Schedule: 8 - 8:30 a.m. Registration, Breakfast & Networking 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Panel Discussion: Secrets of Success 9:40 - 10:55 a.m. Breakout Session I 11:10 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. Breakout Session II 12:35 - 2 p.m. Meet the Expert Luncheon and Keynote Speaker Will Knecht, President, Wendell August Forge 2 – 3:30 p.m. Business-Building Tradeshow Meet the TechShop and watch a 3D printer in action! Learn how your business can access tools, software and space to create virtually anything. 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Breakout Session III Learn how to: • Maximize profits and minimize expenses • Turn market opportunities into sales • Tackle tough business challenges “This event is a hot spot for generating new ideas and meeting new contacts.” – 2012 attendee “Great speakers! A day spent thinking outside of the box and learning the latest business trends.” – 2012 attendee Special Thanks to Our Sponsors Speakers (at press time) www.duq.edu/sbdc for complete speaker bios, workshop information and registration 15th annual Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference GOLD BANNER FRIday, May 10, 2013 duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA • 15 workshops • Business-building tradeshow • 400+ entrepreneurs and managers expected to attend Return Service Requested Robert Bell, Great Clips Rachel Blaufeld, Back‘nGroove Mom Shamus Brennan, Dennis Piper & Associates Ruth Byrd-Smith, Allegheny County Greg DiMedio, Greener Expressions Michelle R. Donavan, Referral Institute of Western Pa. Dan Droz, Droz and Associates William Generett, Urban Innovation21 Paul Gough, Pittsburgh Business Times Shawn Graham, www.ShawnGraham.me Amey Kanade, EyeSee360 Carl Knoblock, U.S. Small Business Administration Marilyn Landis, Basic Business Concepts Dave Miller, Enterprise Bank Alexander Nichols, Pittsburgh Regional Minority Purchasing Council Dave Oshlag, W5 Templates Sarah Peduzzi, LunaMetrics Jack Roseman, The Roseman Institute Cathy Schnaubelt Rogers, Aero Tech Designs Cyclewear Joe Serkoch, Orionvega Ken Sevick, ActionCOACH Business Coaching Bob Steranko, Reel Mill Todd Torquato, River’s Edge Alliance Group John Tubridy, Frannet of Pittsburgh Stephen Wayhart, BrandMill Kevin White, U.S. Small Business Administration David Wilke, Wilke & Associates Matt Wilkinson, Shoefitr Doris Carson Williams, African American Chamber of Commerce Debbie Wojcik, GACO, California University of Pa. David Yunghans, Constant Contact Jeaneen Zappa, Allegheny County PLATINUM BLUE RIBBON Palumbo Donahue School of Business • UPMC Health Plan • BrandMill CONTRIBUTING Bridgeway Capital • Catalyst Connection • Constant Contact • Dennis Piper & Associates, PC • Dollar Bank, FSB • Enterprise Bank • Innovation Works • Jireh Mobile • Referral Institute of Western Pa. • Smart Business Network, Inc. • Southwestern Pa. Commission • University of Pittsburgh Office of Technology Management • Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh • WPXI Digital Advertising Solutions www.duq.edu/sbdc • 412.396.1633 Connect with us: Breakout Session Workshops* Attend the Workshops Targeted to Your Business Not sure which workshops are applicable to your phase of business? Follow our key below to make sure you get the most from your Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference experience. Marketing and PR Next-Generation Networking: 15 Ways to Meet Your Next Contact Are you getting enough referrals from existing clients? Are you looking for higher quality referrals? Do you need to expand your prospect pool? Technology may have changed the way we network, but business is still a people-to-people proposition. Learn some great networking strategies to help you expand your network and your business. (NV, G) How to be a Marketing Rock Star™ Want to be a rock star brand in your industry? Learn the seven key brand principles used by legends like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, U2 and others that will help build, enhance and extend the profitability of your brand for years to come. Includes tips for creating and executing a rocking marketing plan. (NV, G, T) Social-Savvy Entrepreneurs: 15 Ways to Build Business on Social Media Most businesses now have a presence on the three big social media networks—Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn—but many are still unsure of the value of these opportunities. Join us for a look at today’s best practices to find new prospects, build customer loyalty and measure the value of social media investments. (NV, G) Money Money, Money, Money: Who Has It and How To Get It Money is the oxygen of every business, both big and small. So how are today’s start-ups and veteran entrepreneurs infusing their businesses with muchneeded capital? From venture capital to banks, and the new and trendy crowd funding, learn the ins and outs NV – New Venture G – Growth of today’s most common sources of capital. (NV, G, T) Deduct It! 15 MoneySaving Secrets of Tax-Savvy Entrepreneurs The tax code is forever changing. So what do entrepreneurs need to know in 2013 about new regulations and deductions? Hear some strategies that will help minimize your tax bill and maximize your available capital. (NV, G) Strategic Planning, Management & Growth Re-Invent, Re-Invigorate, ReThink: A Five-Year Strategic Action Plan for Growth Want to revitalize sales? Break through to the next level? This workshop highlights four essential strategies for marketing success, ways to lower the cost of new customer acquisition and how to make your business proposition irresistible. Learn to develop a plan of your own that will effectively drive growth and profits. (G) Build a Better Blueprint: A Stepby Step Guide to Writing a Great Business Plan The value of a business plan for a new venture is immeasurable. Learn strategies and hear advice to write a great plan in less time that appeals to all of your audiences—from lenders to partners and everyone in between. (NV, G, T) Customer Relationship Management: A Five-Step Formula It costs more to acquire a new customer than keep an existing one, but how do you keep them coming back? Solid customer relationship strategies are key to building loyalty. T – Technology Business Learn time-tested practices and find new technology tools that can help you secure, manage and use customer information to drive sales. (NV, G, T) Technology Watch This: Creating Dynamic Online Videos That Drive Sales If a picture’s worth 1,000 words, what’s a video worth to a small business? According to experts, video will soon be as critical as a website. Is your business ready to capitalize on the appeal and impact of video? Learn how businesses are using online videos as a sales and marketing tool and how video is driving traffic to their websites. (NV, G) Clicks & Cash: Drive Website Traffic, Convert Visitors and Keep Them Coming Back Learn invaluable search engine optimization and marketing strategies that will help you climb the search listings for higher visibility and opportunities. We’ll discuss keywords, the difference between PPC and organic search marketing, and how to get customers coming back to your site with promotions, emails, social media and more. (G) Business Starts Before You Buy: Is a Franchise the Right Business For You? Join us to separate the myths from realities of franchising. Determine if a franchise business is the right opportunity for you. Discussions will include the biggest risks and rewards, as well as financing options. (NV) Starting a Business: Road Map to Success Learn the five proven steps to creating a successful business. Hear first-hand from a local entrepreneur about his journey. Engage in the peer discussion, and start drafting your own road map. (NV) Special Interest Big Money: Selling Your Business and Getting Top Dollar Whether you’re looking to sell soon or years down the road, it’s never too early to start thinking of ways to build the value of your business and improve its market appeal. Learn what you can do to get your business ready for a quicker, more profitable sale, including finance considerations, inventory management and minimizing debt. (G) Women and Minority Business Owners: Government Opportunities The government buys everything – what is the best way to make them your next customer? Women and minority owned businesses should consider certification. Learn what it means to be certified, how the process works, what you need to prepare, and how to find the vast opportunities for selling to the government or one of its primary contractors. (NV, G, T) Greening Your Business The word “green” can be confusing, particularly as it relates to small businesses. This workshop explores what going green means, the value that being green can bring to firms, whether certification is worth it, strategies for greening your operations and products, and promotion and marketing tips. (NV, G, T) “Meet The Expert” Luncheon 12:35 – 2 p.m. During our luncheon, each table will have a special guest host. This is a great opportunity to talk about your business with a technology expert, a marketing guru, an entrepreneur who has been on Shark Tank or even a lender. You will find a listing of the special guests in the program book provided at registration on the day of the event. Get your business on the fast track to profits! Join us at one of Pittsburgh’s largest entrepreneurship events and fuel your engine for the road to business growth. Register Today and Save! Register at www.duq.edu/sbdc or by calling 412.396.1633. Early Registration Discount: $119 Register by April 30, 2013, to get the best price! Full-Day Registration: $139 Price includes continental breakfast, luncheon and all event activities. Keynote Speaker Will Knecht President Wendell August Forge History, a Fire and the Seeds for Success in Setbacks On March 4, 2010, Wendell August, a family-owned company that has produced ornamental and elegant metal giftware and home accents since 1923, got its largest order in its history from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Wendell August was asked to make one-of-a-kind, commemorative tickets honoring the final Penguins hockey game in Mellon Arena. The team at Wendell August was excited to say the least. Two days later, a fire destroyed the company’s workshop, offices and flagship store in Grove City. The Half-Day: $79 historic building they had operated out of since 1932 was Price includes luncheon, afternoon workshop and Business-Building Networking Mixer. No admission prior to noon. gone, burned to the ground. Walk-Ins: $159 These are the times when a good company and all We will accommodate walk-ins on a space availability basis. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. Students: $50 with valid ID Lunch Only: $50 Location & Parking The 15th Annual Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference will be held at Duquesne University, Union Building, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. All-day parking is provided for a discounted rate in the university’s Forbes Avenue Garage. stakeholders are tested. Join Will Knecht, Wendell August’s president, as he tells their story of history, tradition and the fire that could have destroyed a business and its people… but instead became a catalyst for new thinking and new opportunities for this almost-90-year-young company that was forced to become a start-up once more. If you’ve ever experienced setbacks and challenges with your business, in or out of your control, come hear how these challenges can become the foundation for future success and greatness. *Workshops are subject to change. Funding support and resources are provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community & Economic Development; through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration; and in part through support from Duquesne University. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Special arrangements for persons with disabilities can be made by calling 412-396-6233. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. We hope to see you for this milestone 15th anniversary of the EGC!