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The Customer Connection: Service Essentials for Restaurants

The Launch Pad, Grover Beach + Zoom 391 Front St, Suite E, Grover Beach, CA, United States

Register Great customer service is the secret ingredient to a thriving restaurant. Join us for an interactive workshop with seasoned restaurateur Ben Arrona, who will share insider strategies to enhance guest interactions and build lasting customer loyalty. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn: Proven communication techniques to engage and delight guests Best practices for seamless in-house and to-go service How to handle customer complaints with confidence and professionalism Whether you’re a restaurant owner, manager, or front-line staff, this workshop will equip your team with the tools to create memorable dining experiences that keep customers coming back. Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your service skills and set your restaurant apart!

Unlocking Modern Marketing: From Mad Men to AI

THE SANDBOX Paso Robles + Zoom 1345 Park St, Paso Robles, California, United States

Register Marketing has transformed dramatically over the past century, evolving from traditional advertising methods to today’s AI-driven strategies. This interactive workshop gives small business owners a hands-on opportunity to explore how marketing tactics have adapted over time and how to apply these insights to modern business growth. Through real-world case studies, expert insights, and collaborative challenges, participants will learn how to reach their target audience, maximize limited resources, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape. The session culminates in a practical exercise where attendees will develop a scalable AI-powered marketing strategy tailored to their own businesses. Whether you’re launching a new venture or looking to refine your existing marketing efforts, this workshop will equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the future of marketing with confidence.

Strategic Prioritization: How to Make Effective Business Decisions

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Register As a business owner or manager, you’re constantly faced with competing priorities and limited resources. With so many strategic directions available, how do you confidently choose the right path forward? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn a practical framework for prioritizing business decisions that align with your company’s goals, resources, and long-term vision. Whether you’re weighing product development ideas, marketing strategies, or operational improvements, this session will help you cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. The session will be led by Mitch Emerson, co-founder of CompeteIQ.io—a Competitive Intelligence platform serving enterprise clients. Mitch brings decades of experience in corporate strategy, technical marketing, and software development from his time at Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks. He now serves as an IT Manager for San Luis Obispo County and has advised dozens of local startups and small businesses through the Cal Poly CIE and SBDC since 2020.

Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience for Sustainable Success

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Register Burnout is more than just stress—it’s a real and rising challenge for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders juggling competing priorities. In this practical, down-to-earth workshop, executive leadership coach Kiki Wilkinson will guide you through how to spot the early warning signs of burnout, develop strategies to prevent it, and equip yourself with tools to bounce back when it hits. Drawing on her 15 years of leadership development experience—including nearly a decade shaping global teams at Airbnb—Kiki shares actionable steps and compassionate insights to help you protect your energy, sustain your passion, and reconnect with the joy of what you do. Whether you’re feeling the pressure now or just want to build better boundaries for the future, this session will help you cultivate resilience, boost clarity, and thrive both personally and professionally.