“Kick Start the New Year” at County Business Center

Maui County Business Resource Center is located at the Maui Mall in Kahului across from IHOP. File photo.

By Sonia Isotov

Every month, local business experts bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to free workshops at the Maui County Business Resource Center at the Maui Mall in Kahului.

Topics vary by month but usually focus on starting, financing, and growing a small business. This month features a special “brainstorming” workshop geared to “kick start” ideas, solutions, and innovative thinking for the new year with Mike Kerns, financial and business consultant.

Workshops are usually presented between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., except for the special evening Quickbooks class and the ABC. All workshops are free, unless otherwise specified below.

The Center, a division of the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, also has free business counseling with business executives in the US Small Business Administration’s Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE) counselor program. SCORE is a federal program and the Maui Chapter is lead by long-time SCORE counselor and local certified public accountant, Richard Kehoe.

Here’s the Janaury schedule of business education workshops:

“The ABCs of a Business Plan” by Craig Swift – Wednesday, January 11, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (special time)

Craig Swift, Director of the MEO Business Development Corp., will discuss the reasons for writing a business plan.  He has more than 35 years of experience in owning, managing, and lending to small businesses.  Participants will receive an outline of a business plan taught by MEO’s Core Four Business Plan Course.

Susie Thieman, interim executive director, Lokahi Pacific. Courtesy photo.

“Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Pono Center: How can it Help Your Small Business – Susie Thieman, January 17

Susie Thieman, Interim Executive Director of Lokahi Pacific, will discuss all the options available to the business community at the Pono Center in Waikulu. Learn how your small business can benefit from the facilities: training room, conference room, and office space to meet clients or how to use the commercial kitchen to prepare food products.
“Kick Start The New Year: Brainstorming for 2012” by Mike Kern – Wednesday, January 18

Are you stuck? Do you need great ideas and/or solutions for your business?  Come and participate in brainstorming sessions. Each session will be approximately 15 minutes and will be led by the instructor, Mike Kern, a finance consultant. Kern specializes in helping companies to obtain working capital, manage cash flow and build cash reserves for business growth. If you would like to discuss financial strategies specifically for your business, Mike is available every Tuesday afternoon at the Maui County Business Resource Center from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
“Appreciate Marketing: 10 Ways to Keep Your Clients Coming Back” by Dr. Robert Santry – Tuesday, January 24

Appreciative marketing involves saying thank you to your clients for their business and keeping your clients happy. The ultimate goal is to make sure that they keep coming back for more products and services. Reach out and touch someone in appreciation and be assures better customer loyal. The instructor, Dr. Robert Santry, serves as CEO and Master Coach-Consultant-Trainer of Life & Success Adventures. He enjoys helping people discover passion and purpose, and in turn using that to turn it into a profit-making business.

Richard Kehoe, MBA, CPA is a long-time SCORE counselor, and the lead SCORE representative on Maui. Numerous business owners have received his free business counseling and QuickBooks workshop at the Center. Courtesy photo.

“Doing Business with the Government as a Subcontractor” by Evette Lau – Tuesday, January 31

Every product or service that is acquired by the government is done through a bidding process.  Evette Lau of MEO’s Business Development Corp.,will lead this instructional workshop and introduce participants to the process of successful government contracting. She will also provide information on registration and technical assistance to small businesses who are interested in federal, state and local procurement.

SPECIAL EVENING WORKSHOP

“QuickBooks for Small Business” by Richard Kehoe, CPA
$45 per session, includes hands-on computer training for beginners.
Thursday, January 26 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Learn to set up your company’s QuickBooks in a small class setting with personalized tutoring. This class is for new users and will teach you how to record sales, receive payments, prepare invoices and balance your checkbook. Get customized answers and schedule a follow-up appointment at no cost to discuss solutions. Sponsored by SCORE (and presented by Richard Kehoe, CPA and lead SCORE counselor).

For more information or to reserve a seat, call the Maui County Resource Center at (808) 873-8247. All workshops are subject to change or cancellation.