Expert Discusses Transition Planning at County Business Center

Maui Business Brainstormers August 2012 meeting at the MCBRC. Photo courtesy of MCBRC.

By Sonia Isotov

This month the Maui County Business Resource Center (MCBRC) is hosting financial expert Gretchen G. Voxland along with several other local business experts in its free workshop series.

Voxland will discuss the importance of success planning for any transition at your business, death, disability, retirement, etc. She is the owner of Horizon Financial and a 10-year instructor at UH Maui College.

The Maui County Business Resource Center also has an entire lineup of short business workshops for September. Every month, local business experts share a wealth of knowledge and experience at the free workshops and topics vary by month but usually focus on starting, financing, and growing a small business.

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 certified public accountant, Richard Kehoe.

Craig Swift, Executive Director, Maui Economic Opportunity, Business Development Corp. Courtesy of MEO.

Unless otherwise specified, the workshops run from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Maui County Business Resource Center in the Maui Mall. The September workshops are as scheduled:

“The ABCs of a Business Plan” by Craig Swift – Wednesday, September 5 – 1 to 2 p.m.
Craig Swift,  the director of the MEO Business Development Center, 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 the business plan taught by MEO’s Core Four Business Plan Course.

“Internet Income Strategies” by Chris Mentzel – Tuesday, September 11
This workshop will benefit both people searching for a new source of income and entrepreneurs who want to advertise their business. Mentzel will spend a majority of the session responding to questions from attendees, on topics such as: the need for internet marketing, products and services (what people pay for), product search, broad advertising (banners and emails), advertising according to needs (AdWords), advertising according to demographics (Facebook), and social marketing. Chris Mentzel has a masters in computer science from the University of Berlin.

“The 2012 Internet Marketing Workshop” by Steve Zuwala – Wednesday, Sept. 12

Learn why and how to get your current website to the top of a Google search. Learn how Zuwala, a country music recording artist, studied and used internet market and design to increase his own popularly and album sales. Using these skills, Zuwala has achieved seven #1 international songs, a Dove award, a Grammy Selection award, two Hawaiian Music Awards, and other more.

Richard Kehoe, MBA, CPA is a long-time SCORE counselor, and the lead SCORE representative on Maui. Courtesy photo.

Maui Business Brainstormers Monthly Meeting – Tuesday– Sept. 18 – 11:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend this regular business networking group featuring business introductions, mingling, complimentary light refreshments, expert coaching, and more. Meet other business owners/managers and bring your business challenges. To attend, RSVP at www.meetup.com/MauiBusinessBrainstormers.

“Business Transition” by Gretchen G. Voxland CLU, ChFC- Friday, Sept. 21
Even from the beginning, it is important to think with the end in mind.  How do you see yourself transitioning your successful business? Selling it? To whom and for how much?  Passing it on to your kids? How can you get the equity out of your business when your child takes over? What happens in the event of death, disability or retirement? Do you have a written plan? Gretchen G. Voxland is the owner of Horizon Financial, LLC and an instructor at UH Maui College.

“QuickBooks for Small Business” by Richard Kehoe, CPA – Thursday, Sept. 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. $45 per session Hands-on computer training workshop for intermediate users.
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 your solutions. Sponsored by SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and presented by Richard Kehoe, CPA and lead SCORE counselor.