Members of the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) will highlight ways employers can support the growth of local students and help cutlivate a talented workforce.  Learn about ways to work with students while also enhancing your business model.  Several businesses will also share how they are currently incorporating student employees into their organization, the benefits they've experienced, and advice for businesses considering a new student partnership.  Sponsored by the Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Grandville/Jenison Chamber of Commerce.  Workshop will be held at the Jenison High School Library, 2140 Bauer Road, Jenison.  Free to attend.  Register online at http://business.hudsonvillechamber.com/Events/details/engaging-empowering-employing-students.

The MiFOOD2012 summit will bring together Michigan's leading growers, processors and resources to address today's most challenging food industry issues..  Experts will explore new, innovative strategies for growth, safety and increased efficiency.  Summit will be held at the Pinnacle Center, 3330 Highland Drive in Hudsonville.  $85 per person.  For more information or to register, go to www.rightplace.org.

This workshop is for those who are comfortable with the basics of QuickBooks.  This course will cover completing individual/company preferences, memorizing recurring transactions, bank and credit card reconciliation, financial statements and general reports, customizing forms, and writing letters/statements with QuickBooks data.  Participants are encouraged to bring a computer, but it is not required.  Hosted by Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW), Suite 210, Sheldon Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids. All are welcome. $50 or $75 if taken with Beginning QuickBooks workshop on May 17.  To register, call 616-458-3404 or go to www.GROWbusiness.org.

The West Shore Inventor/Entrepreneur Network (WIN) supports inventors and entrepreneurs in the Lake/Manistee/Mason/Oceana County region.  Monthly meetings offer peer support, confidential idea reviews, and advice about the invention, patenting and promotion process.  WIN also teams up with local, regional and statewide business development organizations to refer members for help with writing a business plan, marketing research and access to capital.  Meetings are held the 4th Monday of the month at the West Shore Community College Schoenherr Campus Center.  Your first meeting is free. $50 annual membership fee to attend additional meetings.  RSVP your attendance to Julie Van Dyke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 231-843-5903.

A monthly gathering to educate businesses about this ever-changing marketing tool. Specific topics and presenters vary each month. This month's workshop will focus on Cloud Computing.  Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg, One South Harbor Drive, Grand Haven, MI 49417. $15 Chamber members/$20 future members. To register, call 616-842-4910 or go to www.grandhavenchamber.org.

The June Financial Awareness Cluster begins June 6; one of three clusters in Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women's (GROW) Small Business Growth and Planning Series. This workshop will focus on income statements, balance sheets and break even analysis.  The second workshop in the series on June 13 will focus on financial analysis 101, and the third workshop on June 20 will focus on financing options. Small Business GPS is designed to provide participants the information and resources to write a business plan. Workshop will be held at GROW, 25 Sheldon Blvd SE, Ste. 210, Grand Rapids. 
$60-$70 for the 3-part course. For more information and/or to register, contact GROW at (616) 458-3404 or go to www.GROWbusiness.org.

The second in a 3-part summer workshop series that will teach you everything you need to know about using social media in your business.  This session will focus on Twitter and LinkedIn.  The first session on May 8 will focus on the importance of Facebook and how to use it to grow your customer base.  Session III on July 10 will cover the newest social media trends and platforms.  Hosted by the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, 380 W. Western Ave., Suite 202, Muskegon. $20 per session for Chamber members/$50 for the 3-part series, or $35 per session for non-members/$85 for 3-part series.  To register online, go to www.muskegon.org.

This month's meeting will focus on marketing.  If sales drives the company bus, then marketing is the bus driver.  Simply put, marketing can make or break a company . . . especially a start-up.  The reason is market research is critical to good product development, and it's how you identify your target market and make sales.  Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at Grand Valley State University's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Room 119, 301 Michigan St. N.E., Grand Rapids.  Your first meeting is free, $50 annual dues to attend additional meetings.  RSVP to www.grinventors.org.

The June Financial Awareness Cluster continues June 13; one of three clusters in Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women's (GROW) Small Business Growth and Planning Series. This workshop will focus on financial analysis, and follows the first workshop on June 6, which will focus on income statements, balance sheets and break even analysis.  The third workshop on June 20 will focus on financing options. Small Business GPS is designed to provide participants the information and resources to write a business plan. Workshop will be held at GROW, 25 Sheldon Blvd SE, Ste. 210, Grand Rapids. 
$60-$70 for the 3-part course. For more information and/or to register, contact GROW at (616) 458-3404 or go to www.GROWbusiness.org 

A free introduction to the different types of legal entities that are appropriate for structuring and starting a new business.  Topics covered include: tax and liability, basic elements of a contract, collections, licenses, registrations, employment and property issues, leasing and insurance.  Sponsored by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (Mi-SBTDC).  Workshop will be held at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC), 200 Viridian Drive in Muskegon.  Free.  Register online at https://www.misbtdc.net/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=72320002.

The Muskegon Inventors Network (MIN) is a not-for-profit inventor/marketer group for West Michigan people with creative ideas, inventors and others who may benefit from our support services.  Meetings may include presentations by experts in the invention or business launch fields, or other inventors sharing what they've learned through their invention process.  Intellectual property attorneys also offer pro-bono help with patents and trademarks.  Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month, and are usually held at the Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center (MAREC), 200 Viridian Drive in Muskegon.  Go to www.muskegoninventorsnetwork.org to confirm location.  Your first meeting is free.  $50 annual dues to continue attendance.  Contact Melba Mulder to RSVP your attendance at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The June Financial Awareness Cluster continues June 20; one of three clusters in Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women's (GROW) Small Business Growth and Planning Series. This workshop will focus on financing options, and follows the first workshop on June 6, which will focus on income statements, balance sheets and break even analysis.  The second workshop on June 13 will focus on financial analysis 101. Small Business GPS is designed to provide participants the information and resources to write a business plan. Workshop will be held at GROW, 25 Sheldon Blvd SE, Ste. 210, Grand Rapids. 
$60-$70 for the 3-part course. For more information and/or to register, contact GROW at (616) 458-3404 or go to www.GROWbusiness.org.

Find out what you're allowed to ask when conducting an interview, and how to decide the right salary for the position you are seeking to fill.  Also learn about strategies to retain talent.  In addition, you'll hear about interviewing resources and other services offered free of charge through Michigan Works! Business Services.  Sponsored by the Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce.  Workshop will be held at Hudsonville City Hall, 3275 Central Blvd., Hudsonville.  Free to Hudsonville Chamber members, $6 for non-members.  RSVP at http://business.hudsonvillechamber.com/Events/details/june-meal-meet-eat-and-learn-with-mi-works.

The West Shore Inventor/Entrepreneur Network (WIN) supports inventors and entrepreneurs in the Lake/Manistee/Mason/Oceana County region.  Monthly meetings offer peer support, confidential idea reviews, and advice about the invention, patenting and promotion process.  WIN also teams up with local, regional and statewide business development organizations to refer members for help with writing a business plan, marketing research and access to capital.  Meetings are held the 4th Monday of the month at the West Shore Community College Schoenherr Campus Center.  Your first meeting is free. $50 annual membership fee to attend additional meetings.  RSVP your attendance to Julie Van Dyke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 231-843-5903.

This course covers practical applications of marketing concepts designed to grow a small business.  Market analysis and research, target marketing, and assessing competitors will be discussed.  Several examples of effective hands-on marketing tools will also be reviewed.  Sponsored by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (Mi-SBTDC). Workshop will be held at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC), 200 Viridian Drive in Muskegon. Free. Register online at https://www.misbtdc.net/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=72320006.

The third in a 3-part summer workshop series that will teach you everything you need to know about using social media in your business.  This session will help you stay current as you learn about social media's newest trends and platforms.  The first session on May 8 will focus on the importance of Facebook and how to use it to grow your customer base, while the second session on June 12 will focus on Twitter and LinkedIn.  Hosted by the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, 380 W. Western Ave., Suite 202, Muskegon. $20 per session for Chamber members/$50 for the 3-part series, or $35 per session for non-members/$85 for 3-part series.  To register online, go to www.muskegon.org.

This month, six experts will talk about why and how their organizations lend money . . . and why they DON'T.  Ask what it takes to get funding from them.  Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at Grand Valley State University's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Room 119, 301 Michigan St. N.E., Grand Rapids.  Your first meeting is free, $50 annual dues to attend additional meetings.  RSVP to www.grinventors.org. 

The Muskegon Inventors Network (MIN) is a not-for-profit inventor/marketer group for West Michigan people with creative ideas, inventors and others who may benefit from our support services.  Meetings may include presentations by experts in the invention or business launch fields, or other inventors sharing what they've learned through their invention process.  Intellectual property attorneys also offer pro-bono help with patents and trademarks.  Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month, and are usually held at the Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center (MAREC), 200 Viridian Drive in Muskegon.  Go to www.muskegoninventorsnetwork.org to confirm location.  Your first meeting is free.  $50 annual dues to continue attendance.  Contact Melba Mulder to RSVP your attendance at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Attendees will be introduced to basic accounting concepts and will learn how to apply financial information effectively.  Key documents such as cash flow statements, profit and loss statements and balance sheets will be explained using specific business examples.  Sponsored by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (Mi-SBTDC). Workshop will be held at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC), 200 Viridian Drive in Muskegon. Free. Register online at https://www.misbtdc.net/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=72320010.

The West Shore Inventor/Entrepreneur Network (WIN) supports inventors and entrepreneurs in the Lake/Manistee/Mason/Oceana County region.  Monthly meetings offer peer support, confidential idea reviews, and advice about the invention, patenting and promotion process.  WIN also teams up with local, regional and statewide business development organizations to refer members for help with writing a business plan, marketing research and access to capital.  Meetings are held the 4th Monday of the month at the West Shore Community College Schoenherr Campus Center.  Your first meeting is free. $50 annual membership fee to attend additional meetings.  RSVP your attendance to Julie Van Dyke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 231-843-5903.