Empowering Entrepreneurs

Kathy and Louis Emond, TNNW New England Bureau Chiefs

October's article...

This month we thought we’d share a networking experience that we have; actually, that we have created: The Empowering Entrepreneurs Speakers Series.

In May 2006, at a networking event, we heard from a colleague that he had joined with others in his local Texas network to present monthly business speakers. He and the others would have the opportunity to meet with prospects, and this would lead to new clients. Sounded like a good idea to us.

So we called several of our colleagues: a client who owns a WSI franchise, a CPA we met through BNI, and banker we met through the Nashua Chamber. Adding our expertise as Executive Coaches, we thought we had a good foundation to make useful presentations. We decided to hold these free events on the 2nd Thursday of every month, serve lunch, and provide networking time before and after the talks.

We would offer sponsorships to vendors who would provide discounts or freebies. We agreed to use local vendors as much as possible. We also agreed to allow non-sponsors to present speeches as long as: 1. they educated, but did not sell, and 2. they paid cost of the expenses of the session.

We shared the costs, created a website (www.nhbizspeakers.com'), approached Southern New Hampshire University to rent a room, developed a calendar of events, created a newsletter, and sent notices to our respective networks, and took advantage of the Chamber’s weekly newsletter to include the series once a month under the "Member Mentions." We have also sent notices to the local newspapers; however, we have not seen anyone come because of those announcements. We immediately had about 2000 names in our databases.

The Empowering Entrepreneurs Speakers Series was born. Our Mission is to educate, empower, and promote new and growing businesses in New Hampshire.

One of the more difficult things to judge is how many people would be interested, and this was no different. At our first session, we had 15 people, 3 more than we had predicted. We now attract at least 20, our maximum number was 50. We have new people at every session, who have spread the word to their networks. We now reach out to an estimated 3000 people every month.
The topics?

As for topics, we have covered: Marketing on the Internet, Cash Flow Management, Small Business Loans, Building Customer Loyalty, Improve Your Sales, and Strategic Planning. In the future, we will present Web 2.0, 'Nuts and Bolts' of Brand, and Office 2007...So Why All the Hype?

The results?

We know that attendees have enjoyed the networking; we sponsors, of course, have expanded our own networks; we have helped local vendors demonstrate their products and services to the business community. We consider the program a success. If you are nearby, join us!

The future?
We are planning an expansion of the Empowering Entrepreneurs Speakers Series to include evening sessions that will provide topics of interest to leaders in larger businesses.

The moral of the story? Educating, empowering, and promoting others’ businesses leads to educating, empowering, and promoting your own business.
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Empowering Entrepreneurs