Entrepreneur's Growth Conference: Trends and Strategies for Business Success

Duquesne University Small Business Development Center is celebrating its 15th Annual Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference on May 10, 2013.

This action-packed event has something for every business – just starting or growing fast - with workshops, a business building tradeshow and a keynote speaker at lunch.  Businesses looking to learn the hottest trends in social media, the latest strategies for finding and keeping customers and tips for increasing profits are invited.



Workshops include:

·         Starting a Business: A Roadmap to Success

·         Build a Better Blueprint: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing a Great Business Plan

·         Before You Buy: Is a Franchise the Right Business for You?

·         Relationship Management: Tips to Find, Connect & Keep More Clients & Customers

·         Come On Big Money: How To Sell Your Business & Get Top Dollar

·         Re-Invent, Re-Invigorate, Re-Think: A Five-Year Strategic Action Plan for Faster Growth & Bigger Profits

·         Resources, Opportunities, and Ideas for Women & Minority Business Owners

·         Money, Money, Money: Who Has It & How To Get It

·         Deduct It! 15 Money-Saving Secrets of Tax Savvy Entrepreneurs

·         Next Generation Networking: How to Meet More Customers, Vendors, Partners & Friends Online & Offline

·         The Competitive Edge: How to be a Marketing Rock Star

·         The Social Savvy Entrepreneur: 15 Time-Saving Ideas to Build Business on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn

·         Watch This: The Marketing Power of Online Videos

·         Clicks & Cash: What It Takes to Drive Website Traffic, Convert Visitors to Customers & Keep Them Coming Back



A special networking opportunity will be provided at lunch – many of the events speakers have volunteered to stay for lunch and host a table.  This is a chance for attendees to sit with the expert and pick their brain; get a few new ideas and network with others at the table as well.  There will be speakers who are discussing topics such as branding, finding money and social media.

The Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference begins at 8:00 a.m. with registration and networking and continues through 4:30 p.m. at Duquesne University.



Register at www.sbdc.duq.edu.


Use code Pitt13 and receive a $20 discount.  If your customer is small business, consider exhibiting.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

For Sale: Opportunity Franchising Event

NEWS RELEASE
September 09, 2012                                                                                        

Contact Information:
Linda Handley, Founder
Phone: 412.475.9010
E-mail:info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.com


Building Bridges for Business anticipates another sold-out crowd at For Sale: Opportunity franchising event on October 9

PITTSBURGH – Building Bridges for Business – a not-for-profit organization aimed at empowering and educating Pittsburgh’s small business owners – is expecting another sold-out event on October 9 between 4:30pm and 8:00 pm EST at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.  They are hosting For Sale: Opportunity, intended to connect established franchisors, funding on the spot with a new loan program, 401k funding experts, finding space for the business, and potential franchisees and business owners.

“Franchises have long been an important component in the structure of American business,” said Linda Handley, founder, Building Bridges for Business. “Four out of five franchises succeed where as one out of five small businesses succeed after five years.”  Franchises provide over 9.8 million jobs with a payroll of over $229 billion according to the International Franchise Association, IFA.

At the event, built around networking opportunities for small business owners and entrepreneurs, Rich Fitzgerald, Executive, Allegheny County, will deliver a message on the current state of locally owned small businesses. “Rich’s passion for small business development and sustainability in Allegheny County has been unprecedented,” stated Amanda Wodzenski President of Building Bridges. “We’re excited to hear him speak and know he will provide regional small business owners with insights, information and resources from a governmental perspective.”

In addition to providing franchises with an established presence in the Pittsburgh region with growth opportunities, the event will also target new opportunities for franchises outside of the Pittsburgh market and potential local franchisees. “We are hopeful this will be an opportunity for new franchises to partner with local entrepreneurs and drive new business to our region and tri-state area,” Handley said. “It is apparent that Pittsburgh is experiencing significant economic growth, and this event will serve as a wonderful opportunity for national franchises to partner with local business leaders.”

Previous Building Bridges for Business events include Small Business Works, held at the Kingsley Center in Pittsburgh’s East End in 2011 and 2012, Young Entrepreneurs held at GOOGLE Pittsburgh, and Welcome to Oz, held at downtown Pittsburgh’s Fairmont Hotel in October 2011 and featuring Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Obama’s chief of advocacy, U.S. Small Business Administration.  All of the organization’s previous events have sold out.

Partners for For Sale: Opportunity include, the Allegheny County Executive’s Office, the City of Pittsburgh, the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University and the Small Business Development Center at Duquesne University. Major sponsors are Positively Pittsburgh Live, Brunnhuber and Associates, Comcast Business Class, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Staples, Giant Eagle, Pittsburgh Business Times and Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association.  Interested participants can register for the event on Building Bridges for Business’ website (www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org). To learn more, follow Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz) on Twitter or contact Building Bridges for Business via e-mail at info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES FOR BUSINESS Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., Building Bridges for Business 501(c) 3 aims at empowering and educating the region’s small business leaders by providing resources to start, manage, grow and promote their businesses. Since its inception in November 2010, the organization has hosted sold out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's adviser from the Small Business Administration. In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched COFFEE WITH a trademarked Film Series and Pittsburgh's first-ever small business TweetChat.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Former Mrs. USA Rekindles Childhood Memories

Mrs USA 1993 Melanie Patterson

Former Mrs. USA turns house into living museum enabling guests to re-experience their childhood

BELLE VERNON, PA – There aren’t many guest houses in America where a June Cleaver look-a-like greets travelers as they check in for their stay – but that’s exactly what happens at “The Good Ole Days House,” where the ’50s through the ’70s come alive.

Ace Waggoner, 62, of Riverside Calif., recently was welcomed by proprietor Melanie Patterson, when he brought his wife home to the Mon Valley to visit family. For the Waggoner’s travelling home not only entailed logging some 3,000 miles but also about 50 decades. “This is my third time here,” he said. “I like the décor, it’s similar to what I grew up with; we’ve never seen a place like this.”

The 1928 house boasts working rotary telephones, glass milk jars and metal bread boxes while a Ladies Home Journal capturing Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding day graces the coffee table in the living room retrofitted with a circa-1950’s television. The bathroom houses a 1928 clawfoot tub where guests can suds their hair with “Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific” and “Lemon Up” shampoos. And while the game room might not boast an in-home theater, it does come equipped with a record player that spins popular 45” singles, as well as authentic toys and pinball machines from the ’70s.

The house, with its honeymoon-themed “Happy Days Hideaway for 2” located in her aunt’s neighborhood beauty shop occupying the backyard, is the inspiration of entrepreneur Melanie Patterson. Patterson is a former teacher, 1993 Mrs. Pennsylvania USA and national Mrs. USA title holder and inventor of PIBS (paper bibs on a roll that sold at local supermarkets for more than a decade), said she faithfully attended Duquesne University’s Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) Entrepreneurial Growth Conference (EGC) where keynote speakers encouraged her to market to baby boomers.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Smithmyer Honored as Small Business Person of the Year

News Release
PITTSBURGH  DISTRICT OFFICE          
Contact:  Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103
Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs

Local proprietor carves up win as Western Pennsylvania SBA Small Business Person of the Year award

LORETTO, PA – Residents from 37 different Cambria County zip codes know where the beef is – because they can visit Jay Smithmyer, proprietor of Smithmyer’s Superette, who is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Western Pennsylvania’s Small Business Person of the Year.

Smithmeyer and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh during SBA’s Western Pennsylvania Awards Luncheon May 25th, held in conjunction with the 49th annual celebration of National Small Business Week.

Smithmyer, 65, has worked in the small business sector his entire life, beginning with working for his father, who founded and sold several small businesses: a service station, coal-mine stripping business and TV picture tube manufacturing venture. His last project, a superette, was purchased by Jay and his wife, Louise, 40 years ago.

“I majored in economics and worked in the store starting in my freshman year at Saint Francis University,” Smithmyer said. “I decided that I enjoyed small town living, made a commitment to stay here and decided to focus on why people shop at our store and what draws them in.”

According to Smithmyer, the major reason people patronize the superette is the selection of fresh-cut meats and its customer service.

“We focused on meats and still do, we can cut 200 different pieces of beef, chicken and poultry,” he said. “Our meat isn’t pre-packaged and we smoke our own meats and offer unique products like homemade Jack Daniels burgers for grilling. We even carry your groceries to the car.”

Smithmyer said a superette sports 5,000-10,000 square feet of selling space and stocks 4,000 to 8,000 items. Since 1965, he’s seen many items come and go.

“When I first started about one-third of the superette was a hardware store and we stocked a section of matches,” he said. “Many name brands have come and gone, but if you walk through the store, you will still find everything you need. We sell the top selling items in each grouping, just not all 33 sizes.”

During his tenure as Smithmyers’s proprietor, he’s also ushered in numerous offerings reflective of societal changes.

In the early ‘70s, Smithmyer said he read a small article on the state legalizing the sale of self-service gasoline. He applied for a license, and Smithmyer became one of the first owner-operators of self-serve gasoline stations in the entire state.

“About that time, the convenience store concept was developing, so we devoted the front end of our store to that,” he said. “Back then we used to sell frozen sandwiches that had to be heated in a microwave, now we prepare approximately 200 fresh-made sandwiches each day.”

Smithmyer, with the help of his family and the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) also has ventured into social media with a blog and Facebook site as well as an email that informs customers about weekly in-store specials. He said the Facebook site has approximately 600 friends, which is about the same number of people who shop at the superette each day.

A genuine fondness for his hometown has led Smithmyer to become a local curator of Loretto’s past, utilizing wall and upper shelf space to display pictures of the town and products from a bygone era – such as glass-bottle milk and soda containers. Customers regularly donate items knowing their treasures will find a safe haven at the superette.

Smithmyer often donates anonymously to persons in need and lives by his personal mantra: “I like to measure my life not by what I make, but what I do for others,” Smithmyer said. “I’ve never gone to bed hungry and I never want to see anyone else go to bed hungry.”

According to Western Pennsylvania SBA District Director Carl Knoblock, Smithmyer truly exemplifies what it means to be a small business person of the year. “He knows his community, his niche and knows how to position his superette for its continued growth among the large, chain-store grocers,” Knoblock said. “And most importantly, he’s remembered to give back to the community.”

Smithmyer said it was an honor to be selected as the Western Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year.  “My family and cow-workers are the reason this superette works,” he said.  “I’m really just a figurehead, and I really enjoy working here and being around other people.”
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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

Note:  If you would like to speak with Jay Smithmyer or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Second Annual Small Business Works Seminar

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2012

Contact Information:
Linda Handley, Founder Building Bridges for Business
Phone: 412.475.9010
E-mail:info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.com

Five Powerhouse Organizations Partner to Provide Second Annual Small Business Works Seminar

Pittsburgh, PA – The second annual Small Business Works seminars – aimed at empowering and educating small business owners – will kick off at 9 a.m. on May 21, 2012 at the Kingsley Association in East Pittsburgh. The event will be hosted by Building Bridges for Business, the County of Allegheny, the City of Pittsburgh, the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University and Duquesne University’s Small Business Development Center.

Small Business Works will provide education on the necessary steps to obtain capital. Learn from our nationally known expert speaker on HOW to apply successfully for a business loan. Information will be provided on:

• What are the basic steps and information needed in applying for a loan?
• The hidden obstacles in the loan application process and how to overcome them.
• Sources and types of capital.
• We walk you through filling out a sample loan package.

The event will also feature resources that will offer growth opportunities for attendees.

“Small businesses are really the lifeblood of our economy and their impact and importance has really been seen in this tight economy,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.  “Offering programs like this helps to eliminate the barriers that small companies face and empowers and educates them so that they may take advantage of the opportunities that exist.”

“Small businesses are essential to our neighborhood business districts and their success and growth is key to maintaining a livable and vibrant City,” said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. “Through opportunities like this, we hope to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs achieve success by educating them on the many tools and existing programs that are currently available.”

The Kingsley event will be the first in a series of other Small Business Works seminars in various Allegheny County neighborhoods set to occur in 2012. Each event will provide access to education and regional business resources. Major sponsors for the Kingsley Small Business Works seminars include: Brunnhuber and Associates, Comcast Business Class, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Pittsburgh Business Times, Pittsburgh Venture Capital, Staples, the Frankstown Road Giant Eagle, and Positively Pittsburgh Live. Find more information and to register for the event on Building Bridges for Business’ web site, www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

“The event with Building Bridges is about giving financial options to the small businesses of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,” said Sue Malone keynote speaker for the May 21, 2012 event.  Malone added, “The first thing we have to understand financing is still available for small businesses, both start up and existing businesses. We have all been through the economic down turn and have heard there is “no” money available. I will let you know, there is money available, it just takes a bit more effort to obtain the financing.”

About Building Bridges for Business
Since its inception in November 2010, Building Bridges for Business hosted three sold out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's main adviser for small business. Other events have featured educational resources and key local small business figures. “We want to bridge the valuable resources in Western Pennsylvania with business owners and residents who want to start a business,” says Building Bridges President, Amanda Wodzenski.

Building Bridges for Business was founded in 2010 in conjunction with Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the Allegheny County Executive's Office, Duquesne University and Chatham University to provide education and resources for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County entrepreneurs on business growth, promotion, management and to aid individuals hoping to launch a new business. In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched Pittsburgh's first-ever small business Twitterchat in September 2011 to offer vital resources from small business experts to entrepreneurs via Twitter.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

LA Comes to the 'Burgh via PR Twitterchat

NEWS RELEASE

April 10, 2012                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
                               
Contact Information:     

Linda Handley, Founder
Phone: 412.475.9010

E-mail:info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.com

Los Angeles PR Firm Founder and Expert Business Builder Lisa Elia Featured Guest for May 15 #SmallBizPgh Twitterchat 

PITTSBURGH, PA – Award winning entrepreneur and public relations expert, Lisa Elia, will answer questions via Twitter on May 15, 2012 between 7 pm and 8 pm EST in Pittsburgh's small business Twitterchat presented by Building Bridges for Business (bridges4biz).

The virtual event, which is aimed at providing valuable, free resources for small business owners will feature Elia, who will answer a set of questions from Building Bridges for Business and other questions posed by entrepreneurs from the region and can be followed live using hashtag #smallbizpgh on either twebevent.com or tweetchat.com.

“Lisa’s drive and passion for women’s entrepreneurship and her field of public relations will provide local entrepreneurs with prime advice on how they can achieve their dream of owning and developing their own small businesses,” said Building Bridges for Business founder, Linda Handley. “She brings business expertise to the table, as well as insight on how to appropriately market and promote business on a large scale, which will be an added bonus for our attendees.”

The Twitterchat will be presented by Building Bridges for Business, as well as its partners, including Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh Mayor's Office, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center and the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University.

For more on the event, visit Building Bridges for Business' homepage at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org follow Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz) on Twitter or contact Building Bridges for Business by e-mailing info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

Since its inception in November 2010, the organization has hosted three sold out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's main adviser from the Small Business Administration. In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched Pittsburgh's first-ever small business Twitterchat.

About Lisa Elia

Lisa Elia is a publicist, media trainer and CEO and founder of Lisa Elia Public Relations, a full-service PR firm in Los Angeles. She is an expert media trainer and speaker who has become known for her Women of Influence Program, media training services, annual events, and private coaching programs.

She has secured placements for her clients in major media outlets, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNN, Redbook, In Style and hundreds of others. She has positioned clients for book deals, endorsement deals, positions as contributing editors to magazines and even their own TV shows.

As an entrepreneur herself for over 20 years, Elia has spoken at many events for entrepreneurs, sharing tips on publicity, internal communications, positioning oneself as an expert and a variety of other topics. She has created programs to teach people how to do their own PR and to improve their on-camera presence.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Building Bridges for Business Hosts Welcome to Oz

Pittsburgh, PA – September 7, 2011

Welcome to Oz – Where Small Business and Sustainability Collide

Allegheny County, The City of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center, Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University and Building Bridges for Business will host Welcome to Oz – Where Small Business and Sustainability Collide to educate and empower business owners. The third seminar in the SOLD OUT series will be held on October 10, 2011 at the Fairmont Hotel. The key note speaker will inspire attendees and 15+ resources will share strategies to be sustainable and grow their business.

The five organizations partnered and will host the October event and several other events scheduled in neighborhoods in the greater Pittsburgh region. Every event provides access to education and the region’s amazing business resources. Details for the October 2011 Welcome to Oz event are located on http://www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org/.

These events will allow participants to expand networking opportunities and meet valuable business resources at the same time. Fifteen sustainable and green companies will be on hand to share cash generating/environment saving techniques. Major sponsors include The Pittsburgh Technology Council, The Pittsburgh Business Times, Fireman Creative, c-leveled, Enterprise Rent a Car, Cold Cypress, solutions4networks, Louis Plung and Comcast Business Class. Register for this event at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will be providing opening remarks. "Small businesses are the lifeline of neighborhood business districts and their success and growth is key to maintaining a livable and vibrant City", said Ravenstahl. "Through opportunities like this, we hope to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs achieve success by educating them on the many tools and existing programs that are currently available."

The event’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Winslow Sargeant Chief Advocate for Small Business Research and Regulatory Affairs. President Obama appointed Winslow to this role in 2009. His background:

• Entrepreneur/Small business start up owner, Co-founder, Aanetcom—A Fabless semiconductor company in Allentown, PA Company was acquired: for $800M in March 2000 by PMC Sierra

• Government Official: National Science Foundation, Program Director, SBIR/STTR Program

• VC experience: Kauffman Fellow, Managing Director, Venture Investors, LLC (2006-2009)

• President Obama Appointed: Nominated, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, 2009, a Senate-confirmed position
Received Recess appointment, August 2010

"The vision for the Building Bridges for Business community is an environment where entrepreneurs can grow and advance their business, support other business owners, and develop as entrepreneurs giving back to their community," says Building Bridges for Business founder Linda Handley, an entrepreneur, author and business advisor. "We want to bridge the valuable resources in Western Pennsylvania with business owners and residents who want to start a business," says Amanda Wodzenski, President of Building Bridges. Building Bridges for Business was created based on the need Handley and others saw in the area understanding that small and start up business owners have limited finances.

Building Bridges for Business focuses on business growth, promotion, management, and people who want to launch a new business. In the past year, Building Bridges has grown and showcases over 30+ Pittsburgh resources. Building Bridge’s goal is to create an organization that truly serves the "small" business owner or struggling entrepreneur.

There is no fee or yearly membership rate to join as a general member of Building Bridges for Business. That is one of the major factors that differentiates Building Bridges from other business and networking groups. Additionally, Building Bridges has plans to offer educational webinars empowering and educating entrepreneurs throughout the year. The variety of programming, allows Building Bridges for Business to provide value to the greatest number of education and business resources regardless of budgetary and time constraints. Visit www.BuildingBridgesForBusiness.org for a full listing of resource partners, educational opportunities and events.

Linda Handley
Building Bridges For Business
342 South Highland Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Contact: 412.475.9010
info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org
http://www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org/

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Duquesne's SBDC Announce April/May Workshops

April - May 2011 Workshops


For workshop details, more information or to register visit www.duq.edu/sbdc

or call 412.396.1633.


April 7 The First Step: Business Start-Up Essentials (Butler County)

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. FREE



April 7 Export Documentation: Avoid Compliance Mistakes

8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. $395



April 8 SBIR / STTR Basics

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. FREE



April 11 First Step: Business Start-Up Essentials (Pittsburgh)

1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. FREE



April 12 Building A Strategic Growth Plan: One Day Workshop

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. $195



April 14 Cold Calling: Make the Most of Your Prospecting

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. $45



April 14 First Step: Business Start-Up Essentials (Lawrence)

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. FREE



April 20 QuickBooks: Advanced

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. $45



April 26 Writing an Effective Business Plan

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. $45



April 28 Tools for Small Business - 2011 and Beyond

8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. FREE



April 29 How to Win SBIR Awards

8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. $175



May 3 The First Step: Business Start-Up Essentials (Butler County)

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. FREE



May 11 SBIR / STTR Basics

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. FREE



May 12 Entrepreneur's Growth Conference

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. $119 till April 28



May 17 First Step: Business Start-Up Essentials (Pittsburgh)

9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. FREE



May 19 The First Step: Business Start-Up Essentials (Beaver County)

9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. FREE



May 26 Export Basics: Increase Your Profits By Selling Overseas

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. $45







Funding support and resources are provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community & Economic Development; through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration; and in part through support from Duquesne University. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Special arrangements for persons with disabilities can be made by calling 412-396-6233. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.”

Small Business Works Seminars Announced

Allegheny County, The City of Pittsburgh, The Small Business Administration, Duquesne University – Small Business Development Center, and Building Bridges for Business will host SMALL BUSINESS WORKS SEMINARs to educate and empower business owners. The first seminar in the series will be held on April 28, 2011 at the Kingsley Association in East Pittsburgh. The key note speaker will inspire attendees and 20+ exhibitors will showcase resources to start or grow business.


Linda Handley, Founder, Amanda Wodzenski, President, JoAnn Forrester, CFO, Lee Drozak, Chief Information Officer and the advisory Board of Building Bridges for Business provide Pittsburgh's Ultimate Business Resource Connection for Small Business. www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org. This is the first in a series of Small Business Works events scheduled the next being held at GOOGLE in June 2010.

To interview Linda Handley, Founder of Building Bridges for Business, contact info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.