains Civic Center

2011-07-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

Artist Books Call for Entries at Works of Wyoming!

Call for Entries Deadline is August 11th!

Wyoming artists are invited to submit images for jurying for an artist books show at Works of Wyoming at Laramie Plains Civic Center. Deadline for submission is August 11^th, 2011. Call 307-742-6574 to get a prospectus and application e-mailed to you.

The show will open September 8^th with a reception from 6:00-8:00pm. It promises to be an interesting show considering all of the definitions.

Center for Book Arts founder Richard Minsky’s definition is our guide for submitting and jurying the show.
“In Book Art the container works with the content. The materials are tactile and often relate to the metaphor of the text. In some cases there is no written text. The book is then a purely visual, totemic or iconographic work, in which the image, structure and materials are the content. The physical presence of a book, its feeling and smell, its weight, the process of moving through its pages or unfolding it speak to our deepest inner sensibilities. The very form speaks of knowledge preserved and communicated. It represents our ability to build on complex ideas which survive millennia beyond the cultures which created them.”

Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund Grant Awarded for On-line Business of Art Education

2011-07-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

Owl-Ink and Watercolor
Ariana Kimble
Laramie High School-2011 Show

Street View #2-Acrylic
Megan Weber

Laramie High School

2011 Works of Wyoming Show Artists

Imaputake-Ink and Watercolor
Ariana Kimble

Yea! A Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund Grant was awarded to Wyoming Women’s Business Center and their project Works of Wyoming. The $49,762.00 grant was awarded to support development of online Business of Art classes with varying topics and time frames, for our Works of Wyoming (WOW)Project Director, Chuck Egnaczak, to take WOW's Programs throughout Wyoming, and to bring in a two day on-site Business of Art Seminar similar to last year's sessions, to be held at Laramie Plains Civic Center. Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund is a program of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources.

Need a Loan? Women's Business Center Microloan Program Can Help

2011-07-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Marley
Art by Stephanie Hagar

Monroe
Stephanie is a WOW Member

Women's Business Center Microloan Program Helps Secure Financing for Your Arts Business

We offer loans from $500 to $50,000 with repayment terms anywhere from 3 months to 10 years depending on the business type, cash flow repayment capacity, and borrower strength. The typical loan amount ranges from $10,000 to $25,000 especially for startup businesses. Our rates range from 7% to 10.5% based upon credit risk.

To apply please fill out a Client Intake Form at http://www.wyomingwomen.org/, be sure to sign where needed and submit the application. A loan application can be provided after visiting with a Business Counselor. A check for $47 needs to be made out to the Wyoming Women’s Business Center for the loan application fee, along with last two years personal tax returns, business plan, and financial projections for the business. All of this information can be emailed, scanned and emailed, or sent via regular mail.

Profit Mastery

2011-06-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

Farrah Rhea, Family, and Friend on a recent trip to Disney World
Farrah works hard as our Director of Microlending
but knows it's important to take time for family, friends, and fun!

Speaking of balancing work and fun, just before my relaxing vacation this past week, I was fortunate to get to take a business course called Profit Mastery that is available to small business development clients through Wyoming Small Business Development Center facilitators. I took the course in Casper with SBDC business counselors training to facilitate this service to small business owners. The founder,Steve LeFever, knows that comprehending financial statements can be a dry subject. He's funny and communicates engagingly while walking us through what some might consider complex concepts and mathmatics. It was extraordinarily helpful for really comprehending how minimal action in one or more sectors of your business can significantly impact your net profit, capacity for sustainability, and the value of your business, helping to grow, sell, get financing, or even determine the weak areas and exact needs, rather than relying on “best guess,” at any given time.

This is a great financial management tool to analyze profit and adjust your business strategy throughout the life of your business. It is a 16 hour session and can be broken into sections for easier access by a client or a small group of clients via the SBDC facilitator.

Each section has an activity and quiz to which your own figures can be plugged in.

1)An Introduction- defining success, goals, a sort of outline for envisioning the entire process from early on in the business to examining value for sale.

2)Current financial position comprehension.

3)Price-Volume-Costs, and using Break-Even to begin manipulating those features of your business.

4)Cash Flow-Manipulation of timing for income and outflow can be highly affective and effective.

4)Managing Growth-How much and when, and costs of growth, how it affects other areas of your business.

5)Financing Properly and Planning for Transition-rather than doing this first, do the others first in order to get the numbers correct and establish credibility with your lender and establish real net worth.

For more info, click here. We are always happy to share info to help gain financial independence for small business development!

Christa Sutton at Laramie Business Roundtable!

2011-05-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Christa Sutton, Success and Image Coach

Christa Sutton presented "Effective Networking" at Laramie Business Roundtable at the last Roundtable of this season. First and foremost, "Go on, get out there and tell your story!" She said you've got about three minutes to tell them about you and what you do in any networking setting. For the first minute, your listener is paying more attention to how you look, and into the second minute is when they start paying attention to your message, and by the third minute their attention will start to focus on how it relates to them. Attention Laramie business networkers! She had really good things to say about our networking ability! She spoke on how and why networking differs between men and women as well as effective ways to build relationships that will positively affect more than just your career. Guys like to hear the facts, women want to hear how you feel about the facts. So integrate both into your message.

I got so much from this Roundtable. The primary take-away message was be real, be honest, and tell your listener or reader why you do what you do. I know why I do art. I love using my art tools like my paints, my pencils, my chalks to touch surfaces, especially my handmade paper, and my canvas. It helps me communicate what I feel about whatever it is I am painting. I like being outdoors for plein air painting. It is direct conversation with my environment! That's just an example of part of the 1-3 minute message you need to share with whomever you are reaching out to.

Ms. Sutton has an exciting business that helps her clients set goals for success in business and life. Her new book "Mastering the Art of Success" can be preordered through her website. Her rates and services are really accessible. During their work together, whether it's one month or three months or a custom service, clients have acess to her 24/7 and a schedule of activities to complete. If you are passionate to learn and apply what you learn, this is the right service to help you achieve business and personal goals. She is a Heartlink Network Member too. The Network is dedicated to encouraging and empowering women small business professionals to create heartfelt, meaningful relationships with one another that will in turn strengthen their communities. I took the opportunity to check out the website. You should too! Great organization for cooperative promotion of your woman owned business.

The Roundtable meeting space and administrative support are provided by First Interstate Bank. U.S. Small Business Administration and Wyoming Women's Business Center sponsor and coordinate the Laramie Roundtable. The new season of Roundtables throughout Wyoming start again in September. See you there!

Highlighting Wyoming Women's Business Center Staff Achievements

2011-05-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Rebecca Sissman, Women in Business Champion of the Year, and her new granddaughter, Anabel.

Highlighting Staff Achievements!

We are so proud to tell our clients and all our friends about our own Rebecca Sissman, Office Manager for Wyoming Women’s Business Center. She was recently selected for the Women in Business Champion of the Year Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Steven F. Despain, Wyoming District Director said, “Her hard work, innovative ideas and dedication have made her a success in our community.” Susan Davis, photographer, micro entrepreneur, and client of Works of Wyoming and Wyoming Women’s Business Center, had these things to say about Rebecca. “She is well informed about the programs and grants ...and always imparts this information with kindness and genuine enthusiasm for the success of her clients… I have come to believe that she truly cares about advancing the ability of women to flourish in the business world. Her positive demeanor and shepherding of clients through the process of finding assistance really does make a difference in women’s lives.” Rebecca also has a brand new granddaughter, Anabel! Cheers for a busy life, and congrat's again!

Nice job, Rebecca!

Gifts 4 U at WOW

2011-04-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Gifts 4 U at WOW

Gift Baskets for All Occasions by
Gaining Independencs for Transitioning Students

The Laramie Plains Civic Center hosts many interesting non-profits. Gifts for U is one of them. It stands for Gaining Independence for Transitioning Students. It is a non-profit business created by Albany County School District 1 students from theTransition Academy. The Works of Wyoming Gallery Lobby has their awesome gift baskets on hand. The baskets are really fun and colorful and artistic. The students, 18-21 years of age, learn job skills that include marketing, advertising, inventory, bookkeeping and accounting. They learn life skills like how to manage their free time and set their own schedules.
There are gift baskets for a lot of different occasions. New Baby, Birthday, Coffee Lovers, Get Well, Holidays, Thinking of You, and Study and Good Luck baskets are all available. Pick one for your special occasion or feature them at your next party. Call the WOW gallery at 307-745-6574 or Gifts 4 U at 307-721-0103.

Businesss Roundtable at Rawlins Wyoming features Chuck Egnaczak

2011-04-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Chuck Egnaczak, Director of Marketing for Wyoming Womens Business Center and Works of Wyoming will be the presenter at the upcoming Rawlins Business Roundtable, hosted by the Bank of Commerce on Thursday, April 21, 2011. The presentation is "Small Business Resources, Marketing and Promotion.". The meeting is an opportunity for businesses in Rawlins and Carbon County, Wyoming to share business expertise and resources. Luncheon is provided. For more information email rsissman@uwyo.edu Rebecca Sissman and to reserve a seat contact Stephanie Arnold at sarnold@bocrawlins.com.

Go Visit an Art Studio!

2011-04-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Joanne Hennes
Plein Air painting
below the Tetons

I talked to Joanne Hennes, http://www.joannehennes.com/ the other day. We had a visitor in the Works of Wyoming Gallery worksofwyoming.org who wanted to know more about her technique so I gave her a call. Joanne lives in a beautiful area near Teton National Park http://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm and shared details of her life in art. What a life it is! She is an extraordinarily accomplished artist and a vibrant personality. She started out in theater and scenic art. I could definitely see how that experience led to the grand scale of the scenes she paints of the Tetons and the surrounding Wyoming landscape. She spends a lot of time out in nature. She loves music and has sung with a choir. She enjoys visiting about a wide range of subjects. She is clearly a great businesswoman, educating her listener with passion and joy! The studio is open to the public. Next time you’re near the Tetons go visit the studio. Have a wonderful time.

"The Crossing"
30x50 Oil on Canvas
Triangle X horses crossing the Buffalo River

What's Going on at Wyoming Women's Business Center

2011-03-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

March 3rd, 2011 Laramie Business Roundtable featuring Pitch Engine, a social media PR business headquartered in Wyoming

Exciting times here at the Wyoming Women’s Business Center! Our Marketing Director and great graphic designer and artist, Chuck Egnaczak, is going to be helping expand our on-line training programs, we are starting to plan our late summer multi-day 2nd annual Business of Art seminar, and we are continuing our Business Roundtables throughout the state. We have such forward thinking employees who are vibrant, hardworking, and very innovative in their approaches to helping our Wyoming citizens become economically self-sufficient using their creative skills, be they women, people of color, disabled, and/or low-income individuals. Felicia, our graphic designer and photographer who comes to us courtesy of awesome Americorp, loves designing business identities and logos for our new small business owner clients. She “likes to show our clients that art and business do go together!” If you live in Wyoming and want to start or expand a small business to become self-sufficient, please click here to find out who we serve and what we do.

Business Roundtable in Rawlins

2011-03-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

The next Business Roundtable "Succeeding in Business" to be held in Rawlins, Wyoming will feature presenter, Chuck Egnaczak, the Director of Marketing, for Wyoming Womens's Business Center and Works of Wyoming. The Roundtable meetings are opportunities for businesses in Rawlins and Carbon County to network, share business expertise and identify potential small business resources in their community. The Bank of Commerce will host the gathering. It will be on Thursday April 21, from 11:45 to 1:15. Lunch is provided by the Bank of Commerce. RSVP to Stephanie Arnold at 307 324.2265 or email to sarnold@boc.com or cfrance@bocrawlins.com.

Lifelong Learning at Wyoming Women's Business Center

2011-03-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

Lifelong learners and small business owners are one and the same. The wide open spaces of Wyoming encourage big thinking. There is plenty of space to dream big. But sometimes it takes good counsel to help you determine how big you really want to go, and what you want to take along with you as you go, and grow, or for that matter, as you downsize.
The Business Counselor at Wyoming Women’s Business Center helps present and organize resources for prospective small business owners. The Center serves any resident of Wyoming, but focuses on women, people of color, people with disabilities and low-income individuals. One of the ways lifelong learners can enjoy themselves while they learn is through the many Roundtables held every month throughout Wyoming. Check them out!