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The Business Services Group connects the knowledge resources of the University of Nevada, Reno to the needs of our businesses, industries, and government – to grow and strengthen our communities. You will find a wealth of University programs that offer services and assistance here.

 

NxLeveL for Entrepreneurs – Carson City

 

Event: NxLeveL for Entrepreneurs - Carson City

Presenter: Liz Christoffersen, Founder & CEO, Empower Consulting Group

Description:

NxLeveL for Entrepreneurs (also known as the “Existing Business Course”) is a 13-week, 40-hour course that gives entrepreneurs the professional knowledge and management skills they need to grow an existing business. Participants will learn to identify feasible opportunities for profitable and sustainable growth, and bring them to fruition by preparing a comprehensive business plan based on proven market research, financial management and project management.

 Topics taught include:

  • Introduction, Overview and Entrepreneurship
  • Planning and Research: Entrepreneurial Essentials
  • Planning and Research: Entrepreneurial Essentials: Business Research
  • Organizational Matters: Management and Legal Structure
  • Marketing: Analysis and Understanding
  • Marketing: Strategies, Tactics and Implementation
  • Financial Overview: Books, Records & Controls
  • Managing Your Money: Financial Planning and Budgets
  • Managing Your Money: Developing and Using Cash Flow Projections
  • Managing Your Money: Understanding and Using Your Financial Statements
  • Financing Your Business: Sources of Money
  • Green Business Opportunities: Environmental Solutions
  • Your Business Future: Negotiating, Managing Growth and Plan Completion

 Learning Objectives include:

  • Profitable growth and the entrepreneurial mindset; The NxLeveL Business Plan: your roadmap for growth; Setting goals and objectives for sustainable growth
  • Business planning and feasibility studies; The internal and external uses of a business plan; Market research for growth opportunities; The importance of networking
  • How your business structure affects your growth options; Legal issues that affect growing businesses; Managing the risks of growth; Building, motivating and managing teams; Outsourcing and growth
  • The impact of marketing on profitability; The need for market analysis; Identifying new markets and competitors; Using customer and competition profiles to analyze new market potential; Balancing the Four Ps
  • Building a global brand; Setting the right price in new markets; Maintaining excellent customer service during business growth; Choosing the right promotional tools for your growing business; Online marketing, sales and relationship management
  • Financial statements and their uses; How accounting systems guide growth; Preparing a Personal Financial Statement and current Business Balance Sheet; Using ratios to analyze Balance Sheet information; Examining bookkeeping and recordkeeping activities and controls
  • Budgeting for growth; How budgets provide performance feedback; Reviewing and adjusting budgets
  • Calculating the break-even point for your growth opportunity; Managing your cash flow cycle; Internal controls for cash management; Monthly and annual cash flow projections
  • Preparing the Monthly Projected Income Statement and understanding how it differs from the Cash Flow Projection; Developing a Projected Balance Sheet and comparing it with the Beginning Balance Sheet; Understanding the Statement of Owner’s Equity and Annual Statement of Cash Flows; Managerial uses of financial statements
  • Debt and equity financing for growth opportunities; Alternative financing sources; Preparing a financing proposal; Communicating your financial needs to lenders and investors
  • Green growth opportunities; Feasibility and benefits of greening your business; Energy efficiency and pollution prevention strategies; Green branding and marketing techniques; Assessing the competitive landscape for green business
  • Negotiating and managing deals and contracts; Avoiding the pitfalls of unmanaged growth; Project management, financial management and other tools for managed growth; Growing your supply chain; Completing your NxLeveL Business Plan

This premier training program for business owners & start-ups is priced at $395 in Reno and Las Vegas.  With confidence we are planning ahead, anticipating a funding source that will allow us to provide NxLeveL to your community at a significantly reduced fee of $95, which will be completely refunded to those who complete the course with 80% attendance (10 sessions) and a written business plan. In the unlikely event our funding does not materialize you will be refunded your full tuition and we will position ourselves to continue to seek this financial assistance keeping you informed as we progress.

About the Presenter:

Liz Christoffersen is the new breed of turnaround specialist, combining strategic consulting with talent development to drive performance.

After more than two decades of experience as a keen strategic planner, seasoned COO, and top flight sales coach, Liz founded Empower Consulting Group to integrate her passion for business coaching and leadership development with strategic consulting. Her “soft” touch has yielded “hard” results, including more than doubling sales within two years.

As a result, her work has been featured in the book Roadmap to Success by Ken Blanchard & Steven Covey. She has been the driving force behind innovative leadership strategies and best business practices for some of the most exclusive luxury and lifestyle real estate projects in the world. She is the person that executives at Intrawest, Canyon Ranch, Westin, Grubb & Ellis, Four Seasons, Re/Max, Prudential, and the Who’s Who of Luxury Real Estate call when they need creative solutions for today’s real estate challenges. Her recent experience has expanded to include services for clients in the healthcare, energy and technology business sectors.

Known in the industry as a passionate leader and highly effective strategist, Liz has been sent around the world to work her magic on projects with lackluster sales and poor performance. Her method of analyzing performance, systems, and people quickly to eliminate obstacles yields rapid and often dramatic results.

Former COO of Northern Nevada’s largest real estate firm, Liz has designed and delivered coaching, training and consulting services for hundreds of clients worldwide. Her passion is engaging people to achieve extraordinary results.

Her lifelong commitment to learning continued beyond her formal education in business. Currently, she is pursuing a Masters in Internet Marketing through USF. She is a graduate of Corporate Coach University with a Master Certification in Human Performance Improvement and Executive & Business Coaching. She recently completed certification to teach both NxLeveL Entrepreneurship and Social Media Strategies. She is a Master Mind Facilitator for the Who’s Who of Luxury Real Estate, serves on the board for the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, is former President of the Sierra Nevada chapter of the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), and past Liaison Coordinator for the International Coach Federation, Northern Nevada Chapter. Liz is also a member of the National Speakers Association, the International Speakers Network, Western Industrial Nevada, the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce and the Society for Human Resources Management. Her commitment to serve the community and her passion for service excellence has led to engagements on the board of numerous non-profits and service based organizations.

Please note that classes will be held once a week on 13 consecutive Tuesday evenings from 5:45 – 8:45 pm starting March 20 and ending June 12, 2012.

Date: March 20, 2012 - June 12, 2012

Time: 5:45 PM - 8:45 PM

Location: Business Resource Innovation Center (BRIC) - 108 East Proctor Street, Carson City, NV

City: Carson City