Though the bums have removed our name from the Idea Expo for 2008, we're still happy to let you all know that the Second Annual Business-to-Business Idea Expo will be held this October 9th and 10th at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, WY. This year's keynote speaker is Doug Hall of the Eureka! Ranch. More information and registration can be found on the conference website, www.wyomingideaexpo.com.
Free Session - Thursday June 26, 2008
The Eureka! Winning Ways program is a scientific method to accelerate reliable growth in your business. The program is founded around the disciplined principles of Powell native Dr. Deming. The Eureka program helps businesses to develop their growth leadership skills, and to develop a real growth pipeline. The Eureka program will provide a systematic process that can help companies learn:
“Customer pull selling” – using the 3 laws of marketing physics
How to engage your entire team in growth
How to get products to market much faster
A system for continuous growth
Manufacturing-Works will provide a free growth assessment for any company that attends. This assessment will indicate how ready the company is to grow, and what obstacles that they may encounter. This program is not just for manufacturing companies. Eureka is for any company that is serious about growth.
The Results...
"The Eureka program is a key contributing factor to dramatically growing our sales in 2008. This disciplined program helped us to strengthen our marketing message. As a result we have launched a successful new analytical service and we will be introducing a new product soon. The Eureka program helped us to accomplish all this in five short months."
– Cory Fabrizius of Precision Analysis (Riverton, WY)
“The disciplined Eureka approach is improving our ability to step outside of our comfort zone during the new product development process. This allows us to increase the speed that products are introduced to market. Our growth coach has definitely helped us to remain focused and assisted with removing internal barriers by challenging our historical methods of product introduction.”
– Steve Watkins of Pertech Resources, Inc. (Riverton, WY)
Morning – 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Afternoon – 12 to 1:30 p.m.
Evening – 5:30 to 7 p.m.
All seminars are held at McMurry Training Center facility 2220 N. Bryan Stock Trail Casper, WY
To Register
call Steve Elledge at 307.577.6012
or e-mail steve.elledge@wybusiness.org
On May 28th and 29th, 2008, the fourth Governor’s Summit on Workforce Solutions will take place at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The Wyoming Workforce Development Council, in partnership with the Department of Workforce Services, is sponsoring the event. The Summit is designed to assist Wyoming businesses in developing solutions to the many workforce issues they face.
The theme of the 2008 Summit is Defining Our Future. Topics will include Human Resources, Customer Service, Recruitment, Youth Issues, Education, Healthcare and various others.
Jerimiah Rieman, Policy Analyst for the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services and key organizer for the 2008 Governor’s Summit, said, “Wyoming businesses continue to struggle with finding skilled talent, and as this issue grows nationwide, we will need to create innovate ways to resolve this shortage. This year’s Summit is geared toward identifying means that not only help to develop the talent Wyoming businesses already have, but to also give businesses tools to recruit workers to Wyoming positions.”
“A new feature to this year’s Summit includes a sector focus where industries will come together to identify needs and create solutions to address those issues,” he added.
This year’s keynote speaker is Rick Tate. Tate is an internationally recognized expert on leadership and service quality. He has been speaking, training, writing and developing state of the art concepts that challenge people’s mind-sets for over twenty years.
Mark your calendars to attend the Governor’s Summit on Workforce Solutions. For more information on the 2008 Governor’s Summit on Workforce Solutions, please visit wyowdc.org.
The Small Business Administration Wyoming Office will be hosting a "Fair Regulatory Enforcement Roundtable", April 17th from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at the JC O'Mahoney Federal Building in Cheyenne. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. If you would like to attend (and who wouldn't?) please RSVP to Steve Lobdell at 307.261.6500 or steven.lobdell@sba.gov.
Take advantage of this opportunity to be heard by the Federal Government on issues relating to the regulation of small businesses!
When: April 17, 2008
Where: JC O'Mahoney Federal Building, 8th Floor, Room 8005, 2120 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne
RSVP TO: Steven.Lobdell@sba.gov or 307.261.6500
By Cindy Unger, Wyoming SBDC
A credit score is not something that most people think about on a daily basis. But, if you are about to purchase a new car or start a new business, that score can have a serious effect on your future plans. Join us on Wednesday, January 23 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Crawford Room of the Natrona County Public Library to learn more.
Stacey Tichy, of Consumer Credit Counseling Service, will provide valuable information about credit reports and credit scoring. You will learn how to access your credit report at no charge, how to read your credit report; how credit scores are figured and what they mean; how to improve your credit score; how to dispute incorrect items; and how to clean-up your credit report. She will also discuss wise use of credit and how to avoid predatory lending practices.
The seminar is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Natrona County Public Library, the Wyoming Small Business Development Center, and the Casper Area Chamber of Commerce. To register, please sign-up at the Library Reference Desk or call 577-READ, ext. 2.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance.
By Joanne Bowlby, Wyoming AARP
Wyoming’s workforce is aging and many businesses have developed innovative ways to keep their skilled and experienced workers on the job. Some of you have hired retired workers back into the workforce. Others have allowed workers to work from home, job share or flex their schedules. Tout your success and receive recognition for your efforts. Apply today for the 2008 AARP Best Employers for Workers over 50!
Because policies that are good for mature workers are often beneficial for all workers, employers are not required to have programs dedicated exclusively to mature workers. However, employers who can demonstrate that their programs are particularly valued by mature workers may receive additional credit through the evaluation process.
Any business, nonprofit or governmental agency with at least 50 employees is eligible to apply. There is no fee to enter and every applicant receives valuable management information. Winners also receive national and local media recognition and are featured in publications received by AARP’s 39 million members.
The deadline to apply is February 15, 2008.
For more information on the Best Employer Program, visit: http://www.aarp.org/money/careers/employerresourcecenter/bestemployers/
Or go directly to the online application: http://survey.mysurvey.com/AARPBest2008/index.htm
By Diane Wolverton
State Director
Wyoming Small Business Development Center
A movement is afoot. Some call it sustainability; others call it green business. Patricia Aburdene, author of Megatrends 2010 has dubbed it “Conscious Capitalism” and she says it will change the way we conduct business in the USA and around the world.
“Change the way we conduct business” Wow. That warrants attention. Smart entrepreneurs are taking note and looking for ways to be part of the change so it works for them and not against them. Here are a few things you can do to get started.
Learn the basics. Today’s working definition of sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In the context of business, this means operating profitably today without negatively impacting our environmental and societal infrastructures to compromise the future. Sustainable businesses work toward a “triple bottom line”: one that supports people, planet and profits.
One way to orient yourself to the movement is to learn its language. Check out the online sustainability dictionary by the Presidio School of Management. You’ll discover cool concepts like biomimicry, eco-labels, cradle-to-cradle, SRI (social responsible investing), global reporting initiative and more.
Connect with others: Lots of organizations are cropping up to support the sustainability movement. Co-op America has been around the longest. They offer a ton of information, plus an opportunity for sustainable businesses to sell products through Green Festivals and their catalogue of sustainable products, The Green Pages.
Another great resource is LOHAS, an organization dedicated to the $209 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. Just a few minutes on this website will show you that the sustainability movement offers a lot of opportunity for businesses who can tailor their products and services to meet the needs of this huge market. LOHAS also puts on a great annual conference loaded with information and networking opportunities.
Revisit your plan: Getting on the wave of sustainable business requires revisiting your whole business – your mission, your product, your processes, your people, your location. It may seem overwhelming. But there are lots of resources to help. The Wyoming Business Council offers an energy audit to determine what your carbon footprint looks like and how you can reduce its size. Contact Tom Fuller, tom.fuller@wybusiness.org. Manufacturing-Works offers an environmental assessment. Contact Carol Stark, cjstark@bresnan.net. The Small Business Development Center can help you look at your compete business plan through the lens of sustainable practices. Contact Diane Wolverton, ddw@uwyo.edu.
By Brandon Marshall
We've all heard it seemingly endlessly lately in Wyoming, "I can't find workers!" While it's nearly universally accepted that there is a shortage of workers in Wyoming, I wonder if we're really doing all we can to find the best workers for our jobs?
So, here's what I mean by that. There is a workforce out there. A highly professional, knowledgeable, reliable and loyal workforce at that. One that wouldn't have the first idea of how to boil up and distribute/use a batch of meth. (I'm nuts right? These people don't exist any more!) These people are there, and they're just waiting for you to pick their resume out of the "over qualified" pile.
These workers, of course, are "older workers;" people who aren't ready to retire, but are looking for some flexibility in their work schedule. Looking for time for other activities that are beginning to feel more important to them. Simply looking for opportunities to stay engaged and useful.
What it will take to find this workforce is for your company to become know as a place that is willing to run on the premise of flexibility and friendliness for and to the older worker. One step is to realize that a hard and fast schedule is secondary to productivity. Meaning, if you get the job done, who really cares how much time you spent at the office? Another important step is to change your thinking on who is and isn't "over-qualified." Assume that if someone applied for the job, they're willing take it, and to accept the pay that it is offering. Many older workers are simply looking for something to do to use their skills and stay productive, and aren't necessarily looking for a step up on the ladder.
Anyway, before this turns into an exhaustive essay................ I would encourage you to take another look at the older workforce in Wyoming. You may find that your workforce crisis can be taken down a couple of notches on the panic scale. You can find more information on finding your workforce at www.boomersandbusiness.com.
If an influenza pandemic strikes Wyoming, who will ship coal to power plants in Wyoming and elsewhere? Who will run the ski lifts in Jackson Hole or serve coffee to visitors in Sheridan? Who will supply equipment and services to the state’s natural gas fields? Who will process pay checks for state workers?
Those questions will be considered at “Pandemic Flu: It IS your business,” a daylong conference co-sponsored by the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences beginning at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the Parkway Plaza in Casper. Other sponsors are the Wyoming Department of Health, the Wyoming Business Alliance, the Wyoming Business Council, and the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security.
The cost of the conference is $50, which includes meals and conference materials. To register, go to www.uwo.edu/outreach/conferences/calendar and scroll down Pandemic Flu Preparedness and click to register. Or call 877-733-3618, ext. 1.
“We hope to present a strong and unified voice from health care, public health, state and local governments, and the business community that pandemic flu preparedness by all sectors of society is vital to the well-being and sustainability of communities,” says Mary Burman, interim dean of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing.
A pandemic infection takes place over a wide geographic area and affects a high proportion of the population.
The goal of the conference is to increase awareness about the impact that a pandemic flu outbreak could have in Wyoming and to motivate businesses across the state to have a plan.
The keynote speaker will be Steve Aldrich, founder and president of Bio Economic Research Associates (bio-era), an independent research and advisory firm focused on the economic and business implications of human-induced change to biological systems.
The conference will also include panel discussions and question and answer sessions.
The world is closer to an influenza pandemic now than it has been at any time since the last outbreak in 1968, the World Health Organization and international experts believe. The culprit is expected to be H5N1 bird flu virus. While it exists mainly in bird populations in Asia, it could develop the ability to spread efficiently and sustainably among humans, triggering a pandemic.
By Venture West
Here's an opportunity to present your business plan to Wyoming's only organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and the investors and service providers that support them!
Venture West, is having its third meeting of 2007 on September 6th in Laramie.
Up to four entrepreneurs will be selected to present their prospective, new and ongoing ventures.
Presentations will be limited to five minute time slots followed by a brief Q & A session.
To compete in this process, submit an electronic copy (formatted as WORD or .rtf) of your company's executive summary to: exec-summary@venturewest.org
Semi-finalists must be prepared to submit a five minute PowerPoint overview of their company and business plan to the screening committee.
Deadline to submit the executive summary is Monday, July 30th, 2007 by 5 p.m.
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