Date: April 1, 2020 Time: 10:00 am – 11:00am Location: The Iowa Center As the COVID-19 situation rapidly develops and changes, we anticipate having updated information to give you as we develop a greater understanding of the issues facing small business owners at this time. Join us for the second part of a conversation about legal considerations in re: COVID-19. About Our Speaker Samantha Wagner is a Staff Attorney at Iowa Legal Aid, where she provides legal services and representation to low-income entrepreneurs in both litigation and transactional matters. She previously worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid representing survivors of sexual violence. Samantha graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, and received her Bachelor of Arts from Drake University. She is admitted to practice law in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Texas. Samantha has extensive experience working with immigrants and works to provide culturally-competent and creative solutions to clients' legal issues. In her free time, she works to destigmatize mental health, especially for the legal profession, and serves as a cultural ambassador for the Midwest.

Date: April 2, 2020 Time: 10:00 am – 11:00am Join us for an overview of the grant application process for the Targeted Small Business Sole Operator Fund. We’ll talk through key areas in the grant application, including TSB certification and required documentation needed to submit. We’ll also allow some time for general Q&A.  

Date: April 8, 2020 Time: Noon – 1:00pm Location: Online Continued closures due to COVID-19 have kept small business owners on their toes figuring out how to generate revenue in this current climate. For many online selling has become more important than ever. Join Bridget Drendel & Kat Hutchinson from Project7 for a discussion on key things to consider when building or updating your online store and learn some out of the box ideas that will help you move towards generating more revenue online.

Date: April 9, 2020 Time: 11:30 am–1 pm Location: Online FocusME provides a space for working women to support each other with connections and accountability as each sets her own professional and personal goals. New groups form every quarter and meet once per week for 8 weeks. Each is led by a facilitator whose role is to organize the group around weekly themes and to push each participant to achieve what she sets forth. As a participant, you will: Lean on each other, give advice, share connections and experiences. Do business with each other if/when appropriate, all while connecting with other women and resources. Be a source of support, referrals, and networking: the focus is on personal development that will impact your growth. Spend time and emphasis on topics such as goal setting, pitching your ideas, prioritization and time management. Cost to participate is $99 and includes eight weeks of small group meetings Thursdays from April 2–May 28 (no meeting April 23). Email questions to info@theiowacenter.org.

Date: April 9, 2020 Time: Noon – 1pm Location: Online Given the social distancing measures encouraged or required in light of COVID-19, this could be a great opportunity for some business development work that normally gets put on the back burner. From updating your contracts or seeking additional insurance, join us for a conversation about legal considerations growing businesses should think about and leave with some concrete homework for increasing protections for your business.

Presenter: James Bierly, Owner, Secure Point Solutions Date: April 21, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: The Iowa Center In this presentation we will show you how attackers gain information to use against you and your business; and show ways to defend yourself from Internet threats. About our speaker James Bierly is the owner of Secure Point Solutions in central Iowa. He’s been in the IT industry for 13 years after working in the Navy and military contract world for a decade. He has experience creating IT solutions for with large corporations to very small businesses in Iowa and Nebraska.  

Join us for a special edition of DreamBuilder to help you pivot your business plan in the face of COVID-19 challenges. This four session course will help you consider how you need to shift your business plan to withstand the current crisis and how to prepare for a post-coronavirus marketplace. April 28, 2-3 pm | Heidi Mannetter, Drake University April 30, 2-3 pm | Ying Sa, Community CPA May 5, 2-3 pm  | Sally Cooper Smith, Cooper Smith & Company May 7, 2-3 pm | Iowa Center staff Additional class details to come.

Date: May 1, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: The Iowa Center First Friday goes virtual. While we will miss seeing your faces at our office, we still want you to gather virtually and hear the entrepreneurial story of our special guest, Kendra Erkamaa, CEO of Triangle Financial Services in Des Moines, Iowa.  

Presenter: Erik Dominguez, owner of Speak Up Stories Date: May 5, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online Going to meetings looks much different right now, but the desire to zoom out of one is still the same if the speaker is not engaging. With online webinar audiences having their distractions more easily accessible, the need to master and execute public speaking fundamentals is just as critical as with a live audience. This workshop will give you tips, tricks, hacks, and resources to sharpen your screen to screen speaking skills, keeping your audience captivated on you and your message. About our speaker Erik Dominguez is a public speaking and storytelling trainer, educator, and coach, and owner of Speak Up Stories. For nearly 25 years, Erik's team-oriented speaking and teaching style has centered around shared experiences, a philosophy that everyone has a unique story, and a belief that everyone can share their minds and hearts through powerful presentations.