Event Notices From November 19
Women in Defense Michigan Honors Exceptional Professionals, Awards Scholarships: At its annual Black Tie Gala, Women in Defense Michigan presented its Horizon Industry Awards to defense industry professionals for exceptional work, and its Horizons-Michigan scholarships to several women in the industry who are pursuing higher education. In 2009, WID-MI established the Horizon Industry Awards to recognize defense and national security professionals who distinguish themselves in their field and help their organizations achieve critical business objectives and goals. Horizon Industry Award winners are recognized for their leadership in product development, business development and innovation. Since the program began in 2009, WID-MI has honored 13 industry professionals with a Horizon Industry Award. The 2012 Horizon Industry Award winners are Shannon Percy of BAE Systems, who won the Product Development award, Pam McQueer of Logan Consultants, who won the Innovation award, and Sara Blackmer of Pratt & Miller Engineering, who won the Business Development award. WID-MI's Horizons-Michigan scholarships program was established in 2009 to encourage females to pursue careers related to national security and defense interests of the United States, and provide development opportunities for women already working in these fields. Since 2009 WID-MI has given $61,000 in Horizon Michigan scholarships to 11 students. WID-MI's 2012 Horizons-Michigan scholarships recipients are Kimberly Klieber, a third year civil engineering student at Lawrence Technological University; Larissa Dourjalian, a senior at Oakland University who is studying English and journalism; and Rebecca Truitt, a junior at Lawrence Technological University who is pursuing a degree in chemistry. The WID-MI Jr. Horizons-Michigan Award recognizes an outstanding high school student. This year's winner is Margaret Mooney, a senior at the Utica Center for Science & Industry. Mooney is studying mechatronics, a field of study that merges the principles/processes of four engineering disciplines -- electrical, mechanical, computer and industrial -- to produce complex "smart" devices. Mooney, who has a 3.96 GPA, plans to study biomedical engineering. More at www.wid-mi.org.
MMIC Covers Marketing In Speaker Series Event: Join the Mid-Michigan Innovation Center for a speaker series event Tuesday featuring Randall Montalbano, speaking on "So What is Marketing?" The MidMichigan Innovation Center, located at 2007 Austin St. in Midland, hosts this 90-minute educational series with one of the brightest entrepreneurs and authorities in strategic marketing from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Montalbano will cover the basics of marketing, identifying audience and needs and building a plan of action. He will share tools and resources related to marketing best practices. MMIC invites the utmost successful entrepreneurs and renowned industry experts to lead discussions for our members on the third Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees learn from experiences and expertise shared, have questions answered and have opportunity to network. The cost to attend the Speaker Series is $25, ($10 for students). Gold and platinum members are exempt from payment. Randall W Montalbano consults companies in the Americas, and Europe. Montalbano is principle of MonMark Group International LLC, GUI Global Products Ltd. and TreeHouse Advisers LLC, and is responsible for creating and sustaining revenues in excess of $500 million. He also mentors university-level entrepreneurial students and is marketing sdviser at The MidMichigan Innovation Center. Recent successes include helping a public manufacturing firm to initially increase stock value 700% and sustained at 500%; he created strategy to launch startup firms for greatest market penetration and to achieve prestigious product categorization.
Documentary Screening Set: The Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy and the United States Green Building Council Detroit Regional Chapter will host a screening of the documentary "Green Fire" Wednesday, Jan 30 at Emagine Theater Royal Oak, 200 N. Main St., The event begins at 6:30 a.m. with a pre-screening reception with cocktails, hors d'oeuvre, facility tours and welcome from Emagine owner Paul Glantz. The film begins at 7:30 p.m., and there's an afterglow until 9:30 p.m. "Green Fire" highlights the
life of Aldo Leopold, one of America's greatest conservationists. His writings have become a catalyst for our evolving ecological awareness and a classic in American literature. "Green Fire" provocatively examines Leopold's thinking, tracing how he shaped and influenced the modern environmental movement. Leopold remains relevant today, inspiring projects all over the country that connect people and land. Sponsorships to the event are also still available at prices of $250 to $2,500. Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization whose members and supporters share a commitment to preserving important natural and agricultural lands in the watersheds of the six major rivers of the region -- the Belle, Clinton, Flint, Huron, Rouge and Shiawassee in Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Genesee and St. Clair counties. Six Rivers works with private landowners using legal instruments like conservation easements to permanently protect natural or agricultural features of their land from conversion and degradation. It also works with public agencies to help them acquire land for parks or other public conservation purposes. US Green Building Council-Detroit Regional Chapter is a non-profit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for the Detroit region through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Our mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated in the greater Detroit region.
ITEC Lansing To Observe Fifth Anniversary: Join the Information Technology Empowerment Center's fifth anniversary Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the University Club of Michigan State University to celebrate five years of IT empowerment, teaching and learning in the greater Lansing area. The event begins at 5 p.m. with "robots and refreshments," Remarks provided by ITEC partners, including: Lou Anna K. Simon, Ph.D., president of Michigan State University; Paula Cunningham, president and CEO, Capitol National Bank; and Thomas Bres, CIO, Sparrow Health System. Networking will follow at 6:30. Register at http://events.outreach.msu.edu/Registrations/Register/26 or email info@iteclansing.org. The deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 23.
Ann Arbor Spark Offers Selling Smart Workshop: On Wednesday, Dec. 5, Ann Arbor Spark will offer its monthly Selling Smart Workshop on the topic "Overcoming Prospecting Paralysis" from 9 to 11 a.m. at Spark Central, 330 E. Liberty St., Lower Level. The Selling Smart Workshop series will be held the first Wednesday of the month, each of the Workshop events will include an hour of practice selling, followed by an hour presentation on a different sales topic. More at http://www.annarborusa.org/events/details?e=11475.
Ann Arbor Spark Sets Michigan Energy Forum: On Thursday, Dec. 6, Ann Arbor Spark will offer its monthly Michigan Energy Forum on the topic "Cheaper Natural Gas & Fracking & their Economic & Environmental Impacts," from 5 to 7 p.m. at Spark Central, 330 E. Liberty St., Lower Level. Natural gas has dropped in price drastically in the last several years thanks to new drilling technologies such as "fracking." This change in the economics of power generation is prompting manufacturers to explore gas powered co-generation and prompting utilities faced with an aging fleet of coal fired power plants to consider replacing them with gas powered electrical power plants in light of their cheaper costs. Burning less coal could reduce polution and GHG emissions, but fracking raises some concerns about ground water and safety. We will discuss the impact of fracking on natural gas prices and its impact on our fuel source mix and the economic opportunities, environmental impacts, regulations, and concerns being raised by this technology and market dynamics it is facilitating. More Information is at http://www.annarborusa.org/events/details?e=11320.
December Business Workshops Offered by Oakland County
WATERFORD TOWNSHIP -- Business owners and entrepreneurs who need assistance are encouraged to attend seminars offered by the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center. Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph in Waterford. For pre-registration and location map, visit www.AdvantageOakland.com/expand or call (248) 858-0783.
Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business
Wednesday, Dec. 5: Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business, running from 6 to 9 p.m., presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to grow small businesses. It covers basic marketing tools including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors and key marketing implementation tools. A strategic, well-planned approach to marketing is demonstrated with several examples of effective hands-on marketing techniques. Focus is on the business' customers – creating and keeping them. Fee: $40
Small Business Loan Workshop
Thursday, Dec. 6: The small business loan workshop, whigh runs from 9 a.m. to noon, will give attendees techniques to navigate the challenge process of getting a small business loan. Learn the "5 C's of Credit", how to develop a winning loan proposal and what you need to know to position your business to be "bankable" before you meet with a lender. Fee: $20
Business Research: Feasibility to Expansion
Thursday, Dec. 6: This business research event, running from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Farmington Hills Library, 32737 W. 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, will help would-be business owners research their business idea. It will also help current business owners benchmark their profit margin and other measure against similar size businesses in their industries. Do you want to know about market trends and opportunities to grow your sales? Business Research shows you ways to find your ideal customers, your competitors, perform competitive analysis and more. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.
LinkedIn for Business (Beginner)
Thursday, Dec. 6: Running from 6 to 9 p.m., Introduction to Social Media Marketing and using LinkedIn for Business teaches business owners how to use social media marketing to increase brand visibility and reach, be established as a thought leader and expert in your field, give real time customer service, stay on top of industry trends, conduct competitive research, build brand advocates and see a measurable return on investment. Fee: $40
CEED Microloan Orientation
Wednesday, Dec. 12: Running from 9 a.m. to noon, this course covers the requirements and process necessary to apply and obtain a microloan. Many small businesses face obstacles when trying to obtain a business loan. The recognition of the serious need for working capital for existing businesses, start-up or expansion, equipment purchases, and job creation is not the priority it once was. If you have a need for alternative financing consider the Microloan Program. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.
LinkedIn for Business (Intermediate)
Wednesday, Dec. 12: Running from 6 to 9 p.m., this course helps participants establish their social media objectives and goals for LinkedIn, create a LinkedIn social media marketing strategy and schedule, and integrate LinkedIn into a marketing strategy. Class pre-requisite is LinkedIn for Business (Beginner). Fee: $40
Fundamentals of Starting a Business
Thursday, Dec. 13: This class, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment or are at the beginning stages of starting their business. Delivered in a workshop format, this introductory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, and evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services. The basics of business ownership are introduced along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan. Fee: $30
LinkedIn for Business (Advanced)
Wednesday, Dec. 19: This class, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., helps participants establish objectives and goals for a LinkedIn campaign, create and launch a LinkedIn campaign, learn advanced strategies for reaching influencers and building a long-lasting online community, explore ways to take LinkedIn beyond social media marketing and acquire the tools you need to deputize your employees for organization-wide LinkedIn engagement. Class pre-requisite is LinkedIn for Business (Intermediate). Fee: $40
Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan
Thursday, Dec. 20: This class, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., is designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment or business launch, this course covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing, finance, legal, regulatory issues, operations, information based planning and management are key components of this workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included. Live examples of effective business plans are used as course material. Fee: $40
