NMBC Women’s Business Leadership Conference to address Crowdfunding, Social Media & Business Plans

Sept. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Crowdfunding, the largely Internet-based strategy for raising funds through networking and pooling resources, is one of the topics that  will be explored and explained at the 10th Anniversary meeting of the “Women’s Business Leadership Conference”, October 25th , 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.   The conference and luncheon are being produced by the Women’s Business Committee of the National Minority Business Council (www.nmbc.org) and will be held at 101 Barclay Street, New York City, headquarters of BNY Mellon, the event host.
   “The Women’s Business Committee has put together a content-rich program that will not only be an excellent opportunity for developing or sharpening existing skills, but also for networking and making important new contacts,” said John F. Robinson, CEO and President of NMBC.  “We will be wasting no time in introducing our ‘Who’s Who’ contacts to be made, beginning with welcoming remarks from Gregg Bishop, deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services.”
   The day’s program will be divided into workshops on Creating and Writing a Business Plan, Social Media as an Alternative Marketing Strategy, and Crowdfunding, and a keynote luncheon address by Vera Moore, founder and CEO of the cosmetics firm that bears her name.
   Dawn Henning, vice-chair of NMBC and Chair of the Women’s Business Committee, noted the timeliness of the crowdfunding presentation.   “For months I have been receiving multiple e-mail solicitations for donations to one of the presidential candidates.  That’s because the 2008 Obama campaign demonstrated just how effective crowdfunding can be.  Eighty percent of the record-breaking $750 million that it raised came through contributions of less than $200 each.  And in business, the developers of the Pebble watch that uses Bluetooth technology to connect to the iPhone and Androids earlier this year raised almost $10.3 million from nearly 69,000 individuals through crowdfunding. Eighty-five thousand Pebble watches have since been sold at $150 each.”  Henning is vice president of CAMPUS Education, a company offering English language courses.
   In the spirit of crowdfunding, free copies of “My Business Plan Book” will be given to the first 60 people to pay the early registration fee of $80 by October 10th.  The book features templates, simplified formulas and financial information for starting, managing and operating a successful business.  Its author, Laurana Edwards, will be presenting a workshop on how to write a business plan.  Copies of her book will also be available for purchase at the event for the steeply-discounted price of $25. “Before a well-organized start-up or growing company seeks funding a sound business plan that is easy to follow and stick to is needed,” advised Stacy Crawford, deputy chair of the School of Business at Monroe College and chair of the Leadership Conference.  
   Rounding out the morning schedule program will be a workshop on “Social Media: The Alternative Marketing Strategy.”  Presenting will be Calandra Branch, manager, business administration at New York Presbyterian, Nicole McGarrell, president and founder of Sunny Day Marketing and Petia Bradshaw, a marketing and business development consultant, and Linda Solomon, professor, Monroe College School of Business.
   Luncheon speaker Vera Moore is a former television actress who launched her business out of “my frustration with the lack of quality cosmetics formulated for women of color.” Moore also championed the formation of NMBC’s Women’s Business Committee (NMBC/WBC) in 2002 in order for NMBC to focus more sharply on the special needs of woman-owned businesses.  
   Carol Britton, managing director and chief procurement officer for BNY Mellon, will also be presenting. Conference co-chair  is Ophelia V. Gabrino, executive director of corporate partnerships and education for the New York City Department of Small Business Services, and Dr. Karenann Carty, and associate vice president of academic affairs for Monroe College, is Conference honorary chair.
To register or become a Conference sponsor, call 212-693-5050 or send an e-mail to info@nmbc.org. Registration after October 10th and on-site will be $90 and will not include a free copy of the Edwards book on business plan writing.

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