TAMIU-SBDC March Workshops
The Texas A&M International University Small Business Development Center (TAMIU-SBDC) will sponsor several workshops during the month of March.
Thursday, March 4: “Think Like a Marketing Guru,” a workshop, will be offered from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the TAMIU Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 126. Fee is $20. Learn about why marketing plan are essential in order for a business to succeed. Instructor Norma Rodríguez will define components of a marketing strategy.
Wednesday, March 10: “Web Page Designing Part I: Creating a Basic Web site,” a workshop will be offered from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Dr. Billy F. Cowart Hall, room 113. Fee is $20. This hands-on workshop series covers the entire process of building a simple Web site from the ground up, with plenty of pointers and reference material. Alejandro Quetzeri will lead the series covering: definition and use of the Internet and World Wide Web; Google, Yahoo and MSN search engines; e-mail, domain names and creating your own domain name and home pages, including about us, product and services and contact us page components.
Wednesday, March 10: “The Art of Starting a Business: Basic Business Essentials,” a free workshop will be offered from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor Angelo Piccirillo, SBDC business economic/development coordinator, 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 the importance of the business plan. This workshop will be held in TAMIU’s Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 125.
Thursday, March 11: “Managing Cash—The Small Business Owner's Guide to Financial Control,” a workshop, is scheduled from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in TAMIU Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 125. Fee for this course is $20 and includes a 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. Tina Rodríguez, 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.
Wednesday, March 24: “Web Page Designing Part II: Promoting your Web site,” a workshop will be offered from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Dr. Billy F. Cowart Hall, room 113. Fee is $20. This hands-on workshop series spans the entire process of building a simple Web site from the ground up, with plenty of pointers and reference material. Alejandro Quetzeri will lead the workshop covering traditional marketing versus Internet marketing, basics of Internet marketing, web analytics, search engine optimization and pay per click (sponsor ads).
Wednesday, March 24: “Business Planning and Financing Options,” a workshop will be offered from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Location will be provided upon registration confirmation. Seminar fee is $20, and each participant will receive 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. A business plan is necessary for starting or buying a business, financing or refinancing a business or raising debt or equity capital.
Thursday, March 25: “Understanding Credit and Budgeting,” a workshop will be held from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Classroom location will be provided upon registration confirmation. Fee is $20 and includes a workbook. Norma Rodriguez will go over credit reporting myths, disputing inaccuracies, rebuilding credit and debt management.
Friday, March 26: “Understanding Financial Statements,” a workshop will be held from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Classroom location will be provided upon registration confirmation. The $20 fee includes a workbook. Instructor Gladys Rangel will explain financial statements. Examining one statement cannot diagnose a company's financial health, but several statements together can help business owners make smart financial, investment and management decisions. For lending purposes, statements help determine the ability to pay a loan, the loan amount, the loan term (number of years), which assets should be bought versus which assets should be financed, and what collateral is available to secure a loan.
Wednesday, March 31: “Keeping the Books: Record-keeping Basics,” a workshop will meet from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Classroom location will be provided upon registration confirmation.This workshop will provide simple principles to help attendees understand bookkeeping basics. Instructor Gladys Rangel, certified business advisor, will present a comprehensive hands-on tool that will help set up an effective bookkeeping system and keep the right records, maintain records required to prevent tax time disasters, and maximize profits. The $20 fee includes Laura Pinzon’s seventh edition of “Keeping the Books: Basic Record-keeping and Accounting for the Successful Small Business,” a $50 value.
For more information or to register for any of these March workshops, call the TAMIU SBDC office at 956.326.2827, e-mail sbdc@tamiu.edu or register online at sbdc.tamiu.edu
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu