LSBDC at Southeastern to offer free seminars for Global Entrepreneurship Week
Monday, November 7, 2016
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southeastern Louisiana
University is offering three free seminars during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW),
Nov. 15-17.
The series is held one week each November with the intention of inspiring people
everywhere through local, national and global activities to explore their potential
as self-starters and innovators. The first two GEW seminars will take place at the
LSBDC main office in Hammond, located at 1514 Martens Drive.
The first seminar, titled “Positive or Poison? Maintaining a Healthy Reputation
Online” is scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 9 to 11 a.m. and is co-sponsored by Northshore
SCORE, the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce, and Tangipahoa Economic Development.
The scheduled guest speaker is Kim Walker of 5 Stones Media.
Assistant Director of the Small Business Development Center Sandy Summers said
there are many places online where clients can share feedback with the world about
their experiences, and it is important to know what they are saying.
“Most people don’t know that 52 percent of consumers report positive customer
reviews make them more likely to do business compared to just 28% who prefer factors
like location and price,” Summers said. “We want to help you take control of your
online presence, tap into the power of reviewing, and respond to recommendations,
referrals and reviews.”
The second seminar, “Franchising for Entrepreneurial Success,” is scheduled Wednesday,
Nov. 16, from 9 to 11 a.m. and is co-sponsored by Northshore SCORE and the Greater
Hammond Chamber of Commerce. The guest speaker is Ted Fireman of FranNet of Louisiana.
Summers said the event will look at pre-formatted franchise ownership solutions
to help leverage existing business models to ramp up faster; mitigate risk; benefit
from training and mentoring; attain assistance with marketing, staffing and other
support; leverage scales of economy and collective knowledge; and be enabled to work
“on” versus “in” a business.
Additional topics to be discussed include best practices for researching to find
businesses that match need and budget; low cost options and financing vehicles; business
ownership model comparison; franchise ownership rewards and risks; and best opportunities
for full and part-time owner involvement.
The final event is scheduled Thursday, Nov. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“#NorthshoreMILLS Northshore Millennial Meetup” will take place in the seating area
across from the pool tables on the first floor of the Southeastern Student Union,
located at 303 Union Ave., with guest speakers from the Louisiana SBDC at Southeastern.
“Join Southeastern’s LSBDC as we share tips to help you start and grow your business,”
Summers said. “Participants can link up via social media #NorthshoreMILLS or join
us in the Student Union first floor near the pool tables.”
Topics of discussion will include the reasons why individuals go into business,
business goals; working with the right people to make a business work; the right location
to make a business work; whether or not location matters; skills and support to make
a business work; and any other business questions individuals may have.
For more information about the GEW seminars or to register, call 985-549-3831
or visit www.lsbdc.org.
