SESSION 3 Managing Risk in the International Market: Protecting your Intellectual Property & Receivables Thursday, March, 25, 2010 8:30 AM Registration and coffee and pastries 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM seminar The seminar will help companies understand the threats to and ways to protect their intellectual property (IP), and accounts receivable and provide security solutions. Featured Guest Speakers: Ed Barr, President of Marip International & former Senior Human Intelligence and Counterintelligence Officer for U.S. Central Command - Threats to IP and ways to mitigate them - Industrial and economic espionage - Practical solutions to protect IP - Threat posed by foreign intelligence services and foreign competitors - Most targeted industries and countries that pose the greatest risk - Methods employed to steal your secrets - Role of U.S. and foreign governments Daniel Schobel, Agent, Coface North America, a complete trade receivables management company - Financial risks associated with providing credit when exporting - Tools to mitigate those risks through assessing your clients’ creditworthiness, insuring receivables to guarantee payment and collecting receivables should there be a non-paying client.

Speaker: Ed Barr, President of Marip International & former Senior Human Intelligence and Counterintelligence Officer for US Central Command. Daniel Schobel, Agent, Coface North America, a complete trade receivables management company

This clinic is designed for individuals who are thinking about owning a business and need assistance with the procedures and government regulations involved in starting a business. This three-hour seminar will provide participants with an understanding of the commitment, risks and rewards, advantages and disadvantages of entrepreneurship. Topics include the feasibility of your business idea, legal requirements/structure, management and risk assessments, general business planning and much more! Also learn about resources available to you from the Small Business Development Center. You will leave this session with tools, worksheets, and tips to get started. This clinic is appropriate for those individuals who are not yet in business and are interested in general information. Pre-Registration is required.

This workshop is for people who are interested in learning the fundamentals of starting and running a business the right way. Some subjects to be covered are registering your business, market research & analysis, legal structures for your business, estimating start-up costs and cash flow projection, failure factors, and business planning. Since lack of planning is one of the top reasons new businesses fail, attending this comprehensive workshop may be one of the most important decisions you make prior to opening your business. A generous packet of information pertaining to the workshop is provided. Pre-Registration is required.

Participants will learn the building blocks of financial statements in this three-session program. Topics to be covered include how to read and interpret financial statements and how knowledge of business accounting can improve one’s bottom line. The program also covers income and expense recordkeeping, cash accounting versus accrual accounting, essential records for small businesses, all-important financial statements and how to analyze them, and recordkeeping for tax purposes. At no additional cost, all participants receive a free book for future reference. This is a critical class for start-up business owners whether you keep the books yourself, hire someone to do it, or rely only on your accountant.

Starting a business without a plan is like going on a trip without a map. A business plan is essential to helping you start, build and manage your business. This ten sessions/ten week course guides the small business owner/potential owner through the development of a business plan in order to develop and grow their business. Even if you don’t need financing, a business plan will help you formulate your ideas, recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and consolidate your business model. This hands-on practical approach will take you step by step to a completed business plan by the end of the ten week course. Topics covered include: the Mission and Vision statement, market research (conducted by a research specialist to be held at the Providence Public Library), the organizational plan, the target market, competition within the market, product, service and pricing, financial analysis and documentation (knowledge of Excel needed), exit strategy and/or succession planning. The last class will be a presentation of your completed plan to investors, lenders and/or consultants. Participants will receive a FREE book to aid you in writing your business plan. Seats are limited – Register TODAY! Fee: $450 per participant, $475 if a business partner wishes to attend.

Do you know how to use social media to help grow your business? Blogging, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are buzz words thrown around offices and coffeehouses worldwide. Our social media seminar for business will show you how to use Social Networking to get your business in front of both existing and potential clients!

More than 350 million people are on Facebook right now. In 2009, Dell attributed $1 million in sales directly to their Twitter account. Once you decide to enter into these social networks to promote your business or brand, make sure to get it right. Come prepared to go live and set yourself up on Facebook or improve your already established Fan Page. Look to Twitter to drive traffic to your products and services - maximize your productivity in just one night!