WEOC Workshop Details

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy Presents

Women's Economic Opportunity Conference
Saturday, May 15, 2010
8:30am-3:30pm
Vermont Technical College, Randolph, Vt.

(Return to the Registration Page)

Directions to Vermont Tech: I-89 to Exit 4, east on 66 to Randolph Center, ahead is the VTC entrance, then follow signs.

Keynote Speaker
Karen G. Mills, Administrator U.S. Small Business Administration
Appointed by President Obama and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate, Karen Mills was sworn in April 6, 2009, as the 23rd Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA is the nation’s largest single financial backer of small business, and Ms. Mills is a passionate advocate for small business policy that encourages innovation, economic development and job creation. She has spent much of her career working with small manufacturing firms and as a hands-on investor in and successful manager of small businesses. During the recession of the early 1990s, her management and commitment to innovation is credited with helping several small manufacturers increase efficiency and competitiveness, and ultimately survive in a tough economy. Most recently, Ms. Mills has taken a leading role in the discussion of regional economic development clusters – geographic concentrations of interconnected businesses that share knowledge and resources to spur innovation, economic growth, higher wage employment and increase global competitiveness. Ms. Mills has an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School where she was a Baker Scholar.

Agenda

8:30	Registration / Exhibits / Coffee (Located in the SHAPE facility)
9:00 - 9:30	Welcoming Remarks
	Dr. Ty Handy, President, Vermont Technical College
	Insprirational Leadership
	Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains
9:45-11:15	Morning Workshops
11:30-12:15	U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy
	Keynote Address: Karen Mills, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
12:20-1:20	*Lunch, Networking, Face - to - Face Forum, and Informational Exhibits
1:30-3:00	Afternoon Workshops
3:15-3:30	Wrap Up and Raffle
	*New! Face-to-Face Forum: An opportunity to spend time one-on-one with representatives of some of Vermont's business development resources.

(download a printable version of the invitation for this conference here)

W O R K S H O P D E T A I L S
*Indicates workshops that build upon skills presented at the fall conference but are open to all participants interested in the given subject.

Morning Workshop: 9:45- 11:15 AM

Strategies for Success in the Value-Added Marketplace – Presented by Mary Peabody: In this session we will explore the opportunities and challenges of starting a value-added agricultural business. From cheese to skin care products to baby food and salad dressings, manyVermont businesses have found success in the value-added marketplace. Get started and learn about resources that can help you.

*Does Your Website Measure Up? – Presented by Sarah Spencer: How do you know if your website is effective? Sarah Spencer will offer different tools to measure visitor behavior other than just Google Analytics. A must-see workshop for those who already have a website or want to start off a website in the right direction.

*Managing Yourself in Workplace Conflict – Presented by Yvonne Byrd: This workshop will direct your attention to what you can control in the workplace – your thoughts, emotions, and actions – and give you ideas for how to accomplish it. An empowering workshop that is relevant to every work environment!

Resumés That Work! – Presented by Markey Read: A powerful resumé gets you noticed. In this workshop you will learn how to transform your work history into an effective marketing message that will get you noticed. Join us as we cover formatting and content, all while demystifying the resumé process. Bring questions and challenges.

Learn To Retire Well – Presented by Margaret Ferguson and Joe Hicks: Never mind the “would've,
could've, should've.” Take action today to plan for your fi nancial future. Learn how to strategize for the life you want, and create a plan of action to reach your retirement goals.

Leadership Panel: Taking Your Place at the Table – Moderated by Mary Claire Carroll: Come hear a broad range of perspectives from women in leadership roles. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of taking your place at the table.

*Finding Balance – Presented by Julie Cubino: What is work/life balance and how do you find it within the complex world we live in? Learn the basics for creating your own unique balance and developing your personal framework for success. You'll leave this seminar with new strategies and the inspiration you need to implement them!

*Making More Cent$ Out of the Economy – Presented by Tricia Senzel: There are a multitude of indicators and perspectives from which to evaluate the health of our economy and how we as individuals respond. In this workshop we will explore top economic indicators, how to evaluate progress, alternative economic models, and the story of money.

Birds and Bees – Presented by Jennifer Megyesi and Ileen McGurran: Nurture your interest in self-sustainability while lowering your environmental impact through learning the basics of beekeeping and raising chickens. This is a beginner’s guide to working with chickens and bees, as well as local resources to support your efforts.

Afternoon Workshop: 2: 1:30-3:00 PM

Intro to Business Coaching – Presented by Liz Dallas: Business coaching is strategy for using personal/professional development to create better bottom line results in your business. Learn introductory business coaching skills with Liz as she shares 10 years of experience in coaching hundreds of leaders in business. She has many techniques, skills, and stories to share that are sure to help your business!

*Better Money Management! – Presented by Shirley Mason: At the end of the month do you know where your paycheck has gone? Tighten up your personal finances with these budgeting and saving strategies. Also learn the importance of credit, how to obtain free credit reports, and information on identity theft & privacy.

Take Charge of Your Life: Creating Opportunities Through Self-Management – Presented by Agnieszka Perlinska: Identify your key personality ingredients and learn which ones you have the power to change, and which ones you can only manage. Acquire the tools to create new opportunities for yourself and a life that is more deliberate and fulfi lling by taking charge of your life.

*Building an Affordable and Effective Marketing Plan for 2010 – Presented by Amy Mattinat: Learn how to inexpensively market your business and get immediate results. Each participant will create a marketing plan for 2010 that they can take home and start to implement immediately.

Powerful Interviews! – Presented by Markey Read: Everyone is nervous in interviews – even the interviewer! Come join us for an interactive discussion and presentation on how you can deliver a clear message and stand out from the crowd in today’s competitive job market.

*Care and Feeding of Your New Business – Presented by Laura Lind-Blum: This workshop is an excellent way to learn practical steps for daily actions, ways to transform obstacles into opportunities, and ideas for nurturing yourself and your business as you make your way into the world.

Introduction to Online Resources – Presented by Sally Redpath: Feeling a little behind on the in’s and out’s of cyber space? This is an introductory workshop to using the internet for job search and occupational information.

*Next Steps in Testing the Feasibility of Your Business – Presented by Rebecca Kerin: Do you have a business idea but you are not sure if it will work? Do you want to learn the next steps to develop your idea? This workshop will help you evaluate your business idea based on entrepreneurial skills and financial feasibility.

Gardening 101: Learn the basics of gardening and the different ways it can improve your life. Come see how gardening not only makes for a worth while hobby but is a great way to cut down on your grocery bills, eat healthy, and cultivate beauty in your life!

The Small Business Development Center and the Vermont Women’s Business Center are partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.