Ancilla College launches Creative Commerce free workshop series

_{10/10/12  Ancilla College is proud to launch a new series of free public workshops on planning, funding, and building successful businesses in Northern Indiana.  Creative Commerce is a series of presentations and discussions for entrepreneurs and business professionals designed to bring together business veterans with new business owners and entrepreneurs.}

_{“I hope people will join us for the series of workshops to learn about starting and managing new businesses here in northern Indiana. We have an impressive roster of experts and business veterans who can share effective strategies for starting and growing small businesses. People can come to learn about the topics, share ideas and insights, ask questions, and develop connections to business professionals and local entrepreneurs,” said Todd Zeltwanger, Ancilla’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement.}

_{The workshops will be held in Room 231 on the campus of Ancilla College, just two miles south of US 30 near Plymouth, Indiana. The series runs for six consecutive Thursday nights from 6:30-7:30 pm (EDT). Coffee and light refreshments will be served beginning at 6 pm. The workshops and parking are free, but attendees are being asked to register online at the college’s website (www.ancilla.edu). Attendees will have access to presentations, online materials, and links to important online sites and tools.}

_{“These informal workshops offer a chance to meet and learn from your peers and join a larger conversation about building new opportunities,” said Eric Wignall, interim Executive Director of Admissions at the college.}

_{The first workshop, Oct. 11th, covers the uses of social media in small businesses. “One of the biggest concerns of business owners today is the development of an online presence. Small business owners know they need to connect to customers and they see Facebook, LinkedIn, and a hundred other social media options. Ancilla faculty member Chelsea Chalk will present ideas about what social media really is and how you can use these tools to build customer awareness and increase sales,” Wignall said.}

_{The Ancilla Creative Commerce Series}

_{October 11:  The Types and Uses of Social Media}

_{Chelsea Chalk – Ancilla College Communication faculty}

_{Eric Wignall – Ancilla College Admissions & Marketing Director}

_{October 18:  Things to Consider if You Are Thinking of Starting a New Business}

_{Alan D. Steele, Business Advisor for the North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center}

_{October 25:   You Can’t Drive Through the Lake:  Northern Indiana & Our Logistics Future}

_{Speaker to be announced}

_{November 1:  How I Built My Business and What I Learned Along the Way}

_{Speaker to be announced}

_{November 8:  The ABC’s of Financing a New Business}

_{Tim Braun – Elevate Ventures}

_{Dale Cramer – Lake City Bank}

_{Tedd Schaffer – Business Development Corporation}

_{November 15:  Today’s Healthcare Environment}

_{Al Guttierez – Chief Executive Officer, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center}

_{http://www.ancilla.edu/academics/continuing-education/creative-commerce-series/}