Advancing Wyoming's Entrepreurial Community

March 2008 Newsletter
Keeping strong and growing enthusiasm carries through the month. Look below for the latest happenings and upcoming events. 

WIN Explores Group Insurance
The Wyoming Innovations Network is currently investigating the possibilities of large group insurance. We are grateful for those of you who told us about your insurance concerns. To date we have met with a few other Wyoming entities that have these type of insurance plans and have spoken with a few insurance providers as well.

We would love to have greater feedback from you. Please participate in our survey about this important issue.
Look for an email survey coming soon. Also keep your eyes and ears open for more information about this exciting development.

Upcoming WIN Events
Below is a list of events. For more information, please visit the WIN Events page: www.wyominginnovationsnetwork.org/events/

3.12.2008 Webcast – How to predict Revenues-and then deliver on your predictions
THIS CLASS IS PROVIDED BY THE AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION www.marketingpower.com
Register Today!
Time: 11amMT
Location: Your Office!
Presenters: Gene Siciliano, "Your CFO For Rent®" and Anna Carbonara, Moderator, American Marketing Association
Do you find budgeting one of the most frustrating exercises of your year? And finding a way to predict revenues the worst part of budgeting? This content-rich session will show you how to organize your revenue projection so that it gets done smoothly and with the best chance of actually being achieved. Checklists of things to consider, pitfalls to avoid, and priority issues to address are all covered in this information-packed session presented by a seasoned financial consultant and board member.
In this session you will learn:
·What has to happen before you begin to predict next year's revenues: What's the role of strategic planning in this process, and how do you use it to ensure your predictions are in line with your board's intentions?
·What must you know or at least consider before you put numbers to paper: What kind of advance homework must you do-back of an envelope, exhaustive financial model, or something in between? Among the five principal sources of most not-for-profit revenues, what activities should you not budget for at all?
·How to estimate the real cost of fund development: What's the difference between hard costs and soft costs, and how do you determine the real cost of bringing in revenues, and from there get to the real benefit to the organization if all your predictions come true?
Key issues before you launch that next capital campaign: Unlike any other fund raising activity, the capital campaign has huge issues that must be considered before you begin, issues that must be addressed in your prediction. What are they?
Find out at this session. Cost: Complimentary

3.12.2008 AND 3.27.2008 Growing and Sustaining a Small Business (2 part workshop)
THIS CLASS IS PROVIDED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER www.wyomingentrepreneur.biz  
Time: 11:30am – 1:pm
Location: Dubois — Headwaters Center — 20 Stalnaker Street
Instructor: Margie Rowell, WyomingEntreprener.biz. Rowell, will discuss “pros and cons of owning a business,” what is the “right stuff,” the “basics of starting a business,” where to look for money, business planning and funding resources.
Registration Fee: $ $20.00 (includes lunch) Registration Deadline: 3/3, 3/27
Register at www.wyomingentrepreneur.biz

3.19.2008 Start Your Own Business
THIS CLASS IS PROVIDED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
www.wyomingentrepreneur.biz 
Time: 6-8:00 PM
Location: Cody — NWC Cody Center, Marathon Building —1501 Stampede Ave
Instructor: Bruce Morse, WSBDC
This class covers the basics of starting a business – are you cut out to own a business, pitfalls, writing a business plan, and preparing projections. Various resources for further assistance will be provided.
Registration Fee: $10.00. Registration Deadline: Monday, March 17th. Call 307-587-3506 or e-mail ctd@northwestcollege.edu to register.

4.8.2008 Writing a Business Plan
THIS CLASS IS PROVIDED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER www.wyomingentrepreneur.biz
Time: 6-8:00 PM
Location: Worland — NWC Center, Worland Community Center Complex
1200 Culbertson Ave
Instructor: Bruce Morse, WSBDC
This class will cover the basics of why you should have a business plan, what it should contain, and options for preparing it. Sample forms and completed plans will be available. If you have a business plan started and would like feedback, please bring it to the class. The instructor will review it and return it with comments. Registration Fee: $10.00. Registration Deadline: Friday, April 4th. Call 307-347-8541, 307-587-3506 or e-mail ctd@northwestcollege.edu to register.

4.10.2008 eCommerce: Get Your Wyoming Small Business on the Web
THIS CLASS IS PROVIDED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER www.wyomingentrepreneur.biz
Time: 11:30am – 1:pm
Location: Dubois — Headwaters Center — 20 Stalnaker Street
Instructor: Mark Atkinson, WyomingEntreprener.biz
Mark Atkinson will discuss the basics of web development, eCommerce strategies, site options and things businesses need to know when thinking about creating a web presence. Seminar is presented by Mark Atkinson, Southwest Regional Director and eCommerce Specialist for the University of Wyoming, Small Business Development Center. Registration Fee: $ $20.00 (includes lunch) Registration Deadline: 4/4/08

4.10.2008 - How to Start a Company with Nothing

Location: Laramie, Wyoming
Dinner Program "How to Start a Company with Nothing" Presentation on bootstrapping, review of participant business plans for bootstrapping compatibility

4.30.2008 - The IT Summit
www.theitsummit.com
Location: Laramie, WY University of Wyoming
Wyoming Innovations Network is a proud sponsor of The IT Summit. Your company is invited to speak, sponsor, and exhibit at this groundbreaking event. The IT Summit is the executive technology conference series coming to the University of Wyoming on April 30th. The purpose of the educational conference series is to support the proliferation of information technology. Attendees are senior-level IT buyers from government, education, and corporate. Each event features a full day of presentations, networking, and exhibits. All conference activities (presentations, exhibits, meal functions, and networking) occur in a single room to provide you with maximum face-time with the attendees. Join our special guest speaker, Bob von Wolffradt, Chief Information Officer, State of Wyoming.
Registration Fee: Complimentary for WIN members, another great benefit of being a WIN Member. Please E-mail info@wyominginnovationsnetwork.org to receive the discount code for WIN members.

5.15.2008 - 1st Annual Wyoming Entrepreneur's Summit
Location: Little America, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Day-long event with dual-track workshops for entrepreneurs and investors
Exhibit space available for venture capital and financial industry professionals
Workshop: “Value, Staging, and Capitalization”
Forum focusing on financial issues of high growth startups requiring outside investment, two or three speakers help participants understand how to set up their company’s for success
Workshop: “Cash is King”
Presentation by CFO discussing financial strategies for cash strapped startups; focus on getting more done with less.
Evening Program: “War Stories”
Dinner presentation by seasoned yet entertaining entrepreneur, ‘Where are they now?’ updates from past Venture West presenters.

6.26.2008 - Growing Your Business
Dinner Program: “Build Your Company with Good People”
Program discusses putting together a good management team. WIN will have a number of entrepreneurs giving their pitches during WIN/SBD classes. If you are interested please submit your business plan at www.wyomingangelsnetwork.org

Bresnan launches the Bresnan Business Incubator
Bresnan Communications wants to give back to communities in its service areas. Bresnan has partnered with the State Department of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center to create the Bresnan Business Incubator to help entrepreneurs and small businesses.  Visit the website for more information: www.bresnanbusinessincubator.com

Participate in WIN Podcasts
In addition to providing events where our members can speak with other successful entrepreneurs and technology leaders we have podcasts available as well. The online interviews allow you to highlight your company and its products. Please email or call (307-766-6842) George James for more information.

Bravo! Award Winners
As proud sponsors of the 5th Annual Bravo! Entrepreneur Awards we want to congratulate the 2008 award recipients. These recipients were announced on February 26th at the Entrepreneurial Banquet. The following were recipients this year:
Senator Mike Enzi-Lifetime Achievement Award
Tom Barrit and the Weston County Development Board-Upton Industrial Site-Governor's Award for Economic Development
Scott Tafel, WindRider Technology, Inc.- IQ Award
Shawn Mills, Green House Data, Inc.-Emerging Entrepreneur
---Regional Awards---
Howard D. Woody, Union Telephone Company, Inc.-Southwest Regional
Cory and Heidi Fabrizius, Precision Analysis-West-Central
Sheri DeCroo, WY-TEST- Northwest
Bob Marron, Wyoming Biodiesel Corp.-Northeast
Mike Daly, First State Bank-East-Central
Tom and Merrie Elsberry, A Thru Z Document Destruction, Inc.-Southeast

For more information about each winner, please visit the Wyoming Business Report website: www.wyomingbusinessreport.com

New WIN Membership Invoices

Look your invoice for your membership fees in the coming weeks. If you have questions or concerns about your membership, please contact George James by email or call (307)-766-6842

Remember to register for your new WIN membership

If you have not registered for your WIN membership, please do so ASAP to ensure you continue to enjoy WIN benefits. If you have questions or concerns about your membership please contact George James by email or call (307)-766-6842

Around Wyoming
Please tell your colleagues, business partners and friends about the Wyoming Innovations Network. WIN is making tremendous headway towards growing a thriving technology sector and increasing support for entrepreneurs. With your help, the support will only continue to grow.

Best regards,
The WIN Team

tel: 307.766.6283Send Us Your News!
Do you have news? If so, send your press release to info@wyominginnovationsnetwork.org and we'll post it on the WTO web site under the 'News' heading and on the WTO home page.

Be sure to add us to your press release distribution list. At this time we only accept press releases electronically via email.

P.S. Please forward this message to anyone you think will benefit from this organization. It will be our members that make this organization successful. Join Today!

www.wyominginnovationsnetwork.org | 307-766-6283 | hpeterson@wyominginnovationsnetwork.org
Wyoming Innovations Network | 1938 Harney Street, Laramie, WY 82070