Norton Adds New Workshop to D.C. Small Business Fair, Set for Thursday
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that she has added a new workshop to her 2018 Small Business Fair, which will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place NW). The District of Columbia Office of Human Rights will offer a workshop, entitled "Championing Diversity: Best Practices for an Inclusive Business," to help D.C. small business owners maintain a diverse workforce and deal with incidents involving hate speech, an increasingly high-profile issue facing businesses across the country.
The Fair is free of charge and open only to District of Columbia small businesses and residents. The Fair's workshops and sessions will help District residents and business owners start, maintain and expand businesses in the District.
Norton will kick off the Fair by announcing the winner of the D.C. Small Business of the Year, an outstanding D.C. business that can act as a model to inspire other residents who operate businesses in the District.
Below is a full list and schedule of the workshops at the Small Business Fair.
Small Business Fair Workshop Schedule
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Room 206 – Creating a Buzz for your Brand – Social Media 101
Michael Akin and Maya Warburg, LINK Strategic Partners
Learn about the importance of social media tools and how they can help in branding your business.
Room 208 – How to Write a Business Plan
Cynthia Harrison, Operation Hope
Discover the essential role business plans play in helping start-ups as well as established organizations and business departments. This session will introduce a pragmatic, process-based approach to help participants understand strategic goals and outline operational and financial strategies needed to achieve a business plan.
11:40 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Room 206 – Financing Your Business 2.0
Joseph Leitmann, Capital Area Asset Builders
Stephanie Thomas, Washington Area Community Investment Fund
Discuss the various lending opportunities to help you start and grow your small business. You will also learn to navigate local, federal, public, private, traditional and alternative lending options and how best to become lender-ready
Room 208AB – How to Become a Certified Business
Vonetta Martin, DC Department of Small & Local Business Development
Learn about the requirements of the Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program and how this program helps position your business to better compete in DC government contracting opportunities
12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Room 208AB – Procurement Requires Perseverance
Rene Redwood, Rene Redwood Enterprise
Procurement is defined as obtaining possession of something, usually after exerting a substantial effort to do so. Perseverance is persistence, tirelessness, endurance, and urgency. You will learn that "procure" is an acronym for seven lessons and practices on "how to" make a business thrive. It is a prescriptive approach for entrepreneurs to create a path for success through procurement. DISB will also provide information about investment crowdfunding through DISB regulations aimed at providing capital raising alternatives for D.C. small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Room 209A – Championing Diversity: Best Practices for an Inclusive Business
Simone Smillie, District of Columbia Office of Human Rights
OHR's presentation will include an overview of the laws it enforces and requirements by D.C. law that lend to inclusivity, as well as tips on best practices for small businesses. In light of many recent events in which the District has observed a rise in bias-related activity and hate speech, OHR seeks to also inform businesses on local government resources available if their businesses/property are vandalized or subject to damage due to hate speech.
Room 209B - Opportunities to Finance Your Small Business
Mike McManus, D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities, & Banking (DISB)
Camille Caesar, SSBCI Fund Manager
DISB will discuss new innovative finance options for D.C. Business owners. During this workshop, we will also cover the D.C. State Small Business Credit Initiative and DISB's new regulations to facilitate investment crowdfunding for District Small Businesses. DISB programs offer collateral and capital support to small business borrowers that are otherwise qualified for loans, but unable to meet the lender's security requirements. DISB will also provide information about investment crowdfunding through DISB regulations aimed at providing capital raising alternatives for SC small businesses and entrepreneurs.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Room 208AB – Insuring your Business
Arthur Slade, D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities, & Banking
DISB will provide an overview of insurance basics, from workers' compensation to business property and liability insurance.
Room 209A – How to Build Your Credit
Vicki Davis – Davis & Davis Advisors
This workshop will help place participants on a pathway to financial success before attempting to access capital. With credit card debt at an all-time high in America, it is no wonder why most small businesses are unable to go the next level. After completing this workshop, participants will understand how to evaluate their personal and business credit effectively, how to raise credit scores best, and establishes new financial goals that are aligned with their goals of activities. Following the workshop, participants will be encouraged to schedule one-on-one coaching sessions with representatives from Davis & Davis Advisors, LLC.
Room 209B – Activate Your "Brand" Power
Angel Livas - DC Media Connection, LLC
We all have a voice… but, does your company's voice align with the brand you have created or you are working to build? It is imperative that you establish the tone of your brand and how it's represented at all times…especially on social media. In the "Activate Your ‘Brand' Power" session, we will discuss practical branding and social media techniques to ensure that your maximizing your brands potential and visibility on social media.