A PROGRAM OF THE GEORGIA SBDC NETWORK

Manage Better, Grow Faster!

Whether in business for two years or twenty years,

many small business owners are so busy working IN

the business, they neglect working ON it.

If your business is ready for growth, SBDC

GrowSmart gives you the tools and strategies to

reach your goals.

GrowSmart was developed by the Georgia SBDC

Network to meet the needs of growing businesses.

Combining the latest ideas with timeless principles,

GrowSmart will propel your business forward!

Georgia SBDC training has helped thousands of

business owners build a foundation for growth.

GrowSmart is the product of our experience and

commitment to Georgia’s small businesses.

SBDC GrowSmart™

This program gets results! In full or half day weekly

sessions, learn to analyze and manage your business like

a seasoned CEO.

35 hours of class time covering all areas of business

operation

Evaluate your business, competition and markets

Hands-on, interactive program promotes sharing of

best practices

Expert speakers add insights to the topic of the day

Step-by-step development of your company’s

strategies for growth

Combined with long term one-on-one consulting with

SBDC professionals, learn to apply course principles

and build a business for today’s challenging times.

The Georgia SBDC is the go-to resource for growing businesses!

Albany Program: March 7 - April 19, 2013

229-420-1144 www.georgiasbdc.org/growsmart

Scholarship Sponsor GrowSmart™ Statewide Sponsor

A PROGRAM OF THE GEORGIA SBDC NETWORK

SBDC GrowSmart™ is a dynamic program for leaders of companies with:

At least two years of successful operation

At least one non-owner employee

Annual revenues of $300,000 or more

The opportunity and desire to grow

The GrowSmart™ Program

Module 1: Planning a Strategy

Making effective decisions requires careful consideration of internal and external factors. After documenting your vision and goals, develop growth strategies to move your business forward.

Module 2: Growing Your Business

Examine the impact of growth on your company’s staff, operations and finances. Learn the secrets to building enterprise value and a sound exit strategy.

Module 3: Planning a Marketing Strategy

Analyze your core competencies and competitive advantages—matching them to needs in the marketplace. Learn to protect your business from competition and develop strategies for profitable pricing.

Module 4: Marketing Your Business

Connect with customers using the latest marketing and communication tools. Learn valuable techniques to build your brand and evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing activities.

Module 5: Becoming a Better Leader

Focus on your changing role as the leader of your company. Identify people resources and leadership strategies that will be necessary to achieve your growth plan.

Module 6: Managing a Team

Explore proven methods for hiring, on-boarding, compensating, and motivating your team. Develop your future organization chart, a vision of how your business will look and perform in the years to come.

Module 7: Financial Management

Become a better user of financial information with expanded knowledge of financial definitions and tools. Learn how to analyze your company’s financial condition and develop strategies to improve profits and cash flow.

Module 8: Controlling Financial Results

Use the GrowSmart™ ratio tool to calculate financial ratios and make better decisions. Use the GrowSmart financial template to create a financial plan that quantifies the results of your marketing and management strategies. With careful planning, determine how much money it will take to meet your goals and evaluate funding options.

Module 9: Managing Operations and Growth

Documented, consistent processes are a key to building a scalable, well-managed company that has lasting, transferrable value. Assess your current operations and learn methods to document and streamline processes.

Module 10: Take Action

We conclude with a challenge to put the program’s lessons to work in your business. Armed with new tools, a new mindset, and ongoing help from the SBDC, you’ll take your business to a higher level!

The GrowSmart program is an absolute must for any business owner looking to take their business to the next level. Interacting and exchanging ideas with other business owners and leaders not only provided me with external insight on my business practices, but also provided excellent opportunities to create and establish valuable contacts within the business community. Whether you’re in year two of a new business or year ten of an established operation, I highly recommend this program!

Tammy McCrary, CEO, ComNet Technical Solutions, Inc.

"We had grown our company over the past decade and knew we needed to implement formal operational systems and processes to continue our growth. The Grow Smart program gave me the knowledge and tools I needed to develop and implement systems in 2012 that has led to a record year in growth and revenue. Our employees are now better equipped to carry out their job duties and our company culture has benefited. As a result our customers are better serviced. It would have been difficult to have handled the growth this past year had we not put the systems into place. The UGA SBDC and the Grow Smart program have been a wonderful resource." Vince Dettore

Vice President, Marketing & Business Operations Drawdy Roofing & Vinyl Siding ASM Sheet Metal, Inc.

A PROGRAM OF THE GEORGIA SBDC NETWORK

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GrowSmart™ Statewide Sponsor

As an entrepreneur, we tend to believe that our business, our creation, is structured the way that it should be for maximum profitability. However, we tend to be myopic, and defensive about our shortcomings. We don’t know what we don’t know. The GrowSmart Program provides the information and the tools to dissect our business and examine all phases of our operations. Each module allows us to gain a deeper insight than just the intuitive approach that we have followed for years. The program also allows us to interact with fellow business owners to provide a sounding board and resource that proves to be invaluable. The knowledge gained, and the new ideas presented, have stimulated growth and efficiencies in my business. Gary F. Nevins

President & CEO, Plantation Publishing Co.

How did they evaluate GrowSmart™?

“The program is as good as the instructors and they were great! Learned a lot & enjoyed it.”

“I will be coming to the SBDC soon to seek follow up assistance.”

“The class was a very good tool to all of us. I enjoyed it very much.”

“I enjoyed the speed and fluid manner of covering so many topics.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to attend such an educational and inspiring program. Thank you.”

“I definitely will recommend this course. The biggest take away was the resource we have in the SBDC.”

“Program was overall a benefit to me & the company. Thanks.”

“I loved having the guest speakers. So excited about the knowledge gained through this class.”

STATEWIDE SPONSOR

Georgia Power has sponsored Georgia SBDC

programs for growing businesses since 2002.

Through their support of FastTrac® and now SBDC

GrowSmart™, over 1,300 of Georgia’s small

business leaders have acquired the tools to take

their businesses to higher level.

OUR SPONSORS

Georgia Power, A Southern Company - STATEWIDE SPONSOR

The Wachovia Foundation - FOUNDING SPONSOR

Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council Greater Women’s Business Council Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection

Coastal Area District Development Authority AT&T Foundation

AGL Resources • Aflac, Inc. • GE Energy The Home Depot • The Coca-Cola Company

Guardian Bank of Valdosta

A PROGRAM OF THE GEORGIA SBDC NETWORK

Program Starts March 7, 2013 - Apply Today!

Application: (Email to ktedrick@georgiasbdc.org or fax to 229-430-3933.)

Name: Title:

Business Name:

Mailing Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Email:

Number of employees: Years in Business: ___ Annual Revenues:

Description of Business:

Program Outline

1. Planning a Strategy 2. Growing Your Business 3. Planning a Marketing Strategy 4. Marketing Your Business 5. Becoming a Better Leader 6. Managing a Team 7. Financial Management 8. Controlling Financial Results 9. Managing Operations & Growth

10. Take Action

For information contact:

Kathy Tedrick UGA SBDC, Albany Phone: 229-420-1144 Fax: 229-430-3933 ktedrick@georgiasbdc.org

Funded in part through a cooperative

agreement with the U.S. Small Business

Administration and the University of Georgia.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with

disabilities will be made if requested at least two

weeks in advance. Call 229-420-1144 or write:

Debbie Finney, Area Director

UGA SBDC

125 Pine Avenue, Suite 142

Albany, GA 31701

Location: The University of Georgia SBDC - Albany 125 Pine Avenue, Albany, GA 31701

Dates: (All sessions are Thursdays except April 19.)

March 7 9:00 - 1:00 Module 1 March 14 9:00 - 4:00 Modules 2 & 3 March 21 9:00 - 1:00 Module 4 March 28 9:00 - 4:00 Modules 5 & 6 April 4 9:00 - 1:00 Module 7 April 11 9:00 - 4:00 Modules 8 & 9 April 19 (Friday) 9:00 - 1:00 Module 10 (Graduation)

Tuition: Thanks to OneGeorgia, each participating business receives a $500 discount, reducing

tuition to ONLY $395 per person. Chamber members receive an additional $100 chamber

discount. PAY ONLY $295! Save $600 off of the GrowSmart $895 tuition. Training

materials, networking breakfast and lunch included.

Enrollment: To allow participants maximum benefit from this interactive forum,

enrollment is limited and an application is required. Applications are reviewed to ensure

competitive conflicts are eliminated.

Scholarship Sponsor GrowSmart™ Statewide Sponsor