Norton Announces Workshop Schedule for Her Small Business Fair, June 7

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced the workshop schedule for her 2018 Small Business Fair, which will be 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 Fair is free of charge and open only to District of Columbia small businesses and residents. The Fair will offer a broad range of workshops and sessions to 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.

"In light of the popularity of the June 7 Small Business Fair, I want to give D.C. small businesses a heads up in advance of this year's event," Norton said. "The workshops reflect what local businesses have indicated they need most."

Advance registration is strongly encouraged, and interested groups should register online by clicking here.

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 208 – 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 208 – 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 SC small businesses and entrepreneurs.

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 208 – 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 209C – 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.

Room 209A – How to Build Your Credit

Vicki Davis – Davis & Davis Credit 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.