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Topic: Understanding and Maximizing the Tax Benefits of Various Business Structures
Speaker: Jerry Starbuck
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More about the speaker: Jerry Starbuck is the president of G. R. Starbuck & Co., P.A. a full service certified public accounting and consulting firm licensed to practice in both Kansas and Missouri. Jerry is a graduate of Rockhurst College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has served as a member of the board, committee chair and chapter president of the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Jerry is also certified as a Personal Financial Specialist by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and holds a certificate of educational achievement in Business Valuation.
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Topic: Small & Medium Business Network Security Threats and Mitigation Techniques
Speaker: Jason Acosta
More about the speaker: As a Systems Engineer for SonicWALL, Jason Acosta specifically focuses on the presales design and architecture of SonicWALL security solutions within the four states of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. His technical demonstrations and presentations have been well received by customers, and channel partners/resellers across the four state region. His experience includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from Purdue University in West Lafayette Indiana, along with 5+ years of IT related experience. Prior to SonicWALL, Jason held several positions in IT and presales at CDW out of Chicago, IL. It was at CDW where Jason achieved numerous Microsoft and Comptia certifications (MCSA,Security+,Network+, Server+). In his current role, Jason focuses on presales design, channel reseller training, and classroom training for the SonicWALL CSSA certification.
Topic: How to Business Network helps you answer the question "What do you do?"
Speaker: Linda Steele
"What do you do?" Do you get sweaty hands, churning stomach and dry mouth when you attend a networking event? Do you stumble and fumble when people ask, “What do you do?” If you want to know how you can answer that question in such a way that people say, “How do you do that?" instead of excusing themselves after saying, “Oh...nice!” You absolutely MUST attend this meeting. You will get: • A formula for answering the question with just two sentences; • Actual examples of effective answers; • Pointers specific to your industry; • A chance to formulate the best answer for YOU! This is an opportunity to learn how YOU CAN STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD by helping others really understand the value to what you do! Register NOW so you can overcome that sick, lost feeling at your next networking event!
Linda Steele Known for her wry humor and down-to-earth approach, Linda Steele helps entrepreneurs and other professionals polish and improve their business networking skills. Her presentations include highly interactive workshops, keynotes and customized training for entrepreneurs, corporations, and associations. With more than 20 years experience in corporate America and as an entrepreneur in management, sales, training, customer service, and marketing, Linda specializes in teaching specific business networking skills that help people in all industries improve their networking effectiveness and comfort. Linda sharpened her networking skills through numerous moves throughout seven states in four different sections of the country. Founder and manager of the Kansas City Chapter of eWomenNetwork for three years, she built the chapter to more than 100 members by practicing the techniques she teaches. Her experience includes graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a B.A. in Psychology and 10 years of training adults in many industries, including corrections, engineering, financial services, manufacturing and accounting. Linda’s mission is to help individuals be more effective and comfortable when attending networking events and help organizations facilitate human resource development and retention. She is certified to teach the Contacts Count model of networking.
Topic: Marketing round table discussion
Speaker: Kate Pope Hodel
Kate Pope Hodel Kate Pope Hodel directs projects in entrepreneurship for non-profit support organizations and small businesses. She was director of Kansas City entrepreneurship initiatives for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, joining the Kauffman Foundation in 1991 and providing marketing support to the entrepreneurial division from its inception. Prior to working at the Foundation, she was account manager for a healthcare marketing and advertising firm, directed the public information efforts of a private university and was city editor of a five-day daily newspaper in southeast Missouri.
Hodel graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism and holds a master of business administration degree from Rockhurst University. She is a board member for the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship (a statewide board) and past chair of the board for Kansas City Tomorrow Alumni Association, a leadership-development program sponsored by the Civic Council. Hodel served as the co-chair of the executive committee for KCSourceLink, a network of entrepreneurship service providers, and is a volunteer with the Junior Women’s Symphony Alliance. She also provides marketing and communications consulting to her family’s business.
Topic: Panel Discussion - Running a Successful Consulting Practice
Speakers: Russ Swall, Howard Eichenwald, Scott Cameron
To be covered: This special session will be an open discussion led by the panel on how to run a successful consulting practice. The panel members will answer questions about their experience running their businesses. Topics to be discussed include:
Russ Swall is the CEO of Visionpace, Inc. Visionpace is a Software Development company and Microsoft Certified Partner based in Kansas City, Missouri. Since 1992, we have provided nationwide consulting, coaching and training services using Microsoft technologies.
Our software development approach, Perfect Vision™, ensures the frequent, consistent delivery of the highest-valued business priorities while minimizing costs and directly mapping changes in the business climate with changes in business systems. In other words, delivering what's needed, when it's needed.
Our blended training and delivery service, Perfect Coaching™, is changing the way IT managers and developers view training and outsourcing.
Howard Eichenwald is President of HLE Systems, Inc. HLE Systems, Inc. was founded in 1980. Howard has worked with many locally and nationally known firms. Howard is a charter member and Past-President of the Kansas City chapter of the Independent Computer Consultants Association (ICCA), and served as ICCA National Treasurer for two years. He holds several professional level certifications from the Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP), and served on its Board of Directors for seven years. In addition Howard is a member of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), formerly the Data Processing Management Association.
Scott Cameron is the President of Redwood Network Services, Inc. Since 2004, Redwood Network Services has helped Kansas City area businesses proactively maintain their computer systems, plan for rather than react to growth and disasters, and reduce long term Information Technology expenditures through planning and budgeting.
Redwood Network Services specializes in Windows Server and Microsoft Exchange consulting services in addition to providing consulting and mentoring services on most Windows platform technologies.
Through our Active Maintenance Program, we identify computer system issues before they impact business operations and address them preventatively. We help owners keep their companies focused on what they do best, their business.
