This seminar, conducted by the U. S. Small Business Administration and the New Jersey Small Business Development Center, is designed to provide individuals that are in business or thinking of starting a business with information on the business loan programs and technical assistance programs offered by the SBA. Leading area bank lending officers will also be on hand to discuss their role in the SBA’s Guaranteed Lending Program. Lenders will discuss what goes into a comprehensive loan proposal, how to increase your chances of getting a loan and how to get through the loan application process.

Date: Friday, February 24, 2012 from 9:00AM to 12:00 PM EDT – Program begins at 9 am
Doors open at 8:30 am

Location: Brookdale Community College – Long Branch Higher Education Center
213 Broadway – Community Room
Long Branch, NJ 07740

There is no fee for this seminar — Pre-registration is required due to limited seating.

 Register Today!

You’ve launched your new business, congratulations! Now let’s plan a new website that will work hard for you 24/7.If you’re promoting services only, or selling products online, there are significant differences you need to plan for when designing your new website. You’ll learn how to evaluate solution providers, common mistakes to avoid, and the most important best practices to follow to help you get listed in the major search engines – Google/Bing/Yahoo.

 Course Code: XBUSD 075 SW
Fee:$40.00

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

Increase Website Traffic
Instructor: Roland Reinhart
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 9 am- 12 PM

 Your website isn’t effective if it can’t be found by the major search engines. This Class is essential for you to learn specifically what to change in order to improve your visibility in Google/Bing/Yahoo’s search result pages.  Participants learn SEO best practices to follow and have the opportunity to have their own websites critiqued during the session.

Course Code: XBUSD 078 SW
Fee: $40.00

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

Increase Your Sales with Online Video
Instructor: Roland Reinhart
Thursday, March 15, 2012 9 am- 12 PM

Learn how to create impactful video content for your website and social media marketing.  Engage your prospects dramatically to turn leads into sales.  From plannig to production to publishing, this class pieces together the skills and tools you’ll need to create desirable content to promote your brand or organization.  Workshop is especially designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs on a limited budget.

Course Code: XBUSD 083 SW
Fee: $40.00

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

The New Jersey Small Business Development Center network offers this specialized counseling and training and is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Adminstration, through appropriations made by the US Congress to further promote job creation and retention. 

The NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College is now offering e-marketing seminars to help you grow your business. Join the other small businesses who have discovered the benefits of online marketing by attending any of the up-coming seminars listed below.  The seminars will be presented by highly-qualified professionals. Furthermore, all the attendees will have the opportunity to sign-up and receive FREE one-on-one  counseling on the subject matter.

 Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your business

Social Media Strategy for Businesses
Instructor:  Lisa Kanda
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Participants in the workshop will create a social media strategy for their business, discover what social media networks are appropriate for their business marketing initiatives, and learn how to implement a successful social media program.  Participants will walk out the door with a strategic social media plan of action.

Course Code: XBUSD 079 SW
Fee: $20

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

Intro to Facebook Business
Instructor:  Lisa Kanda
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

(Hands on, computer based workshop) 

Do you know how to set up your Business Page on Facebook? This information packed workshop will give you tips and tricks to utilize Facebook Business (Fan) Pages as a marketing and business tool. This is an introductory hands-on workshop where you will create and work directly on your business page!

Participants will learn:

• What social media is and why you need to know about it
• Why you should  care how this is impacting customer relationships and buying practices
• The rules and etiquette of social media
• How to set up a Facebook Business Page
• How to secure your unique URL for your page
• A comprehensive review of the “Edit Page” features
• A review of the changes recently made to Facebook Business Pages 

Course Code: XBUSD 074 SW
Fee: $40.00

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

Intro to LinkedIn
Instructor:  Lisa Kanda
Saturday, February 25, 2012, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

(Hands on, computer based workshop)

 Have you signed up for LinkedIn but haven’t completed your profile or built your connections?  How can this social media tool help you build your network, get new business or find a job? This introductory workshop will teach you the basics of LinkedIn

Participants will learn:

• The features and navigation of LinkedIn
• How to create and optimize a LinkedIn profile
• How to create status updates and share information of value
• How to develop and leverage your connections
• How to search and participate in groups

 Course Code: XBUSD 080 SW
Fee: $40.00

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

Facebook Business Pages – Intermediate Level
Instructor:  Lisa Kanda
Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 6:00 pm -9:00 pm

(Hands on, computer based workshop)

Do you have a Facebook Fan Page already? Do you want to learn how to use Facebook to build your business? Facebook provides businesses with many opportunities to find and get loyal customers, but you need to know what works for your business to achieve your goals. This information packed workshop will give you tips and tricks to utilize Facebook Business (Fan) Pages as a marketing and business tool. 

This is an intermediate hands-on workshop where you can work directly on your business page! You must already have a Facebook Business Page created with at least 25 “likes” in order to participate.

 Participants will learn:

• How to customize a Facebook Business Page
• How to use all the features within the Fan Page
• A comprehensive review “Insights”
• How to create content and get fan interaction

 Course Code: XBUSD 077 SW
Fee: $40.00

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

Intro – Twitter for Business
Instructor:  Lisa Kanda
Tuesday, March 8, 2012, 9:00 am -12:00 pm

(Hands on, computer based workshop)

Are you baffled by Twitter and want to learn how to use it as a marketing and business tool? Learn how to use Twitter to establish your credibility, influence your followers, share great content and  attract the types of people who need your expertise as well as your products and services. 

Participants will learn:

• How to set up a Twitter profile
• Twitter rules & etiquette
• How to write great tweets
• How to find people to follow
• How to get people to follow you
• How to use the @ and # symbols
• Using Twitter search

Course Code: XBUSD 082 SW
Fee: $40.00

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

Intermediate – LinkedIn for Business
Instructor:  Lisa Kanda
Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 6:00 pm -9:00 pm
(Hands on, computer based workshop)

Have you been using LinkedIn but want to take it to the next level? This workshop will help you learn about the additional features of LinkedIn and how they can help you grow your business and career.

This is an intermediate hands-on workshop and you must already have a LinkedIn profile created and completed to at least 85% and over 50 connections established.

Participants will learn:

• The newest features of LinkedIn
• Advanced profile options and using applications to enhance your profile
• Optimizing your status updates to make connections
• How to create and optimize a LinkedIn Business Page
• Best practices for sharing in groups
• How to create and search for events

Course Code: XBUSD 081 SW
Fee: $40.00

To register online click here
For more information call 732-842-8685

 The New Jersey Small Business Development Center network offers this specialized counseling and training and is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Adminstration, through appropriations made by the US Congress to further promote job creation and retention.

To Register online click here

To Register online click here

www.blackrocket.tv

Business owners Bill Zengel and Richard Ginn realized that in order to achieve the desired level of success for their business they needed to better understand all financial aspects of their company. They enrolled in training workshops offered through the NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College concerning financials and business recordkeeping. The training, coupled with personalized one-on-one counseling sessions, provided them with the necessary tools to advance their operations and led them to securing the required financial capital to further expand their business.

Black Rocket Productions was founded almost 10 years ago, as a labor of love and collaboration between Bill Zengel and his daughter, Sarah. The company is a leading independent educational service provider delivering summer camp programs and year-round educational opportunities for youth who are six to17 years old. The educational workshops are primarily provided through established community based organizations such as community colleges, public libraries, home-schooled groups, after-school programs and town recreational organizations. Their hands-on initiatives focus on digital arts enrichment and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. The company has recently added five new products to its current line of educational products.

 With NJSBDC’s assistance the company grew from one employee to seven full and part-time employees year round within the last three years. In addition, their seasonal staff has grown from 20 to over 100 during the same time period. The company’s size has doubled and its revenues have tripled. The firm’s owners/operators want to continue its growth in a controlled fashion with the help of the NJSBDC at Brookdale.

The firm is now developing a non-profit Children’s Institute of Technology to benefit elementary schools and is also considering opening a charter school that emphasizes technology, creativity, and leadership. 

“Black Rocket and the thousands of children we teach owe a debt of gratitude to the NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College for helping us secure capital at a significant stage of our business,” said owner Richard Ginn.

Jackeline Mejias-Fuertes, Assistant Director of the NJ Small Business Development Center at Brookdale Community College, explains the definition of a small business and the types of assistance offered by the NJSBDC.

Charles Schlapfer, Le-Ed Concrete

Established in 1970, Le-Ed Construction started as a concrete contracting company specializing in curb and sidewalk installation.  Expanding from the contracting side of the business in the 1980′s, the organization evolved into a masonry material and landscape supply distribution center with three locations in Ocean County. 
 
Le-Ed Concrete & Supply Company manufactures Ready-Mix Concrete in its plant located in Toms River. They also sell hardscaping products such as pavers and retaining wall stone and a full line of masonry materials, making Le-Ed Concrete & Supply Company Ocean County’s largest provider of natural stone, boulders, sand and gravel. 
 
In 2007, feeling the early squeeze of the economic downturn, Le-Ed turned to the NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College, enrolling its General Manager, Charles Schlapfer, in the Entrepreneur Certificate Program, and taking advantage of the center’s programs and services. 
 
With the assistance and guidance of center staff Jackeline Mejias-Fuertes, Jacqueline Hoehn and Bill Nunnally, Le-Ed was able to obtain the proper registrations for government contracting opportunities with local, county, state and federal offices. In 2010, Le-Ed has obtained more than $350,000 in public works contracts bringing the total of government contracts to over $750,000 in the past two years!   These contracts have allowed Le-Ed to maintain their workforce and keep people employed during this turbulent economy. 

With NJSBDC’s guidance, Le-Ed has bid and won contracts this year with agencies that include: The Joint Base at McGuire, Lakehurst, and Fort Dix; New Jersey Departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection; NJ Turnpike Authority; Monmouth County Highway, Bridge and Engineering Departments; Monmouth County Parks Department; Ocean County Roads Department; Ocean County Utilities Authority; Townships of Toms River and Little Egg Harbor; and City of Trenton.
 
Further, Le-Ed has developed a Vessel Wash Water Containment System that has been installed at more than 15 marinas statewide. These marinas received funding through the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium / New Jersey Sea Grant due to Le-Ed participation in the grant proposal process. 
 
According to the company, “Le-Ed Concrete exists with the motto that we offer premium products at a high level of service.  Through our work with the NJSBDC, we have been able to expand our customer base and continue to adhere to our core mission of providing excellent products and services.  Our recent survival and our past success have been greatly assisted by the NJSBDC.”

Thank you to Glen Dalakian and Peter Grandich of Tandem Radio.

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