Presenter: James Bierly, Secure Point Solutions Date: February 23, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online You are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and security for your business, and sometimes that means another third-party vendor contract. So who has the right tools and resources to help your business thrive? And more importantly, what security measures do they have in place to keep your information safe? Join James Bierly, owner of Secure Point Solutions to learn more about vendor assessments, what questions to ask when shopping around, and how to know who to trust with your business. About our speaker James Bierly is the owner and principal cybersecurity consultant for Secure Point Solutions in Central Iowa. With 13 years in the Navy operating on both surface ships and submarines as a Sonar Analyst, he is very excited to speak at VetSecCon. James had an unusual transition from military to civilian; from physical security to selling cars, James ultimately found opportunities to learn Information Technology while working overseas. He began a series of positions with increasing responsibility working with the state lottery and technology giants like Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. He has spent the last 6 years supporting small businesses as part of a managed service provider and now operates his own information security company. James holds certifications from CompTIA and (ISC)2. He is married to an amazing woman and together are raising 4 children and 3 dogs for the imminent zombie apocalypse.

Presenter: TJ Daniels, Sr Loan Officer + Credit Coach & Alex Polzin, Director of Finance & Administration Date: February 24, 2021 Time: 10:00am - 11:00am Location: Online As a small business owner, you won’t ever really know the unexpected challenges or opportunities that await you in life and business. Always Ready: Financials is a working session for you to learn how to financially prepare your small business for the next step in your journey. The Iowa Center staff will show you what you need to do to always be ready to make financial moves in your business, including applying for a loan or buying/selling new goods. This class is especially for you if you’ve ever been denied a loan or need a helping hand to get your financials on track. About our speakers TJ Daniels is the official cheerleader of The Iowa Center. She’s a vibrant supporter of our mission, programs, clients and staff. As a Certified Credit Counselor, she assists clients with their credit, budget, financial statements and so much more. She also works with our lending programs assisting clients from start to finish, and often times well after the loan has closed making many friendships along the way. Alex is responsible for Iowa Center accounting and governmental reporting, he also helps with lending and education programs provided by the Iowa Center.

Presenter: Ciara Ladroma, Project Manager, The Iowa Center' WBC & Ben Schultz, Client Services Coordinator Date: March 2, 2021 Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm Location: Online Turn your dream into a plan with this small group, one-hour business planning class. The Iowa Center staff will help you kickstart your business plan by providing you a road map on completing your plan and taking the next steps towards business ownership. Also connect with other aspiring small business owners to refine your business ideas as you put them into real plans. About our speakers As our new WBC project manager, Ciara will be organizing and implementing programs to train and counsel Iowans, specifically women, interested in starting or growing a business. Ben spends his time at The Iowa Center meeting with new clients to help connect them with best resources and events for education and advancement. He works to make sure people are aware of the countless opportunities available at The Iowa Center and in the community.

Presenter: Andrea Metzler, owner of Art Terrarium Date: March 5, 2021 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. In March listen to the amazing story of Andrea Metzler, owner of Art Terrarium. About our speaker Andrea Metzler is the owner of Art Terrarium, a houseplant shop in Downtown Des Moines. Since opening the doors in May 2017, Andrea has had a blast teaching customers about houseplant care and watching the popularity of houseplants explode, while learning how to run a business. She is currently in Bend, OR with her husband, Kent, working on opening a sister shop, Desert Rose Cactus Lounge.  

Presenter: Jodi Rhone, Founding Partner, Canary Consulting Group Date: March 9, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Small Biz Essentials will connect you with local subject matter experts who will share best practices on many different elements of running your business. For one-hour each week we’ll showcase a topic in the areas of accounting and finance, sales and marketing, operations, technology or self-care. About our speaker Jodi Rhone is a founding partner of Canary Consulting Group, a consulting firm that serves Central Iowa nonprofits. Jodi has more than twenty years of experience in strategic planning, operations process improvement, and building a healthy workplace culture. She uses this experience to help clients expand their impact and operate more efficiently. She enjoys coaching nonprofit leaders and boards, helping them define and communicate priorities to their teams, maintain focus, and work effectively together. Jodi is a natural problem solver and encourager who loves making a difference in her community.

Presenter: TJ Daniels, Sr Loan Officer + Credit Coach & Alex Polzin, Director of Finance & Administration Date: March 9, 2021 Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm Location: Online As a small business owner, you won’t ever really know the unexpected challenges or opportunities that await you in life and business. Always Ready: Financials is a working session for you to learn how to financially prepare your small business for the next step in your journey. The Iowa Center staff will show you what you need to do to always be ready to make financial moves in your business, including applying for a loan or buying/selling new goods. This class is especially for you if you’ve ever been denied a loan or need a helping hand to get your financials on track. About our speakers TJ Daniels is the official cheerleader of The Iowa Center. She’s a vibrant supporter of our mission, programs, clients and staff. As a Certified Credit Counselor, she assists clients with their credit, budget, financial statements and so much more. She also works with our lending programs assisting clients from start to finish, and often times well after the loan has closed making many friendships along the way. Alex is responsible for Iowa Center accounting and governmental reporting, he also helps with lending and education programs provided by the Iowa Center.

Presenter: Samantha Wagner and Nora Walsh Date: March 16, 2021 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. 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. Nora Walsh moved from the suburbs of Chicago to attend the business school at Drake University and graduated in the Spring of 2016 with an Integrated Marketing Communications and Direct & Interactive Marketing major and Information Systems minor. Her family background in Commercial Real Estate in the Des Moines and Chicagoland areas spiked her interest in the industry at a young age and gave her the enthusiasm for real estate that she has today. After working actively for two years in residential property management, Nora fell...

Presenter: TJ Daniels, Sr Loan Officer + Credit Coach & Alex Polzin, Director of Finance & Administration Date: March 22, 2021 Time: 10:00am - 11:00am Location: Online As a small business owner, you won’t ever really know the unexpected challenges or opportunities that await you in life and business. Always Ready: Financials is a working session for you to learn how to financially prepare your small business for the next step in your journey. The Iowa Center staff will show you what you need to do to always be ready to make financial moves in your business, including applying for a loan or buying/selling new goods. This class is especially for you if you’ve ever been denied a loan or need a helping hand to get your financials on track. About our speakers TJ Daniels is the official cheerleader of The Iowa Center. She’s a vibrant supporter of our mission, programs, clients and staff. As a Certified Credit Counselor, she assists clients with their credit, budget, financial statements and so much more. She also works with our lending programs assisting clients from start to finish, and often times well after the loan has closed making many friendships along the way. Alex is responsible for Iowa Center accounting and governmental reporting, he also helps with lending and education programs provided by the Iowa Center.

Host: AARP Foundation Date: March 24, 2021 Time: 9:00am – 11:00am Location: Online Are you over 50 and looking for ways to improve your current financial situation? Have you ever dreamed of being your own boss? Work for Yourself@50+ has the information you need to succeed. AARP Foundation’s Work for Yourself@50+ initiative will help you gain the knowledge, support, and resources you need to make informed decisions about working for yourself and take the right first steps toward successful self-employment. The decision to start your own business can be both exciting and daunting. Work for Yourself@50+ breaks the choices down for older adults in an approachable way through five steps: 1. A careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks of working for yourself 2. Exercises to help develop the self-employment idea 3. A realistic overview of what it takes to pursue a self-employment opportunity 4. Guidance to help avoid pitfalls and scams 5. Ways to find trustworthy support and services webinar registration link

Presenter: Drew Harden, President and Co-Founder of Blue Compass Date: March 30, 2021 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 the importance of social media platforms, how to create results-based content, action steps you can implement today, and connecting with your audience online. About our speaker President and Co-Founder of Blue Compass, Drew Harden 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.  

Presenter: Ciara Ladroma, Project Manager, The Iowa Center' WBC & Ben Schultz, Client Services Coordinator Date: March 30, 2021 Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm Location: Online Turn your dream into a plan with this small group, one-hour business planning class. The Iowa Center staff will help you kickstart your business plan by providing you a road map on completing your plan and taking the next steps towards business ownership. Also connect with other aspiring small business owners to refine your business ideas as you put them into real plans. About our speakers As our new WBC project manager, Ciara will be organizing and implementing programs to train and counsel Iowans, specifically women, interested in starting or growing a business. Ben spends his time at The Iowa Center meeting with new clients to help connect them with best resources and events for education and advancement. He works to make sure people are aware of the countless opportunities available at The Iowa Center and in the community.

Presenter: Megan McKay, Peace Tree Brewing Company Date: March 5, 2021 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. In April listen to the amazing story of Megan McKay, owner of Peace Tree Brewing Company. About our speaker Megan McKay is a Knoxville, Iowa native with an MBA from University of Iowa with early career experience in technology and insurance. In 2001, she returned home as the fourth generation of McKay Insurance Agency and subsequently founded and transitioned full time to Peace Tree Brewing Company as a way to redevelop Main Street Knoxville, driving economic and cultural development in the community. Peace Tree operates it's main production facility and taproom in Knoxville supplying beer across Iowa and Nebraska as well as satellite taproom in the East Village of Des Moines. Entrepreneurial at heart, McKay has also been active business start ups in employee staffing and real estate development. She currently serves on the board for Knoxville Hospital and Clinics and Iowa Economic Development Authority. She is most proud of the way Peace Tree enriches the community through thoughtful beer experiences while upholding the values of authenticity, integrity, innovation, fun, tenacity and family.