FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT IRSC
CENTER PROVIDES MULTIPLE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR
ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
TCBusiness.com 23
The Florida Small Business Development
Center, hosted at Indian River State
College, recognizes the top priority for
small business owners is to run the business.
Dedicating time to attend business
training and professional development
education is an almost impossible task for
small business owners.
However, significant benefits and opportunities
can and do exist for those who participate
in continuing business education.
Regular participation in business training
programs can provide critical and valuable
information to owners seeking to grow and
expand their businesses and revenues.
The FSBDC at IRSC provides high-value
training programs throughout the year
that focus on vital business issues including
social media marketing and financial
management. The center also offers Start-
Smart, a class for aspiring entrepreneurs
and small business owners.
Attending business training programs
is tough — but what’s not tough about
owning a small business. The question is:
What would you do to potentially grow
revenues and earn more profit?
Here are some of FSBDC’s training
opportunities:
DIGITAL MARKETING BOOT CAMP
This three-day program is designed for
business owners, entrepreneurs, marketing
students, managers, and others seeking
to strengthen their digital marketing
presence, effectiveness and strategy. The
focus will be on creating a positive digital
presence on social media and establishing
a digital marketing strategy. Some of the
subjects to be discussed include:
• What a buyer’s persona is and how one
can be created for a service or product
• Drafting a marketing plan
• Implementing your marketing plan on
social media
• Defining your target market
• Tailoring your marketing message
• Creating a call to action
Conducting the class will be Leanna
Haag, an FSBDC digital media consultant.
Haag, who earned a bachelor’s degree in
business administration with an emphasis
on marketing at the University of Central
Florida, has acquired years of marketing
experience working for corporations to develop
and execute tactical marketing plans
at the regional and national level.
Haag launched her digital media
company, See Level Marketing, in 2009
to assist regional businesses in managing
their online presence. She has worked
with all types of businesses, including local
governments, to improve their search
engine ranking with website development
and search engine optimization, internet
advertising, email marketing, online directories
and development of tactical internet
marketing plans. She recently accepted
the digital media consultant position to
help local businesses begin the recovery
process from the COVID-19 pandemic.
PROFIT MASTERY
The financial management training
program is the Profit Mastery course. This
16-hour course offers the participant highlevel
training to better understand and
manage their business financials. Partnering
with multiple local lenders, the FSBDC
at IRSC has scholarships to cover the $499
course cost. Business owners who attend
are encouraged to include their bookkeepers,
payroll execs, managers, and others
who may benefit from strengthening their
financial management skills.
Steve LeFever, founder and chairman of
Profit, is a national leader in the development
of practical financial programs and
training for the independent business
community. His dual role as a successful
entrepreneur and as a commercial banker
gives him a unique perspective on financial
analysis, business management, and
practical business decisions.
The programs are led by veteran business
consultants possessing extensive
knowledge of financial management.
Consultants Frank Fink of Vero Beach, Michael
Bernard of Port St. Lucie and Clifton
Vaughn of Fort Pierce coordinate classes
across the Treasure Coast with programs
planned in every county throughout the
remainder of the year.
START SMART ORIENTATION
Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business
owners are encouraged to participate
in monthly Start Smart Orientation programs.
This two-hour workshop provides
a fundamental overview of what it takes
to start a business in Florida. It is designed
for potential entrepreneurs in the preventure
or startup phase of establishing
a new business. It is the first step in your
journey toward reaching your business
goals with the guidance and resources that
are available through the FSBDC at IRSC.
To register contact your local FSBDC at
IRSC at fsbdc@irsc.edu or call 772.336.6285.
BY KATIE MULDOON
Katie Muldoon serves the community and
Indian River State College as the Administrative
& Outreach Specialist for the Florida
SBDC at IRSC.
Leanna Haag, FSBDC
digital media consultant.
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