Small Business Resource Network

Come join in the celebration of National Small Business Week “Appreciation Night and Mini Tradeshow”, hosted by the SW Florida SBRN and the SBDC!

Thursday, May 17, 2012 
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Hilton Garden Inn - Airport
16410 Corporate Commerce Way
Fort Myers, FL 33913

This event is free!  Registration is required.  You may register online or call the SBDC office 239-745-3700. 

What a great opportunity to network with other small business owners who can help grow your business and have access to qualified professionals’ advice!

There will be complimentary refreshments, a cash bar and great prizes.

Small Business Resource Network Monthly Mixer

Don't miss SBRN's April meeting!

• What's My Business Worth?
• Why Should I Care?
• Type of Business Appraisals (Valuations)
• Approaches to Value
• How Do I Increase the Value of  My Business?

Murphy Business & Financial Corporation – “North America Premier’s Brokerage Firm”

Thursday, April 19th, 5:30 - 7:00 pm at Holiday Inn-Airport, Fort Myers.  Cost $15 SBRN members, $20 non-members.

Space is limited and RSVP is required.  Register online now.

The Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership’s Awards Ceremony will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 17 at Pelican Preserve Clubhouse, 9802 Pelican Preserve Blvd., in Fort Myers.

The keynote speaker will be Steve Conley, director of IT for the Boston Red Sox. Conley is responsible for all voice, TV and computer systems for both the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group. The Technology Partnership banquet will feature the presentation of three awards: Innovention, Transformation and Partnership. Registration is required to attend the event. Registration, sponsorship and awards nomination information are posted at http://www.swfrtp.com/.

Citation:  Gulfshore Business Review

Monday, April 16 is the new deadline set for the Inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year Award nominations by the Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University.  For nomination rules and eligibility, go to www.sbdcawards.com.

Carl Gould will give the keynote address at this event where the winner will be announced at a cocktail reception and dinner at FGCU in the Ballroom at the Cohen Center (former Student Union) on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. 

Presenting sponsor for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award is Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co.  Event sponsors include Busey Bank; Brennan, Manna & Diamond, Attorneys & Counselors at Law; Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership; Dolphin Global Technology Solutions; Gator Press Printing; Guerilla Media; Photo Magic; Relevanza; Wells Fargo; John Fernandez Photography; Slick Ink ALL MEDIA and Third Eye Management. The event's media sponsor is Gulfshore Business magazine.

Sponsorship packages are available. 

Buy tickets online; $100/ticket - $75 if purchased before April 15. 

Small Business Resource Network Monthly Mixer

With this year’s tax deadlines approaching, don’t miss SBRN’s March meeting where local tax expert, Fred Tenorio, E.A. of public accounting firm Ball, Shanaman & Tenorio will share valuable advice.

Learn more about such topics as:

• How to avoid an audit
• What to include as income
• What not to include as income
• Taking advantage of all available deductions.

Don’t pay more taxes than you should!  Join us for this timely presentation.

Ball, Shanaman & Tenorio - “Where the success of your business is our business”

Thursday, March 15th 5:30-7:00 pm. at Holiday Inn- Airport, Fort Myers.  Cost $15 SBRN members $20 non-members.

Edward Livingston & Bryan Loeffler, The Livingston Firm presenting on Interlectual Propert Law to members and guests of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Small Business Resource Network at the Lee County Economic Developement Center in Downtown Fort Myers. 

Lorna Kibbey writes: 

We will meet, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, January 19 at the Lee County Economic Development Office in downtown Fort Myers - 2201 Second Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901.  

Presenters will be Edward M. Livingston and Bryan L. Loeffler - U.S. Registered Patent Attorneys and SBRN Members. They concentrate their practice in patent law and other areas of intellectual property law, including trademarks/servicemarks, trade dress, trade secrets, copyrights, franchising, and litigation. Ed is also Board Certified by the Florida Bar in intellectual property law.  Whether you are an inventor, an entrepreneur, a small business or a major corporation, protecting your intellectual property is a critical part of any business endeavor.  Ed and Bryan will be giving a general overview of intellectual property law and discussing issues that you should be on the lookout for to protect you and your clients.

The evening begins with the Resource Network’s monthly “Network After Five” social event where members and guests network and exchange ideas for growing their business.

Cost for SBRN members is $15 per person, which includes hors d’oeuvres. Guests and unaffiliated small business owners pay $20 per person.

Space is limited and RSVP is required. To register, go online to www.sbdcseminars.org. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, January 15.

Can't wait to see you all!

Links learning more: 

The Livingston Firm - Website + Blog: 

This event is an extraordinary value for anyone that owns a small business. - 

Terry & Kay Wynter

Two of SBRN's distinguished members will be speakers: President-elect Barbara Melvin, Wells Fargo and Reggie Blackmon, Greater Florida Insurance. Their company's are also sponsors. Website and Social Media Marketing is provided by SBRN member Birgit Pauli-Haack and sponsored by her company Relevanza, Inc

The 2012 Entrepreneur's Law School is presented by the Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University!

This all-day workshop is an opportunity to get your small business legal questions answered by professionals in the field of law. 

Choose from tracks of 50 minutes each on subjects such as legal contracts, commercial leases, legal structures, business continuity, employment law, foreclosures, and more! 

Entrepreneur's Law School will take place at Florida Gulf Coast University Student Union Ballroom from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The day will kick off with a continental breakfast sponsored by Costco at 8:30 a.m. Sessions conducted by the area's finest attorneys, followed by lunch with the attorneys, highlighted by guest lunch speaker Dr. Wilson G. Bradshaw, President, Florida Gulf Coast University.

The afternoon session includes a dynamic panel discussion on the effects of small business bankruptcy from a legal, tax, finance, and insurance perspective. In addition to the workshops, a mini tradeshow will take place.

The event is sponsors by Pavese Law Firm, Relevanza, Greater Florida Insurance, Wells Fargo and Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company

We all work with small businesses and we are experts in our fields. Many of us share information on websites, blogs, and other sites, where we can learn from each other and provide also a web of resources online. The ideal environment to pool resources and share knowledge. 

Please fill out this online form with your information and you will be included in our online directory. Please use the information posted to share each other's posts, like each other's pages and retweet each other's tweets, if you feel the information share is relevant to your audience as well. 

Social Media Bootcamp: How to use Social Media to Increast Traffic to your Website?

Where: FGCU Renaissance Center, Naples

When: Fridays: Jan 13, Jan 20 and Jan 27 - 3 - 6pm

Presented & Hosted by Small Business Development Center & Relevanza, Inc

Learn more

Register here