Welcome
Greetings from our team at the Solano SBDC,

October is here, the month that retailers traditionally prepare for the holiday shopping season by adding temporary employees and running holiday-themed sales and marketing campaigns. If you need some information about hiring or marketing we're presenting a hiring workshop at Green Hive Spaces in Vallejo and a couple of digital and traditional marketing workshops at the Solano SBDC in Fairfield.

As always, we will host our Successful Startups workshops, with dates in Vallejo and Fairfield in October. In November, we will start providing Spanish Language workshops at The Vallejo Regional Education Center in Vallejo. Check the Center Calendar on the Solano SBDC website for more details.
Ann Johnson-Stromberg
Director, Solano Small Business Development Center

WORKSHOP:
Successful Startups in Solano - Parts 1 & 2


Wednesday, Oct 10 2018
9:00am to 12:30pm

Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce
1111 Webster St.
Fairfield, CA 94533

Part 1 - First Steps: Learn the pros and cons of starting your own business and how to position yourself as a successful entrepreneur. We will share invaluable resources to take a new business through the nuts and bolts of starting your business including licenses and permits.

Part 2 - Business Planning: The second session will provide an overview of the business planning process and share a multitude of key information sources for developing your business plan.

You will also learn how to take advantage of the Small Business Development Center's free training and advising services for your new business, and more!


Instructor Sandy Markus has been in entrepreneurial environments her whole professional career in corporate divisions, venture capital funded start-ups, and launched her own small business. She has been a lead SBDC Advisor and Trainer for startup businesses for six years.

Sandy brings a unique understanding and experience in and with start-ups, marketing and business development in the service, retail, wholesale, software-as-a-service, education, and nonprofit sectors.
WORKSHOP:
Managing your Restaurant and Retail Workforce:
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly


Monday, October 15, 2018 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce
1111 Webster St.
Fairfield, CA 94533

Are you struggling to manage your restaurant employees?  Do you wonder if you are doing things correctly?

Join restaurant specialist Louise Dawson and human relations expert Chana Anderson for a special presentation on Managing Your Restaurant Workforce.
In this workshop you will learn the do's and don'ts of HR restaurant management from Independent Contractor vs. Employee, Exempt vs. Non Exempt, Overtime, Meal and Rest Breaks, the hiring process, managing poor performance, managing paperwork, terminations and more.

There will be plenty of time for Q & A, so bring your questions and register today!


Louise Dawson is an SBDC Certified Business Advisor and Hospitality Specialist who brings to her clients over 30 years of industry experience: owning and operating bars, restaurants and retail consulting, advising, teaching, and training, Louise brings real-life experience to start-ups, with pre-opening education and organization and, to existing businesses, operational strategy and ongoing systems and training.
Chana Anderson is a HR leader with experience and expertise in leadership development, organizational effectiveness and change, executive coaching, employee and labor relations, and performance management. Her 20-year HR career spans a multitude of industries including banking, tourism, healthcare and non-profits. Chana is certified as a Certified Executive Coach and Senior Professional in Human Resources.  She holds a certificate in Human Resource Management from University California San Diego, as well as a bachelor's degree in Organizational Studies, and a master's degree in Leadership from St. Mary's College of California
WORKSHOP:


Wed, October 17, 2018
6:00pm to 8:30pm
Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce
1111 Webster St.
Fairfield, CA 94533

This workshop helps small business owners understand the prerequisites to developing effective social media marketing campaigns, and to ensure the right message is delivered to the right audience. Some topics include developing profiles of your ideal customers, and how to decide what social media channels you should focus on for your business.
What You'll Learn
  • What you need to do before marketing on social media
  • How to discover your most profitable potential customers
  • How to engage your ideal customers on social media
  • What social media channels are most relevant for your business
John Smulo is the CEO and founder of the highly successful Purple Cow Agency, an innovative marketing firm that has worked with hundreds of businesses across multiple sectors and industries to develop specialized websites, create targeted marketing strategies, and implement best practice digital marketing systems and processes. 
Utilizing his extensive business experience, John has taught courses such as the New Ventures business planning course for the Contra Costa SBDC.

WORKSHOP:


Thursday, Oct 25 2018
5:00pm to 7:00pm

Green Hive Spaces
425 Virginia St, Suite B
Vallejo, CA 94590

The labor market is changing! With California unemployment at an all time low, 50% of businesses report hiring is their biggest challenge.  Join human resource and organizational transformation expert, Chana Anderson for an interactive training on what it takes to find and keep employees in 2018.
 
This workshop covers the new independent contractor case law and how it impacts your business, as well as key trends and essential tips to make you more successful at recruiting and retaining a talented workforce.

Chana Anderson is a HR leader with experience and expertise in leadership development, organizational effectiveness and change, executive coaching, employee and labor relations, and performance management. Her 20-year HR career spans a multitude of industries including banking, tourism, healthcare and non-profits. Chana is certified as a Certified Executive Coach and Senior Professional in Human Resources.  She holds a certificate in Human Resource Management from University California San Diego, as well as a bachelor's degree in Organizational Studies, and a master's degree in Leadership from St. Mary's College of California
WORKSHOP:
Successful Startups in Solano - Parts 1 & 2


Part 1:
Tuesday, Oct 30 2018
5:00pm to 7:00pm

Part 2:
Thursday, Nov 1 2018
5:00pm to 7:00pm

Green Hive Spaces
425 Virginia St, Suite B
Vallejo, CA 94590

Part 1 - First Steps: Learn the pros and cons of starting your own business and how to position yourself as a successful entrepreneur. We will share invaluable resources to take a new business through the nuts and bolts of starting your business including licenses and permits.

Part 2 - Business Planning: The second session will provide an overview of the business planning process and share a multitude of key information sources for developing your business plan.

You will also learn how to take advantage of the Small Business Development Center's free training and advising services for your new business, and more!



Instructor Sandy Markus has been in entrepreneurial environments her whole professional career in corporate divisions, venture capital funded start-ups, and launched her own small business. She has been a lead SBDC Advisor and Trainer for startup businesses for six years.

Sandy brings a unique understanding and experience in and with start-ups, marketing and business development in the service, retail, wholesale, software-as-a-service, education, and nonprofit sectors.
WORKSHOP:


Tuesday, Nov 6 2018
6:30pm to 9:00pm

Vallejo Regional Education Center
436 Del Sur Street
Vallejo, CA

Introducción a los conceptos básicos financieros. De donde viene sus ingresos y a donde van. Estrategias de como ahorrar dinero.  La clase será enseñada en español.

Para registrarse: Complete nuestro formulario de registro en línea, se necesitará información adicional al momento de la clase.
 
Introduction to basic financial concepts. Where your money comes from and where it goes. Strategies to save money.  Class will be taught in Spanish.

To Register: Complete our online registration form, additional information will be needed at the time of the class.


Luis Nanez studied Business Administration at San Marcos University in Lima-Peru. His career in sales and small businesses has lasted more than 20 years. He has been a small business owner and service industry entrepreneur for 17 years and a real estate professional for more 14 years. Currently, he shares his extensive knowledge in classrooms all over the Bay Area. Luis combines classroom teaching, a "business-like" setting, an emphasis in student participation, and a good sense of humor to help students experience first-hand the excitement and reality of opening small businesses, learn about the possible challenges and obstacles they might face running their own business, and how to avoid them.
WORKSHOP:


Thurs, Nov 8 2018
6:00pm to 8:30pm

Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce
1111 Webster Street
Fairfield

This workshop helps small business owners understand the prerequisites to developing effective marketing campaigns, and to ensure the right message is delivered to the right audience. Some topics include the importance of branding and positioning for marketing, and how you should create content to promote yourself to your ideal customers.
What You'll Learn
  • What branding and positioning are, and how they can help you connect powerfully with clients
  • How to communicate the benefits of your company
  • How to create a core positioning statement to promote your business
John Smulo is the CEO and founder of the highly successful Purple Cow Agency, an innovative marketing firm that has worked with hundreds of businesses across multiple sectors and industries to develop specialized websites, create targeted marketing strategies, and implement best practice digital marketing systems and processes. 
Utilizing his extensive business experience, John has taught courses such as the New Ventures business planning course for the Contra Costa SBDC.

WORKSHOP:
Successful Startups in Solano - Parts 1 & 2


Tuesday, Nov 13 2018
5:00pm to 7:00pm
Wednesday, Nov 14 2018
5:00pm to 7:00pm

Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce
1111 Webster St.
Fairfield, CA 94533
Part 1 - First Steps: Learn the pros and cons of starting your own business and how to position yourself as a successful entrepreneur. We will share invaluable resources to take a new business through the nuts and bolts of starting your business including licenses and permits.

Part 2 - Business Planning: The second session will provide an overview of the business planning process and share a multitude of key information sources for developing your business plan.

You will also learn how to take advantage of the Small Business Development Center's free training and advising services for your new business, and more!


Instructor Sandy Markus has been in entrepreneurial environments her whole professional career in corporate divisions, venture capital funded start-ups, and launched her own small business. She has been a lead SBDC Advisor and Trainer for startup businesses for six years.

Sandy brings a unique understanding and experience in and with start-ups, marketing and business development in the service, retail, wholesale, software-as-a-service, education, and nonprofit sectors.
WORKSHOP:


Tuesday, Nov 13 2018
6:30pm to 9:00pm

Vallejo Regional Education Center
436 Del Sur Street
Vallejo, CA

Aprenda los principios fundamentales de como empezar un negocio, desde organizar su horario hasta como calcular sus costos que se necesita para iniciar y operar de su negocio. Además revisaremos el proceso de cómo obtener licencias, nombre ficticio, contrato de empleados, registro en los libros contables, contrato de alquiler, y mucho más... La clase será enseñada en español.

Para registrarse: Complete nuestro formulario de registro en línea, se necesitará información adicional al momento de la clase.
 
Learn the fundamentals to start a small business, from organizing your calendar to calculate the start-up cost and working capital needed to start and operate your business. We also review the legal aspects of the business such as: business license(s), register fictitious name, hiring employees, bookkeeping, lease agreements, and much more.  Class will be taught in Spanish.

To Register: Complete our online registration form, additional information will be needed at the time of the class.


Luis Nanez studied Business Administration at San Marcos University in Lima-Peru. His career in sales and small businesses has lasted more than 20 years. He has been a small business owner and service industry entrepreneur for 17 years and a real estate professional for more 14 years. Currently, he shares his extensive knowledge in classrooms all over the Bay Area. Luis combines classroom teaching, a "business-like" setting, an emphasis in student participation, and a good sense of humor to help students experience first-hand the excitement and reality of opening small businesses, learn about the possible challenges and obstacles they might face running their own business, and how to avoid them.

Solano SBDC
707.646.1071
solanosbdc.org






 

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance of our workshops. Contact the Solano SBDC at 707.646.1071 or email intakes@solanosbdc.org