Small Business Week of Eastern Missouri, Inc.
2008 Calendar of Events May 5 - May 10, 2008

Related Events Prior to Small Business Week

Pre-Event #1: Community Express Innovative Bank Loan Workshop
Two sessions available.
Date:   April 15, 2008
Time:   Session 1 - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Session 2 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Place:   St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, Multi Purpose Room
            3400 Pershall Road, St. Louis, MO 63135
Cost:    Free
Sponsor: Grace Hill Neighborhood Centers
RSVP: Call for room location 314-584-6840

Pre-Event #2: St. Louis Business Networking Breakfast
Join other small businesses and government buying office representatives to learn about business opportunities in your area. The network offers the opportunity to introduce your business to federal, state and local government agencies along with school districts and universities.
Date:   May 1, 2008
Time:   7:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Place:   Heritage House Cafeteria (JMRJ Catering)
            2800 Olive Boulevard, St Louis MO 63103
           (Parking off Leffingwell Ave. in lot behind building)
Cost:    $10.00  Pay at  door to JMRJ Catering.
RSVP: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
RSVP by noon April 30, with your name, company name, phone number, and email to have your contact information included in an attendance list that will be distributed at the meeting.

Pre-Event #3:  Missouri Venture Forum
Guest speaker:  Alan C. Hautly, President & CEO, Hautly Cheese Company
Date:   May 2, 2008
Time:   7:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Place:   Frontenac Hilton.
            1335 South Lindbergh Blvd.
            St. Louis, MO 63131
Cost:    $40 for non-members
Sponsor: Missouri Venture Forum
RSVP: Register on-line at http://www.missouriventureforum.org/

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 2008 EVENTS

Please make reservations for these events by following the RSVP instructions shown after each individually listed Session, as soon as they are available.  Reservations by Monday, April 28, 2008

Monday May 5, 2008

SESSION 1*:  Salute to Small Business Lenders & Hall-of-Fame Kick-Off Networking Breakfast
Join us in expressing appreciation to the financial institutions that support small business in our community.

Time:  7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Place:  Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel St. Louis
            191 Westport Plaza
            St. Louis, MO 63146
Cost:  $25, Free parking in the hotel garage.
Sponsor:  Small Business Administration
RSVP: Online Reservations at www.smallbusinessweekstl.org

SESSION 2: Small Business Symposium – Cancelled
This symposium has been cancelled.
Time: Cancelled.
For info about next year: Nancy Outlaw 636-255-1412 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

SESSION 3:  Panel Discussion: The State of Small Business in St. Louis
Business and entrepreneurial experts discuss the overall business climate, obstacles and advantages to doing business in St. Louis in 2008. They will also discuss strategies for making small businesses even more successful, including access to capital and expansion tips.

Time: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corp.,
          1023 N. Grand Blvd.,
          St. Louis, MO 63106
Cost: free
Sponsor: Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corp.
RSVP: 314-664-5051


SESSION 4:  NAWBO Happy Hour to Honor the Women Winners
Network with women business owners.  Enjoy an evening of food and fun as we honor NAWBO's Partner and Member of the Year.

Time:  5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Place: Moulin Events & Meetings
          Vin De Set Rooftop Bar and Bistro
          2017 Chouteau Ave.
          St. Louis, MO  63103
Cost:  $25
Sponsor:  NAWBO - St. Louis
RSVP:  314-605-1317 or Online Reservations at www.smallbusinessweekstl.org

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

SESSION 5: Government Marketing Fundamentals
This seminar breaks down the government marketing process into smaller segments to explain the different levels of government and how to pinpoint government markets applicable to your business.  If you are considering or presently doing business with the government, you will not want to miss this presentation.

Time: 9 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Place: 100 North Tucker, Suite 530,
          St. Louis, MO  63101
Cost: $20
RSVP: Rich Fyke 314-621-7280 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

SESSION 6: Regulatory Fairness Hearing
To create a more cooperative regulatory environment among federal agencies and small businesses, congress has directed SBA and the national ombudsman to hold regulatory fairness hearings across the United States.  Concerns and complaints aired at this hearing will be directed to the appropriate federal regulatory agency for a high-level review.

Time: 9 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Place: Center for Emerging Technologies,
          4041 Forest Park Ave.,
          St. Louis, MO  63108
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Online Reservations at www.smallbusinessweekstl.org



SESSION 7: Community Express Workshop
SBA Express/Community Express loans are designed to provide streamlined business financing and management and technical assistance to targeted small businesses.

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Place: St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley,
          Training Center,
          3400 Pershall Road,
          St. Louis, MO  63135
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Online Reservations at http://missouri.ecenterdirect.com or 314-241-1511


Wednesday, May 7, 2008

SESSION 8: Service Disabled Veterans Networking Opportunity and Working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other participating organizations in networking with local service disabled veteran-owned small businesses in sharing project opportunities and various ways of doing business with the Army.

Time: 8 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Place: Robert A. Young Federal Building,
          1222 Spruce Street,
          2nd floor auditorium,
          St. Louis, MO  63103
Cost: FREE
Sponsor: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SBA, PTAC, VA
RSVP: Online Reservations at www.smallbusinessweekstl.org

SESSION 9:  Opening New Markets, Expanding Opportunities Through Free Trade
Program will feature US Department of Commerce senior commercial officers
from the Free Trade Agreement and a market access and compliance officer/policy speaker.  Benefits and opportunities of exporting to FTA countries along with local case studies will be presented.
 
Time:  8:30 a.m.  - 11:30 a.m.  
Place:  St. Louis Club – Louisiana Room
          7701 Forsyth Blvd.,
          Clayton, MO 63105
Sponsor: US Export Assistance Center
Cost:  $40 (includes continental breakfast – parking is free)
RSVP:   John Blum, USEAC 314-425-3304 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Margaret Gottlieb, 314-425-3348 – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

SESSION 10: Valuation
A series of presentations and panels on the subjects of intellectual property, early stage tech-based businesses, how value is affected as a company moves from seed to venture rounds, valuation in various exits and benchmarks and recent trends.

Time:  2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Presentations,
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Happy Hour  
Place: Center for Emerging Technologies
           4041 Forest Park Ave.
           St. Louis, MO 63108
Cost:  $25 - Checks or Cash Only
Sponsor:  Center for Emerging Technologies
RSVP:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 314-615-6915

SESSION 11: SLU Family Firm Forum (FFF):  Succession Planning
“Passing the Torch”—Learn from the 14th Annual FFF how to develop, maintain, and/or fine tune a succession plan for ongoing family business sustainability for generations to come.  Expert speaker from Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada & then panelists from Drury Inn, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and McEagle Properties.

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with a networking event to follow. (See Session 12)
Place: Saint Louis University Campus, John Cook School of Business
          Anheuser Busch Auditorium,
          3674 Lindell, Blvd
          St. Louis, MO 63108
Cost: $55 per person.
RSVP: Online Reservations at
www.smallbusinessweekstl.org or Jeanne Rhodes 314-977-3850 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , http://eweb.slu.edu

SESSION 12: Business after Hours: Get Connected, Stay Connected
The small business community and supporters are invited to this Small Business Week premiere Networking event.  Refreshments will be served.
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Place: Saint Louis University Campus, Busch Student Center
          (Laclede & Grand)
          20 N. Grand
          St. Louis, MO 63108
Cost: $25
Sponsor: Smurfit - Stone Center for Entrepreneurship, St Louis Regional Entrepreneurship Educators (STLREE) and SLU John Cook School of Business
RSVP: Online Reservations at
www.smallbusinessweekstl.org or Jeanne Rhodes 314-977-3850 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , http://eweb.slu.edu


Thursday, May 8, 2008

SESSION 13:  Home-Based Small Business Breakfast           
Guest Speaker:            Sam Silverstein
Topic:  The Power of ChoiceTM
Description:     The Power of Choice is a gripping, entertaining and sometimes hysterically funny look at the major reasons people aren't achieving their goals and how to go about overcoming their obstacles.  Following the presentation there will be a panel of five veteran home-based business owners who will present a round robin panel discussion entitled “If I Had Known Then What I Know Now.”

Time:  Registration 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.; Breakfast & Program 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Place:  Orlando Gardens
          2050 Dorsett Village Plaza (McElvey and Dorsett)
          Maryland Heights, MO 63043
Sponsor: St. Louis Community College Continuing Education and
    Association of Home-Based Women Entrepreneurs
Cost:  $18
RSVP: Online Reservations at www.smallbusinessweekstl.org

SESSION 14: Veterans Business Resource Center
Join us for a business card exchange and network with veterans who are interested in starting a business, who are currently in business, or would like to do business with veteran-owned businesses.

11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. business card exchange and networking, 12:15 p.m.-12:45 p.m. briefing on VBRC and new programs
Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Place: 4236 Lindell Blvd., #102,
          St. Louis, MO  63108
Cost: FREE
Sponsor: Veterans Business Resource Center
RSVP: Online Reservations at www.smallbusinessweekstl.org or 314-531-VETS (8387)

SESSION 15*:  Annual SBA Exhibit Gala    
Network with our nominees, award winners and small businesses in a relaxed tradeshow atmosphere.                             

Time:  5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Place: Hilton – St. Louis Airport
          10330 Natural Bridge Rd.
          St. Louis, MO 63134
Cost:   Free, Parking: $3 event parking in rear of Hotel  
Sponsor: Small Business Administration
RSVP:  Online Reservations at www.smallbusinessweekstl.org

SESSION 16*:  Annual SBA Awards Dinner  
Enjoy a superb dinner and salute the success of the 2007 Small Business Week award winners.

Time:  6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Place: Hilton – St. Louis Airport
          10330 Natural Bridge Rd.
          St. Louis, MO 63134
Cost:   $45, Parking: $3 event parking in rear of Hotel
Sponsor: Small Business Administration
RSVP:  Online Reservations at www.smallbusinessweekstl.org


Friday, May 9, 2008

SESSION 17: University of Missouri Youthpreneurship Competition
Student entrepreneurs present their business to commercial loan officers, U.S. Small Business Administration representatives, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and other interested parties.  In addition, a panel of judges chooses the young entrepreneur of the year.  Winners are awarded scholarships to the University of Missouri-St. Louis or seed money.

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Place: University of Missouri-St. Louis, Millennium Student Center,
          One University Blvd.,
          St. Louis, MO  63121
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Must register in advance 314-516-5561

Saturday, May 10, 2008

SESSION 18: SCORE: How to Start and Manage Your Own Business
A one-day seminar to acquaint prospective and active business owners with the planning needed to start and manage their own business.  Volunteers of the SCORE Association conduct this professional seminar.

Time: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Place: St. Louis Community College at Meramec,
          11333 Big Bend Blvd.,
          Building SO, Room 105,
          St. Louis, MO  63122
Cost: $50 (includes manual and seminar materials) Attendees should bring a sack lunch.
RSVP: Online Reservations at www.stlscore.org or 314-539-6600 ext. 242 or 243

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BUSINESS EXPO EXHIBITION SPACE
•           $175 – 8’x6’ exhibition space that includes a 3’x8’ skirted table at the Exhibit Gala prior to the Awards Dinner
•           $350 – 16’x6’ exhibition space that includes two 3’x8’ skirted tables at the Exhibit Gala prior to the Awards Dinner

400+ Awards Dinner attendees visit the Exhibit area.  This is an excellent opportunity to showcase services and products.  Purchase of exhibition space is available only to small businesses according to the SBA’s definition of a small business and to Small Business Week Donors.  To purchase space contact Don Barnes at 314-703-2117.
(Cost of Expo space does not include Awards Dinner.)
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