You know you must sell to be in business, but for many small businesses we hear that ‘selling’ to others makes them feel uneasy. Join sales professional, Anna Mason of PI Midwest, to learn how to redefine your sales process by building real relationships with your customers that translate into sales you can feel good about.

Presenters: Polina Engel, April Caudill, Tyler Phelps, Sarah Frieberg, Principal Financial Group Date: May 14, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online These are definitely uncertain times and we are here to help. Please join us in a webinar presented by the Midwest Business Center of Principal Financial Group that will share how you and your business can get the most benefit from the different loans, relief programs and benefits created under the CARES Act. And meet two Financial Advisors working with businesses to help navigate through these turbulent times that have personal experience with the PPP loan. About our speakers Sarah Frieberg was raised on an Iowa farm, and took an early interest in savings and investing, opening her first accounts when she was in the sixth grade. That interest became a strength as she earned degrees from Drake University in Finance, Accounting and Marketing. Sarah works to encourage, empower and inspire clients. She describes her job in finances as bumpers in the bowling alley. She keeps errant balls in play and out of the gutter because it’s not about scoring a perfect game but making progress. She is married to Luke and they are HGTV junkies, love to travel on a shoestring budget and spend their free time renovating old homes. Sarah earned her degrees from Drake University in Finance, Accounting and Marketing. Polina Engel is an Advanced Solutions Director at The Principal Financial Group®. In this role, she is a resource for areas within the company, as well as for agents and brokers for consultation in business succession and valuation, employee benefits, retirement, and estate planning. Prior to specializing in advanced business solutions, Polina represented clients as an attorney at a large Milwaukee law firm, then later as a solo practitioner where she served both as an attorney and...

Presenters: Lori Hackney, SBA Date: May 19, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–12:30 pm Location: Online Join us for a quick overview of the Payment Protection Program (PPP). Lori Hackney, Economic Development Specialist from the U.S. Small Business Administration will talk on the what, why, and how the PPP can help small businesses.

Presenters: Samantha Wagner and Nora Walsh Date: May 26, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online Commercial leases often contain provisions that business owners (especially new ones) have never encountered. This can lead to headaches, frustration, and occasionally legal fees once an attorney gets involved. Join Samantha Wagner, attorney for Iowa Legal Aid and Nora Walsh, Commercial Real Estate Advisor at SVN | CREATE for a discussion of practical considerations to think about before you sign a commercial lease agreement to save your future self money, time, and the distraction of dealing with a lease issue while running a business.

Presenters: Ronee Andersen, Leadership Coach and Business Consultant Date: June 9, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online Join Ronee Andersen, leadership coach and business consultant, as she does a run through on the importance of creating and developing a strong company culture. She will be highlighting ways to change an unhealthy culture, how to make your mission and vision statement a living and breathing document and the importance of innovation and creativity in maintaining your company culture.   About our speaker Ronee Andersen, SPHR, MBA, CTACC, is an experienced Human Resource professional with 20 years of experience in companies from 50 to 6,000 employees. She has experience working in family-owned businesses, private sector and publicly traded companies, as well as, experience in the public sector in city and county government. She has held positions as HR Officer, HR Director and Senior HR Director. She has been a member of leadership and executive teams. With her HR background, she knows what employers and executives and looking for in leaders, employees and future leaders. She knows who gets promoted and why. Ronee has held her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification since 2003. She has an MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources and an advance certificate in Strategic Human Resources from Cornell University. She is a certified coach through the Coach Training Alliance. She is a member of the Iowa Chapter of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Central Iowa SHRM, West Des Moines Chamber, and Des Moines FemCity. Ronee is passionate about leadership and team development, culture creation and helping individuals and organizations meet their full potential.

Presenters: Keesha Ward, Owner & Photographer Date: June 18, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online We all have the responsibility, including small business owners, to elevate the voices of Black people - educate ourselves; speak out publicly; support Black-owned businesses; and donate. Join Keesha as she walks through four ways you can support Black lives during the movement and beyond. About our speaker Keesha Ward is the owner and photographer of ward creative studios. Keesha is an entrepreneur and advocate for racial justice. She has a decade of experience working in higher education in Iowa, and has served in areas of family services, work/life, diversity, equity and inclusion, and business development.

Presenter: Jenn Riggs, Owner and Founder I Wander Women Iowa Date: June 23, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online The Iowa Center is headed outdoors for a guided virtual tour! As an entrepreneur and small biz owner it is important to disconnect and practice self-care in order to continue working at your best and avoid burn out. Join Jenn Riggs from Wander Women Iowa and Ciara Ladroma on a guided tour in the wilderness to learn how to safely and respectfully connect with nature. Join us for a moment of peace where we will listen to nature, take in the views, watch the stream and just relax. Jenn will be sharing different places to go in the area that aren’t your usual spots and suggestions on what you should take with you on your next adventure. About our speaker Jenn Riggs is the owner and founder of Wander Women Iowa, an Iowa-based outdoor company that guides, connects, and empowers women on all-inclusive camping adventures throughout Iowa. She's a born and raised Iowan, fierce advocate for Iowa's wild places, and a wildflower and hiking enthusiast. Her love for the outdoors started at a young age in rural Iowa where she grew up exploring near-by creeks, native prairie remnants, and hiking and camping with her family. She's passionate about connecting others with Iowa's great outdoor places!  

Presenter: Andi Fagen, Owner of Creative DSM Date: June 25, 2020 Time: Noon – 1:00pm Location: Online If you're ready to offer your clients digital benefits, and make some sales online, this is the information you’ve been looking for. Join Andi Fagen, owner of Creative DSM | Digital & Social Marketing as she guides us through search engine optimization (SEO) for online stores, how to create a positive customer experience, and stories of wins and fails through multiple marketplaces. She’ll touch on modern marketing strategies for local businesses in Iowa, including shoulder industry strategies and email follow up. About our speaker Andi has been assisting in brand launches and business growth since her time at Iowa State in 2009. The journey brought her to Los Angeles, Miami and eventually back home to the Midwest-Best, Des Moines. She opened Creative DSM to continue helping small businesses launch and scale their businesses in the Des Moines community. Using creative digital marketing strategies, Creative DSM manages small business web design, search engine optimization, email marketing, pay-per-click campaign management, and social media optimization. Andi currently has successful shops running on platforms such as shopify, squarespace, wordpress, etsy, and amazon seller central. Which is why she is happy to guide us through her process of earning online sales.

Presenters: Tricia Rivas | Owner, Trixie’s Salon. Hannah Arant | Manager & Director of Education Date: July 7, 2020 Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm Location: Online It’s often the entrepreneurial way to be involved in owning one or more businesses and working on other projects within your community. Join small business owner Tricia Rivas and social media guru, Hannah Arant from Trixies Salon for a discussion on personal branding and your online presence as an ambitious entrepreneur. Learn why it’s important to show up as yourself and how to execute well via online platforms. About our speakers Hannah has always had a creative, fun spirit and an interest in fashion, art, and hair. These passions led her cosmetology and a career at Trixies Salon when it opened in 2010. Since that time, her career has grown with her passions, and she is also the director of education at the salon, as well as helping as social media coordinator for the salon. She loves that social media and online marketing are always changing, and loves sharing and educating others on the possibilities that are out there! Tricia is a native Des Moines' southsider. She attended La James International College. Tricia is affiliated with Aveda and has completed many hours of Aveda training. She has been a freelance makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics, Aveda, as well as a makeup educator for Toni & Guy Cosmetic Art Team. Tricia has owned Trixie’s Salon since 2007 and now leads a team of 19 amazing hairdressers. Her motto is, hairdressers can change the world. She also is the founder of the non-profit Dream Catchers Foundation Inc. where licensed beauty professionals provide free beauty services to those in need here in Des Moines.

Presenter: Dr. Ayah Bilbeisi, owner of Cedar Ridge Dentistry Date: July 10, 2020 Time: Noon – 1:00pm Location: Online Come and listen to the stories of entrepreneurs, small business owners and community members making their mark in Iowa. As you create your own story, treat yourself to this time each month to rekindle your entrepreneurial spirit and connect with others. This month listen to the amazing story of Dr. Ayah Bilbeisi, owner of Cedar Ridge Dentistry. About our speaker Dr. Ayah Bilbeisi is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Bilbeisi graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and completed a General Practice Residency from the University of Michigan before moving to Iowa in 2011. In Januart 2019, she was the official owner of her own clinic Cedar Ridge Esthetic and Family Dentistry. Dr. Bilbeisi has a wide range of experience having worked in both public health and private practice settings. She is passionate about the science of dentistry as part of holistic health and wellness believes in educating and empowering patients to help them unlock their full potential. She strives to get to know her patients on a personal level because she believes that a dental visit should be comfortable and even enjoyable. Dr. Bilbeisi is the mother to a son, daughter and cat. She likes to stay active and often spends her weekends exploring the nature centers of Central Iowa with her children.

Presenter: Drew Harden, President & Co-founder Date: July 14, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Join Drew Harden, President and Co-Founder of Blue Compass, a leading digital marketing agency in the Midwest, as he shares insights on how to create compelling website content, gain more visitors, and connect with your audience online. About our speaker Drew Harden is the President and Co-Founder of Blue Compass, Drew has grown and guided the company from a two-person start-up in 2007 to one of the Midwest's leading digital marketing companies today. He's a published author, speaks at marketing conferences around the country, has been cited by publications like USA Today, and has led web projects for clients like Spalding Sports Equipment, NAPA Autoparts, and the NFL.