Texas A&M International University

TAMIU-SBDC Offers Various
August Business Workshops

The Texas A&M International University Small Business Development Center (TAMIU-SBDC) will sponsor several workshops during the month of August.

Wednesday, August 8: the Art of Starting a Business: Basic Business Essentials, free of charge workshop from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the TAMIU Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 126. Instructor Angelo Piccirillo, SBDC-certified business advisor, will present this practical Workshop that helps businesses to avoid common pitfalls, evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and the skills needed to succeed. Participants will also explore initial paperwork, assessment process, legal structures and importance of the business plan.

Friday, August 10: QuickBooks Workshop: Putting Financial Management to Work for Your Business, is a hands-on workshop from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in TAMIU’s Dr. Billy F. Cowart Hall, room 113.  Instructors Norma Rodríguez, SBDC business advisor, will go over the steps to create a new QuickBooks company, modify the preset chart of accounts, reconcile a QuickBooks checking account, invoice customers, create sales orders, receive payments from customers and make bank deposits, enter bills into QuickBooks and create and customize QuickBooks reports and graphs. Workshop fee is $50.

Thursday, August 16: The Art of Customer Service: How to provide continuous and improved customer satisfaction will be offered from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.; classroom location will be provided with registration confirmation. Fee is $20. The Workshop’s purpose is to learn the Art of Customer Service using the “CIVIL” framework. It will help your business and organizations experience employee empowerment, repeat business, loyal customers, and an overall satisfactory customer service strategy. Join instructor Tina Rodríguez for an interactive two-hour presentation.

Wednesday, August 22: The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in collaboration with Texas A&M International University Small Business Development Center (TAMIU SBDC), invites you to attend this free-of-charge financial Seminar for new and existing small businesses. SBA works with certified development companies and lenders to provide small businesses with “brick and mortar” financing to acquire major fixed assets for expansion or modernization such as land, building and equipment.  Let’s hear it from the expert…join guest speaker David Moreno from Capital CDC who will discuss the process and eligibility of this unique specialized loan program.  Program starts at 1:30 p.m. at the TAMIU Student Center room 225.

Thursday, August 23: The Laredo Development Foundation, in conjunction with the Laredo Chamber of Commerce and TAMIU’s Small Business Development Center, will host the Governor’s Small Business Forum from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Student Center Ballroom. The forum will provide small business owners great opportunities to network as they learn the different resources available in Webb County to include: How to obtain access to capital, financing for small businesses, trainings and services from the Small Business Development Center, as well as an overview of Eagle Ford Shale business opportunities. In addition, Workforce Solutions for South Texas will present business solutions, programs and services accessible for employers.

Thursday, August 23: Anatomy of a Business Plan Workshop is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; classroom location will be provided with registration confirmation. Fee for the Workshop is $20, and each participant receives Linda Pinzon’s “Anatomy of a Business Plan: a Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Business and Securing your Company’s Future,” a $50 value. Instructor Angelo Piccirillo explains that planning is the map to success in the business world. One needs to write a business plan when: starting or buying a business, financing or refinancing a business, or raising debt or equity capital.

Friday, August 24: Understanding Credit & Budgeting Workshop will be offered from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at TAMIU’s Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 126. Certified business advisor Tina Rodríguez will review Credit Reporting Myths, Disputing Inaccuracies, Rebuilding Credit, and Debt Management.

Wednesday, August 29: The TAMIU-SBDC, in conjunction with the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid: Legal Assistance to Microenterprise Project (L.A.M.P.), will provide a Seminar designed to assist potential and existing business owners with legal issues. This free of charge Seminar is scheduled from 9:00 to 12:00 noon; classroom location will be provided with registration confirmation. Amber VanSchuyver, staff attorney, will conduct the presentation. VanSchuyver explains that micro-entrepreneurs must grapple with a wide variety of legal issues, from entity selection and formation, to employment law issues, contract issues, commercial lease issues, and tax issues. This presentation will cover these and other topics, giving participants a greater understanding of the legal issues facing their business.

Thursday, August 30: Managing Cash - the Small Business Owner's Guide to Financial Control Workshop is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; classroom location will be provided with registration confirmation; $20 fee includes Workbook. Cash flow is what comes into and goes out of a business. Gaining financial control by understanding cash flow is crucial to business success. Norma Rodríguez, SBDC-certified business advisor, will review cash – the fuel that runs your business, maximizing your cash flow, tools for speeding up cash collections, overdue invoices, three tools for helping with accounts receivable, cash flow statements and four short-term financing solutions.

For more information or to register for any of these Workshops, call the TAMIU-SBDC office at 956.326.2827 or e-mail:sbdc@tamiu.edu Register online at http://sbdc.tamiu.edu

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