RSU Workshops Aim For Small Business Success

Rogers State University’s Center for Economic and Community Development is hosting a series of small business workshops designed to assist area small businesses and entrepreneurs in developing successful enterprises.

The workshops, to be held at the RSU campus in Claremore, are free and open to interested business owners, managers and entrepreneurs. Seating is limited and advance registration is required.

The workshops will be presented by state and area business specialists, as well as the Center for Economic and Community Development’s professional staff.  The workshop schedule includes

  • Developing a Business Plan, 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Herrington Hall, Room 130. Bob Price of the Center for Economic and Community Development will address the importance and process of developing a business plan and maintaining that plan as a guidepost for the business.
  • Census Data and Practical Applications, 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, March 11, in Herrington Hall, Room 205. Dr. Ray Brown, Director of the Center for Economic and Community Development, will review how small business owners, entrepreneurs, city planners and grant writers can gather and utilize valuable information from census data.
  • Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs, 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 24, Herrington Hall, Room 130. Presented by the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center, this “boot camp” is designed to provide information on current market conditions and tools for raising capital, as well as informative strategies for maximizing business goals.
  • Total Quality Management, 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday, April 1, in Herrington Hall, Room 130. Dr. Bert Tollison, RSU associate professor of business, will discuss the function of total quality management and present methods to improve management skills. Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge and statistical process control will be demonstrated.
  • Legal Issues for Small Business, 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, April 8, in Herrington Hall, Room 172. Attorney Jim Jenkins will direct this workshop addressing the legal problems of diversity management, Equal Opportunity Employment compliance, interviewing, hiring and discrimination. Jenkins will also address topics of legal issues in business from participants.
  • Legal Issues for Small Business – Session 2, 7 to 9:15 p.m., Thursday, April 15, in Herrington Hall, Room 172. Attorney Jim Jenkins of Tulsa will present a workshop to address contracts, employee handbooks, leases, and credit and collection procedures.
  • Federal and State Taxes for Small Business, 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, April 29, in Herrington Hall, Room 130. Bob Fitzgerald, a CPA from Sand Springs, will discuss federal and state taxes required by small businesses, as well as bookkeeping practices for small businesses.

For more information or to register, call the RSU Center for Economic and Community Development at (918) 343-7533.