11-12-04

Rural small business conference Dec. 4 at Iowa State

AMES, Iowa -- A one-day, statewide conference for rural businesses, "Solutions for Managing Business Risk," will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, in the Richard and Joan Stark Lecture Hall (room 1148), Gerdin Business Building, Iowa State University.

The conference is part of the Grow Your Small Market Farm Business Network, an Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program based in Des Moines. The SBDC is the outreach unit of Iowa State's College of Business.

Registration for the conference is $50 and includes lunch. Registration must be paid in advance.

Topics and presenters are:

• "Risk Management: Why Pay Attention to It?" -- Dennis Forsyth, West Des Moines, senior staff underwriter for Farm Bureau Financial Services
• "Passing the Torch: Developing Business Exit Strategies" -- Samuel Kreamer, Des Moines, member of Dreher, Simpson & Jensen law firm
• "Looking at Your Employee and Human Resource Issues" -- Ted Williams, Des Moines, attorney and advisor to executives in 13 industries nationwide
• "Telling Your Story -- Successful Sales Presentations" -- Sue Futrell, Iowa City, owner of One Backyard, a communications and marketing firm specializing in sustainable food, agriculture and business
• "Go Forth and Do Business" -- Michael Wagner, Des Moines, co-founder of White Rabbit Group, a leadership training and development firm.

Sponsors are the Iowa Agricultural Innovation Center, Iowa Agriculture Development Authority, Business Networks, and Rural Community Economic Vitality, Iowa State University (funded by the USDA).

Supporting organizations are the Iowa Small Business Development Center, Drake University Agricultural Law Center, ISU--Value Added Extension, Iowa Valley Continuing Education at Marshalltown Community College.

To register, call Penny Brown Huber, (515) 289-0238, or e-mail BrownPennyL@aol.com.

Parking is available in the ISU Memorial Union parking ramp. A map is online at http://www.fpm.iastate.edu/maps/closeup.asp?left=683&top=1986&xshow= 923&yshow=2176. The map also shows the Gerdin Business Building.

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Quick look

A one-day, statewide conference for rural businesses, "Solutions for Managing Business Risk," will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, in the Richard and Joan Stark Lecture Hall (room 1148), Gerdin Business Building, Iowa State University. Registration for the conference is $50 and includes lunch. Registration must be paid in advance.