Tomorrow is Conference Day

Yes, Saturday, May 21, 2016 is the SCORE Fox Valley Small Business Forum conference. Held as a joint project with North Central College, the event will be held in Wentz Hall on the NCC campus in Naperville, Illinois.

Doors will open at 7:30 AM and close at 4:30 PM. In between are a key note talk, four panel discussions, and 12 workshops. One track of workshops is designed for start up businesses. Another track is devoted to existing small businesses seeking a boost in handling special challenges.

A special feature is the Ideas to Profits small business Pitch Contest in which small firms or start ups vie for prize money. Three winners will be announced at the end of the day.

Also in between will be ample refreshments for attendees for continental breakfast, lunch and break times.

Over 200 guests and attendees are expected at the event.

We are excited with the prospects for the event. Many people will learn about SCORE for the first time, while others will help SCORE continue its 52 year history of service to starting up small businesses and helping existing small businesses succeed through thick and thin. A corps of executives from all backgrounds volunteer their time with the help of the Small Business Administration to mentor, coach and support entrepreneurs on their journey. Mentors are both retired professionals and pre-retirement talent.

North Central College is using this event to exhibit their new Center for Entrepreneurial Study. What a great partnership they have with SCORE in this event! And with each other.

I share this information with my readers because you are invited to attend the event, too. If you don’t, at least you are aware of the kinds of activities that are available for budding entrepreneurs needing help to launch their dreams. Community colleges, four-year colleges and universities have academic programs to help businesses form and prosper throughout our nation. The SBA fosters Women’s Business Development Centers, Small Business Development Centers, SCORE and other programs that focus on making small businesses happen.

SCORE has 12,000 mentors nationally doing this work, alone. Last year SCORE helped create 48,000 jobs nationally, all in small businesses. And that does not account for jobs saved in small firms saved from closure. Although these are national statistics, local statistics exist as well. The beauty of that data is the local focus to develop our own economies near at hand.

The volunteers in SCORE gain much experience from their work. They also feel the rewards of doing this. The truth is that many other organizations exist to help businesses succeed and prosper.

This is all good for one and all. If you’d like a special view of this work in progress, drop into the conference tomorrow at North Central College, Chicago Avenue, just east of Washington Street downtown Naperville.

See you there?

May 20, 2016