Presenter: Gina Campbell, Psychotherapist Date: July 28, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Small business entrepreneurs never lack hard work or dedication, but with all that ambition sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. In this highly experiential workshop, we will move beyond superficial ideas about self-care and learn to skillfully care for ourselves so we can keep feeding that entrepreneurial spirit. Join us for a discussion and exercises targeted at the role of mindfulness in self-care, self-rest, and meditation. After this event, participants will have the tools to continue self-care practices as they face the challenges and success of owning a small business. About our speaker Gina has been a psychotherapist in private practice for 15 years. She specializes in mindfulness-based counseling and helps people get unstuck so they can lead full and meaningful lives. Gina has training in meditation and yoga which enriches her approach as a holistic mental health provider.

Presenters: Whitney Warne, Christina Moffatt and Annie Woods Date: August 4, 2020 Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm Location: Online Join small business owners, Annie Woods, Christina Moffatt and Whitney Warne for a lively panel discussion on building big community for your small business. Our panel will share some of their best tips for creating a solid community of supporters and how it's impacted their own businesses. About our speaker Whitney Warne is an Unapologetically Extra creative entrepreneur, community builder and confidence champion living in Des Moines, IA. Whitney owns Ivory House Photography and specializes in disproving the phrase "I don't photograph well." Her special gift is her ability to recognize and lift up every human's beauty and power and she loves using her camera and her voice to share this vision with the world. She is also founder of Brand Launch which specializes in personal brand education and community building strategies for individuals and businesses looking to increase their impact using their unique voice. When she's not pursuing her passion and purpose through work, you can find Whitney in her hammock, reading memoirs, practicing yoga or going for walks with her partner. Annie has over 6 years of experience as a life coach and leadership trainer. It all started in her native country, the Dominican Republic. She currently resides in the Greater Des Moines Area, where she opened her coaching practice in 2016, working with women in professional and personal transition and organizations focused on diversifying and empowering their personnel. She enjoys creating custom made programs for both her 1:1 practice and corporate clients, and throwing down with her CrossFit family in between episodes of her podcast "Convos with Lola."   Christina Moffatt serves as Director of Small Business Resources at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, part of Christina’s role is...

Presenter: Jenny Quiner, Founder of Dog Patch Urban Gardens Date: August 7, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 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 Jenny Quiner, Founder of Dog Patch Urban Gardens About our speaker Jenny started Dogpatch Urban Gardens in the fall of 2015 with the help of her husband, Eric Quiner.  The main reasons for starting the farm are to promote health/nutrition, enhance the community, environmental conservation as well as to instill family values for their sons. Jenny is a Des Moines native and loves the Des Moines community. Her husband Eric is also a Des Moines native, and they have three sons: Oliver, Walter, and Lewis. Jenny graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Health Promotions and earned her Masters of Education from Colorado State University.  She has always been very health-minded and this is one of the guiding principles behind the creation of the farm. After graduating from CSU, she was offered a job to teach science at her alma-mater Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. Jenny and Eric moved back home to Des Moines in 2010.  While teaching, Jenny had her 3 sons and felt compelled for a life change, and that is when the farm operation come into fruition.

Presenter: Pamela Smith, Microsoft Office Specialist Date: August 18, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online What can Microsoft Office do for your Business? Microsoft Office includes many features that can help you run your business. With built in Templates we can quickly create a Customer Invoice, Inventory List, Flyer, or Newsletter. In this session we will look at the Programs in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and explore features that can benefit your business. We will also take a look at features in Microsoft 365 (Teams, OneDrive, Forms, Planner, Stream, Shift) that can be valuable tools you can access from your computer, tablet or phone. If you are currently using Microsoft Office or thinking about purchasing office, this session will give you an overview of features that can make your life easier. About our speaker Pamela Smith, Microsoft Office Specialist, has been educating individuals and corporations for over 25 years on the features of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Most recently, Pamela has helped train on the features of Microsoft Office 365, including but not limited to O365, OneDrive, Teams and OneNote. “At first my training was about teaching employees and individuals how to use the computer and the Microsoft Office programs. As employees have become more proficient with the programs, my training focus has changed. My training is now about educating employees on the features of the programs that can save them time and streamline their workflow.” “I have traveled all over the United States and in Canada training employees on Microsoft Office and custom software. One of the things I love about my job is having the opportunity to teach people how to be more productive through tips and tricks in the various programs.”

Start Date: August 20, 2020 Time: 9 am - Noon Location: Online Writing a business plan can be intimidating. You're juggling market research with competitor analysis, financial projections with marketing strategies. With so much to consider and organize, it's easy to lose your drive. DreamBuilder Virtual makes it simpler. Here's what you'll do during this 8-week online course: Work to develop your business plan Access online material as well as group + one-on-one virtual support Build your professional network Connect with others working toward the goal of business ownership Learn from guest mentors (including CPAs, attorneys, marketing experts and other small business owners) Class meets weekly online from 9 am to noon for 8 weeks beginning Thursday, August 20. Our final class meeting will take place Thursday, October 8. No Longer Accepting Applications. Cost: $250 (inquire about scholarships!) What we cover: Creating a business plan Delivering the story of your business Targeted Small Business Access to capital Small business banking Taxes Legal considerations Insurance Leasing contacts Understanding profit margin Setting your price point Target audience Marketing Outreach strategy Social media and deciding what works for you Interested? Please download the application here, fill it out and then email to Ciara Ladroma at cladroma@theiowacenter.org. Once your application has been reviewed, you'll be contacted to schedule a short interview to determine your readiness for DreamBuilder.

Presenter: Julia Hunt, Julia Mae Photography LLC Date: August 25, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Julia began her photography business as a side hustle in 2016. She also began Life Coach training during that same time. It was 2+ years later that she quit her full-time job as a restaurant manager and took the leap of faith. Two businesses plus two part time jobs and health problems. Oh. And her husband got laid of just 5 days after her last day. SCARY! Julia will teach you the secrets of how she juggled everything; keeping her businesses afloat, maintain a beautiful marriage and repair her health. (It wasn't smooth). We will discuss time management, prioritizing, your support system, how to be gentle with yourself, and abundance mindset in the face of the storm. About our speaker Julia Hunt is the owner of Julia Mae Photography, LLC and specializes in Social Media and branding photography. Julia is passionate about helping entrepreneurs, influencers and businesses express their stories genuinely through photography. Julia is also a Professional Life Coach who helps others discover, set and achieve their goals, find clarity, manage time and prioritize. Julia has spent 20+ years as a photographer, restaurant manager and more recently added coaching to her line-up. When she is not juggling her two businesses, she enjoys cooking, creative projects, leisurely walks, bike rides, time with family and binging Netflix with her husband.

Presenter: Jill Lippincott | Team Lead, Innovation and Apprenticeship Date: September 1, 2020 Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm Location: Online As a small business owner, you’ve quickly learned that there are many different roles that you must step into to run your business. In our Small Business Essential classes you’ll learn from experts who will educate and guide you on how to wear these many hats that are required of you. Each week we’ll showcase a topic in the areas of accounting and finance, sales and marketing, operations, or self-care. This week Jill Lippincott, a Team Lead, Innovation and Apprenticeship from Iowa Economic Development Authority will present an overview on the Targeted Small Business program. About our speaker Since 2016, Jill Lippincott has managed the Targeted Small Business certification program and connected eligible Iowa businesses to local resources, educational materials, networking events and financial opportunities at Iowa Economic Development Authority. As the Team Lead for the Innovation and Apprenticeship team, Jill serves as IEDA's liaison with the Iowa Innovation Council, a group that recommends public policy and strategies to support innovation and entrepreneurial activities and works on initiatives related to strengthening the entrepreneur ecosystem and workforce throughout the state. Prior to working for the state of Iowa, Jill has worked with non-profits and startups in Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska to lead strategic planning, business development, and quality improvement projects. Jill holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado-Denver.

Presenter: Nora Crosthwaite | Owner, Home Sweet Des Moines & Stagerie Date: September 4, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 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 Nora Crosthwaite, owner of Home Sweet Des Moines and founder of Stagerie. About our speaker Nora Crosthwaite is the owner of Home Sweet Des Moines at RE/MAX Concepts, and is also the founder of Stagerie, an online staging company. She has a background in IT, but switched gears in 2015 to explore her entrepreneurial side and focus more on helping everyday people. She is a residential REALTOR(r), working with people to buy and/or sell homes for their current stage of life. In addition, she started Stagerie this year to bring stagers together with real estate agents and homeowners, helping homes sell faster and for more money in a cost effective and convenient manner. Outside of her work at Stagerie and Home Sweet Des Moines, Nora is a wife to Paul, mom to Layla, and cat-mom to Frankie and Mara. She loves live music, traveling, martial arts, and Des Moines community builder. She has worked with Pi 515 (www.pursuitofinnovation.org) and regularly leads a team for the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity's Women's Build event (www.gdmhabitat.org). Nora and her family have adopted Des Moines as their home since 2010.

Presenter: Tina Mowry Hadden, Owner of Mowry Strategies Date: September 8, 2020 Time: 12 – 1pm Location: Online When we think about the old days of traveling and pulling out the road map, it definitely got us where we needed to go, but it didn’t have all the bells and whistles that our GPS systems have today. Think of strategic planning today as more of a GPS system. We need to more than a few goal statements and action steps, we need a process that inspires self-awareness, builds strong teams and identifies the multiple ways to best communicate with employees, customers, shareholders, and the general public. Tina Mowry Hadden, owner of Mowry Strategies, has been working with clients to develop short- and long- term strategic plans for over 15 years. She brings her journalism background and ability to work with the media to assist business leaders in developing their brands and telling their stories. Join her via Zoom to hear about the strategic planning process she uses with her clients and learn tips for creating a strong branding and business strategy for your business. a) create a common vision b) set goals c) and outline the work-plan to increase the bottom line, develop customer base, offer top-notch customer service and continually tell the story of the business or organization. About our speaker Tina Mowry Hadden started her Public Relations and Strategic Planning business in 2003. Raised on the family farm in rural Iowa, the entrepreneurial spirit of her childhood has been a driving force behind the success of her business. Hadden often says, “A strong work ethic and commitment to off the charts customer service are the secrets to my success.” Hadden has worked with private businesses, nonprofits and local governments to facilitate business strategy and guide branding. A few...

Presenter: Ben Schultz, Client Services Coordinator Date: September 15, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Getting new customers for your small business can feel hard, uncomfortable, or even forced—but it doesn’t always have to be like that. Ben Schultz, Client Services Coordinator with The Iowa Center, will help you focus on reframing “sales” as sharing your story to your target market. Ben will share best practices for refining and sharing what makes your business unique. This presentation will give business owners the skills to talk about their business more confidently and deliver a clear, effective message to their audience. About our speaker Ben Schultz works as the Client Services Coordinator for the Iowa Center for Economic Success, connecting clients to the best resources and partners at the Iowa Center to help them start or grow their business. Prior to joining at the Iowa Center, Ben worked in sales at a large insurance brokerage for over a year. In that role, Ben worked with a small team focused on simplifying the company message to better reach their potential customers. Ben's sales path had him speaking to a wide range of people from small business owners here in Iowa to Presidents/CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and everything in between. In his short time in insurance, Ben brought in several new clients and laid the foundation for 30+ other potential customers to develop a relationship with him and his firm.  Ben was a 2019 graduate of Drake's College of Business with a degree in Business Management and minor in Economics. Through coursework, community projects, and experience in the workforce, Ben has gained (and is still learning more every day in) an understanding for the factors that motivate people to act in certain ways. This understanding helped him craft efficient sales messages and...

Presenter: Julia Hunt, Julia Mae Photography LLC Date: September 21 – November 9, 2020 Time: 3:00 pm – 4:30 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 (inquire about scholarships!) and includes eight weeks of small group meetings Monday from September 21 – November 9. Application deadline, September 18, 2020. Interested? Please download the application here, fill it out and then email to Ciara Ladroma at cladroma@theiowacenter.org. Once your application has been reviewed, you'll be contacted to schedule a short interview to determine your readiness for FocusMe. About our speaker Julia Hunt is the owner of Julia Mae Photography, LLC and specializes in Social Media and branding photography. Julia is passionate about helping entrepreneurs, influencers and businesses express their stories genuinely through photography. Julia is also a Professional Life Coach who helps others discover, set and achieve their goals, find clarity, manage time and prioritize. Julia has spent 20+ years as a photographer, restaurant manager and more recently added coaching to her line-up. When she is not juggling her two...

Presenter: Sally Cooper Smith, President and Creative Director of Cooper Smith & Company Date: September 22, 2020 Time: 12-1pm Location: Online This email marketing class will provide tips, hints and how-tos even the novice can use to get more from your email efforts. We’ll focus on Mailchimp, but what you’ll learn can be used in any email management system. Learn how to use segmentation to improve deliverability and open rates and Canva to produce graphics that make your emails stand out. About our speaker Sally Cooper Smith is the President and Creative Director of Cooper Smith & Company, a marketing and design firm she founded in 1993. Sally Cooper Smith specializes in marketing and business strategy for small businesses. She works with founders and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses through more effective branding, advertising, and communications—online and off. Ms. Cooper Smith graduated with honors from Iowa State University, where in 2011 she was granted their prestigious lifetime Design Achievement Award. Sally continues to be involved with her alma mater, serving on the advisory board to the Department of Graphic Design. Her studio’s work has been published internationally in Logo Lounge and PIE Books, as well as Communication Arts, Graphic and Studio magazines. They’ve also received awards in numerous regional and national in competitions for the American Advertising Federation, The Art Director’s Association, and the American Marketing Association. Sally brings her experience in branding, communications, marketing, and business management to the boards she works with, having served in the past as president of the Des Moines Symphony Ambassadors, the Civic Music Association, the Art Director’s Association of Iowa and Ballet Des Moines. Sally is a member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines, A.M. and volunteers as a mentor for the University of Iowa’s Venture School and Iowa State University’s CyStarters.