Presenter: TJ Daniels, Sr Loan Officer + Credit Coach & Alex Polzin, Director of Finance & Administration Date: August 3, 2021 Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm Location: Online Register: Here 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. Click here to register

Presenter: Alok Oberoi, owner of Donut Hut  Date: August 5, 2021 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. In August listen to the amazing story of Alok Oberoi, owner of Donut Hut. About our speaker To run my own business was my childhood dream. Not a big one- but one which I can enjoy with my customers with mutual respect. After waiting for many years, Lord Almighty gave me the opportunity to open Donut Hut in September of 2009. “The taste of excellence made fresh Daily” is our tagline. We make our donuts and fancies fresh every day. Our customer service and fresh donuts are what we strive for. Donut Hut serves almost 50 varieties of homemade fresh products. I believe if you do good for others, good will happen to you in return. I run my business under the same mantra. I am blessed to have the support of my family, my staff, and wonderful customers. Any business can make money, but I believe in making relationships. I often think of opening more branches of Donut Hut because my customers want me everywhere, in Iowa and out of state also. Some of them even travel hours to buy our products. Running a business is not easy. It is hard work, unexpected events, and long hours. It is patience, honesty, and humbleness. And for me, I would rather do this than anything else.   Register by Clicking Here

Presenter: Drew Harden, President and Co-Founder of Blue Compass and Mallory Cates, Digital Marketing Specialist, Blue Compass Date: August 10, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here Join Drew Harden, President and Co-Founder of Blue Compass, and Mallory Cates, Digital Marketing Specialist of Blue Compass as they share 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. Blue Compass is a leading digital marketing agency in the Midwest. About our speakers Drew: 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.  Mallory: A Digital Marketing Specialist at Blue Compass, Mallory Cates executes regular social media and search marketing campaigns to drive traffic back to clients' websites. She has deep expertise in social media marketing and search engine optimization, often writing content pieces for industry publications and blogs.  Click here to register! 

Presenter: Ciara Ladroma, Project Manager, The Iowa Center' WBC & Ben Schultz, Client Services Manager Date: August 11, 2021 Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm 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. 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. Click here to register! 

Presenter: Monica Reyes Rodriguez, Owner of Inmobiliaria Inc. Date: August 17, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here Business owners have a lot to keep track of outside of just running the business, and one of the biggest headaches is keeping accurate financial records. Many small business owners end up handling recordkeeping themselves to save money, but it is important to know what you need to do when you are your own accountant. Join Monica Reyes, owner of Inmobiliaria Inc, for a conversation about best practices for managing the bookkeeping side of the business when you have to do it yourself. You won't want to miss this informative and important session.  About our speaker Mónica Reyes Rodríguez is an activist, sociologist, community organizer and financial expert.  She was born in Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico.  She immigrated to California through the desert at the age of 3 years old alongside her mother and younger sister, Nilvia Reyes, fleeing domestic violence.  She and her family later established themselves in Iowa when she was six years old.  She grew up in a small, agricultural community called New Hampton, Iowa where she helped the hard-working immigrant community defend their civil liberties.  She later co-founded DREAM Iowa and currently sits on the board in order to connect immigrant families and advocates via social media and community events.  Shortly after qualifying for DACA, she began her career in the financial industry while attending college.  She chose to develop her career in the financial industry with the mission of helping marginalized communities establish a foundation for wealth through access to financial services.  She also has been an active member of LULAC (League Of United Latin American Citizens) since 2015 and was elected the Iowa State Deputy Director of Women’s Activities for LULAC in 2019.  Mónica...

Presenter: TJ Daniels, PM of Classes + Coaching/Dir of Mission Impact & Alex Polzin, Dir of Finance & Administration Date: August 18, 2021 Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am Location: Online Register: Here 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. Click here to register!    

Presenter: Ashley Sly, Senior Tax Manager at MHCS Date: August 24, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here Beginning businesses have a lot to worry about from generating revenue to marketing a brand to hiring employees.  Taxes, however, continue to be a top concern for business owners.  In this session, ten tax basics will be discussed including entity choices, deductions, and strategic considerations so business owners will have a better understanding of how taxes impact their business and what they can do to minimize the tax impact on their bottom line.    About our speaker Ashley Sly is a senior tax manager at MHCS.  She works with businesses and individuals on tax preparation and strategic planning with a specialty in manufacturing, multi-state businesses, and sales tax.  Originally from Southwest Minnesota, Ashley received her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Accounting and Finance at Buena Vista University.  She is an active member of the community through her membership with the Iowa Society of CPAs and ABI.  Click here to register! 

Presenter: Ciara Ladroma, Project Manager, The Iowa Center' WBC & Ben Schultz, Client Services Manager Date: August 24, 2021 Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm 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. 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. Click here to register! 

Date: Monday, August 30, 2021 Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, Noon-1pm Location: Online Registration Fee: $80 Register: Click Here 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. 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 Monday, August 30, 2021. To register click here.   

Presenter: James Bierly, Owner of Secure Point Solutions Date: August 31, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here If this past year has taught us anything, we now know the importance of being online and keeping your data safe. There are a lot of misunderstandings around cybersecurity, and it is crucial to know everything you can about the internet and protecting you and your clients' data. Join James Bierly, owner and founder of Secure Point Solutions as we cover commonly believed myths by small business owners and decisions makers as it relates to Cybersecurity using real world examples and comparisons to other types of crime. About our speaker James is the owner and principal cybersecurity consultant for Secure Point Solutions in Central Iowa. With 13 years in the Navy as an operations and intelligence person, he had an unusual transition from military to civilian. From physical security to selling cars, he ultimately found opportunities to learn Information Technology while working overseas. I began a series of positions working with the state lottery and technology giants like Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. James spent the last 6 years supporting small businesses as part of a managed service provider and now running my own security company. He is married to an amazing woman and together raising 4 children and 3 dogs for the imminent zombie apocalypse. When not defending businesses from cyber attack, he is passionate about advocating for more foster care families. Click here to register! 

Presenter: TJ Daniels, PM of Classes + Coaching/Dir of Mission Impact & Alex Polzin, Dir of Finance & Administration Date: August 31, 2021 Time: 2:00 - 3:00 pm Location: Online Register: Here 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. Click here to register!    

Presenter: Shelby Smith, Owner of Gym-N-Eat Crickets  Date: September 3, 2021 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. In September listen to the amazing story of Shelby Smith, Owner of Gyn-N-Eat Crickets! About our speaker My name is Shelby Smith and I am the owner of Gym-N-Eat Crickets. I have been raising bugs and convincing people to eat them since 2018.  Gym-N-Eat Crickets produces sustainable, alternative protein snacks from farm-raised crickets.   What started as a few tubs of crickets and a small stall at the local farmers market has bloomed into a network of cricket farms around the state of Iowa and tasty cricket snacks on shelves around the country.   We are on a mission to change the way Americans eat, one bug at a time. By raising every cricket that goes into our products on one of our partner farms, we can ensure that proper consideration is taken with the most ethical and efficient practices to maximize nutritional benefit while minimizing negative environmental impact. We aim to produce finished products that not only taste delicious, but that are packed with wholesome nutrition. We believe in simple ingredients, not junk.    Register by Clicking Here