EdCC’s business development workshops — Nov. 1, 8 and 15

In November, Edmonds Community College’s Business and Training Center will hold a series of small-business success workshops, which include free, follow-up business advising. Workshops include:

– Business Plan 2007,” 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1.

Attendees will learn how to develop a complete business plan, including market research and break-even analysis; taught by Tiffany McVeety, commercial lender with Shoreline Community Bank and former director of the Northwest Women’s Business Center. Cost is $89.

– “Financial Business Basics,” 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 8.

Attendees will develop a holistic understanding of their business financials and get action steps for their business’ next strategic move; taught by Roland Chaiton, vice president and senior lending officer with Washington state’s largest Small Business Administration micro-lending program. Cost is $89.

– “Strategic Marketing,” 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 15.

Attendees will learn how to develop a powerful marketing plan and unique selling proposition to capture their share of business; taught by Andrew Ballard, president of Marketing Solutions. Cost is $89

The workshops will be held in the Maltby Building, 7020 196th St. SW, Lynnwood. To register, call 425-640-1840 or go online to www.the-btc.com.

Zonta Club of Everett meetings — Nov. 1 and 15

The Zonta Club of Everett will hold its next monthly business meeting at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 1 at the Everett Golf &Country Club, 1500 52nd St. SE, Everett. Breakfast is $13. Guests are welcome to attend. The November program meeting will be held at noon Nov. 15 at the Everett Golf &Country Club. The organization will be honoring a present or former member of the Zonta Club of Everett with the annual Founder’s Day Award for outstanding service to Zonta and the community. Lunch is $13. Guests are welcome to attend. Reservations and membership information can be obtained by calling 425-348-3501 or sending e-mail to info@zontaeverett.org.

“Starting a New Business” workshop — Nov. 7

Seattle SCORE will hold an all-day workshop, “Starting a New Business,” from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 at 2401 4th Avenue, Suite 450, in Seattle. Attendees will learn how to finance their product or service, identify key customers and develop a marketing plan. Information on choosing a legal entity, accounting and taxes, and insurance and liability also will be covered. Cost for the workshop is $85 and includes lunch. For more information, go online to www.seattlescore.org and click on “Workshops.”

Financial ToolBox seminars — Nov. 7 and 13

Northwest Mortgage LLC will hold two free Financial ToolBox workshops in November: a credit-scoring workshop from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 and a debt-consolidation workshop from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13. Both workshops will be held at the Marysville Public Library. For more information or to register, call Bobby McEwen at 425-772-3069 or 360-652-9994 or send e-mail to bobbym@nwftb.net.

2007 Statewide Small Business Conference — Nov. 8

The Washington Policy Center’s Center for Small Business &Entrepreneurship will hold the 2007 Statewide Small Business Conference from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at the SeaTac Hilton. This year’s conference will focus on several policy areas that could help make Washington state a better place for its 185,000 small businesses (and its bigger ones, too). Breakout sessions will focus on a wide array of topics including business taxes, affordable health care, technology and entrepreneurship, streamlined sales tax, permit streamlining and more. Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna will be the breakfast keynote speaker, and Stephen Dubner, co-author of “Freakonomics” will speak during lunch. Cost is $50 per person or $350 for a table of 10. For more information, go online to www.washingtonpolicy.org.

Entrepreneur University ’07 — Nov. 8

The Northwest Entrepreneur Network will hold its Entrepreneur University ’07 all-day summit from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Seattle’s Bell Harbor Conference Center. This year’s keynote speakers are Martin Tobias, chief executive and chairman of Imperium Renewables and a venture partner at Ignition Partners, plus Sunny Kobe Cook, founder of Sleep Country USA. Entrepreneur University will feature two complete tracks for the distinct stages of creating and growing an entrepreneurial venture. The first track is for early-stage entrepreneurs just starting their businesses, while the second track focuses on companies at a growth stage. Attendees can choose sessions from either track to create a customized schedule according to business needs. Registration, available through www.nwen.org or by calling 425-564-5701, is $275 for NWEN members and $375 for nonmembers.

Human resources program — Nov. 8

The Snohomish County Human Resources Association will present “Strategic HR: Turning Challenges into Opportunity” from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Nov. 8 at the Holiday Inn &Conference Center, 3105 Pine St., in Everett. Duane Schireman, director of human resources for the Boeing Co.’s 787 program, will share his experiences of strategic HR from the past several years of working to bring the new 787 to life. The cost is $20 for chapter members and $25 for nonmembers. For reservations, contact Chris Buetow at 425-407-4042 or send e-mail to chris_buetow@vfc.com. For more information, go online to http://snohomishcounty.shrm.org.

SBA loan seminar — Nov. 8

First Heritage Bank is sponsoring a free Small Business Administration loan seminar from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at First Heritage’s Everett branch, 1810 Everett Ave. Christine Heckert, vice president and head of First Heritage’s SBA loan department, will conduct the seminar. Attendees will learn about the advantages of choosing the SBA and how to qualify for and obtain a loan. The seminar also includes information on other free business counseling services. Seating is limited. To reserve a spot, call 360-568-0536.

“Catch and Keep Customers” seminar — Nov. 9

The Edmonds Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training will present “Catch and Keep Customers” from 8:15 to 10:15 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave. N., in Edmonds. Dawn Jones, a business assistance officer with the Northwest Women’s Business Center, will discuss the key elements of how to keep customers coming back instead of going to competitors. Cost is $25 for those pre-registered and $35 at the door, space permitting. Attendees should arrive 15 minutes early. For more information, go online to www.seattleccd.com/wbcmain/nwwbc.htm and click on “Events &Classes.”

“Increase Your Competitive Advantage” seminar — Nov. 13

The Everett Area Chamber of Commerce continues its Empower YOUniversity seminar series with “Increase Your Competitive Advantage &Sales Revenue” from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Nov. 13 at the Everett Golf &Country Club, 1500 52nd St. SE, in Everett. Andrew Ballard, president of Marketing Solutions Inc., will discuss how to effectively distinguish one’s business from competitors, craft communications that resonate with target markets, and understand, leverage and incorporate “the voice of the customers.” Cost to attend is $15 for chamber members if registered by Nov. 9 and $45 for nonmembers if registered by Nov. 9. Registration includes a catered continental breakfast. For more information or to register, call 425-257-3222 or go online to www.everettchamber.com.

Legislative reception — Nov. 14

There will a legislative reception and 2008 Legislative Agenda presentation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Embassy Suites North, 20610 44th Ave. W., in Lynnwood. The reception will include Snohomish County legislators and representatives of Snohomish County chambers of commerce, the Snohomish County Committee for Improved Transportation and the Economic Development Council of Snohomish County to discuss critical legislative issues for the 2008 session. The event, which is presented by the Joint Government Affairs Committee of the Everett Area, Monroe and South Snohomish County chambers of commerce, will feature a presentation of the committee’s 2008 Legislative Agenda and focus on strategies to address key business competitiveness issues. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided. There is no fee to attend, but attendees should reserve a spot before Nov. 9 by providing their name, company’s name, e-mail address and phone number to info@s2c3.com or fax the information to 425-774-4636.

Coastal Economic Forecast luncheon — Nov. 15

Coastal Community Bank will hold its annual Coastal Economic Forecast luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Everett Golf &Country Club, 1500 52nd St. SE, in Everett. This year’s forecast will focus on the current issues of greatest concern to business managers and owners in the area. Bill Conerly, an economic consultant with Conerly Consulting LLC, chair of the board of the Cascade Policy Institute and a senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, will give the presentation. Cost to attend is $30 for members of chambers of commerce or the Economic Development Council of Snohomish County if paid by Nov. 9, $35 for members if paid after Nov. 9, and $50 for nonmembers. For more information, 425-257-3222 or go online to www.everettchamber.com.

LEED CI and sustainability workshop — Nov. 15

The Green Resource Council of the Northwest will hold its second LEED CI and sustainability workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the University of Washington’s Center for Urban Horticulture, Northwest Horticultural Society Hall. The event will include a two-hour morning training session, “Specifying Green: Pulling it All Together” certification systems — first, second and third party, followed by an afternoon Green Roundtable on “specifying green” for commercial interiors. The half-day event is tailored specifically for professionals in the commercial interiors industry and is certified by IIDA for CEU credits. The cost is $95 per person and includes both sessions and lunch. For more information, send e-mail to Brooke@apexfacility.com.

Focus on Farming Conference IV — Nov. 29

The fourth-annual Focus on Farming Conference, “From Soils to Sales,” will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Lynnwood Convention Center. Attendees will learn about proven business, sales and marketing strategies; how to manage water and climate-change impacts; trends in nursery, greenhouse, organics, local-market farming, livestock and bio-energy; and risk management. Keynote speakers will include Chad Kruger, BIOAg educator for Washington State University’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture &Natural Resources, who will discuss “Climate Change Impacts on Regional Agriculture,” and Dr. Fred Kirschenmann, a longtime leader in national and international sustainable agriculture, who will discuss “Meeting Agriculture’s Challenges in a Rapidly Changing World.” A farm-fresh meal by regional chefs will be included in the event, which is a project of the Snohomish County Office of Economic Development. Cost is $30 if registering before Nov. 15 and $40 beginning Nov. 15 and at the door. For more information or to register, go online to www.focusonfarming.org or call 425-388-3137.

Business-blogging workshop — Nov. 30

The Everett Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training will present “Social Media: Blogging for the Small Business” from 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 30 at Everett Community College’s Applied Technology Training Center, 2333 Seaway Blvd., in Everett. Shari Storm, vice president and chief marketing officer of Verity Credit Union, will present an overview of how social media is important to small-business owners. Attendees will learn how to find out what is being said about their company online as well as learn tactics for responding. Cost is $25 for those pre-registered and $35 at the door, space permitting. Attendees should arrive 15 minutes early. For more information, go online to www.seattleccd.com/wbcmain/nwwbc.htm and click on “Events &Classes.”

John Koster’s Business Roundtable — Dec. 13

Snohomish County Councilman John Koster will hold a Business Roundtable on Dec. 13. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., and the meeting will begin promptly at 7 a.m., concluding at 8:30 a.m. The event location is still to be determined. Attendees will meet state legislators and discuss the “hot button” issues with them. Cost to attend the event, which will include a breakfast buffet, is $25. Attendees should register by Dec. 6. For more information or to register, call Cindy Brengman at 425-397-7799 or send e-mail to kosterbrt@comcast.net.