Event Archive
January 2010
1/6/2010
Which Silver Bullet? Strategic Market Planning
LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
There are hundreds of ways to market your business. Which silver bullet should you use?
At the heart of a successful business is an understanding of who your customers are, what they want, how they buy, where they are, and if there are enough of them to warrant you even being in business in the first place. Successful businesses also need to have, or be able to build, the core capability to provide what your customers really want, at a profit, and be ready to execute focused and targeted promotions and communications programs to attract and engage potential buyers.
Dee Davey, from Creative Ideas Marketing will talk about some of the questions you should be asking within your business about your business’ competencies, customer needs, and market opportunity in order to begin to shape a marketing roadmap that will meet the financial goals of your business, provide focus and direction for growth.
1/6/2010
Entrepreneur Education 2.0: International Business
Ann Arbor SPARK
It is never too soon to think about developing business outside of the United States. Attend this session and learn about key aspects that impact your ability for your product to be sold into global markets. Topics include product design considerations, exporting, international business development and more.
1/8/2010
Entrepreneurship Hour
Center for Entrepreneurship
Subject: Join Robert Wolfe for an Entrepreneurship Hour on Friday, January 8.
**This will be a Q&A focused event. Please be prepared with questions.**
MPowered and the Center for Entrepreneurship present “No One Knows What They’re Doing Including Me.”
1/12/2010
Ann Arbor OpenCoffee
Ann Arbor SPARK
This is a networking event for entrepreneurs, investors and those who work with technology & innovation businesses, particularly in IT, cleantech and life sciences.
1/12/2010
How to Win The Professional Edge With The Power Of Your Voice
Radiant Communications
If you are in sales, leadership, do presentations, an entrepreneur, or in the job market, you won’t want to miss this highly interactive informative program. Learn Three Vocal Power Traits leading to dynamic business success. Walk away with tips, techniques, and new insights to use immediately to help you get noticed and get others to take action. Get ready for a highly interactive experience! Bring your lunch and we’ll provide beverages and desert.
1/12/2010
Marketing Roundtable -Town Hall -Burning Marketing Questions
Ann Arbor SPARK
Bring your hottest marketing questions to put to our panel of experts. A wide range of marketing and marketing communication leaders will be in attendance, including strategy, branding, online, search, PR, advertising, and other disciplines. The panel will include a cast of local experts from the Marketing Roundtable program champions throughout the year.
1/13/2010
Turning Software as a Service (SAAS) into Revenue
LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
SaaS ("Software as a Service") is the new Field of Dreams. Too many great online applications falter, for want of an effective business model.
The January 13 LA2M’s talk focuses on how backend systems, user experience engineering, and online traffic work together to generate revenue and profit. First, David Bloom will explore the four cost centers of a SaaS business, and how setting user expectations balances burn-rates. Next, he will delve into revenue models, metering, and promotions and introduce the sales pipeline - from awareness, interest and intent to conversion, virality and churn. Come listen and learn about sustainability concepts - touchpoint branding, release trains, and channel partnerships and the three key business metrics that determine SaaS success: CoCA, CoSD, and TLCR. Before launching into Q & A, David will wrap up the session covering exit scenarios, in a "Web 2.5" world where Web 2.0 businesses are no longer fundable, and Web 3.0 businesses have little traction.
1/13/2010
BioArbor: Novel Funding Mechanisms - Line Item Appropriations
Kapnick Insurance, MichBio, Ann Arbor SPARK
Federal appropriations. Discretionary Funding. Earmarks. Millions of dollars are awarded to all types of organizations every year through the annual appropriations process. But just how do you begin to navigate this process and determine if your organization might be appropriate for this type of federal non-dilutive funding? Join BioArbor this month to learn how to obtain government funding through Federal appropriations from two different perspectives. Liz Powell of G2G Consulting works with companies to assist them in securing funding. Jim Richter of Michigan Research Institute has successfully received federal funding of this type.
1/14/2010
Life with Print: Cutting-Edge Print Advertising
Ann Arbor Advertising Club
Despite all predictions that the 21st century would see print eclipsed by electronic media, it continues to play an essential role in our everyday lives and is more powerful than ever.
Learn how print fits into our lives with creative examples, inspiring case studies, and hard data.
1/15/2010
Starting Your Own Business
Ann Arbor SPARK
At this forum you will learn about personality traits that impact entrepreneurialism, create a marketing plan for your business, learn about legal, accounting, franchises, business plans and financing options. You will receive one on one counseling with a business expert and have an opportunity to get advice from a variety of business experts and organizations that are available to support new ventures.
1/15/2010
Entrepreneurship Hour
Center for Entrepreneurship
Join Audrey Wong Chung for an Entrepreneurship Hour.
1/16/2010
Secrets of Microsoft Project - Certification Exams
Personalized Productions
Consider that at a time when most project managers are getting their PMPs, earning Microsoft Project Certification is a great way to distinquish yourself from the pack and show others you have expertise in the "leading project management application in the world".
1/18/2010
Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote Memorial Lecture
Ross School of Business
Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote Memorial Lecture presented by Gwen Ifill, managing editor of the PBS series “Washington Week,” co-anchor for the “PBS NewsHour,” and author of The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.
1/18/2010
A Disciplined Approach to Solving Problems January AWC Event
Association of Women in Computing - Ann Arbor
The process of designing a solution to a problem is difficult to describe. Prior experience, and a disciplined review of pertinent data and relevant alternatives, can help stimulate one’s creative intuition. While uniformity and discipline are important benefits from using a computer, the role of intuition in solving problems cannot be discounted. This presentation will present a framework for solving problems that marries the rigor of mathematics with the creativity embodied in the intuitive process.
1/19/2010
Women's Council of Washtenaw County Luncheon
14 Hours of Energy for Your 12-Hour Day
You know how important it is to have a full day of energy. If fatigue is setting in or you're losing focus during those important business meetings, you need to come and find out how to wake up rested, work throughout your entire day with ease, and lie down peacefully at night.
1/20/2010
Posterous - A Cool New Tool for Developing Your Personal Brand
LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
If you've always wanted to set up a blog, but aren't particularly web savvy or don't want to invest a lot of time in blogging, you may want to consider using Posterous. Posterous (pronounced "PO-ster-us") makes it easy to set up a blog and share your thoughts, photos, videos and favorite links with others on the web via email.
Deb will share her story, lessons learned, and tips & strategies for staying on top of social media development and the decision questions that will help you make wiser choices for how you budget your marketing time and money. Deb's presentation will include looking at the niche of marketing for independents, consultants, and small to medium sized business, which may be overlooked in much of the social media research geared to large business.
She'll also share her contacts with those in the business who are discovering new trends regularly and sharing them and links to tutorials and helpful Posterous blogger examples.
1/20/2010
Hot Shots: Career Connections at Melange
Ann Arbor SPARK
Bring your resume, and come and mingle with growing, innovative companies in a fun and relaxed environment! This event is only for talent seeking opportunities for themselves. Recruiters and staffing companies should use other venues to meet with these company representatives. If you would like your company to participate, contact Amy Cell at Amy@AnnArborUSA.org.
1/20/2010
Entrepreneur Education 2.0: Market Strategy
Ann Arbor SPARK
Your company is defined by its positioning and the marketing battles it chooses to fight. Identifying your corporate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats will help you zero in on the battles you can win.
1/21/2010
2010 Visioning and Goal-Setting Workshop
Women's Exchange of Washtenaw
The Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw (WXW) is hosting an intensive, inspiring visioning and goal-setting workshop on Thursday, January 21 from 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM at The Polo Fields Golf & Country Club (5200 Polo Fields Drive) in Ann Arbor.
1/21/2010
Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship (ACE) '10
Ann Arbor SPARK
The Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship is the place where Great Lakes region entrepreneurs gather to network, learn, and connect. Each year at ACE, you'll join an exciting, forward-thinking community of innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders - people like you who have the vision and drive to build new ventures for a new future.
1/22/2010
Entrepreneurship Hour
Center for Entrepreneurship
Join Todd Walrath for an Entrepreneurship Hour
1/26/2010
A Conversation with Dean Robert J. Dolan and Micheline Maynard
Ross School of Business
Award-winning journalist Micheline Maynard is the author of four books, including The Selling of the American Economy: How Foreign Companies are Remaking the American Dream. She has been a staff writer at several major media outlets, including USA Today, Newsday, and U.S. News & World Report. Maynard is a regular guest on NPR and is a visiting lecturer at the Ross School of Business.
1/27/2010
Online Digital Magazines and Catalogs
LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
Bridging the gap between print and digital publications is a current trend that embraces cost savings and going green. Taking your print-based publications and converting to digital is the perfect way to engage your readers, take advantage of digital features, AND get great ROI.
1/27/2010
Introduction To Green Investing
Clean Energy Coalition
Are you new to investing and want to support projects and principles that align with your green values?
1/28/2010
CFO Breakfast - International Financial Reporting Standards
Ann Arbor SPARK
This month’s subject will focus on IFRS and FIN48. Jim Bennett, CPA, a Principal at Weidmayer, Schneider, Raham & Bennett, PC, will be giving an overview of the newly-issued International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for Small and Medium Entities, as well as a refresher on FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions. FIN 48 will be a new requirement for many companies for their 2009 year-end statements.
1/28/2010
From Employee to Entrepreneur: An Overview of Franchise Ownership and How to Choose the Right One
The Entrepreneur's Source
This seminar will offer an overview of franchise ownership including the franchise disclosure document, pros, cons, types of franchises, investment ranges, financing options and a smart approach for identifying the right type of franchise to obtain.
A banker will be available to answer questions on financing and a franchisee will describe their experience in validating a variety of franchise concepts.
1/29/2010
Donuts and Search Marketing
Pure Visibility, Inc.
Overwhelmed by the vast world of Internet marketing? Pure Visibility can help with its Donuts and Search Engine Marketing seminar. This no-charge group session will give you an overview of search engine marketing, including search engine optimization, paid search advertising, and social media. You will have the chance to pose questions and we'll talk at whatever level is comfortable for the people that show up. Donuts, coffee, and search marketing experts provided. Our sessions are 8:30am – 10:00am on the 4th Friday of each month. Space is limited. Registration required.
1/29/2010
Entrepreneurship Hour
Center for Entrepreneurship
MPowered and the Center for Entrepreneurship present Bob Stefanski with “Things You Don’t Learn About Being an Entrepreneur Until You Are One”
1/30/2010
Informational Solar Seminar
Bauer Power, Inc.
Learn how solar photovoltaics (PV) systems are installed on your home or business and how DTE Energy's new pilot program, called SolarCurrents, can cut the cost of your solar system in half. This educational seminar is free and will address the working fundamentals of PV systems, such as solar electricity, basic system operations and benefits, Federal Tax credits, and other incentives. Attendees are requested to register for this event via email at www.bauerpower.com or by calling 734.233.3080 to reserve space.