Date: October 5, 2020 Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, Noon-1pm Location: Online You don’t need to be a financial expert to own a healthy and whole small business, but you do need to understand your financials to feel clear and confident in making sound business decisions. Join The Iowa Center and local financial experts to increase your awareness of best practices for financial management. In this 8 class series, expect to gain practical knowledge on the following areas of your small business: Budgets Financial statements Business financing Cash flow Recordkeeping Banking Credit Reports Tax Planning This is the right course for you if managing your small business financials is completely out of your comfort zone, you're starting a new business and want to start off on the right track, or you need a refresher on basic financial management practices. All classes will be held online from Noon-1pm on Mondays and Wednesdays starting October 5, 2020. 

Presenter: Brett Moellers, Bookkeepers Inc Date: October 6, 2020 Time: 12:00pm -1:00pm Location: Online Running a small business is a constant battle against time and managing your books can be one of the biggest times sinks in your small business. Fortunately a tool like Quickbooks can break your bookkeeping needs into simplified, manageable tasks. Join Brett Moellers with Bookkeepers Inc for an overview of Quickbooks Online and learn how to keep track of business activity in one secure location. About our speaker Brett grew up on a farm in Northeast Iowa and went to school at the University of Northern Iowa where he studied for my CPA and earned a Masters in Accounting. In college he started his own small painting company and realized the many questions and challenges small business owners have. He started his accounting career working for an accounting firm in Minnesota where he worked as an auditor focused primarily in the Healthcare industry. Over three years later Brett moved to Des Moines and decided to follow his passion in helping small business owners. He started working at The Bookkeepers Inc. where they focus on assisting small business owners with many of their financial and tax needs.

Presenter: TJ Daniels, Sr Loan Officer + Credit Coach & Alex Polzin, Director of Finance & Administration Date: September 23, 28 & October 6, 2020 Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm 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 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: Chris Martin | Client Success Manager Date: October 13, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online In todays unprecedented times it is more important than ever to delight your customers and maintain a positive relationship with them. Conflict can signal the beginning of the end of a relationship with a customer or the start of an even stronger one. In this discussion we'll review best practices to address customer conflict, deflect confrontation, and in some cases prevent the incident from actually ever occurring. About our speaker Chris Martin is a seasoned Client Success Manager currently employed at Gain Compliance, an insurance industry start-up in the East Village. He brings 7 years of customer success experience, 5 years of restaurant management experience, and more years than he's going to admit of retail experience to the table. He is passionate about the customer experience and insuring that all customers are successful in reaching their goals. Chris graduated from Grand View University in 2010 with a degree in Service Management and from Iowa State University in 2013 after earning his MBA. He is a die hard Cyclone fan and is very excited that sports are being played on these gorgeous Iowa fall weekends.

Date: October 15 - November 19, 2020 Time: 9 am - 12 pm Location: Online Why is maturing your business as hard as—or even harder than—launching? All of the same challenges and obstacles that face a brand new entrepreneur don’t just fade away after the doors open. They grow and change right along with a business that is finding its feet. It is just as important to reevaluate your values and principles, community impact, and strategic plan as you work towards sustainability and growth—and that’s what we will cover in this course. DreamMaker is a six-week course to help you find sustainability or even growth in your business after you’ve built your foundation. This course will help you better understand and manage the many hats you’re required to wear as a small business owner. Here's what you'll do during this 6-week online course: Personal Story & Community Impact – October 15 A panel of local small business experts are ready to help you better understand your social relevance and impact. Learn how to improve time management, organization, and managing expectations in your day-to-day. Product, Growth, & Scalability – October 22 Understanding your target market is vital to any small business owner: find your price point, know when it’s the right time for growth, and how to measure success. Sales & Customer Service – October 29 Sales strategy, customer contracts, setting standards, and handling customer conflict don’t have to be intimidating with help from some of Iowa’s most accomplished customer relations professionals. Brand, Marketing, and Advertising – November 5 Brand consistency, maintenance, advertising, social media, and how to pull it all together. Back Office – November 12 Billing, bookkeeping, budgeting, and when you should just hire an accountant. Learn about inventory management, payment services, vendor assessments, and protecting your company data....

Presenter: Dr. Debra Bishop, Drake University  Date: October 20, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Profitability - the pathway to long-term business sustainability and growth! Are you trying to decide whether to get started, considering a location, or contemplating a strategy for growth? Join us for an interactive, engaging, practical session looking at profitability using the principles of break-even analysis. About our speaker Dr. Debra Bishop received a doctorate in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering with a concentration in operations research from Iowa State University in 1996. She has been at Drake University since 1996 and until February held the position of Director of the Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership as well as the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship Outreach. She is a Professor of Practice in Management and International Business teaching primarily operations management. Dr. Bishop has taught courses in entrepreneurship, operations improvement, break-even analysis and procurement to business professionals. She has been the recipient of the Brooks Faculty Excellence Award as well as the David B. Lawrence Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award. Additionally, Dr. Bishop is a visiting professor at Makerere University Business School in Kampala, Uganda taking students to Uganda for a short-term course studying sustainable development issues each May.

Host: AARP Foundation Date: October 21, 2020 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: https://aarp.cvent.com/d/l7q06m/

Presenter: TJ Daniels, Sr Loan Officer + Credit Coach & Alex Polzin, Director of Finance & Administration Date: October 26, 2020 Time: 9:00am - 10:00am 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 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: David Tracy, founder and CEO of Northgate Date: October 27, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Join David Tracy for an overview of ways to create content that reflects the diverse communities you serve during the holiday season! About our speaker David Tracy, founder and CEO of Northgate, may have been born in a quiet, rural town in Wisconsin, but has been on the move ever since. He’s lived most of his life in Panama, following that with two years in Kona, Hawaii, but in between has traveled to more than forty countries in the course of working in international non-profits. When he brought his family to put down roots in Des Moines in 2019, he brought his international vision, too, and a desire to put hands and feet on his conviction that one of the best ways to promote positive change in our world is through media, arts, and marketing. He regularly seeks ways to provide marketing services for nonprofits at reduced rates or even pro-bono as well as getting behind startups and small businesses. In addition to his own agency, he served as international marketing director for a Panama marketing agency, directed documentaries, reality VLOG shows, was art director in the award winning short film "Sequela" and hosted and organized large, international arts festivals for thousands of people. David and his multi-talented team come from all over the world. David’s vision, and his commitment to make a difference, is the bedrock of Northgate.

Presenter: Mike Draper, RAYGUN Date: November 3, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Growth vs. Quality: Running A Small Business Before, During, and After a Pandemic The entrepreneurial drive tends to push us towards bigger, faster, and more—which is great as long as that’s what is actually best for your business. But how do you know when it’s the right time to scale up? Which factors are most important in making that call? Join Mike Draper, owner of RAYGUN to discuss expanding your product line, understanding what type of growth is best for you, and owning that moment when you decide to take the leap About our speaker Mike Draper is the founder and owner of RAYGUN. It’s the only job he’s ever had. And probably the only thing he’s good at. So let’s keep the questions RAYGUN-related. Though he can also complain about his kids if you want to hear that too.

Presenter: TJ Daniels, Sr Loan Officer + Credit Coach & Alex Polzin, Director of Finance & Administration Date: November 4, 2020 Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm 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 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: Jody White | Founding Partner, Executive Director Date: November 6, 2020 Time: 12-1pm 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 Jody White, Founding Partner and Executive Director of Dress for Success Des Moines. About our speaker Jody grew up in Des Moines and graduated from East High School. She attended the University of Iowa and graduated from Simpson College with a BA in Management. She “retired” from Wells Fargo Investments in April 2009 to become a stay-at-home mom. After becoming a stay-at-home mom, she was looking for a place to donate her suits. Des Moines was a targeted area to launch a Dress for Success affiliate. With the help of seven other women, the Des Moines affiliate was launched in June 2011. She is a Founding Partner and Executive Director of Dress for Success Des Moines. Since opening their doors, Dress for Success Des Moines has helped over 2500 women who are supporting more than 5000 children in the Des Moines community who are returning to the workforce. Jody enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, golfing, traveling, going to MLB stadiums across the US and attending Hawkeye football and basketball games.