The Story Of…Andrea Metzler

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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.  

Free

small business essentials: Reframing Your Perspective: Moving Forward When the Unexpected Happens

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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.

Free

alwaysready: Financials

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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.

Free

small business essentials: Making Your Commercial Lease the Least of Your Worries

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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...

Free

alwaysready: Financials

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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.

Free

Work for Yourself at 50+ AARP Workshop

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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

Free

small business essentials: Social Media: Results Based Content

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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.  

Free

alwaysready: Business Plan

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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.

Free

The Story Of….Megan McKay | Peace Tree Brewing Company

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

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.    

Free

Small Business Essentials: 5 Ways to get over your midwestern humility and talk yourself up!

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

Presenter: Sally Cooper Smith, President and Creative Director of Cooper Smith & Company Date: April 6, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Get tongue-tied at networking events and feel like you should be able to do better a job of telling your story? When someone says, “what’s new with you?” do you have an answer ready? In this session, learn five ways to network like a pro and deliver a 20 second introduction that is memorable and engaging. We’ll cover everything from telling your origin story, to making an ask. 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...

Free

alwaysready: Financials

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

Presenter: TJ Daniels, Sr Loan Officer + Credit Coach & Alex Polzin, Director of Finance & Administration Date: April 6, 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.

Free

Small Business Essentials: ADA and Small Business

Webinar Online, Des Moines, IA, United States

Presenters: Emmanuel Smith & Cynthia A. Miller, J.D. Date: April 13, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online ADA and Small Businesses: Learn the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act as it applies to your business in the areas of physical access, reasonable accommodations to policy and practices and effective communication. We will review issues related to service animals, COVID 19 and masks, and websites and mobile apps. Plus, a review of practical suggestions and solutions to increase your inclusivity of persons with disabilities with your business. About our speakers Emmanuel Smith attended Drake University where he completed his Bachelors in Political Science. Born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, he has held a lifelong interest in disability and political action to improve the rights of disabled people everywhere. His work at DRI focuses on barriers to employment, disability discrimination in the workplace, and advocating for effective employment services for people with disabilities. Cynthia A. Miller, J.D., received her undergraduate degree from University of Iowa in 1997, graduating with distinction with a bachelor of arts in English. Cynthia received her doctorate of jurisprudence (J.D.) from Drake University Law School in 2000. She was admitted to the State Bar of Iowa in 2000, and is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Iowa and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Cynthia is the Legal Director at Disability Rights Iowa and provides legal representation and systemic advocacy to individuals with disabilities in the State of Iowa in areas including special education, community integration, guardianship, accessibility and employment law.      

Free

Developed by Pella Hosting.

Developed by Pella Hosting.