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

Presenter: Ciara Ladroma, Project Manager, The Iowa Center' WBC & Ben Schultz, Client Services Manager Date: September 8, 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: Keirstin Heitman, Owner of Poppi Branding Co. Date: September 14, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here If someone asked you to define your company’s brand, what would you say? Do you know how to define you and your business in a descriptive, efficient way? Branding can be a confusing topic, but it is crucial to the identity of your business and to marketing who you are and what you do. Participants in the presentation will learn what a brand is, what is actually important when building a brand, where to start, and how to begin uncovering their unique brand. About our speaker Keirstin is the owner of Poppi Branding Co., a branding studio helping turn business owners’ jumble of stories and ideas into a clear, confident brand they feel good in. Before owning her own business she worked for several years designing branded experiences and spaces for large national and international brands. It was during this time she saw the way many businesses approached branding actually limited them. She found when businesses had the right clarity and mindset they could create a brand that fuels rather than drains them. Click here to register! 

Presenter: TJ Daniels, PM of Classes + Coaching/Dir of Mission Impact & Alex Polzin, Dir of Finance & Administration Date: September 15, 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: Michelle Rembert, Founder of Momentom3 Mind Body & Beyond, LLC Date: September 21 - November 9, 2021 Time: Tuesdays from 9:00 - 10:30 am Location: Online (View application here) Cost: $99 FocusME provides a space for working women to support each other with connections and accountability as each sets her own professional and personal goals. New groups form every quarter and meet once per week for 8 weeks. Each is led by a facilitator whose role is to organize the group around weekly themes and to push each participant to achieve what she sets forth. As a participant, you will: Lean on each other, give advice, share connections and experiences. Do business with each other if/when appropriate, all while connecting with other women and resources. Be a source of support, referrals, and networking: the focus is on personal development that will impact your growth. Spend time and emphasis on topics such as goal setting, pitching your ideas, prioritization and time management. Cost to participate is $99 (inquire about scholarships!) and includes eight weeks of small group meetings.  Interested? Please fill out this application here. Once your application has been reviewed, you'll be contacted to schedule a short interview to determine your readiness for FocusME. About our speaker Drawing on more than 25 years in healthcare, leadership development, and facilitation, Michelle Rembert inspires and supports individuals to create personal and professional lives they love. She blends her background in healthcare with powerful coaching strategies to address mind body & beyond! Her unique background and training approach, helps others to gain deep clarity on where they are now, where they want to be, and how they will get there. Michelle is the founder of Momentom3 Mind Body & Beyond, LLC, through which she offers individual coaching, small group coaching, and speaking/workshop...

Presenter: Lyssa Wade, Founder and Owner of Veggie Thumper Date: September 21, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Registration: Click Here When people look to start a business they usually come up with an idea and then think about where they can get financing to start their business. Some entrepreneurs get discouraged thinking they need to take out a large loan to start their business, wondering if they will be approved, and stressing about having that debt over their head, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Many small businesses start without taking out large loans; it just takes being creative, working hard, and knowing/utilizing your resources. Join us for this webinar featuring Lyssa Wade, founder and owner of Veggie Thumper, as she shares her story of starting a business with limited funding and tips for making it happen. Click here to register!  The Iowa Center Women's Business Center is funded in part by U.S. Small Business Administration.

Presenter: Ben Schultz, Client Services Manager Date: September 21, 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 host Our host is Client Services Manager Ben Schultz. 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: TJ Daniels, PM of Classes + Coaching/Dir of Mission Impact & Alex Polzin, Dir of Finance & Administration Date: September 28, 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!