County Business Resource Center September Workshop Lineup

The Maui County Business Resource Center is located at the Maui Mall, across from IHOP.

By Sonia Isotov

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

Topics vary by month but usually focus on starting, financing, and growing a small business. These workshops are usually presented between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., except for the special evening Quickbooks class. All workshops are free, unless otherwise specified below, i.e. Quickbooks.

Here’s the September schedule of business education workshops:

THE ABC’s OF A BUSINESS PLAN
Instructor: David Daly, Loan Fund Manager, MEO Business Development Corp.
Tuesday, September 6
Daly will discuss the reason for writing a business plan.  Participants will receive an outline of the business plan taught by MEO’s Core Four Business Plan Course.

TOP 5 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR BUSINESS
Instructor: Julie Migneault, Business Coach and Consultant
Wednesday, September 14
Students will learn about generating income, balancing work and personal life,  and methods for avoiding common pitfalls.

File photo.

BRINGING NEW PRODUCTS TO MARKET
Instructor: Steve Rose, Marketing Consultant, Ginseng Strategies
Thursday, September 15
SCORE Marketing Consultant, Steve Rose will outline the basics of getting products ready for retail.  Maui resources for new product introduction will also be covered.  Steve Rose is also Past Chair “The Made in Maui Trade Association”.

TEN REASONS WHY IT DOESN’T GET DONE IN BUSINESS AND HOW TO FIX IT
Instructor: Dr. Robert Santry, Life & Success Adventures
Thursday, September 22
This presentation provides new business owners and current business owners wanting to expand their business with ten reasons why tasks and projects do not get done in business and offers ten solutions.  Learn about time management techniques.

DOING BUSINESS WITH THE GOVERNMENT – 10 STEPS TO GETTING STARTED
Instructor: Evette Lau, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., Business Development Corp.
Tuesday, September 27
MEO’s Business Development Corporation (BDC) is partnering with the Hawaii Procurement Technical Assistance Center (HI-PTAX) to assist businesses in becoming successful Federal Government Contractors.  Lau will lead this instructional workshop introducing participants to the 10 steps to getting started in government contracting.

ALIGNING YOUR BUSINESS PURPOSE WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL PURPOSE
Instructor: Julie Migneault, MBA, Business Coach and Consultant
Wednesday, September 28
Learn how to connect with your spiritual purpose and align that with your business. Julie Migneault has an MBA and 10+ years in the business world.

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 mentoring at the MCBRC. He also delivers the QuickBooks workshop.

TURN YOUR CRAFT OR HOBBY INTO A SMALL BUSINESS
Instructor: Francine M. Fernandez
Thursday, September 29
Learn the steps to take in setting up your home based business, which include organizing files, pricing items to make a profit, where to sell, how to do a business plan and how to market.  Francine M. Fernandez is a lifelong lover of crafting, including crocheting, embroidery, sewing, making jewelry, lei making, who turned her hobby into a business and sells her handcrafted items at craft fairs and online.

SPECIAL EVENING WORKSHOP $45.00 PER SESSION
QuickBooks for Small Business
Instructor: Richard Kehoe, CPA
$45 per session
Hands-on computer training for beginners.
Thursday, September 29 from 5 p.m. to 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 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 (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and presented by Richard Kehoe, CPA and lead SCORE counselor.

As seating is limited, reservations are requested and may be made by calling the Maui County Business Resource Center (MCBRC) at 873-8247.  Attendees are asked to bring their own lunches.  All workshops are subject to change or cancellation.  Appointment for free business counseling sessions with experience SCORE counselors can also be made by calling 873-8247.  The MCBRC is County of Maui Facility managed by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.