Business Connect 2008 sessions
* How your business can attract women and baby boomers -- 8:30-10 a.m.
Marti Barletta and The TrendSight Group help companies pull ahead of the competition by getting smart about marketing to women. Barletta also will share insights from her new book: “PrimeTime Women: How to Win the Hearts, Minds, and Business of Boomer Big Spenders.”
* Succession and transition planning: Why you must begin now … or suffer later -- 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - AT CAPACITY - to be placed on waiting list, e-mail glenn@capebusiness.net
Only 10 percent of all owners obtain the price they want or expect when they sell their business. The main reason: poor planning. Join ROCG, the international professional services and consulting firm, for an invaluable workshop that will address many other questions on succession/transition planning.
Sponsored by ROCG~Shepherd and Goldstein LLP
* Controlling Your Company's Health Care Costs in 2009 -- 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - AT CAPACITY - to be placed on waiting list, e-mail glenn@capebusiness.net
Although health care costs continue to rise at a fast rate, there are strategies that you, as a business owner, can utilize to give your employees a quality health insurance plan that meets your financial objectives. Join us as we discuss: The scope of the health care problem in the Massachusetts marketplace; strategies for controlling health care costs; and looking beyond 2009. Sponsored by Tufts Health Plan
The Entrepreneurial Spirit -- 12-1:30 p.m.
Trish Kennedy of BackOffice Associates and David Kirkpatrick of Plymouth Rock Studios discuss how they have created companies doing work they love in a place that sustains them.
Sponsored by Cape Cod Young Professionals and BackOffice Associates
* The Seven Stages of Small Business Success -- 1-2:15 p.m. - AT CAPACITY - to be placed on waiting list, e-mail glenn@capebusiness.net
Carl Gould, founder of CMT International, a mentoring, coaching and training company and author of "The Seven Stages of Small Business Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less," will present practical tips on how to grow your business by unlocking untapped potential.
Sponsored by CMT International and Rutherford Advisors Inc.
* Mean, Green Business Machines: How local businesses have used “green” to grow their customer base and bottom line -- 1-3:30 p.m. - AT CAPACITY - to be placed on waiting list, e-mail glenn@capebusiness.net
Can being green really help your business? This workshop will combine information on energy efficiency programs and green renovations for your office as well as real life examples from local businesses on how they have benefited from becoming Mean, Green Business Machines.
Sponsored by Cape Light Compact and Mid-Cape Home Centers
TechSMART – Innovative Solutions for Your Growing Businesses -- 2-4:30 p.m.
Learn how to solve the technology mysteries that baffle your business, and incorporate new ideas to help it grow. Participants will have an opportunity to schedule an individual appointment with a business technology expert to discuss issues of particular importance and relevancy to their business.
Sponsored by the Lower Cape Cod Community Development Corporation and NeuEon
How new technology is transforming small business payroll and HR -- 10:15-11:15 a.m. and 2:15-3:15 p.m.
Technological advances in managing information securely online have created new opportunities for businesses of any size to better manage their workforce. This seminar describes ways you can take advantage of these new technologies to be your own HR department and more efficiently manage payroll without outsourcing.
Sponsored by MyPayrollHR.com
Wealth management for business owners/executives -- 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Eastern Bank has identified 12 wealth management issues critical for business owners/executives. While each topic is important on its own, it is the coordination of all 12 into a comprehensive wealth management plan that creates real value for them and their families. Join us for a fun and informative workshop to learn about the 12 issues and what they mean for you.
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Drab to Fab: Creative Office Concepts -- 10:15-12:30 p.m.
Maximize the space and efficiency of your office with creative planning, storage solutions, new materials and non-invasive resurfacing options that turn your office environment from drab to fab!
Sponsored by Mid-Cape Home Centers
Marketing Your Business: An Entrepreneurial Approach -- 10-11:30 a.m.
In this interactive session, you will be challenged to step back and look at your marketing from a strategic perspective. You will also learn to craft innovative marketing strategies that are appropriate for your target customers. If you aspire to take your marketing and your business to the next level, this session is for you!
Sponsored by The Community Bank
Staffing in Tough Economic Times: Practical Tips on Recruiting, Selecting, Training and Retaining -- 1-2:15 p.m.
Hiring smart, firing when necessary and fully utilizing your employees’ talents are critical ways to achieve the best financial and strategic results during challenging economic times. Curry College’s faculty is ready to help you hone your human resources skills and show you how it relates to your bottom line.
Sponsored by Curry College, Plymouth Campus
Applying multiple media tools to successfully market to women and baby boomers -- 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Following up on Marti Barletta’s keynote discussion of the important women/baby boomer market segment, learn how to use print, direct mail, radio, e-mail and the Web to get your message to this critical and growing demographic.
Sponsored by Kathey Hickey Fulham CPA and Cape Cod Broadcasting
Putting Web and other communications technologies to work for your business -- 1-2:30 p.m.
This workshop will teach small and medium-sized companies how to level the playing field by 'acting big.' Efficiency and productivity can mean the difference between success and failure, so more and more business owners are turning to Web and communications tools to manage their back-office work – records, calendars, internal communications and other operational functions. Learn how to maximize these tools to your advantage.
Sponsored by Comcast
Getting to yes – connecting the dots on regulatory review and public policy -- 12:30-2 p.m.
The role of government, the impact of public policy, the constraints of regulatory review, the interplay between local and regional government, the availability of technology and the market forces of demand – all of these will affect the economic climate of Cape Cod in the decade to come. This workshop will help business owners and operators create a road map for the future – one that proposes sound planning, win-win strategies and cooperative public/private partnerships.
Sponsored by Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP and Lipman Development Strategies
Online business networking -- 1-2 p.m.
This interactive session will guide you through how to provide marketing and public relations support for your business using new Web 2.0 technology. The BusinessConnector.biz application will be used to demonstrate how companies can promote their business and generate leads by publishing press releases, expert articles, blogs, brochures, events and more.
Sponsored by Cape Business Publishing Group
The Truth Behind the Liability: Avoiding Employment Law Violations and Protecting Your Personal Assets -- 2:30-3:45 p.m.
Aggrieved employees can potentially reach the personal assets of business owners and managers putting their personal savings, investments and property at risk. Take this opportunity to learn how to avoid costly mistakes and ensure you are protected from personal liability. Discussion topics include employee and independent contractor classification, wage and hour issues, and overtime laws. Materials regarding mandated leave will also be provided.
Sponsored by Masterman Culbert & Tully LLP
Demystifying the Balance Sheet -- 2:15-3:30 p.m.
Learn why the balance sheet is the most informative financial statement and how to read one, including: easy definitions to understand; how it integrates with income statement; how to keep it accurate; and month-end steps to follow.
Sponsored by Cozby & Bruno LLC CPAs
Trends in small business 401(k) plans -- 12-1 p.m.
The Pension Reform Act of 2006 has resulted in several significant trends that are now occurring. In addition, fiduciary requirements and cost disclosure issues are key concerns for plan sponsors.
Sponsored by Winslow Evans and Crocker
Bringing Business Discipline to Your Retirement Planning -- 1:30-2:30 p.m.
In this seminar, we will provide you with strategies for bringing business discipline to your retirement planning process. We will introduce a structured investment approach that incorporates the research of academic experts and the experience of leading institutional managers. Our goal is to bring this expertise to small business owners as they manage their financial future.
Sponsored by ING-Dan Williams
Economic forecast: What you need to know for 2009 -- 4 p.m.
Join Dr. Michael Goodman, director of the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts, and Carol McMullen, senior executive for investment management, private banking and trust services at Eastern Bank, will present an overview of the current economy, including the state of the housing market, the impact of home heating and energy prices and the economic outlook for small businesses.
* For starred sessions, reserve your seat when you register for the conference; for all other sessions, seating is first-come, first-served.
Ongoing all day on the exhibit floor
Model Office – Technology Solutions for Your Business
Experience a live model office on the main exhibit floor where you can see how a small office or home office should be configured to take advantage of the new technology available today.
