Small Business Week of Eastern Missouri

May 9-14, 2011

Please make reservations for these events by following the RSVP instructions shown after each individually listed session.  Reservations by Monday, May 2, 2011.

FOR INFORMATION OR REGISTRATION BY PHONE: Call 314-746-WEEK (9335)./p>

Pre-Week Events

St. Louis Business Networking Breakfast

Join other small businesses and government buying office representatives to learn about business opportunities in your area. The network offers the opportunity to introduce your business to federal, state, and local government agencies along with other businesses.

Date: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Time: 7:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Place: JMRJ Catering (Heritage House Cafeteria)
2800 Olive Boulevard 
St. Louis, MO 63103
Parking off Leffingwell Avenue in lot behind building
Cost: $10.00 – Pay at door to JMRJ Catering.
RSVP:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RSVP by noon May 4, 2011 with your name, company name, phone number, and email to have your contact information included in an attendance list that will be distributed at the meeting.

Missouri Venture Forum

Regular monthly breakfast meeting of MVF members and guests. The speaker at this event will be from PrintFlex Graphics Inc., the Small Business Week’s Small Business Team of the Year.

Guest Speakers: Elizabeth Pecha-Poelker, CEO, Steve Baum, President PrintFlex Graphics, Inc.

Date: Friday, May 6, 2011
Time: 7:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Place: Missouri Athletic Club West
1777 Des Peres Road 
St. Louis, MO 63131 (This month only – not our normal venue.)
Cost: $49.00 – Non-members;  Free – MVF Members

Sponsor: Missouri Venture Forum

RSVP: Online registration at www.MissouriVentureForum.org (click on “May 2011 Breakfast Meeting”) or call Judy Meador at 314-241-2683.

MONDAY, May 9, 2011

SESSION 1: Small Business Lenders Expo & Luncheon

Meet with award winning lenders as they discuss and display information about their financing and other programs prior to lunch. Then join us for lunch as we honor their contributions to the small business community and hear from the Small Business Administration’s new Hall-of-Fame inductee.

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Place: The Crowne Plaza, St. Louis-Clayton
7750 Carondelet Avenue Clayton, MO 63105
Cost: $35.00 – Free parking
Sponsor: Small Business Administration

RSVP: Online registration at www.sbwstl.org.

 

SESSION 2: Celebrating Success and Exploring Partnerships for Minority Access to Capital

Revisiting last year’s panel theme, panelists will discuss progress made with the development of new products and services for the minority community and share their successes. Opportunities for increased partnerships to improve minority access to capital will be discussed. Reception immediately following. Please join us.

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Place: Justine PETERSEN
1023 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63106
Cost: Free - Entrance and off-street parking at the rear of the building.

Sponsor: Justine PETERSEN & Midwest BankCentre

RSVP: Kristin Schell at 314-533-2411, x121 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

SESSION 3: National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Happy Hour to Honor the Winners

Network with women business owners and friends. Enjoy an evening of food and fun as we honor the Small Business Week winners.

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: Robust Wine Shoppe Cafe
227 W. Lockwood Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63119
Cost: $30.00

Sponsor: NAWBO – St. Louis

RSVP: Online registration at www.sbwstl.org.

TUESDAY, May 10, 2011

SESSION 4: SPECTRUM Conference 2011 – “Bright Ideas”

For 40 years, St. Louis-based CSPRC has supported nonprofit professionals in communications, marketing, development, and management. CSPRC’s annual SPECTRUM is the only day-long conference in the St. Louis metro area designed exclusively to meet non-profits’ particular needs across a broad spectrum of topics.

Time: 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Place: Holiday Inn Southwest/ Viking Conference Center 
10709 Watson Road 
St. Louis, MO 63127
Cost: $85 – CSPRC Member; $95 – Non-member

Sponsor: CSPRC

RSVP: Online reservations at www.csprc.org.

 

SESSION 5: Government Contracting – The Next Level

This seminar presents a variety of timely and relevant topics on how to do business with the government. Focus will include cost and pricing, regulatory compliance, and how to be a qualified contractor. If you are considering or presently doing business with the government, you will not want to miss this presentation. Pre-registration required.

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Place: Missouri PTAC St. Louis
Small Business Empowerment Zone
100 North Tucker 1st Floor Conference Room >
St. Louis, MO 63101
Cost: $50

Sponsor: Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers

RSVP: Email Lynette Oliver at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 314.241.1511.

 

SESSION 6: Do’s and Don’ts of Hiring & Firing

HR tips for the small business person to make the right hiring decisions and avoid pitfalls.

Essential training on:

• Knowing what questions you can and can’t ask a job candidate.
• Understanding what at-will employment really means.
• How to properly conduct new employee orientation.
• Understanding how to properly document employment decisions: Hiring and firing.
• Identifying what should be kept in HR/personnel files, what records must be kept separately, and why?

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Place: AAIM Employers’ Association 
1600 South Brentwood Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63144
Cost: Free

Sponsor: AAIM Management Association

RSVP: To register call 314-754-0197.

SESSION 7: SBA Loans: Keys to Your Financial Success

Join the SBA, Missouri SBTDC and UMB Bank for an opportunity to become familiar with the SBA loan programs, requirements, and what constitutes a successful application. The program will include an update on the Small Business Jobs Act.

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Place: Missouri SBTDC 
100 North Tucker
First Floor Conference Room
St. Louis, MO 63123
Cost: Free

Sponsor: SBA, Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Centers

RSVP: http://missouri.ecenterdirect.com/conferences.action or call 314-241-1511.

WEDNESDAY, May 11, 2011

SESSION 8: Building a Winning Team – The Right Way

This session will focus upon developing a relationship with a prime contractor and subcontractor from the standpoint of identifying, capturing, and participating on government contracts designed for long-term business aspirations. Discussions will include viewpoints from a contractor who totally converted from one business function to another business function, along with views from a contractor who converted from a large business to a small business and was able to expand and grow within the small business community.

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Place: Robert A. Young Federal Building
Second Floor Auditorium1222 Spruce Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Cost: Free - Low cost parking locations on west side of building.

Sponsor: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District Office

RSVP: Contact Ms. Karen Fountain at 314-331-8513 for web registration and further information regarding this session.

 

SESSION 9: Export Experts Answer All Questions on Exporting

The Missouri District Export Council (MODEC) and the World Trade Center – St. Louis (WTC) have experienced experts in all areas of exporting. MODEC and WTC members will present profitable strategies for solutions to a company’s exporting needs from A to Z. Discussion will also cover do’s and don’ts of exporting.

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Place: World Trade Center – St. Louis
121 South Meramec, Suite 1010
Clayton, MO 63105
Cost: $10 – Parking on street around building

Sponsor: Missouri District Export Council and World Trade Center – St. Louis

RSVP: Stella Sheehan at 314-615-8141/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or John Blum at 314-425-3304/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Online reservations atwww.worldtradecenter-stl.com.

 

SESSION 10: Valuation

Discussion of technology business valuations including patent valuation and licensing. Historical information, formulas, and recent trends will also be presented.

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Place: Center for Emerging TechnologiesTraining Room
4041 Forest Park Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
Cost: $30 – Includes Happy Hour; Parking on Forest Park.

Sponsor: Center for Emerging Technologies

RSVP:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 314-615-6915.

 

SESSION 11: Getting the Big Bucks: Finding the Hidden/Biggest Financing for Small Businesses

Panel discussion exploring a variety of financing options including new programs, traditional banks, and public/private partnerships. Discussion will focus on how to get the greatest amount of financing available.

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Place: Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Technology & Resource Center
3611 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 105
St. Louis, MO 63118
Cost: Free

Sponsor: Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

RSVP: Online reservations at www.hccstl.com or 314-664-4432.

 

SESSION 12: Cancelled

 

THURSDAY , May 12, 2011

SESSION 13: Home-Based Small Business Breakfast

Part I: “Closed for Business: A Small Business Story of Transition and Triumph”

Join us for a candid conversation on how “closing up” doesn’t equate to “shutting down” and how one business owner found success in his apparent failure.

Presenter: Don Barnes, PeaceFrog

Part II: Successful Business Women Panel Discussions “Dealing with a Down Economy”

Three successful women business owners will share their challenges and tips on this topic.

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Place: The Lodge of Des Peres
1050 Des Peres Road
Des Peres, MO 63131
Cost: $25 – HBWE members; $35 – Non-members; Free parking

Sponsor: Association of Home-Based Women Entrepreneurs

RSVP: Online reservations at www.sbwstl.org. Continental breakfast will be served.

 

SESSION 14: Get the Facts: Procurement & Supplier Diversity Specialist Sound Off

Learn how to win a procurement contract from the area’s top procurement officers. There will be 20 minute round robin conversations from corporate and government procurement officers discussing the process of becoming a qualified preferred supplier.

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Place: VBRC
4236 Lindell, Suite 102
St. Louis, MO 63108
Cost: Free for Registered Veteran Clients of VBRC; $5 – Non-Registered Veterans; $10 – Non-Veterans

Sponsor: Veterans Business Resource Center

RSVP: Contact Debbie Fanning at 314-531-8387 or online at www.vetbiz.com.

 

SESSION 15: Annual SBA Exhibit Gala

Network with our nominees, award winners, and small businesses in a relaxed tradeshow atmosphere.

Time: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Place: Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center - Chesterfield
16625 Swingley Ridge Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Cost: Free; Free parking.

Sponsor: Small Business Administration

RSVP:  Online reservations at www.sbwstl.org.

SESSION 16: Annual SBA Awards Dinner

Enjoy a superb dinner and salute the success of the 2011 Small Business Week award winners.

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Place: Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center - Chesterfield
16625 Swingley Ridge Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Cost: $50 – Free parking

Sponsor: Small Business Administration

RSVP:  Online reservations at www.sbwstl.org.

 

FRIDAY, May 13, 2011

SESSION 17: Corporate Social Responsibility in SMEs

This training discusses how citizens and small- and medium-sized enterprises can be aware of the interrelationship of their actions with humanity, the economy, and the environment. Attendees will participate in exercises and develop ideas for implementing the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility in their businesses to have a positive impact on both their community and their bottom line.

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Place: JCI World Headquarters(Large Conference Room)
15645 Olive Blvd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Cost: $15 charge at the door – includes course materials and refreshments. Free parking.

Sponsor: JCI Metro

RSVP: Register by emailing  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at www.sbwstl.org.

SESSION 18: Starting a Small Business: The First Steps

This course will provide you with an overview of the critical first steps. You will assess your strengths and weaknesses, learn about he importance of planning, discuss legal and regulatory requirements, adn identify sources of funding.

Date: Friday, May 13
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Place: UMSL
JC Penney Conference Center
Oak Room
One University Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63121-4400
Cost: $50; Free Parking

Sponsor: Small Business & Technology Development Center

RSVP: Online reservations at: http://ce.umsl.edu/sbtdc or call Erica Candella at (314) 516-5908

SATURDAY , May 14, 2011

SESSION 19: Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE): How to Start and Manage Your Own Business

A one-day seminar to acquaint prospective and active business owners with the planning needed to start and manage their own business. Volunteers of the SCORE Association conduct this professional seminar.

Time: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Place: St. Louis Community College - Meramec
11333 Big Bend Blvd.
Room SO-107
St. Louis, MO 63122
Cost: $50 – Includes manual and seminar materials. 
Attendees should bring a sack lunch.

Sponsor: SCORE Association

RSVP: Online reservations at www.stlscore.org or 314-539-6600 ext. 242.