On Friday June 20th, I attended the annual Connecting Women to Power Conference hosted by the State Board of Equalization. I attend each year because there is always good information to share with my clients, and I meet contacts in agencies which has come in handy a few times. This year was no different!
The conference always starts out with a keynote speaker that shares a motivational message. Previous years have had topics such as overcoming challenges to attain high levels of success, or learning good negotiating skills (women aren’t as good at this as men in general), and this year’s topic was overcoming your fears. The speaker was Rhonda Britten, a personal life coach who has overcome overwhelming personal challenges and helps others overcome their situations (she is most well known for appearing on the TV Show Starting Over).
Following the keynote address are breakout sessions throughout the rest of the day on topics such as:
- Successful Leadership and Management Skills
- Secrets to Government Contracting with Small Business
- Building a Business on a Shoestring Budget
- Estate Planning and Wealth Management – Protecting Your Investments
- Business Plan Development & Legal Issues for Small Business
- International Business – Expanding Your Business Overseas
- Utilizing Social Media: 2014 Marketing Trends and Strategies
- Capitalizing on Tax Credits
- Funding for Small Businesses: Private Contracting & Bank Financing
I also met two potential clients (am following up to see if we are a good fit for their needs) as well as another direct contact in the State Board of Equalization. When issues arise (client received a tax due notice in error, need to discuss a specific tax question, etc) it’s always nice to have someone I can call directly instead of the general phone line to talk with any person who gets your call. Developing a relationship is so much better, and I’m thankful I have contact information for another resource if it becomes necessary.
If you are in the South Bay area, I highly suggest you attend this seminar next year!
