View the Business Calendar

MARCH

Incredible Art of Cake Making
Sunday, March 14
Ann Arbor District Library, Pittsfield Branch
2359 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor
2pm – 3pm

Join us for an afternoon of cake info and tasting as Ann Arbor Cake Artist Heather Anne Leavitt presents The Incredible Art Of Cake Making. This event, for adults and teens in grade 6 and up.

Heather is a cook at Eve, The Restaurant, in Kerrytown. Fans of TV cooking shows will recognize her as an assistant to Courtney Clark of Cake Nouveau on several Food Network Challenges. Heather trained in sculpture at the University of Michigan, and her cakes show it!

want more information?

Dinner at Haab’s
Sunday, March 14
Haab’s Restaurant
18 West Michigan, Ypsilanti
6pm 

On March 14th Haab’s has graciously agreed to donate 10% of their proceeds between 11am till 9pm to Washtenaw Literacy

If you have any questions please contact Ebani T. Lowery at 734.879.1320.

want more information?

100 Years of Concert Programs and Photographs
Sunday, March 14
Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown Branch
343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor
2pm – 4pm

Join Ann Arbor District Library staff and University Musical Society President Ken Fischer as AADL launches two new online collections celebrating UMS's concert history! Refreshments will be served at this kick-off event, which will include a demo of these new online resources (soon available at aadl.org) as well as a discussion of UMS by UMS President Ken Fisher.

want more information?

Borrow a Business Expert
Monday, March 15
Chelsea District Library
221 South Main Street, Chelsea
6:30pm – 8pm

The Chelsea District Library will be creating a "living library" of people with unique knowledge on various business topics including: finance, human resources, law, marketing along with experienced business counselors. Each will introduce themselves and their areas of expertise and attendees will have the opportunity to "check out" these experts for a short one-on-one consultation. This is an opportunity to have your questions answered by skilled professionals in any area.

Please preregister as space is limited for this event. Contact Sara Wedell to reserve your seat at 734.475.8732.

want more information?

Local Fight Against Hunger
Monday, March 15 – Saturday, March 27

The Rotary Clubs of Ann Arbor, Dexter, Saline and Ypsilanti invite the community to join them in gathering needed non-perishable food items as they partner with Washtenaw County’s food rescue/food bank program – Food Gatherers – in the fight against local hunger. More than 80 local businesses and organizations will be working with the Rotary Clubs during the 6th Annual Rotate Your Food Drive to collect non-perishable food items for distribution to the 150 non-profit programs Food Gatherers works with every day of the year in the ongoing effort to alleviate hunger in our community.

want more information?

Hospitality Works Regional Skills Alliance Employer Forum
Wednesday, March 17
Metro Detroit Convention Visitors Bureau
211 West Fort Street, Stuite 1000, Detroit
9am – 11am

The purpose is to get input from lodging, entertainment, restaurant and transportation employers on their employment and training needs, to include in our application for a new Hospitality Sector Skills Alliance Grant.
 
This grant will be used to help prepare a quality workforce for employment in these industries, and to help develop SE Michigan as a Tourism Destination.
 
want more information?

LA2M: Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
Wednesday, March 17
Conor O’Neill’s Celtic Room
318 South Main Street, Ann Arbor
11:45am – 1pm

“Zag” by Marty Neumeier.  
Scott Hauman, Daggerfin presents a book about Radical Differentiation for High-Performance Brands

Digital marketing topics accelerate to the next level as LA2M kicks off its fourth season of lunchtime discussions.  For over a year LA2M has been bringing together marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, students and members of the business community to learn and share marketing best practice, network and enjoy a friendly and relaxed lunch hour in the heart of Ann Arbor.

cost: Free; $10 lunch

want more information?

Ten Things You Must Know About Mailing
Wednesday, March 17
Allegra Print & Imaging
1283 Industrial Drive, Saline
3:30pm

This seminar will take the mystery out of direct mail including how to save money on mailing costs, how to get a better response through targeted mailing lists and design, why there is no need for your own mailing permit, how to take advantage of presort, standard and first class mail rates and what are automation discount and barcode opportunities.

For registration information, call 734.944.1404 ext. 119.

want more information?

It’s OK To Be The Boss
Thursday, March 18
The Polo Fields Golf and Country Club
5200 Polo Fields Drive, Ann Arbor
7:30 registration; 8am – 10am

As a women business leader, are you worried that “being the boss” means you’ll be perceived as overbearing, domineering, or even dictatorial?

Do you hesitate to take charge, give direction, track performance, or correct behavior because you might be called the dreaded “B word”?

Unfortunately, your team will never be truly successful until you accept your responsibility to be their leader, coach, motivator, and manager. It’s OK to be the boss! In fact, it’s critical to the success of your workplace and your company.

Attend WXW’s March 18th event to hear from three local business women who have learned to embrace their role as boss and are now leading their teams to success. Then join us for our patented Exchange Sessions to talk about being the kind of boss that attracts and retains high performing employees.
 
Panelists include:
 •  Terri Barlow, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Thomson-Shore, Inc.
 •  Megan Torrance, President at TorranceLearning
 •  Dr. Kay Woodiel, Director of Diversity & Community Involvement at Eastern
     Michigan University, Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University

want more information?

Ann Arbor CIL Gathering Place Tours
Thursday, March 18    
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living   
3941 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor
9am – 10am

The Ann Arbor CIL is opening its doors to the general public, starting this month, to provide tours of its Gathering Place. Individuals are invited to come and learn more about the programs, activities, and services the Ann Arbor CIL offers, and the tremendous ways it makes a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities in our community every day.

want more information?

Business After Hours
Thursday, March 18
Randy Wise
1250 Dexter Street, Milan
5pm – 7pm

Chamber members are invited to Business After Hours. All members are eligible for One Free Oil Change.  Please contact Christine Mann to let her know when you plan to come in for your oil change so that she can meet you in person at 734.439.3500.

want more information?

POWER NETWORKING with Gray Hair Management®
Wednesday, March 19
Sheraton Detroit/Novi
21111 Haggerty Road, Novi
7:30am – 9:30am

Buffet Breakfast, then networking rotations from table to table, giving everyone an opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with one another that will lead to contact and lead generation. Dress is business casual.

Make sure you bring your Business Cards (at least 25), Rolodexes, Handbills, Resumes and any job leads. And, be prepared to give and to receive.

Cost: GHM Member: $25 with pre-registration on-line. Non-member: $30 with pre-registration on-line. $30 for all at the door.

want more information?

2010 St. Patrick’s Feast
Sunday, March 21
St. Joseph Parish, Old Village Church
3430 Dover Street, Dexter
4pm Mass; 5pm Dinner

Benefiting the moms and babies of the Father Patrick Jackson House
Father Brendan Walsh, Honorary Chair

cost: $75 per person

call: 734.971.9781 ext. 323 for reservations and information. Please RSVP by March 15.

Who is Anton Chekhov?
Monday, March 22
Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown Branch
343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor
7pm – 8:30pm

Join Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Michael Makin and Residential College Drama Lecturer Katherine Mendeloff as they examine Chekhov’s role in Russian literature and society and as transformer and innovator of Russian drama.

U-M acting students will also perform several scenes from Uncle Vanya featuring costume, live music and other scenic elements, setting the stage for a lively discussion of Chekhov’s classic play and the challenges set forth for actors and directors in mounting this production.

This event is presented in conjunction with the University Musical Society production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya by the Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg at the Power Center March 25-28. The event is also held in collaboration with the U-M Center for Russian and East European Studies, and the U-M Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.

want more information?

LA2M: Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
Wednesday, March 24
Conor O’Neill’s Celtic Room
318 South Main Street, Ann Arbor
11:45am – 1pm

Engaging a Target Market / Graduating from User Traffic to User Advocate
Shauna Nicholson, Entrepreneur

Digital marketing topics accelerate to the next level as LA2M kicks off its fourth season of lunchtime discussions.  For over a year LA2M has been bringing together marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, students and members of the business community to learn and share marketing best practice, network and enjoy a friendly and relaxed lunch hour in the heart of Ann Arbor.

cost: Free; $10 lunch

want more information?

Washtenaw Community College’s Annual Spring Job Fair
Thursday, March 25
Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building
4800 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor
1pm – 4pm

Approximately 50 employers from all career fields will be in attendance.

cost: Free of charge to enter and open to the public!

want more information?

FastTrac Orientation
Friday, March 26
Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building
4800 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor
9am – 12:30pm

An orientation session required to register for the Fast Trac® Courses in Washtenaw, Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Jackson Counties. This half day session will orient you to the Fast Trac® program and what commitment will be required of you as the entrepreneur. At this session you will spend time with an advisor who will help you select, and enroll in the Fast Trac® entrepreneurial program best suited for you and your business.

This orientation session is required to enroll in any FastTrac program in Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee Counties.

There's no substitute for experience. Nothing proves better than Fast Trac® a program facilitated by entrepreneurs who are not only knowledgeable but have a proven ability to connect with people. They create an environment that encourages you to interact with other entrepreneurs - gaining insight from their experiences and establishing relationships.

Speaker(s): MI-SBTDC Business Counselors

Co-Sponsor(s): Washtenaw Community College, MEDC

There is no smoking allowed on the campus of Washtenaw Community College, please do not smoke while attending the orientation.

want more information?

Present and Pitch Like a Pro!
Saturday, March 27
10am – 5pm

Eleni Kelakos
President and Chief Catalyst
 Eleni Kelakos Enterprises, Ltd.

You'll learn- and reinforce- some basic communication and presentation techniques, including:

 *   How and why to think like an actor: Preparation, Practice, Props
 *   The importance of Connecting First and Speaking Second
 *   Breathing and Relaxation- the key to communicating with ease and authenticity.
 *   The Power of Intention: Turning yourself on so you can turn your audience on
 *   Structuring your presentation for optimum impact
 *   How to tame the Power Point Monster
 *   How and why to incorporate personal stories into your presentations

You'll also have the opportunity to give a critiqued presentation to your classroom colleagues at least once and possibly twice!  This is a great opportunity to tackle your public speaking issues in a safe and caring environment.

Note: All attendants will receive Eleni's "Let Go of the Armor" breathing and relaxation audio CD plus "breathe" wristband.

cost: $175 by March 5th; $195 by March 19th

want more information?

Internet Marketing with Web & Social Media
Tuesday, March 30
MI-SBTDC
301 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 101, Ypsilanti
11:30am – 1pm

Using the internet effectively is a critical piece of many small businesses' marketing strategies. Learn about pay-per-click campaigns, search engine optimization, social media, blogs, podcasts and more in this information-packed session. Cut through the hype and learn which of these tools can help you grow your business.

Please bring brown bag lunch. Coffee, hot tea, and water will provided

Fee: $ 10.00

want more information?

LA2M: Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
Wednesday, March 31
Conor O’Neill’s Celtic Room
318 South Main Street, Ann Arbor
11:45am – 1pm

Social Marketing and Online Consumer Reviews
Joel Vergun, AV Consulting

Digital marketing topics accelerate to the next level as LA2M kicks off its fourth season of lunchtime discussions.  For over a year LA2M has been bringing together marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, students and members of the business community to learn and share marketing best practice, network and enjoy a friendly and relaxed lunch hour in the heart of Ann Arbor.

cost: Free; $10 lunch

want more information? 

Media Made Modern Seminar
Wednesday, March 31
Washtenaw Community College
4700 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor
2pm – 3pm

Sponsored by: AnnArbor.com
Presented by: Power Marketing and Research

Learning to communicate with the media in the modern world
You know you have a great story to tell about your business. But how do you reach the media and get exposure?
Join us for a panel of experts who are ready to answer your questions about the new media experience. Online news media, radio, and television panelists will be represented along with an expert in media outreach.
Be ready with your questions about:
• How to reach new online news publications
• How to pitch a story
• What types of stories are appropriate for radio
• What to say during an interview
• How to prep for an appearance on local access television
• How to use social media as a tool to promote your other media placements

Moderator: Debra Power

Panelists
• Paula Gardner, AnnArbor.com
• Vincent Duffy, WUOM
• Lucy Ann Lance, "The Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider"
• Megan Crosbie, Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce

want more information?

Everything you need to know about the Financial and Legal Aspects of Starting, Owning/Running and Buying a Business- An Overview
Wednesday, March 31
Washtenaw Community College
4700 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor
4pm – 5pm

Michelle Webster, Ann Arbor SCORE Chair, SCORE counselors and other experts will provide an overview of the Financial and Legal Aspects of Starting, Owning/Running and Buying a Business- An Overview. Presenter will include experts in the legal and financial fields and includes presentations from the SBA, CPA’s, Attorneys, Financial Advisors, Venture Capital, Angel Investors and bankers.

want more information?

APRIL

Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan
Tuesday, April 13
MI-SBTDC
301 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 101, Ypsilanti
3pm – 6pm

An Essential Tool for your Small Business. Every existing or prospective business needs a plan, but every plan is unique. This workshop will help you understand the necessary content and best format for your business plan, and show you the resources to create it.

Speaker(s): MI-SBTDC Business Consultant Cathie Abad

want to register?

Ann Arbor CIL Gathering Place Tours
Wednesday, April 14       
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living   
3941 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor
5:30pm – 6:30pm

The Ann Arbor CIL is opening its doors to the general public, starting this month, to provide tours of its Gathering Place. Individuals are invited to come and learn more about the programs, activities, and services the Ann Arbor CIL offers, and the tremendous ways it makes a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities in our community every day.

want more information?

Marketing Your Small Business - Part I
Tuesday, April 27
MI-SBTDC
301 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 101, Ypsilanti
11:30am – 1pm

This is the first in a series of two marketing workshops that will focus on the development of your sales & marketing plan. Part one will define your business, the competition, and your target market. We will also be covering the components of an elevator speech and how to correctly brand your business. Throughout these workshops we will be taking a hands-on approach that will enable you to leave with the actual beginnings of your own sales and marketing plan.

Speaker(s): MI-SBTDC Business Consultant Cathie Abad

Please bring a brown bag lunch to the meeting. Coffee, hot tea and water will be provided.

Fee: $ 10.00

want to register?

15th Annual Huron Valley Friends of NRA Banquet
Wednesday, April 28
Tri County Sportsmen’s League
8640 Moon Road, Ann Arbor

Tri County Sportsmen’s League and Washtenaw Sportsman’s Club invite you to help them support firearms education and training programs at the 15th annual Huron Valley Friends of NRA Banquet at the Tri County Sportsmen’s League. The banquet features raffles, games, live auction, silent auction and a prime rib dinner.

cost: pre-event $35/person; $40 at the door

Call 734.429.9561 for details and to order tickets.

MAY

MIAT Annual Career Expo
Thursday, May 6
Willow Run Campus
12pm – 5pm

want more information?

Ann Arbor CIL Gathering Place Tours
Thursday, May 13       
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living   
3941 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor
9am – 10am

The Ann Arbor CIL is opening its doors to the general public, starting this month, to provide tours of its Gathering Place. Individuals are invited to come and learn more about the programs, activities, and services the Ann Arbor CIL offers, and the tremendous ways it makes a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities in our community every day.

want more information?

Ypsilanti PRIDE Day
Saturday, May 15
Downtown Ypsilanti

An expected 500 to 1200 volunteers from our community will be out picking up litter, painting, sweeping, cleaning, planting flowers, cleaning up the river, and giving our community an overall facelift. Once the work is done, a ‘post-event celebration’ takes place downtown that includes a free lunch, live entertainment, presentation of awards, and family activities. Ypsilanti PRIDE is truly a community-wide event and we can all be proud of our involvement. The benefits are numerous and the activities of the day help all our businesses grow by creating an environment that is friendly and inviting.

want more information?

JUNE

Ann Arbor CIL Gathering Place Tours
Wednesday, June 9   
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living   
3941 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor
5:30pm – 6:30pm

The Ann Arbor CIL is opening its doors to the general public, starting this month, to provide tours of its Gathering Place. Individuals are invited to come and learn more about the programs, activities, and services the Ann Arbor CIL offers, and the tremendous ways it makes a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities in our community every day.

want more information?

Place your event on our Business Calendar

Sponsors

KeyBank TDS MetrocomInner Circle Media
here is the third column
ComcastStone Bridge