Experts Mentor Chamber Members at No-Cost Business Clinic

Posted on | June 28, 2010 | No Comments

Business Solutions Clinic

By Michelle Pence, Communications Department Intern

For new business owners or those looking to expand and grow, having the guidance of seasoned professionals available to answer business-related questions and offer advice is a major advantage. However, this advice usually comes at a steep price that few can afford. Not so for Tempe Chamber members, who can receive high-value expert mentoring at no charge during a special educational event.

As part of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing efforts to provide our membership with the tools necessary to grow and succeed, we will be hosting our second complimentary Business Solutions Clinic on July 30 to provide members with business counseling sessions with industry experts.

A panel of experts will mentor participants in the areas of Online Marketing, Sales, Legal Services, Social Media, Business Strategy and Health Care. In addition, a SCORE representative will be present to answer general questions for all attendees.

The clinic is designed to be beneficial to people with all levels of business experience. Russ Kazmierczak of AzCa Embroidery, Inc., was new to Tempe business at the time of the first Business Solutions Clinic. “The Business Solutions Clinic was a great primer for understanding effective local marketing and networking opportunities,” Kazmierczak explained. “The workshop facilitators were open-minded, professional and personable. Their help has shaped our annual marketing plan.”

The individual areas of focus were chosen based on the expressed needs of Tempe Chamber members as well as the popularity of topics at the first clinic. Marketing and Legal Services were two topics from the past clinic that received a large amount of positive feedback from those who attended.

Read more below or sign up for your free sessions.

John Romero, owner of The Bicycle Cellar, was one of the members who attended the Legal Services session at the first clinic. “The Business Solutions Clinic was instrumental in guiding us through the gray areas of business,” Romero said. “The clinic answered the legal questions we had about owning our own business.”

At the upcoming clinic, the mentor for the Online Marketing session will be local e-Commerce guru Jay Feitlinger of Sitewire. By attending his counseling session, participants can expect to receive tips on how to leverage online marketing with social media to connect with their customers. A focus on search engine marketing and social media marketing sets Feitlinger’s session apart from the general field of marketing, although participants are encouraged to ask any questions related to the field.

Other topics were chosen to reflect current trends, such as Health Care and Social Media. Aside from owning a full-service employee benefits agency, mentor Kristine Kassel of Benefits by Design is a speaker on the topic of health care reform. The changes included in the recent health care reform bill can be confusing for many, so attendees with questions concerning the bill or general questions about health care are encouraged to attend her session.

Another mounting trend – social media – can be difficult for some to utilize efficiently. Jack Smith, founder of social media consulting company The Social Latte, will mentor participants on how to use social media resourcefully and maximize its benefits in his session.

The Business Solutions Clinic will take place Friday, July 30, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Tempe Chamber located at 909 E. Apache Blvd. The event is complimentary and open to Tempe Chamber members only on a first-come, first-served basis. Each member is limited to two 30-minute sessions. RSVP’s are required to sachiyo@tempechamber.org.

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