WWBIC is proud to introduce a special program available for a limited time only – the Building Blocks of Entrepreneurship! The goal is to provide small business owners with the puzzle pieces of resources of knowledge to grow and develop your business. This program includes:
- Exclusive training sessions led by top industry experts
- Valuable one-on-one training sessions led by in-demand business consultants
This program is available to established WWBIC clients by invitation only. These resources are valued at up to $250 per hour, but are provided here through WWBIC at no cost.
Training Sessions
- Sessions are available on the topics of: accounting, business planning, home care and marketing
- Registration is available first come, first served at no cost
- Register online at bit.ly/bbregister22
- Contact Brianna Welch with questions on these special, invitation-only training sessions
Training Session Calendar
June 24 – Social Media Content Made Easy
June 27 – Strategic Planning
July 18 – Marketing Playbook for Success
July 25 – How to Start a Home Care Business
August 1 – Accounting for the Non-Accountant
August 8 – Website Builders for Your Small Business
August 15 – A Walk Through LivePlan
August 29 – SEO Checklist: Maximize Your Website
Accounting
Accounting for the Non-Accountants
Led by Megan Schwan
Date: August 1st
Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Financial records are the backbone of your small business. In this session, you will learn the basics of accounting and bookkeeping in plain language and gain ‘non-accountant’ practical skills to achieve success in your small business.
Business Planning
Strategic Planning
Led by Jennifer Ott
Date: June 27th
Time: 11:00 am – 1:o0 pm
This two-hour training course will help small business owners develop and implement key elements of strategic planning. We will explore the importance of strategic planning, define the components of an effective strategic plan and how to get started. The course will review the process of writing a strategic plan and provide a template for attendees to use in construction of their plan. View flyer for this training session
A Walk Through LivePlan
Led by Michelle Madl-Soehren
Date: August 15th
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 pm
A business plan is not a document to complete and stick in a drawer. If used properly, it should be something you use ongoing in your business, and LivePlan is a software that will help you to do that successfully. Join us and learn how LivePlan helps to complete, track, monitor, explore, and execute a successful plan for your business.
Home Care
How to Start a Home Care Business
Led by Lady Legacies
Date: July 25th
Time: 8:00 – 9:30 am
There are great business opportunities for entrepreneurs in the home care industry. If you’re considering owning a business in this industry, you are probably wondering, “Where do I start?” Join us and learn the types of home care businesses, and the necessary steps needed to start, maintain, and grow a home care business successfully.
Marketing
Marketing Playbook for Success
Led by Jennifer Hensley
Date: July 18th
Time: 12:00 – 1:o0 pm
In this session, you’ll walk away with the marketing MVP plays that every small business owner should have to be strategic, provide value in an authentic way and be consistent. A playbook provides faster more effective execution, shortens the purchasing cycle, creates more raving fans, and generates more revenue. Learn the components of the marketing playbook, understand the framework for a winning marketing system, and have a marketing strategy that grows and evolves with your business.
Search Engine Optimization Checklist: Maximize Your Website
Led by Shane Fell
Date: August 29th
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and what does it have to do with your website? Join us and learn how to get more Return on Investment out of your website with SEO. We will explore ideas for content, word choices, technical, SERP features, strategy and more!
Social Media Content Made Easy
Led by Jennifer Hensley
Date: June 24th
Time: 12:00 – 1:o0 pm
Social media content can be used to show thought leadership, entertain, educate, inspire, connect, and more but how you use social starts with understanding your audience. In this interactive workshop, you’ll understand how your ideal client is using social media and build a library of content ideas, so you never have to wonder what to post. Then we’ll develop your content calendar so you can control the narrative around your business. View flyer for this training session
Website Builders for Your Small Business
Led by Shane Fell
Date: August 8th
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
There has never been a better or more important time to develop a website for your small business. A website can help you increase your brand, customer base, control, credibility and much more. However, when creating a website, there’s no “one size fits all” solution. Join us to explore and compare website builders that are user and budget friendly and that will help you boost your business.
One-on-One Consulting
For a limited time under the special Building Blocks of Entrepreneurship program, WWBIC is offering technical assistance to select clients in the form of hour-long individual coaching sessions with top-notch business consultants. These valuable appointments are available on a first come, first served basis through your primary WWBIC contact. Below is a listing of consultants you will be able to work with as part of this special program.
NOTE: Due to limited availability of resources, 48 hours cancellation notice is required
Kizzie Anderson & Nicosia King-Jones (The Lady Legacies)
Bonnie Atkinson
Founder and Managing Director of The Atkinson Co., MBA and CEPA Bonnie Atkinson helps business owners and executives earn the right to do the fun stuff through business planning, strategy, and execution. The Atkinson Co. is your unofficial business partner in creating strategies and improving business processes to make the most of your bottom line. Bonnie specializes in strategic planning, copywriting, digital marketing, and business consulting.
Shane Fell
Shane Fell is the Co-Founder and Marketing Strategist for LimeGlow Design. Shane works with each LimeGlow client to map out a winning game plan for their websites and digital marketing strategies. Beginning in 2002, Shane spent fourteen years at Top Floor, a leading digital marketing agency headquartered in New Berlin, Wisconsin, most recently serving as Vice President of Business Development. In early 2016, he founded LimeGlow Design to meet the marketing needs of small businesses and other organizations. In addition, Shane is a featured speaker at business and association events, educating marketers in digital marketing best practices.
Joanne Freitag
Joanne Freitag is a partner in Parrish and Freitag, Ltd, located in Kenosha County. Joanne has been a small business owner herself for over 25 years! It is her personal, and the firm’s, mission to provide accounting services to all, with a special emphasis on supporting small and micro businesses. Joanne has been a WWBIC volunteer and facilitator for over 10 years. She aids clients in need of accounting services, prepping for loans, understanding the various business structures, assisting with QuickBooks questions, setting up QuickBooks, explaining financial statements, and answering all accounting questions. She works with entrepreneurs starting, growing, or strengthening their businesses.
Jennifer Hensley
Marketing expert Jennifer Hensley is the owner and operator of Playmaker Coaching & Consulting out of Milwaukee. Her business changes the game for referral-based business owners who struggle with how to scale sustainably by having not just a good solution but the right solution for them that eliminates the hassle and hustle. Jennifer specializes in social media marketing, digital marketing, email marketing, strategic planning, marketing consulting, lead generation, event marketing, brand marketing & growth marketing.
Ben Lefort
A long-time resident of Milwaukee, Ben has taught English abroad, worked in publishing and nonprofits, honed specialized marketing skills at top notch agencies, run a solo consultancy, started up a Milwaukee-based firm focused solely on Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and now oversees marketing at the teen financial literacy education nonprofit SecureFutures. Over the years, Ben has cultivated a deep knowledge of how small businesses can attract new customers by creating visibility with their target audiences in search engine results pages. His consultancy focuses on strategic marketing planning as well as SEO and other digital marketing channels for nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises.
Michelle Madl-Soehren
Michelle Madl is driven by her passion to cultivate relationships that deliver exceptional results, dedicating the last 25 years of her life to “people development.” A champion for entrepreneurs and small business owners, Michelle spent 10 years with the Wisconsin Technical College System working with small business owners and entrepreneurs navigating the processes of start-up, growth and sustainability through workshops, classes and 1:1 coaching and consulting. She also has an extensive background in leadership development, human skills training and customer service training. She is an authorized partner and certified trainer for Everything DiSC, Productive Conflict and Agile EQ.
She is the founder and CEO of weHub, an online business membership directory and resource hub for women entrepreneurs and founder of the annual weHub Women Entrepreneurs Summit. In May 2022 Michelle joined the team at Newcap, Inc. as Vice President of Asset Development where she will be leading the coordination and launch of Newcap’s new Business Empowerment Center.
Michelle is an enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. She has been recognized as a Native American Woman in Community Leadership by the Wisconsin Women of Color and recipient of the Urban Hope Entrepreneur Center’s Women in Leadership award. She holds a Masters of Science Degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from Silver Lake College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Behavioral Science from Mount Mary University.
Stephanie Melnick
Stephanie, owner of Melnick & Melnick, S.C. and self-described law nerd. She has been practicing law for over 25 years. She spent quality time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison earning her undergraduate and law degrees. Stephanie loves taking a deep dive into clients’ businesses to learn what makes them tick. She also relishes a well-written (short and simple) contract and is pleased to draft and negotiate all kinds, including leases, operating agreements, and terms of service. Protecting clients’ clever brands, logos, and slogans also gives Stephanie a charge (#legalnerd). She identifies what trademarks should and can be registered, and monitors and enforces registered trademarks. Writing cease and desist letters fills Stephanie’s heart with joy.
Jennifer Ott
Certified in Leadership Development, Training and Coaching, and with decades specializing in marketing innovation and growth, Jennifer Ott has dedicated her career to building the success of others. She specializes in public speaking and motivational coaching. Her marketing strategies, leadership development and brand building help clients utilize dynamic teams and tactics through a disciplined approach. Jennifer can identify business needs, structure a meticulous strategy, and lead disciplined teams toward meteoric achievement.
Dale Reeves
After 35 years in the banking industry, Dale “retired” early and pursued his passion of working with small businesses and startups. He has always been amazed at seeing the perseverance of entrepreneurs and their desire to reach for their dream. He looks forward to sharing his experience along with the vast resources of WWBIC.
Megan Schwan
Megan is the CEO & Founder of Sidekick Accounting Services. When she was a freshman in high school, she discovered her passion for accounting. Schwan went on to graduate Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Viginia. Her first job at the age of 15 was in accounting and now has over 15 years of experience. As a mother of four, her family is the driving force behind her business. Megan is proud of my several year relationship with WWBIC, my partnerships with NARI, Scale Up MKE (SPARC), StartUP Wisconsin and several local chambers. Megan’s passion is to empower you to understand your finances. It’s like using a decoder ring. Your finances contain all the information needed to answer the questions that will take you to the next level. Let her help you unlock that information and pave your path to success.