• President’s message: Looking ahead as a new president steps up
  
• Cruise the Canal on Surprise Thursday
  
• Making your business better
  
• Upcoming events
  
• We want you!
• New RPCN address

Looking ahead as a new president steps up

By David Powe, RPCN Past President, and Laurie Enos, President

As we reach the end of David Powe’s term as RPCN president and the beginning of Laurie Enos’s, we would like to bring you up to date on where RPCN is and what our plans for the coming year are.

During the first half of David Powe’s term, we concluded our 25th anniversary celebration with a cruise on the Erie Canal and a fun holiday party. David’s term also saw the completion of the fourth Consultant’s Boot Camp and a TrendTalk focused on economic growth in our region and how RPCN members can benefit from the growth. We also held our second annual Wall of Fame Gala, where we honored local entrepreneurs for their accomplishments.

David made great strides in strengthening our alliance relationships with Eastman Business Park and the Finger Lakes Regional Development Economic Council. RPCN has many opportunities to work with Eastman Business Park, the first being our blogging program that launched this month. RPCN also now has a seat on the Innovation and Development work group that is part of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, where we can learn about consulting opportunities for our members first-hand.

In this coming year, a key focus will be on expanding our alliance relationships and exposing RPCN members to the amazing opportunities that are available through these alliance relationships. Other priorities for this coming year include:

1. Launching the updated RPCN website.
2. Holding the “Lead. Market. Sell.” Conference on October 26, 2016.
3. Create more opportunities for our members to build relationships with other members and potential clients.
4. Continuing to focus on RPCN’s “Learn-from-the-Best” approach when choosing workshops and speakers.
5. Holding another Boot Camp and maybe even a Boot Camp Level 2 for graduates to dive deeper.
6. Continuing to work on retaining members and increasing our membership base.

You can see the entire strategic plan, including our vision, mission, organizational values, outcomes and strategic objectives, on our website.

RPCN is a terrific group of talented consultants. Our group is a needed resource for many of the new start-ups calling Rochester home. Our talents and expertise are necessary for many of these companies to succeed. Our goal is to promote RPCN and our members in the Rochester business community so we are the “go-to” organization for consultative expertise in many areas.

As we transition from David to Laurie, we also want to welcome our new vice president, Bob Manard, to the team. David will become the past president and continue to work his connections with our alliance partners to grow the reputation of RPCN.

We look forward to this year of growth and opportunity.

Join your RPCN peers on Thursday, July 28, 2016, for a summer night cruise along the Erie Canal on the Colonial Belle. We are meeting at the dock at 400 Packett’s Landing, Fairport, NY 14450 at 6:15 PM. The ship departs at 6:30 PM and returns at 9:00 PM.

Those that went on this cruise last year has such a great time networking and relaxing that we were asked to hold this event again. We are not having a dinner on this cruise, but there is a cash bar and snack items available.

The cost for this cruise is $21.00 per person. You can register on the RPCN website.

Logical Operations classes 
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of useful Logical Operations classes in July on various aspects of using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, SharePoint, Office 365 and other programs, as well as general topics such as cybersafety and organization. Read more and register here.

Brighton Chamber of Commerce - July seminar
The Brighton Chamber of Commerce has rescheduled an Expert Edge Seminar on "The Power of Branding - Attract more customers today” with Michelle Roberts, brand strategist with novusbeknown.com, for 7:45 - 9 AM on Wednesday, July 6, at the Legacy at Clover Blossom. Free to Chamber members, $15/person for nonmembers, continental breakfast included. Read more and register here.

Brighton Chamber of Commerce - August seminar
The Brighton Chamber’s August Expert Edge Seminar will focus on on “10 Ways to Drive More Traffic to Your Business,” presented by Michael D. Krause, author/consultant/strategist and president of Sales Sense Payments, from 7:45 - 9 AM on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Free to Chamber members, $15/person for nonmembers, continental breakfast included. Read more and register here.

Launching a consulting practice (or any small business)™
Friday, July 22, 2016; 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM; NeighborWorks, 570 South Avenue, Rochester

You finally decided to take the entrepreneurial path and hang out your shingle as a consultant.What do you need to know to get started? This presentation by Tracy Jong will cover topics such as: Can I run my business from my home? Should I incorporate or form an LLC? Should I have a contract? Jong has been an attorney for more than 20 years. Click here to register.

Colonial Belle Cruise
Thursday, July 28, 2016; 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM; Colonial Belle, 400 Packett's Landing, Fairport

Join your RPCN peers and their guests for a summer night cruise on the Erie Canal aboard the Colonial Belle. We will meet at the dock at 6:15 PM. The cruise leaves promptly at 6:30 PM and returns at 9:00 PM. Click here for more information and to register.

RPCN members also may write articles for our website; submit articles here. In the newsletter, we'll highlight submitted articles aimed at helping consultants make their businesses better. If you have newsletter questions or suggestions, or ideas for how RPCN could improve communications, contact the Newsletter Committee: Sandy Glanton, Chair; Ruth E. Thaler-Carter; Steve Royal; Mary DeFranco. Please send articles for the August newsletter by July 15.

The RPCN address has changed to: