1.0 KEY INTERSTATE COMMERCE CONNECTIONS (KICC) CONFERENCE MAY 12 & 13
Give your marketing a KICC and make the Colorado connection!
The first in a series of workshops that targets industries in surrounding states!
If you want to grow by marketing your products to customers in the Rocky Mountain region, this is a working meeting you need to attend.
The conference opens with a reception at 5 pm on May 12 at the Cheyenne Depot Museum. The event runs from 8 am to 4 pm on May 13 at the Hitching Post Inn. The cost of the conference is $95 before May 7 and $110 afterwards. To register by phone, call 1.877.733.3618 ext. 4.
During this day-long event you'll meet with experts one-on-one from Colorado industries like:
- Distribution, transportation & warehousing
- Value added AG & food processing
- Telecommunication services & call centers
- Construction & trades
- Software applications & contract manufacturing
- Energy/oil & gas services
Experts you'll hear from:
High Tech Manufacturing
Lee Cole's PhD in Physics has taken him on a ride with the likes of Unisys, Honeywell, Hunter Douglas, Spatial Technology, Quark and others. He is now doing his own startup in the medical enterprise applications. His broad background and expertise in taking product to market is uniquely suited to assist those companies or entrepreneurs looking for niches in the huge Colorado tech market.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
It takes a village to get your hands around logistics and supply chain management. That's why David Armstrong, Bill Stegen and Mike Loughrin will all contribute to Wyoming's natural advantages as a logistics/staging center for the front range market.
Value Added Ag and Food Processing
Mark Rasmussen will lead the discussion for food processing and private label opportunities in the value-added agriculture industry. Mark has brought literally hundreds of products to market for General Mills and others, most notably fruit rollups. Opportunities abound to serve the Colorado market both with Wyoming branded products and low-cost private label strategies. Distribution to Colorado markets is easy and Mark can you lead you to the right approach for your company.
Telecommunications
Bonita Lahey knows telecommunications. After many years with companies which kept changing their names, she joined CH2M Hill as global marketing and go-to-market strategist. Now with her own consulting firm, B Lahey Consulting, Bonita sees huge potential for Wyoming in such diverse areas as call centers, power line broadband, wireless and satellite.
Energy
Attorney Guy Helmstetter began his career in California as a marketing engineer for a utility company. That's why his solutions to expansion in the energy field come from the customer side i.e. where the economics look good to the customer, it's an easy sale. Guy says the big projects are out there - with government help-, but more money can be made by offerings designed to mitigate Colorado's often wasteful energy use. With $40 oil and $7 gas, customers are hungry to cut energy use. This is a must opportunity for HVAC contractors, solar folks, fuel cells, window and door manufacturers, in addition to the big oil and gas firms.
Construction
Steve Moore is the bids manager for Marsh Ragland Project Management in Greeley. As owners' representatives, they supervise over $100 million in construction projects. Although Steve sees reasons Wyoming contractors haven't made it a priority to go after Colorado projects, he says, contractors should rethink the idea of Colorado bidding and go after the money.
Take advantage of this educational and networking event that can introduce you to techniques for connecting with Colorado businesses. Learn more about trends in your industry and how to market to neighboring states.
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2.0 VENTURE WEST ORGANIZES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR WYOMING'S ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITIES
Laramie, Wyoming - Venture West, Wyoming's premier networking organization for entrepreneurs, announced today that it will open its 2004 program schedule on Thursday, May 6th, with Leading at the Speed of Growth. This session will provide a roadmap for entrepreneurs determined to grow their companies and transform themselves into great entrepreneurial leaders.
Dr. Jana Matthews, co-author of Leading at the Speed of Growth: Journey from Entrepreneur to CEO as well as seven other books on entrepreneurship will discuss the challenges of growth, as well as a business leader's changing roles and responsibilities during the "Initial", "Rapid", and "Continuous Stages of Growth" outlined in her books. She has worked with a myriad of associations and companies including Deloitte & Touche, Young Entrepreneurs Association, IBM, National Business Incubation Association, and Avaya.
"Dr. Matthews has helped entrepreneurs around the world learn how to build successful businesses," said Kim Vincent, 2004 president of Venture West. "We're pleased to have her share that expertise and guidance here in Wyoming."
Four entrepreneurs will also present their business plans. The meeting will be held at the Ramada Center Hotel at 2313 Soldier Springs Road (intersection of I-80 and Hwy 287) in Laramie and starts at 5:30 pm. Seating is very limited.
IN-DEPTH WORKSHOPS TO BE OFFERED IN 2004
In addition, Venture West has announced that it will host a series of workshops in 2004 that will focus on assisting entrepreneurs in maturing, financing, and operating their companies. The first workshop is entitled Financing The Growth of Your Business and will provide information on the steps business owners need to take to secure the cash flow to establish and grow their business. Running from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on May 6, this half-day workshop will also be held at the Ramada Center Hotel, and will feature a panel of experts from the entrepreneurial and finance community. Representatives from successful businesses that have survived the financing cycle will discuss the ins-and-outs of start-up business financing. The workshop will be suitable for entrepreneurs, investors, economic development professionals, and financial service providers.
Confirmed panelists include:
› Brian Knitt & Phil Parrott - Cheyenne Capital Fund - equity financing
› Mike Peck - First Interstate Bank -debt financing
› Ben Avery - Wyoming Business Council - grants & government financing
› Arlene Soto - Small Business Development Center - business plan development
"Venture West provides a outlet for professionals like myself to give something to the entrepreneurial community here in Wyoming," says Knitt, of Cheyenne Capital Fund. "We find it is a great resource in identifying potential investments."
To encourage participation in the workshop, the Wyoming Business Council will pay $10 towards the workshop fee for the first 20 individuals that register. The afternoon workshop is $10 for members of Venture West and $15 for non-members. The evening program is $30 for non-members and $40 for members. Please visit www.venturewest.org to register for the dinner program, workshop, and to become a member of Venture West.
ABOUT VENTURE WEST
Venture West is a non-profit networking club started in August 2000 by a group of Wyoming private and public sector leaders dedicated to building an entrepreneurial community in Wyoming. Venture West encourages entrepreneurship by organizing quarterly meetings to provide educational and networking opportunities for high growth entrepreneurs and the service providers and investors that support them. More information is available on the web at www.venturewest.org.
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3.0 REGISTRATION AND OTHER CONFERENCE INFORMATION!
FREE booth space for Wyoming SBIR Phase I or II Award Winners with a paid registration - contact Jill Kline.
See Section 3.
This year's agenda includes a Pre-conference Networking Reception at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center; federal agency representatives from DOD, DOT, NASA, NIH, & NSF; a session specifically for newcomers to the program, a full day phase I proposal preparation with SBIR experts Mark Henry and Randy Dipner from Personal Business Consultants (PBCinc) out of Denver, plus much more.
The pre-conference networking session will be held at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (www.bbhc.org) Tuesday evening, June 1 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. This session includes FREE admission to the BBHC and light hors d'oeuvres.
For complete details and the current draft agenda, visit the WSSI Web Site!
When: Wednesday & Thursday, June 2 & 3, 2004!
Where: Cody Holiday Inn
Hotel Rates (mention appropriate code to receive these reduced rates): $79 for 1-2 adults at the Holiday Inn (use code WSB) or the Comfort Inn (use code SBR); $59 for the Village Cabins (use code SBIR) with 1-2 adults and $79 for 3-4 adults or families needing two bedrooms.
Hotel web site: www.blairhotels.com —
Hotel email: blair@blairhotels.com — Hotel phone: 800-527-5544
Conference Fees: $105 on or before May 14; $130 after May 14 &mdash Fees include: Pre-conference Networking Reception and FREE admission to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, five meals including the Awards Banquet, and conference material.
Conference Registration/Information: Call toll free: 877-733-3618 ext. 1, For a printable form to mail or fax or to register on-line visit — www.uwyo.edu/outreach_s/wssi/register.asp
Questions? Contact Jill Kline at: 866-703-3280, or (307) 682-2660, or email jillkline@vcn.com.
Check out Cody, Wyoming!
Registration is easy - call toll free - 877-733-3618 ext. 1 or go on-line - www.uwyo.edu/outreach_s/wssi/register.asp
WYOMING SBIR & STTR AWARD WINNERS EXHIBIT FREE AT THE CONFERENCE
Is your company is a Wyoming SBIR or STTR award winner? If so, then plan to exhibit space at the Conference, free of charge. This is a great networking opportunity! Reserve your space by contacting Jill Kline at 866-703-3280 or 307-682-2660 or jillkline@vcn.com. Space is limited and reservations are required.
Private booth space is available for $100 - contact Jill Kline for details.
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4.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PUBLICATION INFORMATION
TO BE ADDED TO OR REMOVED FROM THE DISTRIBUTION LIST FOR THIS NEWSLETTER, SEND NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO jillkline@vcn.com.
Prepared by: Jill Kline, WSSI Outreach Coordinator, 307.682.2660 or toll free in Wyoming, 866.703.3280, jillkline@vcn.com, and Gene Watson, WSSI Program Manager, 307.742.7162, ewatson@wyoming.com.
This newsletter is published every other week as part of the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI). The mission of the Initiative is to increase the number of federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program awards to Wyoming. The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) funds the initiative which is administered by the University of Wyoming Research Office. Please contact Jill Kline (see contact information above) with your comments.
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