Archive for ‘Educational Event’

March 20th, 2011

Bookkeeping Basics Offered by Pottstown SCORE

As the owner of a small business, do you understand the importance of keeping good records? Pottstown SCORE will offer an informative workshop, “Bookkeeping Basics for A Small Business” on Monday, June 6 from 7:00 to 9:30 pm for entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone who needs to understand the concepts and applications of business transactions. The information provided in this workshop will enable the attendees to handle day to day business transactions in a logical and concise manner. Some of the specific topics include the following: preparing financial reports, balance sheets, income statements, statement of cash flows, trial balance, the accounting equation, journals and adjustments, ledgers, worksheets and software applications.

The instructor for the workshop is Scott Rakowski, CPA, of Rakowski and Company, Pottstown, PA. The class is held at the Pottstown SCORE office in the New York Plaza Building, 244 High Street, Suite 102. The cost of the course is $25 and there is a 50% discount for a partner registering at the same time. Registrations are being taken online at www.pottstownscore.org or by phone at 610-327-2673.

SCORE is a nonprofit association sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE volunteers are retired CEO’s, executives, and small businessmen who provide free and confidential counseling to start-up businesses. They also offer low-cost workshops and mentor existing businesses through the challenges that they face in today’s market place.

March 16th, 2011

FREE Services for Businesses at MCCC Blue Bell

Have you checked out the Center for Entrepeneurial Studies at the Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell? You might be missing out on some amazing free services. Check out the calendar of services below and call the center at 215-461-1140 to schedule a free appointment.

FREE Business Counseling sessions with:

  • SCORE – America’s Counselors to Small Businesses 
  • SBA – Small Business Administration

Call for available times

 
FREE Financial Accounting Tips including how to:

  • Set up an accounting system
  • Learn QuickBooks functions
  • Prepare your own financial statement

Appointments available Wednesdays, Noon-3:00PM

 
FREE Technology Consulting services include assistance with:

  • Forming an e-commerce strategy
  • Applying and/or purchasing technology
  • Utilizing social media to increase sales

 Appointments available Wednesdays 6:00-10:00PM

 
FREE Legal Consulting

  • Capital and partnership agreements 
  • Business entity formation
  • Local, state, and federal compliance issues

Appointments available Thursdays 9:00AM-Noon

 
FREE Marketing Consulting

  • Marketing plan strategy
  • Pricing strategy
  • Niche/target marketing

Appointments available Tuesday & Thursday afternoons

For even more information click here to see a brochure on their services.

February 12th, 2011

Member Event: Healthy Portion Size = Healthy Body Size

Join members Sue Uphold of For Life Nutrition and Crystal Connelly of Connelly Chiropractic for this joint event!

Date/Location: Feb 22 2011  – Limerick, PA

In this class we’ll look at serving sizes versus portion sizes. Restaurants and stores have made serving sizes bigger over the years. These over-inflated servings are leading to Americans being overweight and unhealthy.

We’ll compare what you are given to what you should be eating. We’ll talk about common breakfast, lunch and dinner food items that are much larger than they should be. We’ll also look at how these super sized portions lead us to overeat.

You’ll gain practical information so that you know what size portions are healthy for you. I’ll also show lots of tips and tricks to help you eat smaller portions and still feel satisfied, full and healthy.

This event is open to the public but space is limited. Please contact Connelly Chiropractic to sign up.

610 495-4550 or www.connellychiro.com

January 15th, 2011

New Location for SCORE Workshop Series

The Upper Perkiomen Chamber of Commerce will host the popular SCORE workshop series, “How to Start and Operate a Small Business.” This seminar is scheduled to be presented from 7:00 to 9:30 pm on four consecutive evenings beginning on February 21. All classes will be held at the Upper Perkiomen Chamber of Commerce Office, 300 Main Street, East Greenville, PA 18041.

This workshop series, presented by SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, is for those who are considering starting a business as well as those who are currently operating a small business. All courses are taught by experienced members of SCORE and outside practitioners recognized as experts in their specific fields.

The workshop sessions are as follows:
1. Sources of Information and the Tax and Legal Implications of the Different Legal Structures, February 21
2. The Business Plan and The Business Loan, February 22
3. Sources of Market Information, Marketing, February 23
4. It’s All About Profit, February 24

The instructors for this workshop series are local business partners and experienced SCORE counselors. Tap into their expertise to gain practical, real-life information on how to start and operate a small business. The instructors are as follows: Hanna Hartman, Vice President and Branch Manager at National Penn Bank; Don Havas, President of Applied Technology and Sciences, Inc; Jeff Kofsky, President of Higher Vision Coaching and Counseling; Mike Mayor, President of Systems Science LLC, and retired VP, ITT Corporation, Defense Electronics and Services; David Megay, Esq., Attorney with O’Donnell, Weiss & Mattei, PC; Scott Rakowski, CPA for Rakowski and Company; and Carolyn Wiker, Head of Adult Services at the Pottstown Public Library.

Registration begins at 6:45 pm, and all classes start promptly at 7:00 pm.
Each session costs $25. A manual on preparing a business plan will be available for $20. A special price of $100 is offered for the 4 courses as a package, and this includes the manual. As an added bonus, there is a 50% discount off the workshop fee for each additional person.

This has been an extremely successful and well-attended workshop. Early paid reservations guarantee a seat. For more information or to register, call the Pottstown SCORE office at 610-327-2673 or visit the website at www.pottstownscore.org.

October 12th, 2010

Register Now for Popular SCORE Workshop Series

The popular SCORE workshop series, “How to Start and Operate a Small Business” is scheduled to be presented from 7:00 to 9:30 pm on four consecutive Monday evenings beginning on November 8. All classes are held at the Pottstown SCORE office in the New York Plaza building at 244 High Street, Suite 102, Pottstown, Pennsylvania. There is ample free parking in the lot behind the New York Plaza.

This workshop series, presented by SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, is for those who are considering starting a business as well as those who are currently operating a small business. All courses are taught by experienced members of SCORE and outside practitioners recognized as experts in their specific fields.

The workshop sessions are as follows:

1. Sources of Information and the Tax and Legal Implications of the Different Legal Structures, November 8

2. The Business Plan and The Business Loan, November 15

3. Sources of Market Information, Marketing, November 29

4. It’s All About Profit, December 6

The instructors for this workshop series are local business partners and experienced SCORE counselors. Tap into their expertise to gain practical, real-life information on how to start and operate a small business. The instructors are as follows: Hanna Hartman, Vice President and Branch Manager at National Penn Bank; Don Havas, President of Applied Technology and Sciences, Inc; Jeff Kofsky, President of Higher Vision Coaching and Counseling; Mike Mayor, President of Systems Science LLC, and retired VP, ITT Corporation, Defense Electronics and Services; David Megay, Esq., Attorney with O’Donnell, Weiss & Mattei, PC; Scott Rakowski, CPA for Rakowski and Company; and Carolyn Wiker, Head of Adult Services at the Pottstown Public Library

Registration begins at 6:45 pm, and all classes start promptly at 7:00 pm.

Each session costs $25. A manual on preparing a business plan will be available for $20. A special price of $100 is offered for the 4 courses as a package, and this includes the manual. As an added bonus, there is a 50% discount off the workshop fee for each additional person.

This has been an extremely successful and well-attended workshop. Early paid reservations guarantee a seat. For more information or to register, call the Pottstown SCORE office at 610-327-2673 or visit the website at www.pottstownscore.org.

July 27th, 2010

Exciting New Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at MCCC

Want to start your own business? We’re here to help.

Montgomery County Community College opened a brand-new Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES) in this spring of 2010. The CES offers a number of business support services.
• Workshops
• Counseling
• Mentoring,
• Business Classes
• Woman Owned Business Program
• Entrepreneurial Certificate Program,
• Business Incubator

Introducing the Incubator
A central feature of the CES is a Business Incubator with ten office suites that will be leased to aspiring entrepreneurs at a nominal fee. The Incubator provides a core group of new entrepreneurs with access to all the nurturing advice and counsel to help make their business a success. In addition to the comfortable modern office suite with a locking door, phone and internet access, lessees will have use of a conference space and a front door reception area. All the services provided by the CES will be available to the incubator tenants, as well as to any student at the College.

There are many benefits for new firms to use a business incubator. According to the National Business Incubation Association, “Business incubation accelerates the successful development of start-up and fledgling companies by providing entrepreneurs with an array of targeted resources and services.” While only 31% of start-ups survive after seven years, the percentage increases to 87% for those start-ups that go through an incubation process, according to the Small Business Administration. The business incubator, combined with the additional support services offered through the CES, offer prospective entrepreneurs a strong foundation to launch a new business. This combination of academic certification, mentoring, workshops and business incubation is unique in Montgomery County.

To be eligible for incubator occupancy, you will need to provide a business plan (along with other documentation including but not limited to financial information). To get started, you should contact the CES Director, Ayisha Sereni, via email at CES@MC3.edu or phone at 215-641-6684 to discuss your business, and to determine if you are an eligible candidate.

The Entrepreneurial Certificate Program
This certificate is designed to prepare students to launch and/or grow a successful business, small or large, profit or nonprofit. Linking theory and practice, students will acquire the knowledge and skills that are essential to managing a viable business. Students may pursue this certificate with/or without participation in the incubator.

The certificate program consists of the following four two-credit, skilled-based courses.
- Entrepreneurial Essentials (ETP110) will enable students to evaluate the entrepreneurial venture for themselves, as well as assist them in launching their new business.
- Entrepreneurial Marketing (ETP111) will allow the student to gain insights essential for marketing an entrepreneurial venture utilizing innovative and financially responsible marketing strategies.
- Entrepreneurial Accounting (ETP112) will provide the student with an overview of business financial management.
- Entrepreneurial Business Plan (ETP113) will enable the student to prepare a professional, comprehensive business plan that will guide their business start-up and address capital funding.

All four courses will be offered each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) in accelerated seven-week terms to both credit students who will receive a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, and non-credit students who will receive a non-credit certificate of completion. Two courses will be offered in the first part of the semester, and two will be offered in the remaining half of the semester.

Although the Certificate in Entrepreneurship can be completed in one semester, it is recommended that a student with little or no background in business complete the certificate over two semesters at a non-accelerated pace.

For more information about obtaining an Entrepreneurial Certificate, contact CES Director, Ayisha Sereni, via email at CES@MC3.edu or phone at 215-641-6684

Non-Credit Programs
The Center provides a full range of non-credit business education courses for entrepreneurs at every stage of business growth. These classes include Marketing your Own Business, Business Development Strategies, Introduction to Green Entrepreneurship, Launch Your Small Business Unsing Online Technology Tools, Quickbooks, How to Open an Internet Store, Business Writing Essentials, Creating your Own Website.

The CES houses our very successful Women-Owned Business series by women and for women. The program offers the following options:
One evening seminar — Are you Ready to be an Entrepreneur?
12 session certificate — Starting a Successful Woman-Owned Business Certificate
To register for non-credit business classes, register online at https://webadvisor.mc3.edu or by phone at 215-641-6397 or 610-718-1861

Montgomery County Community College has two conveniently located campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, with additional learning locations in Willow Grove, Conshohocken and Norristown. The College boasts a nationally recognized, award-winning faculty committed to working closely together with students in the learning process. The College’s comprehensive curriculum includes 85 associate degree/certificate programs in 59 areas of study, including eight complete degrees offered entirely online, and specialized workforce development and continuing education programs, all of which leverage the College’s nationally ranked use of innovative technology.

July 16th, 2010

Popular SCORE Workshop

National Penn Bank is the sponsor of the popular SCORE workshop series, “How to Start and Operate a Small Business” scheduled to be presented from 7:00 to 9:30 pm on four consecutive Monday evenings beginning on September 13. All classes are held at the Pottstown SCORE office in the New York Plaza building at 244 High Street, Suite 102, Pottstown, Pennsylvania. There is ample free parking in the lot behind the New York Plaza.

This workshop series, presented by SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, is for those who are considering starting a business as well as those who are currently operating a small business. All courses are taught by experienced members of SCORE and outside practitioners recognized as experts in their specific fields.

The workshop sessions are as follows:
1. Sources of Information and the Tax and Legal Implications of the Different Legal Structures, September 13
2. The Business Plan and The Business Loan, September 20
3. Sources of Market Information, Marketing, September 27
4. It’s All About Profit, October 4

The instructors for this workshop series are local business partners and experienced SCORE counselors. Tap into their expertise to gain practical, real-life information on how to start and operate a small business. The instructors are as follows: Hanna Hartman, Vice President and Branch Manager at National Penn Bank; Don Havas, President of Applied Technology and Sciences, Inc; Richard Heylmun, Owner/operator of retail, catalog, farming and insurance businesses; William Hoke, Founder and owner of a high tech small business for 27 years; John Henning, A Franchise Consultant and founder of the Pottstown Herald.com online newspaper; David Megay, Esq., Attorney with O’Donnell, Weiss & Mattei, PC; Dick Powell, Property Management and Cable access TV Producer; Scott Rakowski, CPA for Rakowski and Company; and Carolyn Wiker, Head of Adult Services at the Pottstown Public Library

Registration begins at 6:45 pm, and all classes start promptly at 7:00 pm.
Each session costs $25. A manual on preparing a business plan will be available for $20. A special price of $100 is offered for the 4 courses as a package, and this includes the manual. As an added bonus, there is a 50% discount off the workshop fee for each additional person.

This has been an extremely successful and well-attended workshop. Early paid reservations guarantee a seat. For more information or to register, call the Pottstown SCORE office at 610-327-2673 or visit the website at www.pottstownscore.org.

June 15th, 2010

Unique Leadership Training Opportunity for High School Students

Pearl S. Buck International is offering a Leadership Training Program to students entering the 10th and 11th grade in September, 2010. Sponsored by the Comcast Foundation, this program features a rigorous selection process for a challenging series of lessons and group activities. Each participant will complete a personal needs analysis and engage in goal setting, team building, project planning, decision making, and other leadership exercises. The training culminates in a service project, created and implemented by participants, and a final group presentation. The program begins with a Sunday all day training session followed by weekly sessions after school on Thursday. Students must dedicate at least 30 hours for lesson time plus additional time to complete the service project. The Leadership Training Program will begin in September, 2010, and end with a graduation ceremony in December. This is an excellent learning opportunity and resume builder!

If you know of a student who might be interested in this unique training opportunity the application is available here and overview of the program here. To learn more about Pearl S. Buck International visit www.psbi.org.