Board participation is an elusive subject to many, but it particularly affects women. Join the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation for a webinar and roundtable discussion — facilitated by WARF assistant general counsel Angela Kujak — to learn best practices, existing programs and other efforts to demystify the process of being selected and participating on boards. Diversity of all kinds make for better boards, and everyone is welcome at this free event.

Learn more.

The Biz Smart program includes all of the business areas crucial to planning and running your business. It incorporates not only the crucial areas, but helps you apply them to a business plan that you can then use as a roadmap for your business.

This program is meant for entrepreneurs who are just starting out, need a refresher of the business basics or need to update or create a plan to use as guide for running your business. It is also the course participants in our Entrepreneurial Training Program take. Each class includes 75-90 minutes of expert advice followed by 60 minutes of practical application.

The program takes place Thursdays from April 13 – June 1. Learn more.

The Biz Smart program includes all of the business areas crucial to planning and running your business. It incorporates not only the crucial areas, but helps you apply them to a business plan that you can then use as a roadmap for your business.

This program is meant for entrepreneurs who are just starting out, need a refresher of the business basics or need to update or create a plan to use as guide for running your business. It is also the course participants in our Entrepreneurial Training Program take. Each class includes 75-90 minutes of expert advice followed by 60 minutes of practical application.

The program takes place Tuesdays from February 14-April 4. Learn more.

In our fourth year of unparalleled partnership, Madison Region Economic Partnership and the Urban League of Greater Madison will host a joint event for Madison Region business and community leaders focused on economic development and diversity.

This Summit builds on our previous joint events in a collective commitment to advancing talent, opportunity and growth for all the region’s citizens. The convergence of diversity and economic development is a critical component of efforts to mold this region into a model for economic inclusion.

A sampling of our topics this year includes the Spherion Emerging Workforce project, the co-author of Just Growth: Inclusion and Prosperity in America’s Metropolitan Regions, Diversity Assessment & Planning Tools, and many more exciting breakout and plenary sessions.

Learn more and register at madisonregionsummit.com. Early bird rates apply until April 14.

An estimated 70% of private businesses will change hands over the next two decades, many as a result of retiring baby boomers. Who will take over these businesses and will they remain in their communities?

Attend this workshop presented by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives to learn about employee ownership as an effective method for keeping businesses, jobs, and wealth in local communities.

Key Topics

• Real benefits of employee ownership in both rural and urban settings
• Employee ownership basics: worker cooperatives and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)
• Practical steps in the conversion process: stories of existing employee owned business
• Strategies for capitalizing conversion deals
• Resources available to business owners who are exploring employee ownership
• Bonus! Employee ownership experts will be available for short, one-on-one consultations with business owners interested in employee ownership.

Who Should Attend?

• Business owners interested to learn about employee ownership
• Community and economic development professionals
• Small Business Development Centers
• Chambers of commerce
• Local and regional policymakers

View the event brochure and register online by March 1st for the early bird rate.