Follow Louis Camassa, Managing Partner at EMPATH and Michael Dunn, Global Brand Consultant at EMPATH, as they use their client experience working with brands like Apple, Disney, and Netflix, among others, to create experiences that transcend purchase decisions. You’ll learn the building blocks of creating a memorable brand, and how to transform your business to be design-led. Together, they’ll explore what a brand really is, why brand is important, and how to develop your “inside” and “outside” company brand. Plus, you’ll develop a Customer Journey Map, walkaway with a visual brand identity checklist, and be equipped to lead your creative team in experience design.

Learn from the SBDC’s own financial expert Rolando Locci how to: understand the Profit and Loss (P&L) structure, know your revenue and cost drivers, develop assumptions, translate assumptions into an Excel-based financial model and use the plan to run your business. We will utilize an example company to walk through the thought process and build an Excel model to convey some basic modeling techniques. Bring your laptop, Excel and questions! Rolando is the principal at Rolando Locci Consultants a professional services firm that provides CFO services to small and medium size businesses. Contact Rolando to learn more about him and his firm. 650.815.1446 · rolandolocci@gmail.com · www.rolandolocci.com.  

Join Damon Watkins, a motivated, personable business professional with a 15+ year track record in multiple aspects of financial control, management and policies/procedures. Damon has strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to work independently and with others. He will teach you how to set up your company with QuickBooks and how to carry out everyday transactions such as selling, buying, inventory and sales taxes.   

Heather Dopson is a Community Builder at GoDaddy and her mission in life is to help people lose their J-O-B and find their J-O-Y. She is an international speaker on the topics of social media, entrepreneurship, community and digital marketing. In this interactive workshop, Heather will navigate you through the various platforms and how each might be applicable to your business. One of the most overlooked components of social media is how to measure the effort you’re putting into it and if that work is really producing results for you. Walk away with actionable insights and steps to immediately implement to level up your social performance.

This workshop will provide you with the tools, tricks and information needed to successfully finance your entrepreneurial dreams. Learn more about loan qualifications, managing credit and local funding options from leading lenders, including a representative from the SBA District Office, Pacific Premier Bank and California Coast Rural Development Corporation (Cal Costal).

Fill up your coffee cup and join the Cal Poly Small Business Development Center as we view and discuss the latest in business ideas and trends. Informational videos and clips will be followed by a discussion led by an expert in the field. Attendance is always free of charge and coffee will be provided.

Damon Watkins, the Director of Finance & Operations for Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, is a motivated, personable business professional with a 15+ year track record in multiple aspects of financial control, management and policies/procedures. He prides himself on having strong communication skills, and is accustomed to working with sensitive and confidential records, always protecting and maintaining confidentiality. QuickBooks Intermediate is the second step in a three part workshop series. Learn how to manage and secure company files, list items, order and sell inventory and how to apply vendor discounts. Register here. Limited seating available

GoDaddy has identified four distinct stages of the entrepreneur journey that are similar worldwide, across industries, and bridging all types of ventures: Dream it - Create it – Grow it – Manage it This workshop will cover the following three topics along the journey in deeper detail: What are the steps in the entrepreneur journey? How do you build a personal brand? How do you bring that brand to life?  

YouTube, you know it, you use it, your love it, but did you know you can promote your business on it? The second largest search engine in the world has a vast array of untapped features for you to grow your business. Join Steve Burnside in our 3-hour crash course as he defines AdWords and shows how YouTube videos can help grow your business.

Ever wonder how successful new businesses get started? Judy Mahan from the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will share how new ventures get launched right here in our county. At the SLO HotHouse, she leads the programming to assist in the business development of the 21 current incubating companies. On the SBDC side, Judy manages the pool of 27 expert consultants who support SBDC clients. With her experience as a corporate and securities attorney, Judy also provides legal guidance to more than 200 company clients within the SLO County SBDC network.