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  • What You Need to Know: Finance & Accounting for 2025 Success

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

    Register Stay ahead of the curve in 2025 with this must-attend panel discussion tailored for small business owners! Our expert panelists will provide actionable advice to help you navigate the evolving business landscape in finance and accounting:   Financial Strategies: Learn from Chloe Feingold about essential financial considerations to ensure your business remains resilient and thrives in the coming year. Chloe is a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones and specializes in helping individuals and businesses prioritize, plan, and achieve their life goals, from starting a company to buying a home. With a background in entrepreneurship, Chloe focuses on supporting businesses at every stage, from early ideas to multi-million-dollar growth or exits. Accounting Insights: Understand how to streamline your accounting processes and stay on top of critical deadlines with Alana Maxwell. Alana specializes in tax planning and compliance for individuals and businesses across various industries, with expertise in multi-state and international tax research, corporate reorganizations, and IRS communication. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your business with expert guidance in these vital areas!

  • Mastering Restaurant Time Management and Operations

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

    Register Join us for an interactive workshop focused on improving time management and operational efficiency in the restaurant industry. In this session, you’ll learn practical strategies to streamline your daily operations, including techniques for managing prep and lead times, optimizing fire times (cook time), and juggling multiple tasks effectively to keep your restaurant running smoothly and on schedule. The workshop is led by SBDC Advisor Ben Arrona, owner of Benny’s Pizza Palace & Social Club in San Luis Obispo. With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ben has successfully navigated the challenges of running a thriving restaurant while also managing a commercial kitchen that supports caterers and pop-up restaurants. His hands-on expertise and proven strategies make this a must-attend session for restaurant owners and employees looking to elevate their efficiency and productivity.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • Coffee & Conversation featuring Cara Wright

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

    Join us this month for a special Coffee & Conversation featuring keynote speaker Cara Wright, Director of Development and Community Engagement at Must! Charities and former CEO of Farm Supply Company. Cara is a fourth-generation SLO County resident and Cal Poly alum whose career spans nearly three decades leading one of the region’s most beloved farmer-owned cooperatives. She rose through the ranks at Farm Supply—from salesperson to marketing, V.P. of Communications, and ultimately CEO—before transitioning this year to her new role at Must! Charities. Cara will share lessons from her journey from a local co-op to a local non-profit, insights on leadership, and the ways business and community impact intersect. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear Cara’s perspective on leading with purpose, navigating career transitions, and fostering meaningful change. Connect with fellow business professionals, enjoy free coffee, and engage in meaningful conversations with our vibrant community.

    Free