Author: Rebecca Ignowski

The Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) invites Wichita State human resource professionals and students to Coffee & Connections from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 23 at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex. Come connect with small business leaders to share practical solutions and resources available to help them with their HR struggles.

What’s the purpose of Coffee & Connections? Small business leaders face unique challenges across the board. Coffee & Connections brings together like-focused individuals to discuss not only those challenges but the tools to overcome them. SBDC also invites different local professionals passionate about helping small businesses grow and thrive to attend and share their expertise and insight.

The event costs nothing for small business leaders or students. Human resource professionals are asked to pay a $5 fee to receive a specialized name tag and a short introduction to the group (the small fee will help purchase refreshments from local small businesses).

No presentation. Just conversations.

Every year, regional Kansas Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) choose three clients that exemplify success as an Existing, Emerging, or Exporting (E3) Small Business. The goal is to highlight both the impact small businesses have in the Kansas communities and economy.

Starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 2 in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, the Kansas SBDC at WSU will recognize their E3 awardees along with local SBIR awardees in a brief ceremony followed by a reception. Join the celebrations for the standout entrepreneurs.

The awards ceremony is hosted in conjunction with the Build a Better Business Conference and Shop to Celebrate Pop-up Market. Learn more about awardees and events.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center at Wichita State is celebrating National Small Business Week in a big way.

On Thursday, May 2, the Kansas SBDC at WSU is hosting a conference designed to help established small businesses grow sustainably, a pop-up market to support local vendors and an awards ceremony honoring the success of local small business leaders.

For more than 60 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week (NSBW), a time set aside to acknowledge the critical contributions of America’s small businesses. This year, NSBW takes place April 28 through May 4. The SBDC joins SBA and SCORE to officially recognize the hard work, ingenuity, and dedication of entrepreneurs and small business owners, including their contributions to the economy.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center at Wichita State University is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Wichita State invites women in health and wellness to a special event Tuesday, March 26, celebrating small business leaders and owners.

“The Whole Woman – Health & Wellness Mixer” is meant to help attendees:

• Connect with like-minded female entrepreneurs
• Learn about local products and services
• Build your resource and referral network
• Explore collaboration opportunities

Doctors, mental health specialists, nutritionists, dentists, fitness experts, specialists in women’s health, insurance providers, estheticians, cosmetologists, therapists and more have been invited to attend.

Register online so organizers can plan refreshments accordingly, then visit the Facebook even page to give a quick introduction and see who else is planning to attend.

The SBDC thanks the sponsors for helping to make the event happen:

• Stephanie Weins, Landmark Commercial Real Estate & Aegis Group
• Stacy Gray, Community National Bank & Trust
• Wendy Veatch, Swindoll Janzen Hawk & Loyd, LLC

Stop by and join the Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Hughes Metropolitan Sports Complex for some one-stop shopping.

Browse gift items from over 50 local small businesses all under one roof, hosted by the SBDC. “We really wanted to give local small businesses an extra chance to connect with holiday shoppers,” said Brandi Willet, SBDC regional director.

A wide variety of gift items or gift cards for services such as massages, pet sitting and cleaning will be available for purchase. Cash purchases are appreciated, as payment goes directly into the entrepreneur’s pocket without delays or added processing fees.

This is the perfect lunch hour outing as Taters N Toppings and Want Bierocks, two local food trucks, will be on-site. In conjunction with a Very Merry Metroplex, 1 Million Cups is moving to the Metropolitan Complex and will kick off with networking at 8:30 a.m. There is ample free parking, or grab a ride Wichita State transit.

Stop by and join the Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Hughes Metropolitan Sports Complex for some one-stop shopping.

Browse gift items from over 50 local small businesses all under one roof, hosted by the SBDC. “We really wanted to give local small businesses an extra chance to connect with holiday shoppers,” said Brandi Willet, SBDC regional director.

A wide variety of gift items or gift cards for services such as massages, pet sitting and cleaning will be available for purchase. Cash purchases are appreciated, as payment goes directly into the entrepreneur’s pocket without delays or added processing fees.

This is the perfect lunch hour outing as Taters N Toppings and Want Bierocks, two local food trucks, will be on-site. In conjunction with a Very Merry Metroplex, 1 Million Cups is moving to the Metropolitan Complex and will kick off with networking at 8:30 a.m.

Local makers and service providers are invited to join the Kansas Small Business Development Center at WSU (KSBDC) for a mid-day holiday gift market to capture last-minute holiday gift buyers Dec. 13 at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex. There will be several food trucks serving lunch and ample parking.

In conjunction with the market, KSBDC will host 1 Million Cups. Be sure to set up early to take advantage of pre-market coffee and networking.

Those not looking to sell but are ready to shop and support can RSVP via Facebook for the latest news.

The Wichita State Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is hosting a Business Collaboration Meetup starting at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16 at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

Join the afternoon event that highlights the skills, capabilities, products and services of entrepreneurs in the area.

The afternoon will kick off with a short presentation by WSU Kansas SBDC Regional Director Brandy Willett on finding the win-win. Then, participants will have an opportunity to give a short pitch sharing information about the goods and services their business offers, including what they’re looking for in new partnerships. After that is time for networking.

The event is open at no additional charge thanks to Meritrust Credit Union, but registration is required.

The Wichita State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is hosting a Business Transitions Conference from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26 in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

There will be breakout sessions focused on buying and selling a business as well as planning for family succession. Professionals specializing in financial, legal and business, including several WSU alumni, will be presenting on a variety of topics related to transactions. Tim Penner, CEO of Harper Industries, will be the keynote speaker. 

Learn more and register about the day’s events, speakers and sponsors and catch the latest conference podcast on the WSU Kansas SBDC YouTube channel. Registration is $50 per person.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) welcomes Charnea Bell to their training team. Bell will offer QuickBooks Online, Training for Beginners and Intermediate Users on Tuesday, Aug. 1 and Thursday, Aug. 3, respectively. Sessions will be online and cost $149 each.

Bell has a Master of Accounting, is a certified QuickBooks online ProAdvisor, alumni of Wichita State and local business owner.

In-person sessions will be offered in October.