Grand Junction weathers slowdown after boom times By David Lewis
The home-sales outlook in Grand Junction and its satellite towns of Fruita, Clifton, Palisade, Mack and Loma seems to be teetering away from optimism these days, a strange sensation in a market that has been so robust for so long. ColoradoBiz
Next Steps in Open Innovation
Open innovation—once championed nearly exclusively by forward-thinking web geeks—is becoming an increasingly popular concept in mainstream circles. Companies like Procter & Gamble are opening their product development processes so that customers and other partners can offer their ideas and input. Some companies are now moving beyond this basic concept to an even more open process known as “distributed cocreation.” This model, profiled in a new McKinsey Quarterly article, is being effectively deployed by LEGO toys and by the Threadless t-shirt company. The Threadless approach is instructive. Anyone can develop his or her own t-shirt design. Website visitors vote on their preferred designs, and the top vote getters move into production. Other firms, like Wikipedia and Red Hat, also employ variants of this approach. McKinsey researchers believe more traditional firms can also deploy this model as long as they can identify ways to motivate outside co-creators, and structure problems and governance mechanisms in way that promotes participation in collaborative problem solving. Access the June 2008 McKinsey Quarterly article, “The Next Step in Open Innovation,” by Jacques Bughin, Vincent Choi, and Brad Johnson.
Lawn service provides cuts on demand
Kevin Malarney has been so successful with his on-demand lawn-cutting service in Grand Rapids, Mich., that he is offering Cut Only franchises. Cut Only targets people who cannot afford a lawn service but want their lawns cut when needed. Customers call in to get their home on the schedule and hang a flag on their door with a payment. Then a Cut Only crew member swings by to cut and trim the lawn. PRO Magazine
Tips for letting employees go gracefully
There's an art to letting employees go from startups gracefully, and a key is to focus on the future. One way to start is to let the worker know that you understand how difficult it is to be in a startup company and let them know the door is always open for them to come back. American City Business Journals
Social networking creates endless connections for business
The water cooler just isn’t what it used to be. Nowadays, office gossip isn’t the only game in town, with a slew of social-networking websites offering users the means to create a custom profile and instantly communicate with friends — real and imagined — all over the world. ColoradoBiz
Networking sites add new voice for small businesses
Small businesses are combining forces in social-networking sites to boost their profiles and share information about their niches. Creating a successful network site involves picking the appropriate format, attracting users and bringing them back, and keeping the content fresh. The Wall Street Journal/Independent Street blog
Campus Life….
Client Company Lunch
Speaker: City of Grand Junction
Topic: The Public Safety Initiative.
Where & When: Tuesday, August 19 at noon in the training room
Upcoming Workshops at the Incubator….
LEADING EDGE – Business Plan Development Program
The Leading Edge Program is an intensive training course that provides business owners and entrepreneurs with expert guidance in the areas of cash flow management, marketing, finance, personnel, legal issues, and more. Each participant will receive hands-on assistance in preparing a complete business plan. Tuition is $275, and includes the NXLEVEL Guide for Entrepreneurs and the NXLEVEL Business Plan Workbook and Resource Guide.
When: August 26 to November 18 / 12 Sessions
Tuesdays from 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Taxes and the Small Business Owner
Simple answers to business tax issues. Topics include: keeping track of and paying all your business taxes, computing and filing payroll taxes, satisfying state and federal guidelines, depreciating items like a home office, or automobile, and working with independent contractors versus employees. In addition, the course covers state withholding taxes, sales tax issues and unemployment and use tax. Cost: $45.
When: Thursday, August 14 from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Understanding Bookkeeping & Financial Statements
Session I
This class is designed for new business start-ups and focuses on how to set up business accounting records, how to track income and expenses and what types of expenses are deductible.
When: Wednesday, Sept 10 from 1:00-4:00 PM
Session II
This class help you gain better control of your business by learning how balance sheets, income statements and cash flow projections are prepared and what they can tell you about your business. Cost is $45.00 per class or $55.00 when you register for both bookkeeping classes.
When: Thursday, Sept 11 from 1:00-4:00 PM
Additional upcoming workshops….
Wells Fargo / Financial Management for the Closely Held Business
Businesses face tough challenges and unique opportunities. They key to financial success or failure during these challenges and opportunities lies in the decisions made by the owners and operators on the business. Now you can learn to better manage and control company finances through business-tested financial management techniques and turn better decisions into maximized profits.
This two day seminar explains, in simple, clear, language, what financial management is, why it can greatly improve your profitability and how you can effectively communicate with financial advisors.
When: August 12 & 13, 2008 8:00am to 5:00pm
Cost: $300
Where: The Double Tree Hotel 743 Horizon Drive
Registration: call (970) 248-4830
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Business Incubator Center NEWS
Effective entrepreneurship
What do Steve Ells of Chipotle and the founders of Starbucks have in common? “Life entrepreneurship.” By Gregg Vanourek and Christopher Gergen CO Biz Magazine
Entrepreneurs can get help from their peers
Entrepreneurs who are struggling to implement their ideas can gain from a peer network, taking advantage of lessons learned by those who already have started small businesses. In Chicago, for example, more than 600 chief executives and business owners are taking advantage of peer experience through Vistage International. Chicago Tribune
Myths about financing hinder some startups at outset
Many people who want to start a small business reject the idea because of false beliefs about startup financing, says Scott Shane at Kiplinger.com. Shane says some common myths are startups need a lot of money, venture capitalists invest in entrepreneurs and banks will not lend money to new companies. Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)
Advice: Be proactive in breaking gender, race barriers
Women and minority entrepreneurs have to be proactive to get over barriers to gender, racial and age obstacles. USA TODAY columnist Gladys Edmunds recommends business owners follow the example set by abolitionist Harriet Tubman: develop a support system, ask for more opportunities and help other businesses break barriers too. USA TODAY
Campus Life….
Client Company Lunch
Speaker: Bill Heller, Operations Manager, Occidental Oil & Gas Company
Topic: The Energy Industry, and a “from the field” view of the growth of that sector.
Bill’s practical, real-world perspective on what is really happening in the field should be extremely valuable in helping all of us understand the drivers shaping our economy. As the energy industry has such a significant impact on our local economy and, in turn, impacts the viability of so many new business ventures, this will be a very valuable presentation.
Where & When: Tuesday, July 15 at noon in the training room
Food: Lee Mathis & Shelli Mayo – another sneak-preview of their menu for the “Feast in the Fields” Event
Upcoming Workshops at the Incubator….
Human Resource Management 101
Finding and retaining employees is a hot topic in the Grand Valley these days. With unemployment low, wages climbing and increased competition, it is more important than ever to make sure you have your company’s human resource function performing to its highest potential.
Get your ducks in a row and make sure your policies and procedures are optimized to best serve your bottom line. Be ready to hire and train new talent, and have strategies in place to retain your top performers. Understand how clear communication, skill development and positive company culture are management practices that successful companies use to outperform the competition. Cost: $55.00 and includes continental breakfast.
SEMINAR AGENDA
· Bechtel & Santo, LLP will discuss contents and maintenance of personnel files, including written reprimands and performance appraisals.
· Autopaychecks Inc. will present payroll and benefits taxation.
· Global Rainmakers will discuss retaining employees in a tight labor market.
When: Thursday, July 17 from 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Additional upcoming workshops….
QuickBooks Pro 2008
- QuickBooks Pro Basic (Part 1)
When: Friday, July 24 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- QuickBooks Pro Basic (Part 2)
When: Saturday, July 25 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $145
Where: Mesa County Workforce Center
2897 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-257-2215
What do Steve Ells of Chipotle and the founders of Starbucks have in common? “Life entrepreneurship.” By Gregg Vanourek and Christopher Gergen CO Biz Magazine
Entrepreneurs can get help from their peers
Entrepreneurs who are struggling to implement their ideas can gain from a peer network, taking advantage of lessons learned by those who already have started small businesses. In Chicago, for example, more than 600 chief executives and business owners are taking advantage of peer experience through Vistage International. Chicago Tribune
Myths about financing hinder some startups at outset
Many people who want to start a small business reject the idea because of false beliefs about startup financing, says Scott Shane at Kiplinger.com. Shane says some common myths are startups need a lot of money, venture capitalists invest in entrepreneurs and banks will not lend money to new companies. Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)
Advice: Be proactive in breaking gender, race barriers
Women and minority entrepreneurs have to be proactive to get over barriers to gender, racial and age obstacles. USA TODAY columnist Gladys Edmunds recommends business owners follow the example set by abolitionist Harriet Tubman: develop a support system, ask for more opportunities and help other businesses break barriers too. USA TODAY
Campus Life….
Client Company Lunch
Speaker: Bill Heller, Operations Manager, Occidental Oil & Gas Company
Topic: The Energy Industry, and a “from the field” view of the growth of that sector.
Bill’s practical, real-world perspective on what is really happening in the field should be extremely valuable in helping all of us understand the drivers shaping our economy. As the energy industry has such a significant impact on our local economy and, in turn, impacts the viability of so many new business ventures, this will be a very valuable presentation.
Where & When: Tuesday, July 15 at noon in the training room
Food: Lee Mathis & Shelli Mayo – another sneak-preview of their menu for the “Feast in the Fields” Event
Upcoming Workshops at the Incubator….
Human Resource Management 101
Finding and retaining employees is a hot topic in the Grand Valley these days. With unemployment low, wages climbing and increased competition, it is more important than ever to make sure you have your company’s human resource function performing to its highest potential.
Get your ducks in a row and make sure your policies and procedures are optimized to best serve your bottom line. Be ready to hire and train new talent, and have strategies in place to retain your top performers. Understand how clear communication, skill development and positive company culture are management practices that successful companies use to outperform the competition. Cost: $55.00 and includes continental breakfast.
SEMINAR AGENDA
· Bechtel & Santo, LLP will discuss contents and maintenance of personnel files, including written reprimands and performance appraisals.
· Autopaychecks Inc. will present payroll and benefits taxation.
· Global Rainmakers will discuss retaining employees in a tight labor market.
When: Thursday, July 17 from 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Additional upcoming workshops….
QuickBooks Pro 2008
- QuickBooks Pro Basic (Part 1)
When: Friday, July 24 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- QuickBooks Pro Basic (Part 2)
When: Saturday, July 25 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $145
Where: Mesa County Workforce Center
2897 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-257-2215
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