Tuesday, Nov. 17
Des Moines Partnership
700 Locust St., Suite 100 (map it)

To register or for more information, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

“There are plenty of perfectly good businesses from which investors may choose. Truly compelling, differentiated businesses get the most attention from serious buyers,” says Claypool.  “Those business owners who know their market, know the real problem they’re solving and have the people and processes to execute the idea really stand out in a crowd.”

As an investor looking for high growth opportunities, Claypool will outline the two areas most business owners forget when they’re preparing their business to be acquired: a solid marketing plan and a well-documented exit strategy.  He’ll provide direction to make your business a “game-changer” so the right people notice it.

“Investors want a game-changer. If an owner can demonstrate that their business is a game-changer, I pay attention,” says Claypool. “If there are deficiencies in the marketing or the exit strategy, that’s an indication they don’t have such a business.”

Join the BIZ for this presentation that will help you plan for a successful end to your endeavor while you’re creating it.

$12 admission fee

11: 30 A.M.

October 21, 2009

Des Moines Partnership

700 Locust St., Suite 100 (map it)

To register or for more information, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

How Business Gets Done: Words of Wisdom by Central Iowa Experts

Central Iowa has a thriving business community that is reaching new heights in creativity, collaboration  and success. We’ve asked 32 of the area’s brightest and most innovative professionals to share their best practices and expertise…the result is this book. Part playbook, part inspiration and part reference guide, How Business Gets Done is your inside view into how some of the best of the best get it done every day.




This book provides words of wisdom from:

• Adam Carroll, Creating an ownership mindset
• Andy Drish, Networking
• Ann Selzer, Research
• Brett Trout, Patents
• Claire Celsi, PR
• Cory Garrison, Relationship selling
• Drew McLellan, Branding
• Jim Lewis and Andrea Westmeyer, Relationship marketing
• Joe Kristan, Selecting an accountant and tax advisor
• Joseph Hinke, Business insurance
• Katie Roth, Hiring sales people
• Kelley Ellis, Hiring people
• Kent Zimmerman, Planning
• Kris Johansen, SBIR
• Mary Stier, Leading through change/trouble
• Michael Kulik and Jason Stone, Formation
• Michael Libbie, Web advertising
• Mike Colwell, E-mail; State of Iowa grant and loan programs
• Mike Helak, Financial implications of doing business internationally
• Mike Sansone, Blogs
• Nathan Wright, Social media
• Pat Martin, Maintaining your corporate structure
• Phil Corbin, Buying a business
• Rush Nigut, The partnership prenup
• Scott Johnson, Copyrights
• Shirley Poertner, Becoming a better leader
• Steven Zumbach, Choosing a lawyer
• Tim Johnson, Project management
• Tim Zarley, Trademarks
• Victor Aspergren, ESOP

Visit Lulu.com to order your copy today!

Build a Better Marketing Plan
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13
Partnership Building
700 Locust St., Suite 100

$30 admission fee

“By the time they leave the building at the end of the day, participants will have a functioning marketing plan in their hands,” says McLellan, top dog at McLellan Marketing Group in Des Moines. “The workshop will help them understand what goes into a marketing plan and give them the time and the advice of other entrepreneurs to document how they’ll move forward into the marketplace.”

The workshop will include presentations and breakout sessions to explain the concept of brand, help identify and prioritize audiences, refine the marketing message, and evaluate and select appropriate marketing communication tactics, including the rapidly emerging social media.

“Marketing is the No. 1 subject requested by entrepreneurs, so we felt this full-day workshop would be the best way to dive in and tackle the subject,” says Mike Colwell, executive director of the Business Innovation Zone of Central Iowa. “And Drew McLellan is really good explaining marketing in easy-to understand language that is instantly actionable.”

McLellan is a strong believer in telling stories and asking questions that help clients create authentic love affairs with their customers. A veteran of years in the advertising and marketing arena, he’s also a published author. Most recently, he co-authored The Age of Conversation and the Age of Conversation 2 about the rise of social media, and his blog, Drew’s Marketing Minute, is one of the most read marketing blogs on the Internet.

To register or receive more information about the workshop, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

In his past roles at Cisco Systems, both in business units and, most recently, as head of new markets and technologies, Christian directly acquired startup companies and build acquisition strategy for over a dozen new technology areas. He has a vast knowledge of what works and what doesn’t, and his unique experience will provide a wealth of information to entrepreneurs in the startup phase of their business development.

Join the BIZ for this presentation that will help you plan for a successful end to your endeavor while you’re creating it.

$12 admission fee

11: 30 A.M.

September 16, 2009

Des Moines Partnership

700 Locust St., Suite 100

To register or for more information, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

Most business owners pay too much tax because they don’t take advantage of every tax break legally available to them. And most financial advisors actually do a poor job of saving their clients money, according to Dixon. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. Dixon will share the top 10 most common – and costliest – mistakes business owners make and how to avoid them.

A licensed public accountant, Dixon helps his business clients realize tax savings and proactively uncover often-overlooked legal deductions. He also excels at finding legitimate ways to minimize capital gains tax liability through the selective realization of gains and losses.

Dixon has written financial planning articles for publications such as "The Register" and has presented at the National Association of Retired Federal Employees pre-retirement seminars. He also volunteers with the State of Iowa at the Low Income Taxpayer Clinics to help taxpayers involved in controversies with the IRS learn about their tax rights and responsibilities.

Join the BIZ for this important presentation that will help realize greater tax savings for your business.

$12 admission fee

11:30 A.M.
Aug. 19, 2009
Des Moines Partnership
700 Locust St., Suite 100 (map it)

To register or for more information, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

Rush will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of S corporations, C corporations and limited liability companies; the situations when you might need to switch your business entity; and why it matters.

Rush practices business and corporate law for Brick Gentry, P.C. in West Des Moines, Iowa, advising businesses of all sizes from start-ups to established businesses, including technology and communications companies, franchise operations, banking and financial institutions, contractors, and manufacturers. With 14 years of trial and business transaction experience, Rush provides practical and effective business solutions for today’s corporate and entrepreneurial clients.

Rush has also been active in civic and community affairs. He was a member of The Des Moines Business Record’s 2006 Forty Under 40 and a 2000 graduate of the Des Moines Leadership Institute.
A graduate of Drake University Law School in 1994 and Simpson College in 1991 with a degree in business management, Rush is an early adopter of blog technology: His blog, Rush on Business has been quoted or referenced by hundreds of other legal and business blogs and Web sites, including the blog networks for the Wall St. Journal, Forbes Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine.  In 2008, Rush on Business received awards for the Best Business Blog and Best Resource Blog in the Iowa Web Awards.

Join the BIZ for this important presentation that will help you gain the focus necessary to move your business forward.  

$10 admission fee

11:30 a.m.
June 17, 2009
Des Moines Partnership
700 Locust St., Suite 100

To register or for more information, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

Everyone's worried about being found on the web today and with good reason. Research shows that when a consumer is looking for a product or service, their first step in finding that new vendor is to head to their favorite search engine—even if they plan to shop local.

Drew’s session will cover SEO 101.  What it is, how it works, how you can optimize your website so that Google and the other search engines organically will (over time) rank it higher.  He’ll also cover buying your place on the search engines through AdWords and other options.

Drew McLellan gets branding and marketing, and he’s emerged as one of the most connected voices in social media.  He’s a strong believer in telling stories and asking questions that help clients create authentic love affairs with their customers.

A veteran of years in the advertising and marketing arena, he’s also a published author. Most recently, he co-authored The Age of Conversation and the Age of Conversation 2 about the rise of social media, and his blog, Drew’s Marketing Minute, is one of the most-read marketing blogs on the Internet.

Join the BIZ for this important presentation that will help gain the focus necessary to move your business forward.  

$10 admission fee

11:30 a.m.
May 20, 2009,
Des Moines Partnership
700 Locust St., Suite 100

To register or for more information, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

The BIZ’s mission is to connect entrepreneurial needs with qualified community and state resources and to provide guided professional and business direction. The BIZ helps entrepreneurs maximize their successes by helping them navigate resources, strengthen knowledge, improve skills, form strategic alliances and secure proper capitalization.

When you implement the tools from this workshop you will increase your productivity and focus tremendously. As a bonus, all attendees at this workshop will receive a complimentary coaching session with Monte.

As one of the top coaches in ActionCOACH Business Coaching (www.coachyourbiz.com), Monte brings more than 18 years of leadership and personal development experience to businesses and business owners.  In addition to one-on-one business coaching, he conducts workshops and seminars and is a motivational keynote speaker. He was recently named one of five finalists for Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Longest Client Retention award at the ActionCOACH Business Coaching North American Conference.

Join the BIZ for this important presentation that will help gain the focus necessary to move your business forward.  

$10 admission fee (includes lunch)

11: 30 a.m.
April 22, 2009
Des Moines Partnership
700 Locust St., Suite 100

To register or for more information, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

“Raising Capital For Your Business Startup: How to Successfully Plan For Investment in Your Business”

$30 admission fee

8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24th
Des Moines Partnership Building
700 Locust St., Suite 100 (map it)

“Many entrepreneurs don’t have a good understanding of the types of capital that start-up businesses can or should raise,” says Mike Colwell, executive director of the BIZ. “This event will be the place to learn about the legal requirements, investor expectations of them, the time frames and the costs involved in raising capital.”

Leading business advisors will deliver presentations on business valuation, fund raising compliance and legal issues, using friends and family as capital sources, angel investor expectations and how to use venture capital and private equity sources.

“The seminar will be a concentrated version of our monthly luncheon presentations so would be entrepreneurs will get six month’s worth of sessions in one morning, then be better prepared to tackle the task of uncovering and connecting with sources of capital that can help grow their business.”

To register for or receive more information about the seminar, contact Cathy Spenceri at caspenceri@dmacc.edu.

Registration is Limited, Sign up Today!