District 196 Community Education

Contemplating starting your own business? Learn from experienced business professionals, both active and retired, who can provide individual assistance if desired. Presented by SCORE (volunteers from south metro communities) and a partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this comprehensive series of four workshops will help you make a smart start. Each class features a specific topic. To register for the entire series use ASCOR-S1 Startup Basics: Test your business idea and identify the key factors that influence startup success. Gain an overview of the skills and tools needed when deciding to start a business. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of owning a business, the most profitable form for specific businesses and the fundamentals of formation, organization, marketing, cash flow and funding sources. Ron Kipp has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA. He spent ten years in the Air Force doing test and evaluation on jet engines, rocket motors and airplanes. After the Air Force he worked for trucking companies for 30 years. Register for ASCOR-S2 Business Concepts: Identify your target markets, describe your products and services and collect key competitive information to support feasibility plan. Review your understanding of business concepts and gain step-by-step guidance in researching your idea, market and competition. Dennis Jacobson has volunteered with the South Metro Chapter of SCORE since 2009, providing face-to-face mentoring, conducting classroom training, and participating in workshops for individuals seeking to start their own business or needing help with their existing business. He served as Chapter Chairman in 2011-2012. His business background includes over 26 years as a credit and risk management professional with Wells Fargo & Company in Minneapolis and San Francisco. Register for ASCOR-S3 Marketing Plan: Learn marketing, communication methods and tools to maximize customer reach. Understand pricing strategies, positioning, differences between features and benefits, and marketing strategies. Gain skills on how to outline your marketing strategy, test your message, choose the correct sales channel and exercise your strategies. Randy Locke’s career included 40 years of sales, operations, and general management in both small, privately held companies as well as large corporations. His experience in several industries included time as president of an advertising specialties company. Register for ASCOR-S4 Financial Projections and Funding Sources: Review sales and prices, financial risks and rewards, true startup costs, ongoing operating expenses, setting benchmarks for tracking progress and organization of all your financial information. Discuss financing your business, accounting, banking relations, and monthly preparation and review of financial statements. Jim Hanzlik, CPA (inactive), CGMA, earned his Accounting degree from University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He spent five years with KPMG’s Private Business Advisory Services Group in Minneapolis and has over 30 years of experience as a CFO and Financial Manager in private and publicly held manufacturing and technology companies in the Twin Cities. Jim currently resides in Chaska MN, where he owns a CFO consulting business that provides financial management services to small growing companies. Register for ASCOR-S5