ASU SBDC hosts seminar for Arkansas veterans in business July 16

July 9, 2008 -- Arkansas State University’s Small Business Development Center (ASU SBDC) is sponsoring a seminar for Arkansas veterans in business. The seminar, “Arkansas Veterans in Business: Vets Helping Vets Succeed,” will be held Wednesday, July 16, at ASU’s Convocation Center. Major General William D. Wofford, The Adjutant General, Arkansas National Guard, will be the special luncheon guest speaker. Maj. Wofford will address challenges facing Arkansas National Guardsmen as they continue to transition from civilians to citizen soldiers in continued deployment, and how communities can help these soldiers’ families.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. Session I will be held from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and Session II will be held from 1:30-4:30 p.m. This seminar is free to veterans and their spouses and members of the Arkansas National Guard and Reserves. The cost is $30 per person for non-veterans. Early registration is advised to ensure adequate workshop materials. Lunch will be provided free only for those who register by 9 a.m., Friday, July 11. Later registrants must make alternate luncheon arrangements.

Hosts for the event are the ASU Small Business Development Center, the ASU Beck PRIDE Center for Wounded Veterans, Arkansas Capital Corporation, the ASU Delta Center for Economic Development, the ASU College of Business, and the Arkansas National Guard.

The symposium is designed for all Arkansas veterans, as well as currently serving members of the Arkansas National Guard or the Army Reserves, who own their own businesses or are thinking of starting a business. A series of workshops will be offered on a variety of business-related topics to help individuals start or expand businesses.

Workshops include “Starting a Business in Arkansas,” presented at 8:30 a.m. Presenters are Stephen Hollowell, director of government affairs, Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office, and Susan Glasgow, training coordinator, ASU SBDC. In a concurrent session, “Recession-proofing Your Business” will be presented by Herb Lawrence, center director, ASU SBDC.

At 10: 30 a.m., concurrent sessions are “Smart Borrowing,” presented by Al Hodge, senior vice president, Arkansas Capital Corporation, and  “Selling to Uncle Sam,” presented by Richard Evans, Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center.

At 1:30 p.m., “The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Programs for Veterans’ Businesses” will be presented by Charles (Chuck) Davis, business development specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration. Concurrently, “Market Research for Small Businesses” will be offered by James Atkinson, market analyst, Arkansas Small Business Development Center.

At 3 p.m., “IT Issues for Small Businesses” will be offered, along with “The Arkansas National Guard Business Mobilization Planning Guide,” presented by Herb Lawrence, coauthor of the planning guide.

Numerous cosponsors will have booths set up to inform seminar attendees of their services and offerings. Cosponsors include the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Arkansas National Guard, Office of The Adjutant General, Bancorp South, ASU’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, the Craighead County Veteran’s Center, East Arkansas Planning and Development District, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, Liberty Bank, Military Officers Association of America, and Simmons First National Bank.

For more information, contact Susan Glasgow, training coordinator, at (870) 972-3517, or register online at http://sbdc.astate.edu.

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