Workshops
Business Builder’s Workshop Series
Grow Your Knowledge, Grow Your Business
Connect PDX Business Builder’s Workshop Series
What/Why: The Connect PDX Business Builder’s Workshop is a series of four interactive workshops helping business owners and prospective business owners understand fundamental elements to launching their business or for turbo-charging their existing efforts.
Each session covers an essential topic area that help business owners make informed decisions about important aspects of their business. Workshop topics include:
- Branding and Identity – Discovering and communicating your value proposition
- Keeping You and Your Business Protected – What you need to know about insuring your most valuable business assets
- Mortgage Lending – Strategies to get preapproved for home mortgage
- Setting Up Your Business – Understanding business legal structures and choosing the right one for your business
As a business owner, you’ve got a lot on your plate. It’s impossible to be an expert on all the business aspects you’re expected to understand. The Connect PDX Business Builder’s Workshop Series is a way for local business owners to learn from each other, share our strengths, and create a collaborative environment where we can all thrive.
About Connect PDX: We are a small business networking group focused on building connections in our community through outreach, education, and volunteering. Based in Portland, Oregon, our core purpose is to help emerging small businesses grow while making a positive impact in our community.
Investment: Each session costs $15 to attend (+ a small processing fee). Food and beverages are available for purchase from the Hi-Top Tavern.
Non Profit Partners: 50% of all proceeds from the workshops will be donated to a non profit of the presenters choice.
Act fast: Each session is limited to 15 attendees each. Register today!
The Sessions
Tuesday
Jan 14
2020
Session One:
Branding and Identity – Discovering and communicating your value proposition
Presenter: Greg Rochford, Founder & Principal, Rochford Creative
Date: January 14, 2020, 6-7:30 PM
Location: Hi-Top Tavern
Price: $15
Non-profit beneficiary: The Soul Box Project
Session Summary: You’ve got talent and a great idea for a business. Now what? How do you talk about and present your business to your target audience?
Helping people understand what you do and how you help is critical for business success. However, most people skip this important business building step completely.
This session focuses on discovering your value proposition – what you offer and how you compel your audience to buy your product or service – and communicating it effectively.
Led by Greg Rochford, Creative Consultant and Founder/Principal of Rochford Creative, you’ll learn what a value proposition is, how to write an effective one, and how to communicate it to your audience. Through a structured activity, you’ll write your value proposition and have the opportunity to get feedback on it from the group. You’ll leave the session with the foundations of your value proposition and a roadmap to continue improving it.
Monday
Feb 10
2020
Session Two:
Keeping You and Your Business Protected – What you need to know about insuring your most valuable business assets
Presenter: Bonnie Arnesen, Property & Casualty Agent, Century Benefits
Date: Monday, February 10, 2020, 6-7:30 PM
Location: Hi-Top Tavern
Price: $15
Non-profit beneficiary:
Session Summary: Let’s face it: insurance is the last thing you want to think about, but the first thing you need when things go haywire. As a business owner, it’s important to understand the differences between personal and business insurance and to ensure that you have the coverage you need when you need it.
Whether you have a home-based business or a store front, whether you use your personal vehicle or operate a fleet of commercial vehicles, you have specific insurance needs unique to your business.
Led by Bonnie Arnesen, Property & Casualty Agent at Century Benefits, you’ll learn about key insurance options and how to make sure you and your business are properly protected.
Tuesday
Apr 14
2020
Session Three:
Mortgage Lending – Strategies to get preapproved for home mortgage
Presenter: Jad Hamdan, Mortgage Broker, Northwest Funding Group
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 6-7:30 PM
Location: Hi-Top Tavern
Price: $15
Non-profit beneficiary: Grant High School Athletics
Session Summary: Whether you are a first-time home buyer, an experienced real estate purchaser, a homeowner looking to refinance, or a real estate investor, this session is for you:
A few of the topics to be covered in this relaxed and interactive session:
- How to qualify if you are self employed?
- How does credit impact your ability to qualify? How do you fix it?
- How much of a down payment do you actually have to have?
- How loan programs can vary depending on the type of property you’re thinking of buying?
- How do you leverage equity in your current home to increase your cash flow?
Led by Jad Hamdan, a locally-based residential mortgage broker, you will have an opportunity to ask questions in this fun and interactive session.
Wednesday
May 20
2020
Session Four:
Setting Up Your Business – Understanding business legal structures and choosing the right one for your business
Presenters: Peter Tran, Attorney, Immix Law Group and Justin Howe, Attorney, The Howe Law Firm
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020, 6-7:30 PM
Location: Hi-Top Tavern
Price: $15
Non-profit beneficiary:
Session Summary: You’ve finalized your business plan, you’ve secured your co-founders, you’ve conducted market research, so what’s next? Setting up your business registration and choosing the best legal structure for your business is a fundamental and crucial next step.
Choosing the best legal structure for your business will save you time and money and provide you peace of mind.
What you will take away from this session:
- An understanding of the various legal business structures and which legal business structure is best for your business;
- An understanding of how to register your business; and
- An understanding of when you may want to change your legal business structure.
Led by Peter Tran, attorney at Immix Law Group PC, and Justin Howe, attorney at The Howe Law Firm, you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and engage interactively throughout the session.
© Connect PDX, 2021
