Small Business Summit – May 25, 2010
Small Business Resource Center (SBRC)
At this year's Business Summit, the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce announced a new center to help their members, the new Small Business Resource Center (SBRC). The mission of the SBRC is to provide assistance to small business owners at little or no cost to the owner or to the Chamber of Commerce.
Many small business owners need assistance with:
- Legal (starting a business, contracts, etc.)
- Finance (banking, accounting, taxes, etc.)
- Insurance (liability, key employee, etc.)
- HR (staffing, compliance, etc.)
- Planning (business plan, strategies, etc.)
- Sales & Marketing (traditional, online, etc.)
To learn more about the mission of the SBRC, Click Here
Mentorship Program
Also at this year's Business Summit, the SBRC announced their first major program designed to give help to small business owners in the above list. Here is a brief synopsis of what the Mentorship program is about.
What is the Mentorship Program?
The mentorship program is designed to help small business members of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce by giving advice in areas where small businesses usually have problems with. These areas include:
- Legal (starting a business, contracts, etc.)
- Finance (banking, accounting, taxes, etc.)
- Insurance (liability, key employee, etc.)
- HR (staffing, compliance, etc.)
- Planning (business plan, strategies, etc.)
- Sales & Marketing (traditional, online, etc.)
What is the Cost of the Mentorship Program?
The mentorship program is free to UV Chamber members.
Is it Just an Advertising Venue for the Mentors?
No. Mentors are experts in their fields who just want to help. They will only give good advice and not try to promote their business above others. If you decide to use their business, the decision will not be pressured in any way.
Become a Mentor
We are always looking for new mentors who have expertise in their fields. If you feel like you would make a great mentor, please apply!
A Mentor Is…
- A person with at least 3 years of experience in their chosen field
- A person who is willing to volunteer their time to counsel with other chamber members
- A person who is willing to help – NOT sell their services to SBRC members
A Successful Mentor…
- Donates up to 4 hours per month providing free advice to SBRC members
- Publishes one article per month on the SBRC blog on www.TheChamber.org website
- Maintains one section of the SBRC events
- Meets with other mentors once per month
- Holds classes for SBRC members
If you would like to apply to be a mentor, Click Here.
Business Summit Synopsis
Tahitian Noni Auditorium, 7:45 to 11:15am
Welcome to the 1st Semi-Annual Small Business Summit! We are excited to provide a wonderful morning of networking and learning. We will start the day with a catered breakfast, followed by a Keynote Presentation by Dr. Gary Rhodes and several breakout sessions.
The cost for the Summit is $35. Please call Jeanie Johnson at (801) 851-2558 at the Utah Valley Chamber to register and pay your registration fee.
Small Business Summit Schedule
- 7:45 to 8:00 – Sign-in, mix and mingle
- 8:00 to 8:15 – Breakfast, take your seats
- 8:15 to 8:30 – Introduce SBRC Mentors
- 8:30 to 9:00 – Presentation by Dr. Gary Rhodes
- 9:00 to 9:15 – Break
- 9:15 to 10:00 – 1st Breakout Session
- 10:00 to 10:15 – Break
- 10:15 to 11:00 – 2nd Breakout Session
- 11:00 to 11:15 – Summit Wrap Up
Keynote Speaker – Gary Rhoads
Gary Rhoads is the co-author of two entrepreneurship books: Becoming a Plus-One Leader and Boom Start: Super Laws of Super Successful Entrepreneurs,that highlight the best leadership and marketing practices of successful entrepreneurs. Professor Rhoads sits on a number of advisory boards of start-up companies. He was a founding partner of Direct1.com that provided Internet technology to implement real-time early-warning feedback systems for Fortune 500 firms. Direct1 was sold to Computer Science Corp (CSC) in 1999. Rhoads is the Co-founder and past Chairman of the Board of Allegiance. Allegiance.com provides firms predictive-technology and services for measuring and managing employee and customer engagement to maximize firm profitability. Allegiance ranks 58th on Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in America. In 2007 & 2009 Professor Rhoads was recognized as the VSpring Capital Top 100 Venture Entrepreneurs of Utah.
