The annual GROW Your Business conference is Westchester Community College’s signature entrepreneurship event. GROW inspires and empowers entrepreneurs and business owners across the Hudson Valley. The full-day forum offers the nuts and bolts of growing your business and maximizing success, with a focus on networking, mentoring, business development and driving revenue. Attendees are able to tap into a network of like-minded business leaders, potential partners and resources, and hear from marquee-name professionals and innovators from Westchester and beyond.
This is an energetic full day of learning with an inspiring keynote speaker and breakout sessions, followed by a networking reception. Our content is based on surveys of small businesses and their crucial needs to thrive. The day will emphasize solid business fundamentals along with some potentially transformative strategies.- Leading for Innovation
- Leading Through Change
- Leading in Technology
- Leading for Growth Mode
Presenters
Tony Fareed of Bridge Global Capital Group & 360accel
Jocelyn Greenky of Sider Road Business Transformation
Karen Short of SGC3
John Watkins of Westchester Community College
11:15a Morning Breakout Sessions
Presenter: David Vogel, Video Seo Pro
Session 2: Say It! Stepping Up to Crucial Conversations as a Business Owner
In business - and especially family-owned business, it is a given that challenging situations occur that must be addressed if the business is to survive. Most conflicts and chronic problems in family businesses stem from avoiding hard topics and tough questions. Learn tools and strategies and get the Essential Checklist for crucial conversations.
Presenter: Catherine McMaster-Pietrow, Advantage Family Business
Session 3: The Art of Making Your Value Unquestionable, Unforgettable and Marketable
In this session, the presenter will share best practices for making yourself indispensable to clients. Through an open and lively discussion, you willll learn how he built a six-figure consulting business working part time, with no website or other promotional material. Success comes in many forms, and successful entrepreneurs know when to follow others’ approaches and when to break the mold. Use this session to challenge and expand your thinking about how to succeed.
Presenter: David Severance, New Door Leadership
Session 4: Get Connected and GROW Your Business
This workshop will explain how business owners can access free services that will support and help GROW their business. Learn about On-the-Job Training reimbursement funds, Sector Business Partnership membership and benefits, job fairs and recruitment help, Career Pathways, READI for Youth, the “Just Add One” Business Academy and more.
Presenters: Thom Kleiner, WPWDB Executive Director and Dr. LaTasha Hamlett-Carver, Employment and Training Specialist
Session 5: WCC Student Pitch Competition
Westchester Community College students will have the opportunity to pitch their business to a panel of business leaders for the chance to win a prize.
12:00p Lunch & Networking
12:40p Keynote: Amirah Kassem, Founder of The Flour Shop
1:30p Afternoon Breakout Sessions I
Session 6: Fire Your Webmaster!
Learn about online resources which will give you independence with your business website. Learn to be more proactive and save yourself from being blindsided by anyone who claims to be a web design expert. Talk to them with the same confidence, and speak their lingo.
Presenter: John Watkins, Westchester Community College IT & Cybersecurity
Session 7: The Psychology of Sales
Most of us have sub-conscious filters about what sales is all about: being pushy, manipulative, self-serving, etc. These filters inhibit our ability to be effective as sales people for our business, which directly impacts our ability to generate income. In this workshop you will become aware of your personal filters about selling and how they might be holding you back, understand the mindset of the buyer and what he or she is truly looking for from you, learn how to set yourself up for success in selling your product or service and be at ease with the sales process.
Presenter: Patty Franco, GrowthSource Academy
Session 8: Thinking Strategically About Growing Your Business
Growth opportunities are all around us but sustainable growth is difficult and needs informed leadership that delivers bottom line results. You must create a positive value proposition for the customer, and you must plan ahead and construct an economically sustainable business model to effectively manage the pace of growth. By attending this workshop, you will better understand the sources of capital available to fund growth, the framework to create your growth plan and understand the operational obstacles to growth.
Presenter: Karen Short, SGC3
Encore Session 9: The Art of Making Your Value Unquestionable, Unforgettable and Marketable
In this session the presenter will share best practices for making yourself indispensable to clients. Through an open and lively discussion, you’ll learn how he built a six-figure consulting business working part time, with no website or other promotional material. Success comes in many forms and successful entrepreneurs know when to follow others’ approaches and when to break the mold. Use this session to challenge and expand your thinking about how to succeed.
Presenter: David Severance, New Door Leadership
2:20p Afternoon Breakout Sessions II
Get the most out of your website, social media marketing and email campaigns. This workshop will walk you through the essential steps for successful execution of your online marketing. You will get practical advise for small business owners who have many responsibilities and not a lot of time.
Presenter: Jann Mirchandani, Westchester Marketing Cafe
Session 11: Legal Changes and Tax Issues for Small Businesses
- New York State Paid Family Leave and Westchester County Paid Sick Leave
- New York State and Sexual Harassment New York City Sexual Harassment
- Westchester County and New York City - Salary History Ban
- Westchester County and New York City - Ban the Box
- Minimum Wage Escalations - a competitive disadvantage Presenters: Allison Madison, Madison Approach Staffing and Paul Herman, Herman & Company CPA's
Presenter: David Vogel, Video Seo Pro
Presenter: Patty Franco, GrowthSource Academy
3:10p Afternoon Encore Breakout Sessions III
"Build it and they will come..." If only it were that easy, every business would be successful. It isn’t good enough to just have a great website or even a fantastic product or service - you have to get your business found online by people who want to buy from you. Maybe they will find you after doing a Google search, maybe they will see your ad on Facebook or maybe they will discover a piece of content you shared on social media. There are so many ways of getting found online today, but what is the best way to get in front of the people you need to attract? Hear a panel of experts discuss the many ways you can improve your chances of getting your company found online.
People do business with people they know. Learn how community involvement can help grow your business with limited marketing resources. This workshop will address the various types of groups and community organizations, their purpose, and help to identify those which might be most beneficial to join.
Presenter: Deborah Milone, Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce
Software security flaws, the online presence of companies, and the dissemination of information on the internet cause worldwide computer security problems. Companies, individuals, and even government agencies are affected by security flaws, costing millions of dollars each year. You can implement simple techniques to mitigate some of these security problems.
Presenter: John Watkins, Westchester Community College IT & Cybersecurity
Session 17: MWBE Resources to Attract and Retain Business
The Westchester County Office of Economic Development, along with the Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corporation, offers business resources, financial assistance and a wide range of related services and incentives to help attract and retain business and talent in Westchester.
4:00p Afternoon Breakout Sessions IV
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Peekskill Brewery, Yonkers Brewing
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