SBC Network Luncheons are held the second Thursday of each month at various locations. 

This month's luncheon will be held at the TAU Bearcat Clubroom of the Events Center on the Binghamton University Campus and is sponsored by Empower Federal Credit Union.

Connect with Chamber colleagues at our monthly SBC Network Luncheon.  Don't miss out on the chance to network with 60-70 Chamber members, promote your product/service to a room full of people, and hear more about important chamber programs and upcoming events.  At the luncheons, members are given the opportunity to introduce themselves and tell about their products or services and other events they may be participating in that are of interest to the community. 

Members are urged to bring their brochures, flyers, business cards, etc. 

Registration is Required:  Contact Kathy Murphy at 607-772-8860 or kmurphy@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com

Fee:  Member Advance:  $17.00/Member At Door:  $19.00/Not-For-Profit Advance: $13.60/Not-For-Profit At Door: $15.20

Tioga County Chamber of Commerce offers FREE

 Small Business Counseling

The Chamber is host to both SCORE and the NYS Small Business Development Center (SBDC) advisors. 

SBDC advisors are available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY on the first Thursday of each month. 

*To schedule an appointment with a NYS SBDC advisor, contact the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce at 687-2020

Southern Tier Opportunity Coalition (STOC) Networking Cafe  

"...the Premier Academic/Private Sector Partnership Driving Economic Growth in Greater Binghamton, NY"

Every 2nd Monday of the month.  Hors doeuvres provided with cash bar available. 

Fee:  FREE OF CHARGE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  E-mail Natalia Czabala, STOC Administrative Assistant at nczabala@gmail.com

Program/Speaker:  BlueStorm Technologies - "Taming the I.T. Monster" 

Hey, it's great to know people in the IT business.  It's even better to know they're right around the corner.  Some local businesses, both large and small, that rely on top-flight IT support sometimes overlook that there are outstanding companies in that category right here in our backyard.  BlueStorm Technologies, one of STOC's newer member companies, serves customers across the United States with Systems Integration, Application Development, Collaborative Systems, and Infrastructure Services.  An Enterprise - Class solutions provider, BlueStorm brings to bear the offerings from IBN, Oracle, Microsoft, Dell, Sun, Lenovo, and HP for customers in need of responsive and flexible leading-edge information systems. 

Earlier this year, BlueStorm merged with a long-time STOC member, CyberCity, in order to broaden its range of services and customer base.  Both BlueStorm and CyberCity are located in the City of Binghamton.  Learn about their merger, about how BlueStorm was founded, why it chose Binghamton as home, and the company's plans for the future. 

Meet other business people and students from Greater Binghamton and learn about common problems and opportunities. 

SCORE COUNSELING IN BROOME COUNTY

SCORE offers FREE OF CHARGE small business assistance by appointment only in the Broome County area to those interested in starting a new business, assistance with creating a business and financial plan for new and existing businesses, ongoing assistance to start up businesses, and assistance with businesses concerns for existing businesses or those wishing to expand. 

SCORE Counselors are all experienced, professional business people who volunteer their time, unpaid, to assist the business community of our area.  SCORE has no ties to any banking or educational institution.  All counseling and discussions are strictly confidential per the US Government Small Business Administration (SBA) requirements. 

SCORE has been in existence since 1964 and is a nationwide business help group of 390 Chapters across the US and has about 11,000 unpaid volunteer counselors. 

Counseling Days and Times - Year Round:

• 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Tuesdays @ 10:00 AM - Call for location
• 1st and 3rd Thursdays @ 6:30 PM - Greater Binghamton Chamber Offices, Metro Center, 2nd Floor, Binghamton
• 2nd Thursdays (starting September 2009) - Broome County Library, Ahearn Center

All SCORE Counseling sessions are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY - Call 607-772-8860 and ask for an appointment w/SCORE.

Binghamton University's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosts monthly

Women Business Owners (WBO) Roundtable Meetings

This month's program is:  Managing Difficult Conversations

FEE;  $10.00 per person payable at the door and includes breakfast

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Call SBDC at 607-777-4024 or e-mail SBDC@binghamton.edu to register. 

~~All attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and brochures to share~~

Broome Community College is hosting a 2-session workshop on

The Small Farm Dream is Possible

Monday & Wednesday, February 22 - 24th

For 18 years, this popular class has introduced students to a new vision of possibilities for modern small farms.  It won't be easy and you won't get rich but, yes, you can create income from a small farm.  Those who have successfully done it say that the most important payoff is often not cash, but a better quality of life - often a better family life.  This class concentrates on the analysis and planning process that determines the potential for success of any small farm venture. 

This program helps you decide if small-scale farming is for you.  Learn to evaluate potential farm products and potential farm markets and how to spot "get rich quick" schemes that can cost you a bundle.  Appreciate how complex this undertaking can be and how you can make sense of it all. 

Mike Kane has been farming at Shamrock Hill Farm in Port Crane for over 30 years.  He is an innovative and experienced livestock, vegetable, pasture, and hayfield farmer and has specialized in organic farming and direct marketing his farm's products to maximize farm income.  Mike is an experienced teacher, a published author of farm-related magazine articles, and has acted as a mentor to many beginning farmers.  This may be the best possible time to get into small-scale farming.  Come and learn why.

Facilitator:  Mike Kane

Fee:  $39.00

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Register using your VISA or MasterCard by calling 607-778-5012

Broome Community College is hosting a 3-hour workshop on

How to Buy and Sell at Internet Auctions

Have you been hearing a lot about eBay but have not taken the plunge?  Are you an experienced eBay buyer and want to sell items for profit?  Join Phil Maywalt for a morning of eBay mania!  The basics of registration, searching, bidding, buying and an overview of the selling process are covered.  In this hands-on workshop for eBay beginners, browse listed items and receive handouts for future reference.  Bring your enthusiasm and questions. 

PREREQUISITE:  Previous computer experience is required. 

Facilitator:  Phil Maywalt

Fee: $39.00

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Register using your VISA or MasterCard by calling 607-778-5012

Broome Community College is hosting a 3-hour workshop on

Advanced Internet Auction Selling

If you have taken How to Buy and Sell at Internet Auctions, or are an experienced eBayer and would like to focus more on selling strategies, this class is for you.  Learn about the selling process. 

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Listings
• Adding photos
• Auction tools
• Writing descriptions
• Dutch auctions
• Fees and online payment options
• Shipping costs

**You must be an experienced computer user and eBayer to enroll**

Facilitator:  Phil Maywalt

Fee:  $39.00

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Register using your VISA or MasterCard by calling 607-778-5012

Broome Community College is hosting a 2-session workshop on

What it Takes to Start Your Own Business

Tuesdays; February 16th and 23rd

Owning your own business is a classic American dream.  Each year, millions of people pursue this dream, but only 50% succeed.  Business experts agree that the key to success is solid planning.  This dynamic, interactive workshop helps you evaluate the feasibility of small business ownership and understand the planning process. 

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• The advantages and disadvantages of self-employment
• Evaluating the feasibility of self-employment
• Personal assessment
• Assessment of the business idea
• Assessment of financial issues
• Where to find information and assistance
• Overview of the business plan
• Mechanics of starting a business
• Common causes of business failure
• How to finance your business

An optional textbook is available for purchase from the instructor. 

Facilitator:  Ginny Robert, author of Let's Write Your Business Plan and Building Your Future in Self-Employment

Fee:  $74.00

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Register using your VISA or MasterCard by calling 607-778-5012

TC3.biz is hosting a NEW 2-session workshop on

NEW! Social Media Marketing for Business

February 16th and 18th from 1:00 - 4:00 PM

You hear about FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networks all the time for personal use, but increasing numbers of businesses, large and small, are marketing in new and powerful ways with these emerging and simple-to-use technologies.  Not only is it critical for marketers, advertisers, administrators, and business owners to understand the basic principles behind these new forms of rapid communication, but anyone who is looking for a new job or changing careers should be able to fully utilize the specific features of the most popular of these Internet services in order to discover opportunities and make new connections. 

Students will be encouraged to create free Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts before coming to the first day of class. 

Instructor:  Matthew Wyllamz, consultant and trainer

Fee:  $129.00 - includes materials

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Call 607-844-6586 or email info@TC3.biz

BCC is hosting this 3-hour workshop as part of their Marketing Intensive Institute on February 20th from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Build Your Own Website in a Few Hours

Forget learning HTML, XML, ASP and all those other programming languages.  If you know how to work a computer and create Word documents, you can create your own website.  Come with ideas for your website address, information you want to post, and what your online marketing goals are.  In just one session, learn the essentials to buying a .com address, where to host it, what software to use, how to design, write and maintain your website all by purchasing an online service starting at $5.00 per month.  A basic online presence for less than $100.00?  Yes, it's true!

Instructor:  Cheryl Fabrizi, marketing coach

Course Number:  EX 143

Course Fee:  $29.00

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Register using your MasterCard or VISA by calling 607-778-5012.  **Register for all 6-sessions of the Marketing Intensive Institute which includes this course and 5 additional courses (B2C & B2B Direct and Interactive Marketing; NEW! How to Create Your Own Blog; NEW! Navigating the Online Social Networking Jungle; How to Ensure Website Success; and Email Newsletters at the same time (Course Number EX 138) and pay only $145.00**

BCC is hosting this 3-hour workshop as part of the Marketing Intensive Institute on February 27th from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

B2C & B2B Direct and Interactive Marketing

Whether you are faced with marketing Business-to-Consumber (B2C) and/or Business-to-Business (B2B) marketing, discover the key steps in creating successful direct and itneractive marketing strategies and tactics.  Understand how to develop great offers to new, current or past customers for your products or services, how to market the offers and how to determine if the offers are truly profitable.  Bring examples of your current or past offers, or those of your competitors, so you can move on to greater marketing success!

Instructor:  Cheryl A. Fabrizi, marketing coach

Course Number: EX 140

Course Fee:  $29.00

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Register using your MasterCard or VISA by calling 607-778-5012.  **Register for all 6-sessions of the Marketing Intensive Institute which includes this course and 5 additional courses (Build Your Own Website; NEW! How to Create Your Own Blog; NEW! Navigating the Online Social Networking Jungle; How to Ensure Website Success; and Email Newsletters at the same time (Course Number EX 138) and pay only $145.00**

Tioga County Agencies Offer Marcellus Shale Breakfast Seminars

Your Business & Marcellus Shale:  Voices of Experience

Marcellus Shale has the potential to fundamentally transform the Southern Tier as interest in the development of Natural Gas grows in New York State.  To help better prepare local businesses Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County partnered with Tioga County Economic Development & Planning and the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce to host a series of educational webinars from PennSate entitled Your Business & Marcellus Shale: Voices of Experience. 

This series is a follow-up to the successful Fall 2009 webinar program, which introduced participants to Marcellus business opportunities.  Over 500 local businesses participated in that series, at 19 local sites within Pennsylvania and New York. 

The Your Business & Marcellus Shale: Voices of Experience consists of four weekly breakfast webinars for small and medium-sized local businesses, and entrepreneurs, and is designed to help them understand and take advantage of the business opportunities arising from Marcellus Shale.  Each session will highlight successful local Pennsylvania businesses who are adapting to the opportunities, as a way of helping other businesses learn how they can explore and take advantage of these opportunities.  Several sessions will include natural gas industry representatives, discussing what they're looking for from local business partners, and how to establish such business relationships. 

The following provides the session topic for each date:

• January 27th:  Local Business Success Stories and Leassons Learned I
• February 3rd:  Working with the Industry: Natural Gas Company Perspectives
• February 10th: Local Business Success Stories and Lessons Learned II
• February 17th:  Partnering: Industry and Local Business Panel

FEE:  $5.00 per session or for those who are interested in the entire series can attend all four at the discounted rate of $15.00.  Coffee and breakfast items will be available. 

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Pre-register by phone at 607-687-4020 as we expect the session to fill fast.  We encourage all Tioga County businesses to attend. 

The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with TC3.biz and Alternatives Federal Credit Union Business CENTS is hosting a seminar on

"What Business Owners Need to Know About Employment Law"

Wednesday, February 3rd, 9:00 - 10:30 AM

Whether you have one employee or 100, being knowledgeable about the labor and employment laws that apply to you is a must! This seminar will provide you with an overview of laws that may apply to your business; give examples of some challenging employment scenarios and advice on how to respond; and review best practices for managing and retaining your workers. 

Fee:  $20.00 - Chamber Members/$35.00 - Non-Members

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Contact Alta Logan at 607-273-7080 or email alta@tompkinschamber.org.  You can also register online at http://www/tompkinschamber.org/events/show/84

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County is hosting a workshop on

Let's Write Your Business Plan

Saturday, February 27th, 9:00 a.m. - noon

This three-hour workshop will provide an overview of a comprehensive business plan - contents (both the narrative and financial statement components), format and how it can be used.  The presenter, Ginny L. Robert, is the Director of the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program at Broome Community College.  She has specialized in entrepreneurship for 21 years, helping thousands of individuals to start and grow small businesses.  This workshop will be geared towards agricultural producers, but others are welcome.  Participants will be given a diskette that has a template to develop the financial spreadsheets with Excel software. 

**Optional purchase of Let's Write Your Business Plan, a workbook developed by the presenter, will also be available for $13.00. 

Fee:  $15.00

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:  Contact Carol at 607-584-9966 to register and/or for additional information. 

SCORE Binghamton Chapter 217 presents

Accounting & Taxes for Agricultural Businesses

Saturday, February 27th, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Do the tax and accounting regulations related to agriculture confuse you?  This four-hour workshop on accounting and taxes related to agricultural business will include, but are not limited to, topics such as:

• Your business relationships
• Record keeping
• Profit or Loss
• Tax Filings
• What is unique in agri-business
• Deductibles
• Depreciation
• Income from mineral rights
• Losses
• Property sale/transfers
• Moving assets to family

Presenter:  Ms. Cheryl Distefino, CPA - Viera & Associates

Fee:  $20.00 per business.  Make check payable to SCORE Chapter 217

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:  Contact the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce at 607-772--8860 to register. 

Cornell University Entrepreneurship Seminar Series presents

Raising Money - Getting from Business Plan to Funded Company

Friday, February 19th

 2:30 - 4:30 PM - B8 Sage Hall

Networking Reception to follow - Ramin Parlor, Sage Hall

**Webinar Available**

Speaker:  Steven Gal is a career entrepreneur.  In July 2009, he returned to teaching entrepreneurship at Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management.  Steven's interests focus on the founding and building of new high-growth ventures.  Over more than a decade in the technology industry, Steven has co-founded and grown six venture-capital backed companies, raising more than $100 million.  These lead to an IPO, several successful sales, and one failure.  During those years, he solved entrenched problems for consumers and businesses across areas as diverse as identity theft, personal privacy, customer support, e-marketing, and internet search.  Prior to his technology career, Steven was an associate professor of clinical entrepreneurship in the Entrepreneur Program at USC's Marshall School of Business.  Earlier, he spent several years on Wall Street in risk arbitrage and on the floor of the New York Futures Exchange.  Steven is an attorney and a member of the California Bar. 

Registration:  www.cctec.cornell.edu/events/ESSRegistration.php5

Additional Information:  Contact Amanda Arliss at aa627@cornell.edu

TC3.biz is hosting a three-session workshop on

InDesign CS3 - Level 1

February 5th, 12th, 19th, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Do you need to create professional flyers, newsletters, brochures or catalogs?  This workshop will give you hands-on instruction and experience in Adobe's flagship professional desktop publishing tool.  It's perfect for graphic or production artists, writers, editors, and prepress specialists.  You will learn how to create, place and manage text blocks, set up guides and master pages, import and manipulate graphics and more. 

PREREQUISITE:  Word Level I or equivalent experience

Facilitator:  Eric Howd, consultant and trainer

Fee:  $169.00 - includes materials

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Call 607-844-6586 or visit www.TC3.biz to register.  For additional information, call 607-844-6586 or e-mail info@TC3.biz

TC3.biz is hosting a two-session workshop on

InDesign CS3 Level II

February 26th & March 12th, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

If you're publishing on a regular basis, you need Level II to save time and increase efficiency, while improving the quality of your publications.  In this workshop, you will learn object handling (image masking, grouping), managing large documents, advanced style handling, typography and text formatting,, and more. 

PREREQUISITE:  InDesign CS3 Level I

Facilitator:  Eric Howd, consultant and trainer

Fee:  $169.00 - includes materials

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Call 607-844-6586 or visit www.TC3.biz to register.  For additional information, call 607-844-6586 or e-mail info@TC3.biz

TC3.biz is hosting a 6-session workshop on

Adobe Photoshop Essentials

February 10th, 17th, 24th and March 3rd, 10th, 17th

1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

If you're doing any publications work, even for internal audiences, Photoshop is an absolute must.  It is the industry standard for photo management and editing, and you'll be surprised how much power it has, and how easy it can be to use.  Alter, enhance, retouch and restore old and new photographs, as well as add layers, work with filters, and more. 

PREREQUISITE:  A working knowledge of the Windows environment

Facilitator:  Matthew Wyllyamz, consultant and trainer

Fee:  $199.00 - includes text.  Students should bring a flash drive to class

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Call 607-844-6586 or visit www.TC3.biz to register.  For additional information, call 607-844-6586 or e-mail info@TC3.biz

NEW! Your Role in the GREEN Environment

Designed for the construction workforce or anyone wishing to learn more about green building, this course provides an overview in green building practices.  You will learn about human and construction effects upon the environment, and learn about methods for sustainable and environmentally conscientious building.  You will be introduced to current building rating systems (LEED) and best practices for green construction.  Participants leave with a better understanding of their role in minimizing the effect of construction upon the environment. 

Fee:  $149.00 - includes materials