2009 Schedule of Events
Monday, October 19, 2009
Kick Off Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM - 10:00 AMTrenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard, 1 West Lafayette Street
This opening event will feature Pascal Seradarian, President, Hutchison Industries, Inc. as the keynote speaker. His focus will be on business growth in the City of Trenton. The Honorable Douglas H. Palmer will also present the Small Business of the Year Awards.
Pascal Seradarian
Top of PageWorking ON Rather Than IN Your Business
10:30 AM - 12:00 PMTrenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard, 1 West Lafayette Street
Most businesses fail or never reach their full potential because their owners spend too much time doing the work that the business does, rather than managing and growing it. Working ON rather than IN your business is the difference between your businesses just providing you with a job versus helping you attain your personal goals? Are you working IN your business, in the midst of it all and trying to handle it all and be all things to everybody?
Mike Pucciarelli, Bartolomei Pucciarelli, LLC
Top of PageGrowing Your Business
1:00 PM - 2:30 PMThomas Edison State College, 101 West State St., Townhouse Room 104
Recessions bring change and unique opportunities for business growth. The economy may be down, but you don't need to be. Opportunity is knocking to pick up some tips and tactics on how to survive and thrive in 2009 and beyond.
Ellen Silverman, ESA Marketing
Top of PageQuickBooks Beginner
3:00 PM - 4:30 PMThomas Edison State College, 101 West State St., Townhouse Room 104
Attendees will learn what QuickBooks can do for their company. They will learn the importance of bookkeeping and the ease of use of the QuickBooks program. Our course will help people master the fundamentals of the QuickBooks program, and stop them from wasting time struggling through QuickBooks through trial and error.
Thomas Perro, Bookkeepers Plus!
Top of PageFinancing Made Simple
3:00 PM - 4:30 PMMary Roebling Building, 20 West State St., 2nd Fl Room 219/220
Join TD Bank Small Business Lender Brian Schoener for a complimentary seminar on partnering with a financial institution to uncover your commercial financing options. Our discussion will include what lenders look for on a loan application plus financing vehicles available including lines of credit, term loans, and mortgages. Also included in the seminar is information on US Small Business Administration and other local programs. TD Bank is a proud sponsor of Trenton Small Business Week.
Brian Schoener, TD Bank
Top of PageStarting Your Own Business
5:30 PM - 7:00 PMMercer County Administration Building, 640 S. Broad Street, Trenton NJ 08611
DREAM is a creative 4 step process that simplifies starting a business. DREAM focuses on developing an entrepreneur's idea into a successful business by clarifying and focusing on the business idea and removing the fear associated with starting a business through the use of simple planning, development and execution tools. The program will be provide sample tools and programs to enable DREAMERS to realize their DREAM.
Donna DiDomenico, Development Specialists & Cheryl Patnick, Cappella Consulting LLC
Top of PageTuesday, October 20, 2009
Best Kept Government Resources
8:00 AM - 9:30 AMNJ Economic Development Authority, 36 West State St, Conference Room
One of the most difficult challenges faced by small business owners today is discovering how and where to access the necessary resources to run and grow their business. Many have heard about various resources available from the government, but canvassing the maze is confusing. Whether you are a start-up or existing small business, this workshop is one place to access all sorts of invaluable resources.
Marion N. Zajac, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
Top of PageDo You Have an Exit Strategy from Your Business?
10:00 AM - 11:30 AMNJ Economic Development Authority, 36 West State St, Conference Room
Most business owners write a business plan when they go into business. Very few, if any write a plan as to how they are going to exit their business. I work with business owners and their advisors to write the business owners Roadmap, a comprehensive exit plan using a structured exit planning process. The result is a written document written specifically to meet the business owner's individual goals.
Stephen N. Klein, Klatzkin & Company LLP Curt Cyliax, Strategic Exit Advisors
Top of PageBusiness Insurance: 10 of the Most Common Mistakes Business Owners Make
10:00 AM - 11:30 AMMary Roebling Building, 20 West State St., 2nd Fl Room 219/220
This will be a fast-paced, hands-on seminar that will be geared to both the business owner that has a minimal understanding as well as the owner who has a more thorough understanding of business insurance. Participant will leave with an action-plan that can be implemented immediately for their purposes. Topics to be reviewed include: tips on negotiating the best coverage and pricing, areas that leave you open to uncovered claims, how simple changes to your coverage can save you thousands, etc.
Scott W. Harrah, Harrah & Associates, Inc.
Top of PageMercer Regional Chamber of Commerce General Membership Luncheon
11:30 AM - 1:30 PMTrenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard, 1 West Lafayette Street
"Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates"
Cost: $40.00members ($45.00 at the door for members); $60.00 non-members
Info: Jude Martin Cianfano, Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, 609-689-9960 ext. 14 or register/pay online at www.mercerchamber.org.
"A vision for New Jersey." Two gubernatorial candidates have emerged, and the election date draws closer. Whose vision is right for NJ? Join our candidates as they make their case to be the next Governor of New Jersey. This luncheon is hosted by the MRCC Young Business Leaders Council and the MRCC Legislative Committee.
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Working a Room: Overcoming the Wallflower Syndrome
1:30 PM - 3:00 PMMary Roebling Building, 20 West State St., 2nd Fl Room 219/220
This workshop will cover topics such as the art of entering a room, feeling comfortable and confident, first impressions and why they can be deceiving, and ice breaking questions to engage people in a discussion.
Marilyn Kleinberg, eWomenNetwork SJ
Top of PageQuickBooks Advanced
3:30 PM - 5:00 PMMary Roebling Building, 20 West State St., 2nd Fl Room 219/220
QuickBooks software is used to track all financial transactions and recordkeeping for your small business. This seminar will give you an introduction to setting up QuickBooks, transactional QuickBooks using examples of accounts payable and accounts receivable -- featuring: entering and paying bills, using credit cards/ other asset and liability accounts, tracking and paying sales tax, estimating, time tracking and job costing.
Carla Fallone, Fallone Business Resources
Top of PageInvesting in Real Estate with Short Sales
5:30 PM - 7:00 PMMercer County Administration Building, 640 S. Broad Street, Trenton NJ 08611
The number of homeowners that are in default on their mortgage loans continues to rise, no longer just due to bad loans, but now also due to layoffs and other hardships. Every problem creates an opportunity. Consultative investors can help these homeowners and the banks and make money at the same time.
Paul W. DeBaylo, Debaylo Associates and Century 21 Abrams, Hutchinson & Associates
Top of PageTD Bank Business Networking Reception
6:00 PM - 8:00 PMTD Bank, 50 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
The TD Bank Trenton Store is proud to host our 5th annual business networking reception in partnership with Trenton Small Business Week. This complimentary event will feature food, fun, and a great group of dedicated Trenton business leaders. Reserve your spot by emailing Store Manager John Jordan by October 10th.
Info: johnwjordan@yesbank.com
John Jordan
Top of PageWednesday, October 21, 2009
Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Before Business Breakfast
7:30 AM - 9:15 AMMountain View Golf Course, 890 Bear Tavern Rd., West Trenton, NJ
The Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce October 21 Business Before Business Breakfast meeting features Tom Szaky, Co-founder of TerraCycle, as guest speaker who will talk about how his innovative company changed the way people do business. TerraCycle set the precedent that companies could be successful while at the same time ecologically responsible. TerraCycle lives by the philosophy of reuse and has found many ways to transform normal waste into original must-have products. Join the Princeton Chamber at the 16th Annual Trenton Small Business Week to hear Tom’s fascinating tale about his journey to success!
7:30 – 9:15 a.m.
Mountain View Golf Course
890 Bear Tavern Rd., West Trenton, NJ
Cost is $25 per person; all are invited. Register online at http://www.princetonchamber.org/events.jsp or by calling 609-924-1776.
Tom Szaky, Co-founder of TerraCycle
Top of PageFree Web Resources to Turbo Charge Your Business
8:30 AM - 10:00 AMNew Jersey Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey, The College of New Jersey
The DeRosa Group
354 So. Broad St.
Visit some super WOW websites and website ideas that will shortcut your time and cost to help you generate your revenues.
Lorraine Allen, New Jersey Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey
Top of PageMercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Fall Business Expo
10:00 AM - 3:00 PMSovereign Bank Arena, 81 Hamilton Ave. at Rt. 129, Trenton NJ 08611
Over 120 exhibitors will be on hand. Attendance is free with a valid business card.
Info: Visit www.mercerchamber.org or Expo Joe at joe@mercerchamber.org for details and sponsor opportunities.
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Best Practices in Email Marketing for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
10:30 AM - 12:00 PMThe DeRosa Group, 354 So. Broad St., Trenton, NJ
The DeRosa Group
354 So. Broad St.
Build the relationships that are the key to your business success with easy, inexpensive and highly effective email marketing! In this seminar, we will provide tips to increase your email deliverability and open rates, write good headlines and content, and perhaps most importantly, strategies for getting and keeping high quality prospects, customers and members.
Wendi Caplan-Carroll, Constant Contact
Top of PageYou Can Do Business with the County of Mercer and the City of Trenton
1:00 PM - 3:00 PMThe DeRosa Group, 354 So. Broad St., Trenton, NJ
The DeRosa Group
354 So. Broad St.
How does a small company do business with the County of Mercer or the City of Trenton? How do you become qualified for the city's Local Business Enterprise program (LBE), Urban Enterprise Zone Program (UEZ) or Mercer County Bidder's List? How do you get and respond to RFP? Representatives from both the city and county will present information on both the financial and purchasing incentives offered in contracting with local government.
Marcella Longo, County of Mercer & Karen Marut and Tom McGough, City of Trenton
Top of PageThe Art of the Introductory Call: How to Get Appointments with Top Prospects
3:30 PM - 5:00 PMThe DeRosa Group, 354 So. Broad St., Trenton, NJ
The DeRosa Group
354 So. Broad St.
Just about every business owner and salesperson today must utilize the phone as part of their effort to bring in more business, especially in economic downturns when cash flow is tight. In this fun, interactive workshop, we'll explore how to develop your prospect lists, ask the right questions, position benefits, and tackle objections. All for the purposes of getting more meetings with potential clients!
Amanda Puppo, MarketReach, Inc.
Top of PageResources for Hispanic Business Owners Offered by the Mercer County Hispanic Association (Presented in Spanish)
5:30 PM - 7:00 PMMercer County Administration Building, 640 S. Broad Street, Trenton NJ 08611
The goal of this presentation is to help Hispanic small business owners with limited English proficiency by giving them some of the tools they need to succeed.
Luisa Robinson, MECHA
Top of PageThursday, October 22, 2009
Make Your Website Work for You
8:30 AM - 10:30 AMMercer County Community College James Kerney Campus, North Broad & Academy Streets
This workshop will cover how people search online as well as how to enhance your website performance by improving your search results. It will include matching key words to business objectives, how to measure search results and much more.
Kelly O'Rourke, Idearc Media
Top of PageGoogle Ads
10:30 AM - 12:00 PMMercer County Community College James Kerney Campus, North Broad & Academy Streets
Google Ad Words used to be a simple process of adding your keywords, putting in a bid and wait for results. Not anymore! Because of the increase in competition, you must carefully bid and keep re-bidding on your keywords, track your results so they do not co-mingle with your natural results and be very creative to find different keywords that will allow you to rank higher with lower bids. Since Google instituted a rotation of banners to prevent a small budget campaign from using up its funds to quickly, you must also know when to have your banner visible. There are some great Google tools to help but the learning curve and investment in time and money is quite substantial for the novice or someone who "thinks" they know how to run a campaign properly.
James A. Mahlmann, NetCetra LLC
Top of PageJumpstarting Social Networking Into Your Marketing Plan
1:00 PM - 2:30 PMMercer County Administration Building, 640 S. Broad Street, Trenton NJ 08611
Speakers will take attendees through the key details of starting an account with Face book, LinkedIn and Twitter, and the key steps for utilizing your accounts and relationships to work as part of your business marketing plan.
Jeanne Gray, NJEntrepreneur.com
Top of PagePodcasting: What is Podcasting and why does my Business need Podcasting?
3:00 PM - 4:30 PMMercer County Community College James Kerney Campus, North Broad & Academy Streets
The growth of podcasting has become massive, and while everyone will be getting on the proverbial bandwagon, including Fortune 500 companies, there are still only a handful of websites or people who have a handle on how to locate, promote, and /or find podcasts in any or every category or even know what a podcast is. You can make a lot of money by advertising on podcasts!
Rita Bakey Christensen, iColor Studio, LLC and The Poducator
Top of PageRenewable Energy Option: How 2 Keep the GREEN in your Business
5:30 PM - 7:00 PMMercer County Administration Building, 640 S. Broad Street, Trenton NJ 08611
This workshop will provide a simple process and understanding of what it means for your business to go green. Through the use of renewable energy products and energy efficiency technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, green batteries and new power saving devices this workshop will show you how you can reduce the cost of energy for your business. This workshop will also look at state and federal incentives for going green.
Marvin B. Ross & Marcedius T. Jameson, greenNJenergy
Top of PageFriday, October 23, 2009
MOET Seminar
8:00 AM - 10:00 AMTrenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard, 1 West Lafayette Street
The Mayor's Office of Employment and Training (MOET) will host an awards ceremony to recognize those businesses with outstanding records of hiring and/or training MOET candidates, and will honor MOET individuals who have achieved successful careers through the program. MOET will award in three categories: Employer of the Year, Agency of the Year and MOET Candidate of the Year.
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Renaissance Ball of Trenton
6:00 PM - 11:00 PMTrenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard, 1 West Lafayette Street
6:00 p.m. Cocktails
7:00 p.m. Dinner (Black tie optional)
Cost: $175.00 single; $300 couple
Info: 609-689-9960 ext. 14 or mercerchamber.org for tickets
The crowning event of Trenton Small Business Week is the Renaissance Ball presented by the Trenton Chapter of the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce. This formal dinner-dance begins with a cocktail hour and is followed by dinner and dancing. The 2009 Renaissance Ball Honorees are: Shelley Zeiger for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Clarke Caton Hintz for the Renaissance Award, St. Francis Medical Center for the Good Neighbor Award, and Mercer County Community College for the Community Service Award. Proceeds from the 2009 Renaissance Ball will benefit YWCA Trenton and the The Arts & Business Council of Trenton.
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