“Joyfully Jobless” and Other October Business Workshops

Maui County Business Resource Center is located at the Maui Mall. File photo.

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. 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.

Here’s the October schedule of business education workshops:

HOW TO BE JOYFULLY JOBLESS – CREATING WORK THAT YOU LOVE
By Ed Gazmen – Tuesday, October 11
In this workshop, Gazmen will discuss how to uncover your real asset; find your lost passion; take a dream, making it real; and overcome obstacles. Ed specializes in creative thinking for personal and business background development. He is the founder/publisher of Kayumanggi Magazine, an on-line magazine connecting Filipinos around the world. He was also the founder/pastor of New Life Community Church and founder/executive director of Bridge Builders Hawaii, a non-profit organization training churches and clergy on domestic violence issues.

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

HARRY & JEANETTE WEINBERG PONO CENTER – HOW CAN IT HELP YOU IN YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
By Elaine Javier & Susie Thieman – Wednesday, October 12
Come join Elaine Javier, Pono Center Manager, and Susie Thieman, interim Executive Director of Lokahi Pacific as they discuss all the options available at the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Pono Center in Wailuku. Discussions will include information on how small businesses can handle their training and conference facilities and their commercial kitchen.

TURN YOUR CRAFT OR HOBBY INTO A SMALL BUSINESS
By Francine M. Fernandez – Friday, October 14
Learn how to turn a craft or hobby into extra income. The workshop will have information on organizing your files, pricing products to make a profit, where to sell, how to do a business plan and how to market your business.  Francine M. Fernandez is a lifelong lover of crafting, including crocheting, embroidery, sewing, making jewelry, lei making and more.  She has turned her hobby into a business and sells her handcrafted items at craft fairs and online.

David Fisher, Maui Venture Consulting, LLC. Courtesy photo.

EVALUATING YOUR IDEA
By David B. Fisher – Tuesday, October 18
David B. Fisher, a principal consultant with Maui Venture Consulting LLC, will facilitate the process of evaluating if a business concept is good.  Get the basic model for analyzing the feasibility of a business with special focus on market research and economic analysis.  Use this method to approach investors and other stakeholders.  Learn about resources available to start and grow businesses.  David has 20 years of experience in Hawaii helping over 3,000 entrepreneurs resulting in over $100 million in economic impact on Maui and in the State of Hawaii.  He recently served as Director for the Hawaii Small Business Development Center and was honored in 2006 as the US Small Business Administration’s “Financial Services Champion for the State of Hawaii.”

HOW TO GIVE AND GET REFERRALS
By Dr. Robert Santry – Thursday, October 20
This workshop will show you how to give referrals to business neighbors and how to get referrals from colleagues and satisfied customers.  A referral campaign plan template will be provided. Santry will discuss how products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations can bring solutions to their problems, and make you are a candidate for one or more referrals.  Dr. Robert Santry serves as CEO and Master Coach-Consultant-Trainer of Life & Success Adventures.

HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCT OR BUSINESS AT TRADESHOWS, CRAFT FAIRS, FARMER’S MARKETS AND OTHER PUBLIC VENUES
By Steve Rose – Tuesday, October 25
In today’s economy where advertising costs can be prohibitive to small businesses to reach new customers, Tradeshows, Crafts Fairs, Farmer’s Markets and other public events can be the low cost way to expand your business or introduce that new product or service you have to new customers both retail and wholesale.  In this free workshop, Maui Business Enrichment Consultant and SCORE Counselor Steve Rose, with over 35 years of doing these types of events, both here on Maui and the mainland, will explore the many options and give the basics on how to prepare and have a successful event for your business.

Richard Kehoe, MBA, CPA is a long-time SCORE counselor who delivers the QuickBooks workshop. Courtesy photo.

SPECIAL EVENING “QUICKBOOKS” WORKSHOP $45 PER SESSION
By Richard Kehoe, CPA – Thursday, October 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hands-on computer training for beginners. 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 checkbooks. 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.