Meet Symposium Panelist: Danielle D’Alesandro

Over the next few weeks we'll be introducing you to the business women who will share "Solutions that Work" during the E-Magnify Symposium panel discussion. Full details and registration for "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth" on March 9 are available here. 

Today we're pleased to introduce to you panelist Danielle D’Alesandro, Owner, My Posh Baby & Kids.

Danielle D'Alesandro owns My Posh Baby & Kids, a specialty toy and children's gifts store. In addition to selling through her retail storefront of four years in Irwin, PA, Danielle has been selling online for 12 years through her own website and various other online channels. More than 70% of her sales are done online, and she has achieved top seller ratings from many online communities. Danielle gives presentations on topics such as inventory control and how to increase your online sales. She also does consulting work to help businesses of all sizes increase their online sales, enhance their marketing and social media efforts, and expand into new markets. With her small business consulting services, she provides authentic alternatives to business owners and executives so they can stop spinning their wheels and move forward with substantial, profitable business growth, personal satisfaction, and bottom line control. Danielle received her undergraduate degree from St. Vincent College and an MBA from Chatham University.

BusinessUSA: New federal website

The federal government has launched BusinessUSA.gov,  a one-stop shop where you can find information about available federal programs without having to waste time and resources navigating the federal bureaucracy. It is a platform for you to access services you may need to grow your firm and succeed: technical assistance to start a business, access to financing, assistance in exporting, and more.

BusinessUSA combines information and services from 10 different government agencies through one consolidated website and coordinated telephone support through a single 1-800 number. The BusinessUSA website already presents hundreds of business resources, in one place. And more is on the way. Check it out here.

Nat'l Entrepreneurship Week: Free Webinars

February 21-24, 2012, daily at 3:00 p.m. (ET)

What: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will host a series of free webinars in recognition of the sixth annual National Entrepreneurship Week.  The emphasis will be on financial empowerment and building the entrepreneurship skills of the next generation of small business owners, using business basics, social networking and business strategizing.

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 3:00 p.m.: Entrepreneurship Empowers Everyone

Presenter: Felipe Wright, CEO Intelligent Information Technology Solution

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 3:00 p.m.: The Things an Entrepreneur Needs to Know

Presenter: Joseph Clarke, Chapter Chair, Washington, D.C. SCORE

Thursday, Feb. 23, 3:00 p.m.: Building Your Team

Presenter: Melanie Lamar-Hancock, President, Right at Home, Washington, D.C.

Friday, Feb. 24, 3:00 p.m.: Entrepreneurship & Networking

Presenter: Jennifer Kushell, Founder and CEO, YSN.com

For information on logging-in to the webinars, visit http://www.sba.gov/about-sba-services/7367/47881.

National Entrepreneurship Week (February 18-25, 2012), hosted by the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education, celebrates the heritage of entrepreneurship in America and of entrepreneurship education for the next generation.  For details on this and other events, visit the National Entrepreneurship Week website at www.entre-week.org.

Meet Symposium Panelist: Sandy Burkett

Over the next few weeks we'll be introducing you to the business women who will share "Solutions that Work" during the E-Magnify Symposium panel discussion. Full details and registration for "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth" on March 9 are available here. 

Today we're pleased to introduce to you panelist Sandy Burkett, President and Owner, Vital Signs.

Sandy Burkett is president and owner of Vital Signs, a certified Native American/Woman Owned custom sign and graphics company located in Carnegie, PA, where she collaborates with clients to help them brand their businesses. Formerly a Special Education Advocate helping children with learning disabilities and a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children, Sandy continues to support causes that empower girls and women, including the Girl Scouts, Girls Going Places, and CASA for Kids. Sandy also acts as an Ambassador for the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation. She has received  SignWorld Leadership Awards for 2006 and2007, the 2007 Minority Business Opportunity Committee Woman Business of the Year award, and the 2010 National Association of Women Business Owners' Make The Connection Award for her Pittsburgh’s Got Sole Shoe Collection for the victims of the Haiti Earthquake.

Marcellus Shale: Small Biz Impacts & Expectations

E-Magnify Director Jayne Huston will participate in this event, which is sponsored by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and Fay-Penn Economic Development Council Presented by the Small Business Administration.

• Date: Friday, March 2, 2012 
• Time: 8:00 am – 11:00 am 
• Location: Penn State Corporate Training Center Penn State Fayette – The Eberly Campus (Rt. 119 North of Uniontown)
   

Agenda

8:00 – 8:15 a.m. Registration
8:15 – 9:30 a.m. Panel Discussion including representatives and resources for your business. Panelists include:

• Jayne H. Huston, Director, Seton Hill University E-Magnify 
• Dana Kendrick, Economic Development Manager, Fay-Penn Economic Development Council
• James Kunkel, Executive Director, St. Vincent’s Small Business Development Center 
• Richard Wallace, Manager, Business Finance Assistance Program, Southwestern PA Commission 
• David M. Pinkosky, ACAS Development Specialist, Southwestern PA Commission 
• Chuck Burtyk, Director of Workforce Development, Private Industry Council, PTAC/GACO
• Judith Woodson McNeil, Program Coordinator, Diversity Business Resource
• Wayne Freed, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, SBA Lender 
• Philip Yamalis, Sr. Stakeholder Liaison, IRS

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Carl Knoblock — Marcellus Shale: Small Business Impacts & Expectations
Learn how your business or community can prepare to take advantage of this opportunity. SBA District Director, Carl Knoblock, will share his knowledge of the Marcellus topic as it related to business growth and development.

10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Open Discussion

Coffee, juice and breakfast pastries will be available. Space is limited. Please register by calling the Fayette Chamber Office at 724-437-4571 or sending an email to info@fayettechamber.com

Meet Symposium Panel Facilitator: Betsy Benson

Over the next few weeks we'll be introducing you to the business women who will share "Solutions that Work" during the E-Magnify Symposium panel discussion. Full details and registration for "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth" on March 9 are available here. 

This week we're pleased to introduce to you the panel facilitator, Betsy Benson, Publisher and Vice President, Pittsburgh Magazine. 

Betsy Benson is publisher and vice president of Pittsburgh Magazine, where she oversees operations at one of the region’s most vital media organizations. Pittsburgh Magazine has served the community for 42 years and today provides content through a monthly magazine, a website, and more than a dozen events held throughout the year. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Betsy has worked in journalism and publishing for 25 years, including 15 years at the Pittsburgh Business Times where she served as editor. Betsy was honored as a Legacy Laureate at Pitt in 2000 and as a Woman of Achievement by Celebrate & Share in 2010. She has supported numerous causes, including WQED, Go Red for Women, YMCA, and Powerlink.

Join Betsy at the E-Magnify Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium, "Building Strategies that Work," on March 9, 2012 in downtown Greensburg. Learn more and register.

Register for the 2012 E-Magnify Symposium

Registration is now open for E-Magnify's 2012 women's entrepreneurial symposium, Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth. 

Date: March 9, 2012
Location: Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, Greensburg, PA



This year's Symposium will focus on growth strategies for small businesses and will include workshops and a keynote address on a variety of ways to increase your organization's revenue stream.
 

Mary Cantando, president of The Woman's Advantage, will deliver the Keynote Presentation: Make This Your Best Year Ever...in Business! Make This Your Best Year Ever...in Life! This fun, interactive, thought-provoking session is based on her widely acclaimed Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. In addition to her annual calendar, Mary has written five books, each presenting ground-breaking ideas for busy women who want to make a difference in their workplace, family, and community.

Growing a business is challenging whether you are just starting or are a seasoned entrepreneur. Developing key strategies to sustain your business are essential to long-term growth. Register today for the March 9 Symposium.