Calendar of Events

September-November 2021 (6 Thursdays/Fridays) Create an online marketing communications strategy and powerhouse digital toolbox by completing six, full-day workshops taught by expert marketing and public relations professionals. Gain new insights into PR & marketing strategy, branding, budgeting, online content creation, video creation and use and social media.

Take advantage of a discounted Financial Series Pass.

Our Financial Series is made up of two distinct classes that, when taken in order, comprehensively cover the basic financial skills and tools that every entrepreneur needs to start and run a successful business.

Tickets for each class can be purchased individually, but if you know you want to attend both classes, we recommend purchasing a discounted Financial Series Pass.

Classes included in the Financial Series:

Financial Tools, September 10 + 17 – Financial Tools will introduce you to the tools to understand the basics of business finance so you can make informed decisions on how to organize and manage your business finances. Topics discussed are record keeping; bookkeeping; accounting; creating, understanding and using financial statements and reports. Individual Price: $50

Intro to QuickBooks Online, September 24 + October 1 – this class provides an overview of QuickBooks and the different subscription levels, and will teach you how to navigate the dashboard and explore the reporting feature to generate reports that can be customized to your needs. When you complete this class, you’ll know the best ways to get around, enter day-to-day transactions, get the information you need out of QuickBooks, and powerful report tools that’ll help your business make good decisions. Individual Price: $25

Financial Series Pass: $60

Guest Presenters: Carrie Cleveland – CERF+

So often the creative community doesn’t carry the proper insurance to cover your business in a time of need. 79% of creative based businesses do not carry the correct insurance necessary to protect their business. The lack of adequate business insurance represents a career-threatening financial vulnerability to creatives who are affected by emergencies beyond their control such as fire, theft, and natural disasters.

CERF+ was started by artists for artists in the craft community as a grassroots mutual aid effort in 1985 and has since emerged as the leading nonprofit organization that uniquely focuses on safeguarding artists’ livelihoods nationwide. CERF+ serves artists who work in craft disciplines by providing a safety net to support strong and sustainable careers. Our core services are education programs, advocacy, network building and emergency relief.

CERF+ is readiness, relief + resilience for studio artists, ensuring that they are as protected as the work they create.

Join CERF+ and others for a discussion about insurance and the actual needs creatives have around protection.

The Insuring Creativity workshop is part of the Craft Your Commerce Workshop Series Beyond the Studio: Financials and Operations.

September-November 2021 (6 Thursdays/Fridays) Create an online marketing communications strategy and powerhouse digital toolbox by completing six, full-day workshops taught by expert marketing and public relations professionals. Gain new insights into PR & marketing strategy, branding, budgeting, online content creation, video creation and use and social media.

Save the Date! We’re teaming up with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Go Local for Business After Hours

Enjoy a more productive day by meeting prospective customers at the start of your day. You may find a strong referral source, a new vendor, the perfect client, or simply get a foot in the door for connecting again later at another Chamber event. AM Power Hour is great if you are an early-bird or can’t make our after-hours networking events. We will also be celebrating LS Creative’s new venture: Paper Clutz Company, with a ribbon cutting. Please register if you plan to attend.

Complete this three-day certificate program or register for one or more workshops to improve your effectiveness as a professional woman in a current or future management or leadership role!

Cost: $159 per workshop or $425 for the full certificate

 

Workshop Schedule:

Powerful Communication Strategies for Women
Friday, October 8, 2021
9 am – 3:30 pm
WCU Biltmore Park, Asheville
6.5 SHRM PDCs

Many women have built successful careers, but too few women have reached the highest levels in corporations, government, education and non-profit organizations. In ways that men do not, women must navigate a variety of obstacles, including cultural expectations and stereotypical views. In this day-long workshop designed especially for women, you’ll learn more about the status of women across disciplines, increase your understanding of key gender differences in communication, and build skills in nonverbal communication, listening and conflict management.

Powerful Presentation Skills for Women
Friday, November 19, 2021
9 am – 3:30 pm
WCU at Biltmore Park, Asheville
6.5 SHRM PDCs

The ability to present yourself and your ideas with confidence is essential for professional success and career advancement. In this day-long workshop designed especially for women, you’ll learn how to make a positive first impression, meet and greet with ease, and polish and practice your elevator pitch. You’ll build confidence and skills that will enable you to be heard in meetings, deliver presentations with poise and presence, and strengthen storytelling skills.

Self-Leadership Strategies for Women
Friday, January 21, 2022
9 am – 3:30 pm
WCU at Biltmore Park, Asheville
6.5 SHRM PDCs

Management expert Peter Drucker once said: “Being a self-leader is to serve as chief, captain, president, or CEO of one’s on life.” Self-leadership is your ability to set goals and to intentionally work to achieve those goals. This requires self-awareness, self-management, a growth mindset, and essential planning and organizing skills. In this day-long workshop designed especially for women, you’ll learn how to address feelings and negative self-talk associated with “the imposter syndrome,” grow and show confidence in your talents and abilities, and adopt proven time management skills to attain a healthy work-life balance.

Instructor: DR. BETTY FARMER 

Dr. Betty Farmer is an award-winning professor of communication at Western Carolina University and sought-after communication consultant and trainer. Her specialty areas include leadership and managerial communication, emotional intelligence, gender communication, crisis communication and communication skills training.

September-November 2021 (6 Thursdays/Fridays) Create an online marketing communications strategy and powerhouse digital toolbox by completing six, full-day workshops taught by expert marketing and public relations professionals. Gain new insights into PR & marketing strategy, branding, budgeting, online content creation, video creation and use and social media.

Many women have built successful careers, but too few women have reached the highest levels in corporations, government, education and non-profit organizations. In ways that men do not, women must navigate a variety of obstacles, including stereotypical views, cultural expectations, and their own self-doubt and lack of confidence.

How we communicate has a profound impact on our workplace relationships, and, consequently, our careers. Research has documented many gender differences in workplace communication. For example, women often downplay their accomplishments, use tentative language, and send low power nonverbal cues. Women also, more than men, fear speaking up and commanding the “talk stage.” To succeed, every woman must identify and address her communication challenges, understand both feminine and masculine communication styles, and commit to building a powerful professional persona.

As a result of attending this knowledge-and skill-building workshop, participants will gain a greater understanding of key gender differences in communication, including:

• Taking credit for accomplishments
• Tentative language use
• Apologizing
• Interrupting
• Nonverbal cues
• Listening
• Conflict management
• Public Speaking

Participants will complete a self-assessment instrument, engage in a variety of role-playing exercises to develop key skills, and develop their confidence and presence in public speaking. Designed for women only, this workshop is appropriate for women at all stages in their careers and across all workplace types.

Dr. Betty Farmer  will serve as presenter for the workshop.

Guest Presenter: Brett Binford

You can join this class in person following strict COVID protocols outlined below* or via Zoom.

How do you determine your value in the marketplace and in your own company? 

Brett Binford, co-founder and CEO of Portland based Mudshark Studios, will share the story of how he started his first business and overcame obstacles along the way to go on and eventually found other successful, thriving companies. Specific to making, Brett will provide an overview of Lean Manufacturing techniques and how they can apply to your business as you grow from a solopreneur to an employer. Community and company culture are also the cornerstones to your business success and Brett will share his philosophies and insights regarding this topic for both outward facing branding and internal policies to ensure a happy and safe workplace.

Brett will reflect on Covid and how he positioned Mudshark Studios to be able to adjust to both the operational and production changes necessary to keep his employees safe and his customers happy during this pandemic, and how he had to shift both his business and way of thinking to survive beyond just the pandemic

Participants are encouraged to come to the workshop with as many pertinent questions to their own businesses as well. We can all learn through each other’s experiences and breakouts and various exercises will be a part of this workshop.

Please note we will take an hour lunch break from 12 – 1 pm. Due to COVID safety issues we will not be providing lunch. You will need to provide your own lunch.

*Please note we will be limiting the number of in person attendees and requiring proof of vaccination, masks to be worn at all times, and social distancing. Joining in via Zoom will also be available.

The Scaling and Shifting Your Craft Business workshop is part of the Craft Your Commerce Workshop Series Beyond the Studio: Financials and Operations.

Concerns and Legislative Solutions presented by Pat Soldano, President of the Policy and Taxation Group, Family Enterprise USA – a lobbying group for family businesses

Employers in Western North Carolina have available positions and want to hire qualified candidates – like you!

In-person WNC Career Expo: Tuesday, October 12 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• There is no cost or registration required to attend the WNC Career Expo.
• To ensure a safe event, face coverings will be required at all times indoors for all participants and attendees and at all times outdoors when not eating or drinking for all participants and attendees, regardless of vaccination status.
• All participants and attendees will be required to observe the 3 Ws: WEAR a face covering; WAIT six feet apart from others around you; and WASH or sanitize your hands frequently.

Resume/Interview Preparation:

• Career Advisors at NCWorks are available to help you create a new resume or update an existing one. They can also review a list of the most common interview questions you may expect and how to answer them. One-on-one assistance is available for both of these services either in person or by phone Monday-Friday from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. Call (828) 251-6200 for more information.

Additional Resources:

• For assistance with your career search, contact your closest NCWorks Career Center
• View “Tips for Career Seekers” (PDF)
• Questions? Contact Us.

Hey Asheville women! Are you a coder, a developer, a designer, an architect of information? This is a group for Asheville women in tech who want a collaborative and supportive space to bring projects to workshops, participate in tutorials facilitated by other members, spark new ideas, write practice code, and develop cool stuff. Maybe (like me) you’re just getting started, and you wish you could bounce ideas off someone, or just ask them how to center that block of text on the page? You should come! We’ll work it out together. Or maybe you’re a veteran web developer who thinks rookies are brave (possibly foolish) souls with no idea what they’re getting into? Please come tell us all the things you wish someone had told you! Let’s skill-share, meet other women in the biz, learn new things, and give each other a leg up!

We’re on Slack!

During this program, participants will learn how to manage a project by using the 5 phases of project management and several other critical topics related to being a successful project manager in any industry. Program participants will also learn how to lead small and large projects from initiation through close-out.

The City of Asheville will host a 2-part virtual meeting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13 for organizations planning to respond to the City’s Request for ARPA proposals and community members interested in learning about additional funding opportunities available through the City of Asheville and Buncombe County.

The ARPA portion of the meeting will be hosted by City staff and will take place from 4-5 p.m.

This first portion of this meeting will serve as the Non-Mandatory RFP Pre-Proposal workshop.  During this time staff will provide information about the RFP and answer questions from participants.  All questions and responses from the session will be posted in the form of an addendum.  This meeting is optional for those wishing to enter a proposal and a recording will be posted following the meeting.

At 5 p.m., the meeting will transition into an information sharing session on additional funding opportunities available through the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. Staff from both organizations will give a brief overview of the funding opportunities including who is eligible and the timeframe for submitting applications. The following funding opportunities will be highlighted:

Buncombe County

• American Rescue Plan Act: COVID Recovery Funding to address the pandemic and its negative economic impacts
• Affordable Housing Services Program: Annual grants to help ensure comprehensive opportunities for affordable and safe housing
• Aging Services Funding: Annual grants to support a system of home and community-based services for older adults
• Community Recreation Grants: Annual grants to support fitness, health and wellness initiatives, activities and improvements
•  Early Childhood Grants: Annual grants to support early childhood care and education programs
• Isaac Coleman Grants: Multi-year grants investing in equitable opportunity
• Juvenile Crime Prevention Council: Annual grants to reduce juvenile crime by supporting services for children and youth
• Strategic Partnership Grants: Annual grants in alignment with the County’s strategic plan
• Tipping Point Grants: Annual small grants to amplify community efforts

Visit the grant website for details about these programs

City of Asheville

• Neighborhood Matching Grants: The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program helps Asheville’s neighborhood-based organizations fund various improvement projects by providing a dollar for dollar matching grant up to $5,000.
• Community Development Block Grants: a federal grant program through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) providing grant funds for a variety of projects and programs that serve low and moderate income residents or eliminate slum and blight.
• Strategic Partnership Grants: Annual grants in alignment with the City’s strategic plan

City staff from the Office of Business Inclusion will also be in attendance to share additional funding opportunities that could be of interest to our community.

Participants are encouraged to join the google meet at this link meet.google.com/ykb-wiin-cgh to participate and ask questions.

Site to watch the meeting streamed: https://publicinput.com/Y7657 or http://www.youtube.com/CityofAsheville 

Phone# to call to Listen Live: 855-925-2801 Meeting Code 4584

September-November 2021 (6 Thursdays/Fridays) Create an online marketing communications strategy and powerhouse digital toolbox by completing six, full-day workshops taught by expert marketing and public relations professionals. Gain new insights into PR & marketing strategy, branding, budgeting, online content creation, video creation and use and social media.