Datebook: Refining Your Own Effective Elevator Speech and more
• Today: Refining Your Own Effective Elevator Speech. 8 a.m.-noon. ISCG, 601 North University, Ann Arbor. We all have been told the first impression we give is the most important one. How you represent your business in the first 30 seconds can be the difference between that next large contract or losing an opportunity to meet your next client. We know that an effective elevator speech is crucial to success and developing one can be difficult and frustrating. This half-day workshop is designed to help you develop the most effective elevator speech for your business in a unique format. Prepare to bring your current speech and work in small groups. The expert facilitators and your small group will work together to hammer out the most effective elevator speech you have ever had. $29. Click here for more information or to register.
• Today: Chamber Member Reception. 4-6 p.m. The Innovatrium, 601 E. University St., Ann Arbor. Come meet the producers at Zingerman's Southside and participate in the first member reception of 2010. Come learn more about the Innovatrium and mix and mingle with the "Dean of Innovation" himself, Dr. Jeff DeGraff, from University of Michigan's Ross School of Business along with other business professionals. For more information, contact Cheryl O'Brien at 734-214-0107.
• Friday: Google Analytics Driver's Ed Training Course. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Pure Visibility Inc., 201 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Google Analytics is now free to all advertisers and site owners, and has been re-designed for increased effectiveness. Installing Analytics code on your site is only the first step in the process of making this powerful tool work for your organization. Our course is a one-day workshop that provides a foundation of proven principles that will help you succeed in using Google Analytics to improve your site's performance, regardless of whether you're a beginner just setting up your account, or a Web analyst with years of experience. $775. Register at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/589946546.
• Friday: Starting Your Own Business. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Key Bank Building, 301 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. At this forum hosted by Ann Arbor SPARK, you will learn about personality traits that impact entrepreneurialism, create a marketing plan for your business, learn about legal, accounting, franchises, business plans and financing options. You will receive one-on-one counseling with a business expert and have an opportunity to get advice from a variety of business experts and organizations that are available to support new ventures. $25. Register at http://www.annarborusa.org/register?e=10227.
• Sunday: Corporate Duck Challenge at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. 4 p.m. Riverside Park, downtown Ypsilanti. The Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber invites area businesses to participate in the 2010 Corporate Duck Challenge during the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. The Corporate Duck Race will begin prior to the Rubber Duck Race, with thousands of people lining the waters edge to cheer on their favorite duck. All participating corporate ducks will be announced and published in the chamber's monthly publication. The winner of the 2010 Corporate Duck Challenge will receive the traveling trophy, which the Bank of Ann Arbor currently possesses. Should your company defeat the grand champion and other rivals, your company’s name will be engraved on the trophy and is yours to display until the 2011 Heritage Festival. In addition, your organization will be featured in articles about the race on the chamber website. Free. For more information, visit the chamber's events page or contact Katie Jones at 734-665-4433.
• Tuesday: Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan. 3-6 p.m.. MI-SBTDC Office, Key Bank Building, 301 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 101, Ypsilanti. Note: This event was originally scheduled for Aug. 17, but the date has been changed. Speaker: Cathie Abad, MI-SBTDC Consultant. An Essential Tool for your Small Business. Every existing or prospective business needs a plan, but every plan is unique. This workshop will help you understand the necessary content and best format for your business plan, and show you the resources to create it. This workshop will help you understand the necessary content and best format for your business plan, and show you the resources to create it. An Essential Tool for your Small Business. Every existing or prospective business needs a plan, but every plan is unique. This workshop will help you understand the necessary content and best format for your business plan, and show you the resources to create it. $30. Register at http://www.annarborusa.org/events/details?e=10509.
• Wednesday: Executive Networking: Gray Hair Management. 7:30-10 a.m. Sandler Training, 501 Avis Drive, Ann Arbor. The Gray Hair Management corporate mission is to help professionals get jobs. All activities are focused on this mission, whether it is to help organizations and recruiters find qualified candidates, provide our members with networking events and job leads, or to help individuals secure their next position with our exclusive Pathways Through Transitions Coaching program. Speaker: Mike Wynn, Sandler Training. $10 with preregistration online for GHM members. $15 for non-members with preregistration online. $20 for all at the door. Click here for more information or to register.
• Wednesday: Shifting Gears: New Economy Career Development Program Information. 5:30-7 p.m. Ypsilanti SPARK East, 215 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. Shifting Gears is a 5-month intensive program with 3 phases that include a multi-functional small business knowledge base, practical project applications base, and a launching point base. Do you have large company corporate experiences and would like to make a change to a new environment? Would you like to make an investment in yourself and gain skills and experiences that will prepare you to adapt effectively to dynamic, innovative firms? Would you like to have a mentor and experience working with early stage entrepreneurs where you can make valuable, meaningful connections? If you answered yes to these questions, then you should come to an information session to learn more about the Shifting Gears Program and to see if it is right for you. There is a cost for the Shifting Gears program, but this informational session is free. For more information or to register, visit http://www.annarborusaevents.org/events/details?e=10485.
• Wednesday: Entrepreneur Education 2.0: Selecting & Growing Talent. 5-7 p.m. SPARK Central, 330 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. Speaker: Scott Trossen, Trossen HR. The "right people in the right roles" is critical to achieve extraordinary results. This session will address what your "human capital" team might look like at each stage of the organization's development -- including how to select and hire complementary people and skills, as well as ideas for building the team. Mini-topics include assessing talent, legal interviewing, and contractor vs. employee options. he Entrepreneur Education 2.0 series are programs designed for innovation based entrepreneurs that are in the process of growing their company. $10. Register at http://www.annarborusa.org/register?e=10471 .
• Wednesday: Liferay Road Show Michigan! 11:30-2:30 p.m. Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor. Youngsoft will be hosting Michigan's Liferay Road Show in Ann Arbor on August 25th at the Ann Arbor Brewing Co. Liferay is a professional open-source company that provides free documentation and paid professional service to users of its software. Liferay team members will be presenting topics on the latest Liferay 6 release, and Youngsoft will be providing case studies and demonstrating the new Liferay application. All users and community members are welcome! Free. To register, e-mail info@youngsoft.com or call 248-675-1200.
• Wednesday: Wordpress Ann Arbor. 7-9 p.m. Ann Arbor District Library Free Space, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor. Sponsored by 3.7 DESIGNS & O'Neill Creative. Publisher? Developer? Blogger? Student? Professional? Sharpen or share your Wordpress skills by attending this monthly networking, education and sharing event in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Every meeting consists of a presentation by a local Wordpress professional (which could be you!), networking, tips and general Wordpress discussion. Optional post-event networking at local bars or coffee shops. Ross Johnson will be presenting "Wordpress Horsepower, 10 Ways To Speed Up Wordpress." If you plan on coming we would appreciate an RSVP on Upcoming.org or Facebook. We are currently meeting at the Ann Arbor District Library. There is a free open meeting space on the third floor. Free. Click here for more information.
• Aug. 26: Ann Arbor West chapter of Business Network International open meeting. 7-8:30 a.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1500 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor. Meeting repeats every Thursday. BNI is an international networking group that works by growing members’ businesses through word-of-mouth advertising. Each week, members trade referrals, share testimonials, and learn about each others’ businesses in a structured setting that combines solid business support in a family environment. For more information, e-mail PamperChefCarol@aol.com, call 734-358-8480 or visit www.a2bni.com.
• Aug. 26: Summer Speaker Series-Reinventing Careers as Consultants, Subcontractors, Freelancers and More. 3-5 p.m. SPARK East, 215 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. Speaker: Dr. Diana J. Wong. Many people are finding innovative ways to recreate their career portfolio of talents and expertise. This session will provides an overview of becoming a consultant and managing some related roles as interns and sub-contractors. Some of the topics included will be sourcing consulting opportunities, responding to RFIs/RFQs/RFPs, qualifying clients, teaming with other experts, executing well, billing and collecting, and building a clientele. Audience members will have an opportunity to pursue deeper discussions based on specific interests. Free. Click here for more information or to register.
• Aug. 26: Solar for Your Building: The Incentives Add Up. 10 a.m.-noon. Ypsilanti Public Library - Whittaker Road Branch, 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti. Clean Energy Coalition (CEC) is hosting a special event as part of its 2010 Rebuild Ypsilanti campaign, Solar for your building: The incentives add up. Rebuild Ypsilanti aims to reduce energy costs by assisting Ypsilanti-based commercial building and business owners with energy efficiency improvements and renewable installations. Free. Learn more at www.cec-mi.org.
• Aug. 26: Concentrate Speaker Series Event: Young & Sticking Around. Conor O'Neill's, 318 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Much has been written about Michigan's brain drain and there is little doubt that the state is struggling to attract and retain young professionals. Ann Arbor is not immune to this trend. Despite the hiring power of U-M, some local leaders predict that the 2010 census will reveal that the city has become, on average, older and smaller. Still, some young professionals are choosing to stay here - not only to live, but to do business. And by doing so, they are investing in both their own, and the city's, future. Concentrate has invited a group of ambitious young entrepreneurs to chat about why they've decided to set up shop in Ann Arbor. They'll talk about both the challenges and opportunities of being here, what they'd like to see more (or less) of, and what they're hearing from their peers. We're hoping to encourage a discussion about where our community is headed next and the best way to get there. Guests (so far) include: Al McWilliams, Quack!Media, Michael Watts, Hook LLC and Steve Colson and Mike Monan of Switchback. Refreshments provided. Free, but preregistration is required.
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