Panel: Candy Fuegen, Owner of Salon Incognito, Jennifer Williams, Owner of Red&Lee Vintage, and Cord Kleist, Owner of Skinny's Barbeque  Date: Friday, May 5, 2023 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Pr%f Social (Muscatine) or Online Registration: Click Here Join us for “The Story Of,” a monthly series offered at The Iowa Center, focused on Iowa entrepreneurs and small business owners making their mark in our communities. Treat yourself to this time each month to rekindle your entrepreneurial spirit and connect with others. Join us in person at Pr%f Social on 2nd Street in Muscatine, IA on May 5 at 12pm to hear the exciting entrepreneurial journeys of some of the small business owners in Iowa. After they share their stories there will be time to network with speakers and each other. “The Story Of…Black Owned Businesses in Iowa” panel will include: Candy Fuegen, owner of Salon Incognito Jennifer Williams, owner of Red&Lee Vintage Cord Kleist, owner of Skinny's Barbeque Some of the many topics that will be discussed will be: How each business owner got their start. What advice they have for new and growing small businesses in Iowa. How can we as a community better support small business owners. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 Time: 10:00am - 11:00am Location: Online Register: Here 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. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am Location: Online Register: Here Running a small business requires more than having a passion and a vision. To be successful you need to have your financials in order. Unless you are familiar with bookkeeping basics, you might not know how crucial having the right financial documents are to your success. Join The Iowa Center staff as we go over the most useful and important financial documents for your small business. We will discuss and define: Income Statement/Profit and Loss Statement Cash Flow Statement Balance Sheet Accounts Receivable Budget Click here to register!

    Presenter: Karl Wendt, Procurement Manager Date: Monday, May 22, 2023 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here Have you wanted to do work for the state of Iowa but found the process to be daunting? This is the webinar for you! Join The Iowa Center and Karl Wendt, procurement manager for the State of Iowa, for this informational webinar on doing business with the state. We will discuss the elements of bidding and contracting, including: Where to find opportunities Who to connect with regarding opportunities Tips to be a successful bidder and contractor Tune in to discover more benefits in the webinar! About Our Speaker... Karl Wendt is the Procurement Manager at the State of Iowa – Department of Administrative Services. His procurement experience comes from the military, private, education, and public sectors. He is the president of the Iowa Public Procurement Association. He is currently on the NASPO-Valuepoint Executive Council and a past member of the US Communities Advisory Board. He has a B.S. in Management from Upper Iowa University and has earned Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) and Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) certifications. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am Location: Online Register: Here Getting started in your small business journey can be daunting…let us help you make the process and little easier as we outline some basic steps to Getting Ready! What are the first steps needed to business ownership? What’s a business plan and why do you need one? What are the various types of legal business entities? How do you register your business? Click here to register!

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023 Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am Location: Online Register: Here Understanding your Personal Credit and How to Establish Business Credit.   Did you know that when you apply for a small business loan odds are that you will have to apply using your personal credit? This information is used by lenders and creditors to assess your creditworthiness and determine whether to lend you money or extend credit. Understanding your personal credit is an essential part of managing your finances and achieving your financial goals. We will also discuss everything you need to know about building credit for your business, including why it's important, how to get started, and best practices for maintaining good credit!  Click here to register!

    Presenter: Jaclyn Boldt, Executive Director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here Iowa’s community colleges are calling on Iowa small business owners to apply for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, which will offer its 10th cohort in Iowa this fall. The program, which is provided at no cost and is offered in partnership with Iowa’s community colleges, includes curriculum developed by Babson College – recently named No. 1 for Entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report for the 22nd year in a row. The Iowa Center is partnering to host an information session on this opportunity. Accepted applicants receive hands-on education for business growth and continuity, access to highly-trained, small business professionals, and an expanded peer network of small business owners from across the country. Participants of the program are small business owners from across the state that represent a diverse range of business and industry. These business owners join a network of more than 13,000 10KSB alumni nationwide, and more than 250 program alumni in Iowa. About Our Speaker... Jacki is the Executive Director for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in Iowa and works to support small business growth across the state. Prior to her role in 10KSB, she served as a Business Consultant where she worked with clients in the DMACC region on workforce development and employee training initiatives. Jacki earned her Masters Degree in Business Analytics from University of Iowa and holds undergrad degrees in Business and Education. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am Location: Online Register: Here Getting started in your small business journey can be daunting…let us help you make the process and little easier as we outline some basic steps to Getting Ready! What are the first steps needed to business ownership? What’s a business plan and why do you need one? What are the various types of legal business entities? How do you register your business? Click here to register!

  Presenter: Teleza Daniels, Program Director of The Iowa Center Women's Business Center  Date: Thursday, June 1, 2023 Time: 9:00am – 11:00am Location: Online Registration: Click Here The Iowa Center, in conjunction with the AARP Foundation, is hosting this informational webinar for those over 50 who are considering self employment as a way to ensure financial security.  Whether it's freelancing, contracted services, side gigs or starting a small business, this workshop will help you make the right decision and point you to additional resources to get started. Click here to register! 

Date: Friday, June 2, 2023 Time: 12 – 1pm Location: The Iowa Center (2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312) or Virtual Register: Online Join us for “The Story Of,” a monthly series offered at The Iowa Center, focused on Iowa entrepreneurs and small business owners making their mark in our communities. Treat yourself to this time each month to rekindle your entrepreneurial spirit and connect with others. Join us in person at The Iowa Center on June 2 at 12pm to hear the exciting entrepreneurial journeys of small business owners in the Highland Park neighborhood of Des Moines. After they share their stories there will be time to network with the speakers and each other. The panel will include: Drew and Kara Kelso of The Slow Down Coffee Co. Some of the many topics that will be discussed will be: How each business owner got their start. What advice they have for new and growing small businesses in Iowa. How can we as a community support black owned businesses. Register here! 

Presenter: Tenneil Register - Owner of R7 Reclaimed, Host of Farm Life Festival and Business Coach Date: Monday, June 5, 2023 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here The vendor market community is a great place to start and grow your small business, but what can you do to get prepared and make the most out of your experience? In this introductory presentation, Tenneil Register from R7 Reclaimed and the Farm Life Festival in Grandview, IA, will walk us through her experiences both as a vendor and as an event planner to make sure your show is a successful one! Topics include: What goes on behind the scenes of these markets What makes them run smoothly What event organizers are looking for in vendors How to find the right fit events for your goods and being accepted to the market What you can do to stand out to event planners and customers Common mistakes to avoid Tips and tricks to prepare leading up to an event How to plan for and manage the logistics of setup and event day How to make the most of the event even after it's over About Our Speaker... Tenneil Register is the owner of R7 Reclaimed, host of Farm Life Festival and a personalized business coach in Grandview, IA. She believes that entrepreneurs don’t have to muddle through on their own, feeling lost, in the small business shuffle. From brand new businesses that are still ideas to sustainable, profitable businesses celebrating new milestones; she works together with her clients to analyze their needs and challenges, identify next steps and implement their unique best practices. Click here to register!