Seminar Highlights: Any business can provide basic customer service, but not every business owner wants or has the knowledge to get to the next level - exceeding your customer's expectations. In this program you will learn what it takes for employees to work as a team to give your customers the pickle to keep them coming back again and again.

Speaker: TBA

Co-sponsor: Citizens Bank of Batesville, First Community Bank, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, UACCB, Independence County Economic Development, White River Planning & Development District

Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at ASU presents, "SBA Lender Training". This 3-hour presentation by Pat Walker from the U.S. Small Business Administration is for area commercial lenders. Topics t be covered will include: SBA issued a new version of their SOP. We will highlight all of the changes from version (C). One of the changes simplifies the CAP line program, which allows lenders to make SBA guaranteed lines of credit up to $5 million. Also, there is a renewed interest in SBA loan programs to businesses who export. We will review these SBA loan products to help you assist your customers who want to enter foreign markets. A new requirement will soon be implemented regarding the way lenders submit 7(a) loan packages to the guaranty processing center. We will show you the new submission instructions and how to organize your application package. We will also review the SBA lender website and for those lenders new to ETRAN, we will review how to submit Express loan originations and servicing actions through ETRAN.

Speaker: Pat Walker, US Small Business Administration

Seminar Highlights: This seminar will explain how and where to get financing for prospective and existing businesses. Credit requirements, places to go for funding and the Small Business Administration's loan guaranty program will be presented.

Speaker: ASU SBTDC Staff

Co-sponsor: First Security Bank, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Simmons First Bank, East Arkansas Planning & Development District, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Jonesboro Association

Seminar Highlights: Come learn proven methods for mobile marketing for your business.

Speaker: Stephen Trotter, Pleth

Co-sponsor: First Security Bank, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Simmons First Bank, East Arkansas Planning & Development District, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Jonesboro Association

Seminar Highlights: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center presents Social Media Marketing for Your Business. Not sure where to begin with social media or why you should bother? Businesses of all sizes are using online tools like Facebook, Twitter, and blogs to connect with customers. We'll show you five low-cost ways social media can bolster your current marketing efforts, and you'll leave with your own social media marketing plan. Learn which social media are a good fit for you, where your target customers are looking online, and what it could mean for your business if you aren't involved in social networking.

Speaker: Christi Wharton, Wharton Website Design

Co-sponsor: First Community Bank, First National Banking Company, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce, Baxter County Library, ASU Mountain Home, Wharton Website & Design

Seminar Highlights: Basic course to help small business owners evaluate how Facebook and other social media can help their marketing efforts. Topics will include What is Facebook? How does Facebook and other social media help a business? Is it right for my business? How do I set up a Facebook page for my business? Attendees will be able to develop a sample Facebook page for their business using a step-by-step guide. Attendees should have basic computer skills but workshop is definitely for novices.

Speaker: Herb Lawrence, SBTDC Center Director

Co-sponsor: First Security Bank, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Simmons First Bank, East Arkansas Planning & Development District, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Jonesboro Association

Seminar Highlights: Find out key words to use to receive maximum hits and see your business flourish! Is your business receiving the hits it should when someone searches it on the internet?

Speaker: Herb Lawrence, ASU SBTDC Center Director

Co-sponsor: ASU Marked Tree; Marked Tree Chamber of Commerce; East Arkansas Planning & Development District

Seminar Highlights: Come learn proven methods for mobile marketing for your business.

Speaker: Herb Lawrence, ASU SBTDC Center Director

Co-sponsor: Black River Technical College; Paragould Chamber of Commerce; EAPDD; First Security Bank; Liberty Bank of Arkansas; Simmons First Bank

Seminar Highlights: Hear from an expert on what you need to know in order to patent your product.

Speaker: Joe Calhoun, Calhoun Law Firm

Co-sponsor: UALR ASBTDC, First Security Bank, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Simmons First Bank, East Arkansas Planning & Development District, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Jonesboro Association

Seminar Highlights: This seminar will explain how and where to get financing for prospective and existing businesses. Credit requirements, places to go for funding and the Small Business Administration's loan guaranty program will be presented.

Speaker: ASU SBTDC Staff

Co-sponsor: First Community Bank, First National Banking Company, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce, Baxter County Library, ASU Mountain Home, Wharton Website & Design

Seminar Highlights: Small businesses receive more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts each year through the SBIR and STTR programs. The Phase I Proposal Writing Workshop being offered by Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center can help your business move from SBIR applicant to awardee. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program provides federal funding for business and product strategies that meet federal research and development needs.

Speaker: Sharon Ballard, Enable Ventures, Inc.

Co-sponsor: UALR ASBTDC, First Security Bank, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Simmons First Bank, East Arkansas Planning & Development District, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Jonesboro Association

Seminar Highlights: This workshop explores the strategies, techniques, technologies and best practices needed to create an efficient, effective marketing tool for your business. Whether you are planning to create your own website or hire someone to do it for you, this class will give you the information you need know. Attendees will also find out how to include their social media marketing efforts (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.) into their website for synergy!

Speaker: Christi Wharton, Wharton Website Design

Co-sponsor: First Community Bank, First National Banking Company, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce, Baxter County Library, ASU Mountain Home, Wharton Website & Design

Seminar Highlights: Find out key words to use to receive maximum hits and see your business flourish! Is your business receiving the hits it should when someone searches it on the internet?

Speaker: Herb Lawrence, ASU SBTDC Center Director

Co-sponsor: Black River Technical College, Paragould Chamber of Commerce, EAPDD, First Security Bank, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, Simmons First Bank