Enterprise University Offers Five New Courses for 2014 Spring Semester

ST. LOUIS - March 4, 2014 - PRLog -- March 4, 2014 (St. Louis) – Enterprise University (EU), a free educational program offering high-impact, graduate business school caliber courses sponsored by Enterprise Bank & Trust, recently announced its 2014 spring semester, which includes the introduction of five new courses. The courses include:

·         Adapting Your Marketing Efforts to Today’s Savvy Home Buyer, Course 219

April 9, 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Brett O’Daniell, Vice President, Business Development, Enterprise Home Loans

A new generation of home buyers has created vast opportunities and challenges for local companies to grow their business. Research conducted by the National Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae, Google and PEW Research Center shows the shopping trends of today’s consumers. Learn more about the impact of how consumers utilize social media, search engines, mobile devices and online videos to find service providers with local expertise while making the largest financial decision of their lives.

·         Is Your Employee Handbook Up-To-Date and Effective?, Course 441

April 22, 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.

James Paul, Attorney at Law, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, and

Eric Todd, Attorney at Law, Office Managing Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins

A well-written and complete employee handbook, whether standing alone or used in conjunction with an employment agreement, is a critical tool for recruiting and retaining employees, communicating policy and procedures, defining expectations and prohibiting unlawful conduct. Also, if they are written as a guide book for managers, these same policies will help ensure your organization remains in legal compliance. This informative session will help you understand what laws impact handbooks and policies, what every handbook should (and should not) include, and how the handbook can keep a workplace running efficiently and productively.

·         The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Exiting Your Business, Course 327

May 6, 8:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Douglas Mueller, CPA, President, Mueller Prost PC

It’s not just price. When selling business, cash is king. Tax implications, optimization of expenses and timing of activities can significantly impact the net cash an owner receives. In this course, you will learn little-known tips and traps to help you maximize the cash in your pockets after the sale, which include:

·         Where is the value and what is the value?

·         Stock transfers Facebook style

·         Asset versus stock sale – how to get the buyer on board

·         Stock incentives for key management – poison or prize?

·         Failed redemption of stock can mean success

·         Utilizing tax credits and incentives to offset gains

·         Liquidation versus sale timing – money on the table or in your pocket?

·         Intellectual property considerations

·         New Age Social Media Pitfalls for Employers, Course 442

May 7, 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.

James Paul, Attorney at Law, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, and

Eric Todd, Attorney at Law, Office Managing Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins

Employee use of social media is increasingly becoming an activity protected by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and numerous laws are popping up placing restrictions on monitoring of employees’ social media use by employers. And, employees too easily have access to cooperate and external platforms to communicate with others, complain about their workplaces, harass their co-workers, and even disseminate confidential information outside the organization. This interactive session will help you spot the land mines, avoid legal issues or confidentiality breaches, and stay ahead of advances in this quickly-evolving social media age.

·         Leading Change through Process Improvement, Course 444

May 15, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Richard Feldt, CPA, Partner, Business Advisory Services Group, RubinBrown, and

Michael Lewis, CFA, Partner-in-Charge, Business Advisory Services Group, RubinBrown

Business Process Improvement can be defined as the elimination of activities that do not add value to the customer. This concept has helped businesses for decades decrease costs, lower production time, increase quality, and boost profitability. RubinBrown’s Lean Six Sigma Black Belts and other process improvement experts will help educate you on:

·         Business process re-engineering, which eliminates waste and inefficiencies and creates value

·         DMAIC model (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control), which is used by Fortune 500 companies across the country

·         Lean tools and implementation

·         Process mapping

·         Strategic planning

EU courses run from March through May, and are available for free to attendees. Participants do not need to be clients of the bank. Registration is required to attend, and seating is limited. Classes are on a first come, first serve basis.

For a copy of the 2014 EU St. Louis spring semester course catalog or to register, please click on the following link, http://www.enterprisebank.com/eu.

For questions, please call Kay Erb, Enterprise University, Vice President, at 314.512.7203.

Enterprise University is one of the unique ways Enterprise Bank & Trust serves private business owners, their families and other success-minded individuals.  Each spring and fall Enterprise University presents a series of workshops that deliver real value to business owners and their teams, community leaders and not-for-profit executives.