Steve Royal appreciates camaraderie of RPCN membership

By Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, RPCN Communication Committee

Like so many RPCN members, Steve Royal is a former Kodaker, but his story is a little different from that of people were laid off or dismissed as Rochester’s former employment giant cut back so drastically in recent years. The chemist-by-training had evolved into an internal training and business expert in his years with Kodak and was able to translate that angle into a consulting business – something he attributes to his RPCN membership.

“I started my consulting business in 1992, about a year after a buyout from Kodak,” Royal said. “I was only 49 when I left Kodak, but the deal was so good that I couldn’t bring myself to stay.” He had several job interviews, but all were for about half what he had been making, with no benefits and extensive traveling, which did not appeal to him. He had been spending “a lot of time” at the Career Resource Center on Culver Road when someone from the RPCN came there to discuss consulting. Royal went to an RPCN meeting and “kept going every week. I decided that, with the help of RPCN, I could become a consultant.” He’s been at it ever since.

Click here to watch a video interview with Royal. To read the full interview and find out more about his business and how RPCN has helped him find new clients, visit this page on the RPCN website.

Ruth E. Thaler-Carter (www.writerruth.com) is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader and speaker whose motto is “I can write about anything!”™

25 years of the RPCN – here’s to 25 more

By Dave Bassett, RPCN President

Back in 1990, a group of 10 or so former Kodak workers formed a mutual support group. Little did they know that the small group that met in a diner would still be going strong a quarter-century later as the Rochester Professional Consultants Network (RPCN).

We are planning on kicking off a long celebration of this important milestone in the coming months. Details of all we have planned will be coming out soon. (For a bit more info on the 25th anniversary, please click here.)

As my first act as RPCN president, I would like to thank Michael Van der Gaag and the rest of the past board for their dedicated service to the membership. It is my great privilege to let you know that all but one member of the current board will be staying on for this 25th-anniversary year. Paula Randall, who has served in several capacities – as secretary, member at large and membership chairwoman, and on the Conference Committee – has regrettably tendered her resignation to take a position as vice president of health services at Huther Doyle. We wish her the best of luck in her new position and hope she gets a chance to make it to some of our meetings and events.

It is also my privilege to welcome Laurie Enos, president of Blue Dog Marketing, to the board. Laurie is a marketing expert and has been working with the Conference Committee. 

Speaking of the Conference Committee, plans are well underway for “Picture Yourself … a Successful Consultant,” a three-track, full-day conference to be held at MCC on October 15. Dr. Bruce Katcher, author of An Insider’s Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice, will be the keynote speaker.

On July 11, we held the first of two strategy implementation sessions. The meeting was open to the entire membership and the turnout was great. Roughly 20 percent of our members attended and helped brainstorm how we can implement the strategic plan that was passed at the June board meeting. The priorities we are focused on for the coming year are:

1. Create opportunities for members to build potential relationships with clients.
2. Prepare for and conduct an RPCN Boot Camp, conference and TrendTalks on an ongoing basis.
3. Promote and celebrate RPCN’s 25th anniversary.
4. Implement marketing and communication strategies to promote RPCN and its members.
5. Update the RPCN website.

(To see the entire strategic plan, including our vision, mission, organizational values, outcomes and strategic objectives, please check it out on the website.)

On August 8, after the regularly scheduled meeting at the Brighton Town Hall, we will hold a session with the membership to review the brainstorming session and to get your input on how best to implement these goals. We’ll have snacks and coffee for this 10 AM meeting, so please plan on sticking around after the morning meeting. 

Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts on how we’re doing, what you think we’re doing well and what you think we could do better. The members are the lifeblood of RPCN and we look forward to your enthusiasm and continued participation and support.

Thank you all for your help in making 2013–14 so successful; I look forward to working with you to make 2014–15 even stronger! Our first 25 years were very good; here’s to an even better next 25!

25 years of RPCN accomplishments – how we’re “Delivering on the Promise”

By Bob Lurz

What has RPCN accomplished in 25 years? No RPCN buildings or monuments exist, so what can we point to? RPCN is dedicated to serving members, so let’s look at them. Since our promise is to provide members with opportunities for networking, learning and mutual support, our “monuments” are those who benefit from RPCN’s opportunities.
           
Members: Founded in 1990 with about 10 members, peaked at 240 in the mid-1990s. Lately, members numbered 100–120. There’s no 25-year record of members’ names, but assuming an average of 100 members each year means more than 1,000 members over time, many of whom are long-time repeat stalwarts of the organization.
       
Meetings: 1,000 Friday meetings with networking and learning opportunities. Started with two-per-month: Presentations and Describe Your Services. Added two-per-month in mid-1990s: Business and Technical Forums, the “crown jewels” of RPCN. Conferences, boot camps, board/committee meetings add 1,200 meetings, creating 2,200 RPCN opportunities where members and others learn, network and volunteer. Through our Friday sessions, RPCN has touched the lives of several thousand actual and potential members. 
   
Opportunities (thousands):

• Learn about/from each other.
• Build networks.
• Explore and learn about starting up, getting clients and more.
• Present/facilitate at meetings, events to showcase expertise, build trust.
• Present 30-second commercials.
• Obtain referrals, recommendations.
• Do business with members.

    Plus:

• Write for the newsletter or website.
• Serve on RPCN board/committees/projects.
• Collaborate on business projects.
• Form “ alliances” (expand services).

Yes, we’ve delivered on the RPCN promise. We’ve built a 25-year “living monument” to the consulting and business community.

Bob Lurz is founder and facilitator of the RPCN Business Forum, leader of the RPCN Consulting Boot Camps and a past president of RPCN.

Making your business better

Getting away: Your consulting business may seem all-consuming, but taking a vacation is vital to your mental and physical health. On the Society for Technical Communication (STC) website, RPCN member Ruth E. Thaler-Carter has vacation tips for freelancers that apply to consultants as well.

Selling yourself: Need to write a bio? Hannah Morgan suggests that you search LinkedIn summaries for inspiration. Read her Democrat & Chronicle Nextpert column on "Write bio that sells yourself" for more tips.

We are friendly: Rochester received a B grade for its overall friendliness to small business from the Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey. Rochester was rated 5th nationally in the ease of starting a small business. For the complete report, click here.

New members

RPCN welcomes the following new member. Click on the name to view his profile.

Joel Shertok

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In this issue:

• President's_message  
  
• Member profile
  
• RPCN 25th anniversary
  
• Making your business better
  
• Fall conference
  
• Upcoming events

We want you!

The RPCN newsletter welcomes news, success stories, tips, resources, events and other items that would be of broad interest to consultants. Submit a newsletter item by email to the Communication Committee. 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 Communication Committee:
Janice Hanson, Chair
Barbara Moore
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Steve Royal

Please send articles for the September newsletter by August 15.

Upcoming events

Technical Forum
facilitated by Steve Royal
Friday, August 1, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library

An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of any technical issues that consultants encounter in running their businesses, including computers, the Internet and phones. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking? For a list from recent forums, click here.

Why and How to Blog
presented by Laurie Enos and Mary Sperr, Blue Dog Marketing   
Friday, August 8, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

Have you thought about blogging for your business? Do you know how to go about it? Learn how blogging will benefit your business, tips on writing compelling and effective blogs, and how to schedule your posts. You will come away from this presentation having set up your blog.

If you want to start a blog, here is some "homework" to do before the workshop. And here is a short video introduction to the presentation.



Business Forum
facilitated by Bob Lurz
Friday, August 15, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library
   
An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of issues regarding starting or running a consulting business. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking? For a list from recent forums, click here.

RPCN Board Meeting
Friday, August 15, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pittsford Community Library

RPCN’s monthly board meeting begins at approximately 10:00 AM, after the Business Forum. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only board members may vote.

Networking for Introverts
presented by Eric R. Derby 
Friday, August 22, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

Are you tired of being bombarded with messages about how you should be networking? Are the methods that are pushed on you irritating or just plain wrong?

This short course is for introverts who want to find ways to network effectively, taking into account your own style and comfort level. We will talk about the goals of networking, and try some exercises to help you be authentic in your own communications.

Surprise Thursday
Thursday, August 28, 2014
6:00 PM   
Location TBD

There is no RPCN meeting on Friday, August 29, the fifth Friday of the month, so if you are beside yourself for what to do, or want to get to know your RPCN colleagues in a more informal setting, come to this social gathering (location TBD). Cash bar, but appetizers are on us. Bring friends, colleagues or clients.

Picture Yourself … as a Successful Consultant conference is shaping up

The RPCN’s full-day 2014 conference, “Picture Yourself … as a Successful Consultant,” to be held on Wednesday, October 15, at MCC, will be the event of the season. The conference will focus on ways and tools to grow and expand your small/consulting business.

Ruth Balkin blends high tech and soft touch in research

By Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, RPCN Communication Committee

RPCN librarian and long-time member Ruth G. Balkin has been a consultant almost from the very beginning of her work life. She did work briefly as a secretary in a law firm and spent a year-and-a-half with the Job Information Center at Rochester’s Rundell Library, but she says that being a consultant comes naturally. “I’ve been tutoring French for money since I was a child,” Balkin said. “When I was a kid, I didn’t play house – I played school or office. I was destined to be an entrepreneur.”

Balkin is the founder and CEO of Balkin Information Services in Irondequoit. The business is formally a partnership; her partner is her sister, who lives in Pennsylvania. The company provides “mainly research – document retrieval in anything from business, marketing, competitive intelligence and due diligence to medical,” she said. They use the Internet and other sources to find documents and perform different types of research.

Balkin formally established the company in late 1978 when she was working at a law firm while pursuing a master’s degree in French and earning her New York state teacher certification. Firm members encouraged her to look for freelance work and she was asked to do something with the firm’s library, which helped launch her consulting business. As “things were changing in the industry – publishers were moving to CD-ROM products – we started offering training,” Balkin said. That was one area where Balkin found that “education is never a waste”; her coursework in teaching was invaluable in developing training.

Balkin joined the RPCN around 1992 and has benefited from her membership in many ways – even beyond business success. “RPCN meetings are a shot in the arm every week – a boost. I go to a meeting and I’ve done business with a quarter to a third of everyone in the room,” she said. On a personal level, “RPCN has kept me going over the years through thick and thin. It’s literally gotten me back on my feet. When I broke my ankle, Mary Ann Shew organized everything for me. It was amazing. People brought food, people took me to doctors’ appointments.”

Like many RPCN members, Balkin sees involvement as key to getting value from belonging to the organization. “Don’t just be a member,” she said. “The more active you are, the more you get known, the more business you get, the more satisfaction you get from your membership.”

While her consulting business is her official life’s work, French is Balkin’s passion. In addition to that tutoring activity going back to her early years, she belongs to a French conversation club. As a gift to RPCN, she invites members to come to her French classes for free over the summer – she teaches from 6–7 PM on Thursday evenings and 11 AM–12:30 PM on Sundays. To take advantage of this generous offer, contact Balkin at rbalkin@balkininfo.com. Bonne chance!

Click here to watch a video interview with Balkin. To read the full interview and learn how she finds clients and how her business has evolved to keep up with current trends, visit this page on the RPCN website.

Ruth E. Thaler-Carter (www.writerruth.com) is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader and speaker whose motto is “I can write about anything!”™

Here we grow

By Michael Van der Gaag and Dave Bassett

Did you know that RPCN will be celebrating its 25th anniversary during this coming year? Amazing! There is something to be said about an all-volunteer organization that survives so long by serving its members. We plan to capitalize on this milestone by holding some special events and promotions to spread the word. It is a great time for the upcoming fall conference; that and the other programs we plan will have a celebratory feel.

As we reach the end of Michael Van der Gaag’s term as president and the beginning of Dave Bassett’s, we’d like to bring you up to speed on where we are and some plans we have for the coming year.

RPCN did some great things this past year, including presenting the second Consultant’s Boot Camp and introducing the TrendTalk panel discussion dinner series. We also remembered one of our own with the introduction of the David R. Young Service Award, which was presented posthumously to Dave Young and accepted by his son Christopher at the May TrendTalk Dinner. A second award was given to Bob Lurz at the Business Forum on June 20, in recognition of all he does for the organization. (Photo of Michael, Bob and Dave provided by Jerry Seward)

We are not sitting back on our laurels, basking in these accomplishments. The board has been working hard on refining our strategy for the coming year. On June 13, we held a strategy session open to all members at the Brighton Town Hall. We received some excellent feedback on how the membership wanted to set our priorities. 

Of the dozen or so priorities that the board deemed important to meet our strategic objectives, the participating members voted to have RPCN focus on these five in the coming year:

1. Create opportunities for members to build potential relationships with clients;
2. Prepare for and conduct an RPCN Boot Camp, conference and TrendTalks on an ongoing basis;
3. Promote and celebrate RPCN’s 25th anniversary;
4. Implement marketing and communication strategies to promote RPCN and its members; and
5. Update the RPCN website.

The board also identified these five key organizational values: Inclusiveness, Volunteerism, Collaboration, Mutual Support, Integrity. There was a general consensus at the June 13 meeting that it’s worth further defining these values as we set in place our strategic plan for the coming year.

(To see the entire strategic plan, including our vision, mission, organizational values, outcomes and strategic objectives, visit our website.)

This is an ambitious plan and, to fully meet these priorities (and ideally a few others that didn’t end up on our “TOP 5” as well), we’ll need YOUR help. On July 11, after our regularly scheduled meeting at the Brighton Town Hall, we will hold a session with the membership to get your input on how best to meet these goals. We’ll have snacks and coffee for this 10 AM meeting, so please plan on sticking around after Peter Rios’s talk on “Strategic Foresight.”

As we transition from Michael to Dave, we also want to welcome our new VP, David Powe, to the team. And while Michael will become the RPCN past president, he is committed to helping us continue to offer value and opportunity to help our members grow.

Please feel free to contact Dave or Michael with your thoughts on how we’re doing, what you think we’re doing well and what you think we could do better. The members are the lifeblood of RPCN and we look forward to your enthusiasm and continued participation and support.

Thank you all for your help in making 2013–14 so successful; we look forward to working with YOU to make 2014–15 even stronger!

Picture Yourself … as a Successful Consultant!

The RPCN’s full-day conference “Picture Yourself … as a successful consultant” – to be held on Wednesday, October 15 at MCC – will be the event of the season. We have lined up an excellent keynote speaker: Dr. Bruce Katcher, founder and executive director of the Center for Independent Consulting and author of An Insider’s Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice. The conference will focus on ways and tools to grow and expand your small/consulting business. We’ll have many interesting and helpful topics in three tracks focusing on: consulting fundamentals, marketing and selling, and business-building. Whether you are well-seasoned or just starting out, we’ll have something for you. 

If you are interested in helping with this conference, we’d love to have you. The committee has been meeting on Thursdays at the Corner Bakery Café at 3300 Monroe Avenue in Pittsford (across the street from Pittsford Plaza) at 3 PM. We have our program well hammered out but still have a lot of work to do. Our main areas of focus now are recruiting sponsors, exhibitors and advertisers; publicizing the conference; and putting together the conference program booklet.

As we get closer to October 15, we’ll be looking for help with registration, putting together conference materials and on the day of the event. If you’d like to help, we have a subcommittee that can use your skills. It’s a great way to get to know other RPCN members and demonstrate your skills. Contact Dave Bassett at (585) 739-9726 or dbassett@bassett.pro for more information.

In our library

Steve Royal reviewed the book 21 Days to Success Through Networking from the RPCN library. The book chronicles the first 21 days of a marketing professional after he moves to a new city where he knows no one, and how he goes about developing a network. The book is an easy read and full of information essential to being a successful consultant, such as learning listening skills, asking questions and the importance of following up.

RPCN maintains an extensive library of business books and other materials that members can borrow. Click here for a link to read the entire book review and to view a list of items in the RPCN library.

Of interest

Finance: SCORE of Greater Rochester presents a workshop on Understanding Small Business Finance on Friday, July 11, from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM at 1057 E. Henrietta Rd., Suite 100, across from MCC’s Brighton Campus. The program will provide a user-friendly, high-level and fun approach to the three essential financial statements necessary to run any business. This workshop is part of the MCC Corporate College summer courses. For more information and to register, click here.

In this issue:

• President's_message  
  
• Member profile
  
• “Picture Yourself” conference
  
• Making your business better
  
• Of interest
• In our library
• Upcoming events
• New members

We want you!

The RPCN newsletter welcomes news, success stories, tips, resources, events and other items that would be of broad interest to consultants. Submit a newsletter item by email to the Communication Committee. 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 Communication Committee:
Janice Hanson, Chair
Barbara Moore
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Steve Royal

Please send articles for the August newsletter by July 15.

Upcoming events

No Meeting
Friday, July 4, 2014

There will be no RPCN meeting today because of the holiday.

Strategic Foresight: Equipping you for competitive advantage now and in the future 
presented by Peter Rios
Friday, July 11, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

Peter Rios is a consultant to businesses, organizations and religious institutions. His company, R.I.O.S. – Robust Innovative Organizational Solutions – focuses on leadership development, cultural agility, strategy, conflict resolution, organizational renewal and innovation. This presentation will provide participants with a practical experience using a foresight tool to illuminate the future of their sector and also explore scenario building and strategy. Here is a short video introduction to Peter's presentation.



RPCN Strategic Planning
Friday, July 11, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

RPCN has an ambitious plan for the coming fiscal year. To fully meet these priorities (and ideally a few others that didn’t end up on our “TOP 5” as well), we’ll need YOUR help. After our regularly scheduled meeting at the Brighton Town Hall, we will hold a session with the membership to get your input on how best to meet these goals. Snacks and coffee will be provided.

Business Forum
facilitated by Bob Lurz
Friday, July 18, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room (NOTE change in location)
   
An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of issues regarding starting or running a consulting business. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking? For a list from recent forums, click here.

RPCN Board Meeting
Friday, July 18, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Brighton Town Hall -- Downstairs Meeting Room (NOTE change in location)

RPCN’s monthly board meeting begins at approximately 10:00 AM, after the Business Forum. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only board members may vote.

The Skype VOIP Program and How to Use It
presented by Bill Vallee 
Friday, July 25, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

This is the first of two training seminars that will demonstrate the Skype VOIP program and how to use it. You will learn how to open an account; Skype basics, such as how to navigate the Skype screen for PC users; and how to use Skype for three different types of communication.

Making your business better

Making connections: Lynn Dessert says it is "all about the ask" when you want to connect with someone you don't know. Check out her blog for ways to improve your ask.

Better consulting: Three rules that Bob Whipple suggests will help make you a better consultant are:  1) Do good work, 2) Do the best you can with the resources available, and 3) Treat all people the right way. Read more at his blog post, You Can't Do the Best You Can.

RPCN on LinkedIn: Have you joined the RPCN group on LinkedIn? This is a great way to connect with other consultants, find tips on business issues, ask questions outside of the bimonthly forums or share information about the latest project you are working on.

RPCN Member Store

Show your pride in your RPCN membership! The RPCN Logo Store is now online, in partnership with CafePress.com. RPCN members may purchase merchandise imprinted with the RPCN logo. You may choose from various items, such as coffee mugs, shirts, hats, mousepads, calendars, tote bags, travel mugs and laptop sleeves. Visit CafePress.com/rpcn or click on the link from the RPCN home page to shop securely online.

New members

RPCN welcomes the following new members. Click on their names to view their profiles.

Mark Flint
John Kernan
Donald Kruggel
David Odgers

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Ruth Thaler-Carter talks about the advantages of freelancing

By Janice Hanson

A Rochester native and proud alum of Brighton High School, Ruth E. Thaler-Carter (www.writerruth.com) is an award-winning freelance writer (“I can write about anything!”®), editor, proofreader and speaker. She also owns Communication Central, which hosts a conference for freelancers every fall.

Thaler-Carter has been a full-time freelance writer and editor since 1985, working on a wide variety of projects for local, national and international clients. After spending time in St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, she moved back to Rochester several years ago because, as she says, “I married a nut who wanted to retire here!” What follows is an edited conversation about her consulting business.

Q: What does your consulting/freelance business do?
A: I write articles, web content, annual reports and more for businesses, organizations and publications, and I help my clients look good in print and on the web by providing editing and proofreading services. You might be amazed at the client errors I keep from seeing the light of day!

Q: I know you’re a member of almost a dozen professional groups – how have your various memberships helped you be a better consultant?
A: By helping me stay up-to-date on trends and changes in everything from language to technology to skills, and by giving me more opportunities for projects because of meeting people and showing people what I can do for their businesses or companies. When you’re out there in these organizations, you’re more than an electronic presence, email address or photo on a website; you’re a real human being and, ideally, other people think of me when they have a project I can work on. It’s also been a way of meeting people and making new friends.

Q: How has the RPCN helped you as a consultant?
A: I joined because I was looking for local connections with like-minded people who were also doing consulting work. I love being involved with the newsletter because I like getting to know the people I’m writing about. I’m not as visible in person as I’d like to be, because I tend not to be functional at 8 AM on a Friday, but I’ve gotten a few projects through being a member.

To read the full interview and find out Ruth’s advice for someone looking to become a freelancer or consultant, visit this page on the RPCN website. Click here for a video interview where she talks about how networking has helped her with her consulting business.

For those looking to get into freelance editing – or just to improve their skills – Ruth Thaler-Carter presents a workshop on The Basics of Editing and Proofreading at Writers & Books in Rochester on Monday, May 5.

Spring. It’s about time!

By Michael Van der Gaag, President

I’m sure we have all been looking forward to the bright sunny days of spring. While the birds are out setting up their nests, RPCN has also been busy:

TrendTalk on May 15
Thanks to the efforts of Mike Molaire, Sandy Glanton, Janice Hanson and the Communication Committee, our upcoming TrendTalk planned for Thursday, May 15, is shaping up to be quite an event. At Challenges and Opportunities in Rochester's Human Services Sector, our panel will discuss their visions, the needs of the community, and how we, as consultants or entrepreneurs, can do business in this sector. Panelists (pictured below) are: Marlene Bessette, president and CEO at Catholic Family Center; Carol Love, a nonprofit leadership consultant; and Michelle Prohov, founder of Working for Nonprofits.

The moderator is Beth Sears and the evening includes dinner and an opportunity for networking. Come with your questions and your appetite. To register for TrendTalk, click here. Register through May 1 to save $10 on your registration.

October Conference
The “Picture Yourself …” conference committee, under the leadership of Dave Bassett (RPCN VP) and Jim Barton (conference program chair), has been planning the program and identifying and inviting speakers for this upcoming fall event, with 15 topics covering a variety of interest areas to be presented in three tracks. They cover the gamut from start-up and taking it to the next level to improving how you do business and becoming a better consultant.

The conference marketing team, headed up by Laurie Enos, has been strategizing on how to present the event and spread the word. The committee is also looking for volunteers to help with the myriad of activities needed to pull off a successful event, and in particular is looking for someone as vendor coordinator. Please contact Dave Bassett if you can help.

RPCN at Quality Conference
Congratulations to RPCN members Vince Vezza, event chair, and Steve Whittaker, presenter and presenter coordinator, for their successful American Society for Quality Rochester section (ASQRS) conference at the RIT Inn and Conference Center on April 9. Speakers presented on topics like Ethics, Green Production, The Importance of Body Language, Quality and Sustainability. Also among the speakers was our own Bob Whipple. We met scores of participants who stopped by our booth to see what RPCN is all about.

RPCN Fifth Thursday
We have another RPCN Fifth Thursday coming up on the evening of May 29 and we need your input. Would you like to see an informal opportunity for networking, a learning event about how to use Skype led by Bill Vallee or some combination of the two? Please provide your feedback by taking this one-question survey. Once we have a sense of what people would like to see, we’ll send an e-mail with details.

Stepping up
In thinking about these news items, I realized that the common thread contributing to the success of all our events is the willingness of members to help their organizations be successful. What we get out of volunteering, besides the satisfaction of creating an amazing event (or organization), is an opportunity to apply our leadership and vision to create something of value to others, while developing a team spirit. Those who step up to help are the greatest asset of an all-volunteer organization like RPCN. 

Thanks
Thanks to those of you who took a few minutes to answer the newsletter survey sent on April Fool’s Day. If you didn’t realize that there was a short (three questions) survey about the newsletter, it is still up and available – please take it now. We want to make sure this newsletter is your doorway to gaining the most from RPCN.
   
As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome. Here’s to your success!

Picture Yourself…

•    Enlarging your business  
•    Developing your reputation as a consulting expert
•    Focusing on your client’s bottom line and reputation

Picture Yourself … at MCC on October 15 learning these and many other skills.

The RPCN will hold a full-day conference called “Picture Yourself …” on Wednesday, October 15, at MCC, focusing on ways and tools to grow and expand your small/consulting business. Details on opportunities to exhibit, present and attend will be coming in the next few weeks.

If you are interested in helping with this conference, we’d love to have you. Helping with the program is a great way to get to know other RPCN members and demonstrate your abilities. The committee’s next meeting will be held at the Corner Bakery Café at 3300 Monroe Avenue in Pittsford (across the street from the Pittsford Plaza) at 3:00 PM on May 1. For more information, contact Dave Bassett at (585) 739-9726 or dbassett@bassett.pro.

In our library

Business Cases for Info Pros – Here’s Why, Here’s How (2008, Ulla de Stricker, Information Today, Inc.) is the latest acquisition by the RPCN library. RPCN Librarian Ruth Balkin picked up this book at the Association of Information Professionals (AIIP) conference in Baltimore in April. RPCN members may not think of themselves as information professionals, but as consultants, providing information is a big part of our interaction with clients. This book takes preparing and presenting proposals to clients to another level.

RPCN maintains an extensive library of business books and other materials that members can borrow. Click here to view the RPCN library.

Of interest

Starting a small business: SCORE hosts this one-day workshop, which provides key information on all the basic components of starting and running a business. The workshop is on Wednesday, May 14, from 8:45 AM–3:30 PM at the Federal Building. Click here for more information and to register.

Marketing with video: Learn how to create, share and promote videos to enhance your marketing initiatives. This Digital Rochester workshop features Josh Pies and Peter Platt as speakers and takes place Tuesday, May 20, at 7:30 AM at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. Click here for more information and to register.

In this issue:

• President's_message  
  
• Member Profile  
  
• TrendTalk
  
• "Picture Yourself" conference
  
• In our library
  
• Of interest
  
• Upcoming events
• New members

We want you!

The RPCN newsletter welcomes news, success stories, tips, resources, events and other items that would be of broad interest to consultants. Submit a newsletter item by email to the Communication Committee. 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 Communication Committee:
Janice Hanson, Chair
Barbara Moore
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Steve Royal

Please send articles for the June newsletter by May 10.

Upcoming events

Technical Forum
facilitated by Steve Royal
Friday, May 2, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
PLEASE NOTE: The Pittsford Library is not available for this date. This forum will be held in the Downstairs Meeting Room at Brighton Town Hall.

An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of any technical issues that consultants encounter in running their businesses, including computers, the Internet and phones. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking? For a list from recent forums, click here.

Is Your Product or Service What Customers Want?
presented by Juli Klie, Veritor
Friday, May 9, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

You’re sure your idea is the best thing since sliced bread, but does anyone want to buy what you’re selling? This session will discuss the importance of understanding what the market wants before you make a large investment. If you’ve launched and your product or service is not selling as it should, how do you determine the cause and fix the problem? Juli Klie is an experienced software and services executive with one foot in the technical world and the other in marketing.

TrendTalk: Challenges and Opportunities in Rochester’s Human Services Sector
panelists: Marlene Bessette, Carol Love and Michelle Prohov
Thursday, May 15, 2014
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Radisson Airport Hotel, 175 Jefferson Road, Rochester

Three highly respected leaders – who are well known for their contributions to helping grow organizations that address the needs of the community – will be featured at the next TrendTalk dinner panel discussion. Whether or not your current focus is on human services, you may be surprised at the opportunity this event will provide for learning about this sector and how it can use your support and guidance. You will also have a chance to network with other members of the community who may be your future colleagues, clients or collaborators. Register through May 1 to save $10 on your registration.

Business Forum
facilitated by Bob Lurz
Friday, May 16, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library
   
An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of issues regarding starting or running a consulting business. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking? For a list from recent forums, click here.

RPCN Board Meeting
Friday, May 16, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pittsford Community Library

RPCN’s monthly board meeting begins at approximately 10:00 AM, after the Business Forum. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only board members may vote.

Microsoft in the Cloud
presented by Lee Drake, OS-Cubed
Friday, May 23, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

An overview of Office 365, Azure and Microsoft Cloud offerings, as well as assistance with what plans to pick as you move your systems to the cloud. See how to use Microsoft's cloud offerings to manage email, host an active directory, share files and store backup data. Lee Drake has extensive speaking experience on topics such as computer security, programming best practices, building content-managed websites, building online communities and social media.

New Members

RPCN welcomes the following new members. Click on the links below to view their profiles.

Wendy Wang

Jim Nortz

Barbara Lacker-Ware

Congratulations to the recent winners of the RPCN Member Referral Program, which provides incentives to both current and new members:

• Robert Manard
  (new member)
• Lynn Dessert
  (current member)

Each quarter, we will conduct a drawing that includes the names of new members and anyone who referred a new member within that quarter. We will draw one name from each group – a current and a new member – and each will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the benefits of joining the RPCN, click here.

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Michael Van der Gaag embodies the consulting spirit

By Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

For most RPCN members, consulting is a new venture growing out of a traditional career that ended either voluntarily – on retirement or through burnout – or more forcibly, through layoffs, downsizing and other corporate events beyond our control. For outgoing RPCN president Michael Van der Gaag, principal consultant at Beyond the Interface, consulting has always been his form of work, even when working for others.

The New Jersey native came to Rochester when he was looking to broaden his scope after working in an internal consulting role at Bell Labs. He found an opportunity here with Essex Corporation in 1980 and spent three years on a contract with Xerox for Essex until “I got caught up in layoffs.” He started thinking about his own business and pitched his services to Savin Corp., only to be hired full-time as manager of industrial design and human factors and usability. After a year-and-a-half there though, that consulting urge kicked back in. “I called a friend at Xerox who kept me busy with projects for several years,” he said.

For full details of how Van der Gaag developed his consulting niche and came to serve as RPCN president, read the story on the RPCN website. Click here for a video interview where Michael talks about how the RPCN has helped him with his consulting business.
   
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter (www.writerruth.com) is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader and speaker.

RPCN is on a roll

By Michael Van der Gaag, President

Bravo for the boot camp!

Congratulations to Bob Lurz on the successful completion of a most excellent boot camp. I was a participant in the previous program in 2012. This one was even better! Among the highlights: Bruce Katcher, author of An Insider’s Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice, “Skyped” into one of the  sessions, live. He engaged individually with several volunteers from the group, asking about their business focus and vision, and providing one-on-one and group guidance and insights. The participants had a blast. Thank you, Mr. Katcher. You have some serious fans in the Rochester area.

For the final two sessions, participants had the opportunity to present their businesses’ value propositions to a panel of judges. We extend our thanks to Jim Echter, Jean Kase, Bob Kot and Doug Mabon, our esteemed review panelists, who provided such useful insights and sage guidance.

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the many presenters who gave so generously of their know-how, providing helpful hints on how to become successful. Special thanks to Lynn Dessert, Jim Echter, Charlie Hancock, Bob Kot, Jon Lazenby, Doug Mabon, Barbara Moore, Kelly Mullaney, Rich Notargiacomo, Jim Payne and Beth Sears. 

The word is out and we are already receiving inquiries about the next one … So, Bob, are you ready to do it again?

Can we top this? Well, we can come close

There is another TrendTalk on the horizon. On the evening of May 15, our dinner panel discussion will focus on “Challenges and Opportunities in the Human Services Sector.” We have engaged three highly respected leaders, well-known for their contributions to helping grow organizations that address the needs of the community: Carol Love, a nonprofit leadership consultant with 46 years of experience in nonprofit management with a number of organizations; Marlene Bessette, president and CEO at Catholic Family Center; and Michelle Prohov, founder of Working for Nonprofits and HR manager at the Center for Disability Rights. The panelists will touch on their backgrounds and career paths and then discuss their visions of the needs of the community and how we, as consultants or entrepreneurs, can do business in this sector. 

Whether or not your current focus is on human services, you may be surprised at the opportunity this event will provide for learning about this sector and how it can use your support and guidance. You will also have a chance to network with other consultants, business owners and members of the community who may be your future clients or collaborators. We look forward to seeing you at the May 15 TrendTalk.

Stepping out of our space

On Wednesday, April 9, 2014, RPCN will exhibit at “Success Stories that Impact the Bottom Line,” the upcoming regional conference of the American Society for Quality-Rochester section (ASQRS). This all-day conference will cover topics like ethics, green production, the importance of body language, and quality and sustainability.

Among the speakers is our own Bob Whipple, whose member story recently appeared in our newsletter and on the RPCN website. [Ed. Note: In addition, RPCN member Vince Vezza is chairing the event and Steve Whittaker is coordinator for the five presenters, as well as a presenter himself.]

Whether you are a quality consultant or a provider of quality consulting, this mini-conference will have a topic of interest to you and your business. To volunteer at our booth, contact Bob Lurz or me. See you there.

Thanks for your input

Thanks to those of you who took a few minutes to answer the questions in our last newsletter. We will be taking the results to the board and addressing your suggestions in upcoming programs.

If you have an idea or want us to pursue a program of interest to you, feel free to get involved.

Your thoughts and comments are always welcome. Here’s to your success!

Picture Yourself…

•    Enlarging your business  
•    Developing your reputation as a consulting expert
•    Focusing on your client’s bottom line and reputation

Picture Yourself … at MCC on October 15 learning these and many other skills.

The RPCN will hold a full-day conference called “Picture Yourself …” on Wednesday, October 15 at MCC. The conference will focus on ways and tools to grow and expand your small/consulting business. Details on opportunities to exhibit, present and attend will be coming in the next few weeks.

If you are interested in helping with this conference, we’d love to have you. The committee’s next meeting will be held at the Corner Bakery Café at 3300 Monroe Avenue in Pittsford (across the street from the Pittsford Plaza) at 3:00 PM on April 1 (no, really, it’s not an April Fool’s Joke, we are going to be meeting then and there).

Regardless of your skill set, we have a subcommittee that can use your skills. Helping with the program is a great way to get to know other RPCN members and demonstrate your skills. If you’d like to help, or just know more about the conference, please join us. Contact Dave Bassett at (585) 739-9726(585) 739-9726 or dbassett@bassett.pro for more details.

Of interest

Technical communication: The Society for Technical Communication of Rochester hosts Spectrum 2014, its 55th annual conference, on April 13–15 at Rochester Institute of Technology. With a theme of “Communicating to Understanding: Core Competency, Core Value,” the conference seeks to empower technical communication professionals to build a business case for new ideas and technology, share their knowledge and lead change in their organization. RPCN members Judith Shenouda and Ruth E. Thaler-Carter are among the presenters. Click here for more information and to register.

Freelancers' conference: RPCN members are eligible to use the colleague’s discount for “Be a Better Freelancer! (Re)Invent Your Business,” the 2014 Communication Central conference for freelancers, Sept. 26–27 in Rochester, NY, with an Editorial Bootcamp on Sept. 28 at the same location. Keynote speaker is Jake “Dr. Freelance” Poinier. Click here for more information and to register. Laura Poole will present the Editorial Bootcamp, with a discount for conference attendees. Registration info is included in the conference registration PDF.
 
RPCN improvises: There certainly was a lot of energy in the room as RPCN members and guests “whooshed” and “grooved” as part of the March 14 program on “Improvise Your Way to Successful Collaboration” with Caitlin Drago of Inspire Improv. Click here to view the video on the RPCN YouTube channel.

YouTube: Did you know that you can subscribe to the RPCN YouTube channel? Check it out to view short RPCN member profiles and keep up on the latest RPCN news and features.

In this issue:

• President's_message  
  
• Member profile
  
• “Picture Yourself” conference
  
• Of interest
  
• Upcoming events
• New members

We want you!

The RPCN newsletter welcomes news, success stories, tips, resources, events and other items that would be of broad interest to consultants. Submit a newsletter item by email to the Communication Committee. 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 Communication Committee:
Janice Hanson, Chair
Barbara Moore
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Steve Royal

Please send articles for the May newsletter by April 15.

Upcoming events

Technical Forum
facilitated by Steve Royal
Friday, April 4, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library

An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of any technical issues that consultants encounter in running their businesses, including computers, the Internet and phones. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking? For a list from recent forums, click here.

Technology for Consultants: An Overview
presented by Nick Francesco
Friday, April 11, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

An overview of the newest technologies and best practices for consultants, including hardware, software, security and videoconferencing. You will learn how to begin making a selection among the latest hardware, some of the best choices for creating and backing up documents, and the importance of keeping your computer virus-free and helping your clients do the same. Francesco writes a weekly computer column in the Democrat & Chronicle newspaper and co-hosts Sound Bytes, a weekly radio call-in computer show on Jazz 90.1. Here is a short video in which Nick discusses his presentation.


Business Forum
facilitated by Bob Lurz
Friday, April 18, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library
   
An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of issues regarding starting or running a consulting business. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking? For a list from recent forums, click here.

RPCN Board Meeting Friday, April 18, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pittsford Community Library

RPCN’s monthly board meeting begins at approximately 10:00 AM, after the Business Forum. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only board members may vote.

How to Effectively Use Google AdWords
presented by Paul Gallipeau
Friday, April 25, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

This program will teach you about Google AdWords and how to effectively use this tool and track your results. We will also cover common problems and how to avoid them. Paul Gallipeau of Paul Carl Digital specializes in pay-per-click management and has spoken at the Creative Collaboration, Rochester Wordpress Group and Rochester Brainery. Here is a short video in which Paul discusses his presentation.

New members

RPCN welcomes the following new members. Click on the links below to view their profiles.

L. Joseph Biddle

Marcia Bornhurst Parkes

Eric Frye

Melanie Hiranandani

Jim Johnson

Herbert Lawrence

Joe MacDonough

Robert Manard

Gregg Meyers

Follow us!

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LinkedIn
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Bob Whipple builds his business through trust

By Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

Many RPCN members provide consultation on product development and systems or organizational management. Bob Whipple is unusual in providing something more ethereal and esoteric – but equally valuable: thought leadership on trust.

Whipple launched his consulting business, Leadergrow, Inc., and his Trust Ambassador brand in 2003. He has been speaking, teaching, writing and consulting on leadership and trust ever since, providing insights into the benefits and strategic advantages of creating and strengthening trust in the workplace. Based in Hilton, NY, he usually works with clients onsite and does some coaching by phone.

Like many RPCN members, Whipple was an executive with Kodak before becoming a consultant. He went into consulting because “I didn’t want to jump into another full-time job after I retired from Kodak in 2001,” he recalled. “I kind of backed into consulting through teaching and writing, and always enjoyed working with groups. I felt I could help people and am glad that they will pay for me to do so.”

Whipple has benefited from many relationships in building his consulting business: “It’s always people – people helping people” that are the most valuable. “The key thing [for success] is not to be confined to Rochester,” he said. “Get known around the country.”

Whipple’s advice to colleagues fits nicely into his involvement with the RPCN and other organizations: “Don’t be a hermit. Be out there as much as you can. Opportunities will only come to you if you’re [visible and involved].”

Read the full story to find out what he does to promote his business, how RPCN has helped him and a tip on how to take control of a busy schedule. Click here for a video with Whipple’s advice for new consultants.
  
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter (www.writerruth.com) is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher and speaker.

Helping you be better consultants

By Michael Van der Gaag, President

Consulting Boot Camp

I gave the welcome at the first session of the 2014 RPCN Boot Camp, produced by Bob Lurz, and listened to Bob’s intro, “What Consultants Do,” and Bob Kot’s own story, “A Consultant Entrepreneur’s Journey.” I met all the attendees and exchanged elevator speeches and business cards. What an impressive group of attendees … each a motivated entrepreneur with a dream and a lot of drive, ready to jump in and get started.

I also attended the second session, to hear Jon Lazenby’s “Legal Issues for Consulting Entrepreneurs” and to see Lynn Dessert’s workshop on “Creating Your Entrepreneurial Personal Development Plan.” Jon’s presentation was very informative and left the audience wanting more. Lynn’s workshop was inspiring, making us glad we made the choice to be consultants, while realizing there is a lot yet to do.

The classes so far have been spot-on in helping participants develop their visions. The participant feedback was highly gratifying and, as they reported, the readings (such as Bruce Katcher’s An Insider’s Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice) made them realize how much it really takes to be successful – the effort, the planning, the marketing.

By the end of the second session, I realized that there is still much that even the experienced among us can learn by re-visiting the early phases of our development. In the two years since our last Boot Camp, there is even more to learn about strategies to improve one’s business.

Ed. note – You can view more photos from the first session of the 2014 RPCN Boot Camp on the RPCN Facebook page. While there, “like” the page to keep up on the latest RPCN news. (Photo: Janice Hanson)

Realizing RPCN’s mission

The Boot Camp is just one way in which the RPCN is fulfilling its mission to enable its members to develop premier consulting businesses that deliver customer-centered solutions that are better, smarter and more innovative.

The four approaches that work together to address the mission include helping members: be better at business, understand our region’s economic opportunities, better market what they do and, finally, be better at consulting.

The Boot Camp gets you on the road to starting your business or improving what you have already started. Our upcoming October conference is going to bring the interests of start-ups together with those of already-practicing consultants to help us take a more well-rounded approach to success.

Programs

Historically we have focused mostly on starting a business or improving business and marketing effectiveness. In the past few years, we have become more focused on understanding the economic state of the greater Rochester area. In the current season, we are including topics to help us be better consultants. Mary Burkhardt’s “Caring for Clients and the Power of Presence” in December was one such topic.

The next two presentations at the Brighton Town Hall will expand on this theme. Charles Pfeffer’s Beautiful Questions to Guide a Consultant’s Career on Feb. 28 and Caitlin Drago’s Improvise Your Way to Successful Collaboration on Mar. 14 will help us come closer to achieving that elusive status of “premier consultant” by helping us see how we can improve how we engage and interact with our clients.

To help us continue to improve our services to members and visitors alike, please take a moment to consider these questions:

• If you want to be the best at what you do, what would it take?
• Is there any way that the RPCN could help you achieve that “premier” status? 
• Should “Improving your approach to consulting” be a part of the upcoming October conference?
• If RPCN were to move toward providing more training opportunities, is that something you would support?

Help us continue to improve the RPCN's offerings by taking a brief survey (click here) on these topics, or share your responses by emailing mvan@beyondtheinterface.com. Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

Here’s to your success!

Save the date for “Picture Yourself” – Wednesday, October 15

The RPCN will be holding a full-day conference on Wednesday, October 15, at Monroe Community College. The conference title will be “Picture Yourself” and the event will focus on ways and tools to grow and expand your small/consulting business.

The committee’s next meeting will be held at the Corner Bakery Café at 3300 Monroe Avenue in Pittsford (across the street from the Pittsford Plaza) at 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 6.

There are several subcommittees. Please join us if you’d like to help, or just know more about the conference. For more information, contact Dave Bassett at dbassett@bassett.pro or (585) 739-9726(585) 739-9726.

Making your business better

Consulting: Learn about the three R’s of consulting – Reputation, Recommendations and Relationships – from Democrat and Chronicle’s Nextpert Bob Lurz in his article Become a Top-Notch Consultant.

Walking Meetings: In this TED Talk, business innovator Nilofer Merchant suggests a small idea that just might have a big impact on your life and health. Next time you have a one-on-one meeting, make it into a “walking meeting” – and let ideas flow while you walk and talk. Click here to watch the video.

YouTube: Did you know that the RPCN has its own YouTube channel? You can view short RPCN member profiles, as well as introductions to upcoming RPCN presentations. Subscribe to the RPCN YouTube channel to keep up on the latest RPCN news and features.

In this issue:

• President's_message  
  
• Member profile
  
• Save the date for "Picture Yourself"
  
• Making your business better
  
• Of interest
  
• Upcoming events
• New members

We want you!

The RPCN newsletter welcomes news, success stories, tips, resources, events and other items that would be of broad interest to consultants. Submit a newsletter item by email to the Communication Committee. 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 Communication Committee:
Janice Hanson, Chair
Barbara Moore
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Steve Royal

Please send articles for the April newsletter by March 15.

Upcoming events

Technical Forum
facilitated by Steve Royal
Friday, March 7, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library

An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of any technical issues that consultants encounter in running their businesses, including computers, the Internet and telephones. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking lately? For a list from recent forums, click here.

Improvise Your Way to Successful Collaboration
presented by Caitlin Drago, Inspire Improv
Friday, March 14, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

Great customer service comes from listening to our clients and building solutions with them. In this interactive workshop, we will explore the exciting world of collaboration and listening through improvisation. In addition, the fun and creative spirit of improv will open us up to new possibilities and provide laughter along the way.

Caitlin Drago has a background in theater and the performing arts. As a staff member at the McArdle Ramerman Center, she guides groups in personal development through improvisation. Here is a short video in which Caitlin discusses her presentation.



Business Forum
facilitated by Bob Lurz
Friday, March 21, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library
   
An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of issues regarding starting or running a consulting business. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking lately? For a list from recent forums, click here.

RPCN Board Meeting
Friday, March 21, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pittsford Community Library

RPCN’s monthly board meeting begins at approximately 10:00 AM, after the Business Forum. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only board members may vote.

The State of the Economy: Current Economic Trends
presented by Kent Gardner, Center for Governmental Research
Friday, March 28, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

Is recovery finally here? Or will the economy continue to rumble along in first gear, going forward, but slowly. Kent Gardner will discuss economic conditions since the beginning of the recession, how Rochester, Upstate and NY have fared relative to the nation and explore what lies ahead. Gardner is chief economist/chief research officer at the Center for Governmental Research (CGR) and leads CGR’s study of economics and public finance.

Of interest

Networking: The Rochester Women’s Network hosts a session on networking effectively for beginners and beyond. Sandy Sloane shares specific tools and techniques that will take your networking skills to a higher level and help you achieve your goals more effectively. The event is Wed., March 5, at 5:30 PM at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Ave. Click here for more information and to register.

Personal Cloud: Explore a top IT trend for 2014 – the ability to access all your data using all your devices. Leave with takeaways to improve your personal and business effectiveness. Hosted by Digital Rochester at the Locust Hill Country Club, 2000 Jefferson Road on Thurs., March 27, at 7:30 AM. Click here for more information and to register.

New members

RPCN welcomes the following new members. Click on their names to view their profiles.

Amy Carey
Laurie Enos
Ian Cox

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Imaging expert brings international flavor, local angle to RPCN

By Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

As an expert in the imaging arena, Peter D. Burns combines a uniquely Rochester business focus with an international flair as a native of England. His consulting business, Burns Digital Imaging LLC, helps clients develop and improve their imaging products or services.

Burns worked for Xerox, Kodak and Carestream Health before going into consulting. “I have always been involved with the development and evaluation of imaging products and services,” he said. He was able to launch his consulting business on a firm basis after being laid off at Carestream two years ago because “I had been doing consulting for museums for about 10 years while working in-house,” he said. He also had worked in environments similar to a consulting business. “With applied science and engineering, experienced people often lead small teams and contribute as individual,” he explained. “This is similar to the type of consulting I currently do.”

Although he calls himself a “natural introvert,” Burns does what it takes to build up his business, including networking through RPCN. He has become a familiar face at RPCN events, handing out nametags and greeting participants. “For me, it is important to make personal connections in both the larger – national and international – imaging field and the local business communities,” he said.

Read the full story to find out why he came to Rochester, how he connects with clients and how RPCN has helped him with running his business. Click here for a video introduction.
   
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter (www.writerruth.com) is a freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher and speaker.

Welcome to February –
A big month for RPCN

By Michael Van der Gaag, President

I attended John Foote’s Annual Tax Update on January 10, 2014. John is a charter member of the RPCN and a very successful tax consultant in his own right. From what I heard from many of the attendees, this was one of his best presentations – full of informative tidbits and insights into how to get ready for the upcoming tax changes.

At the end of his presentation, we had a pleasant surprise: John talked a bit about how, in the early days, the recently passed Dave Young helped him with the formation of and publicity for his business, Expert Tax Group. After describing how Dave’s help contributed to the success of Expert Tax Group, John then impressed us all by announcing the creation of an endowment in Dave’s honor. 

This endowment will be kept separate from the RPCN’s Dave Young Service Award and will be used to advance the interests of the organization and benefit the membership.

RPCN is honored and grateful. Thank you, John Foote.

Consulting Boot Camp

The 2014 RPCN Consulting Business Boot Camp is about to take off on February 4, in conjunction with Monroe Community College. (Note: early deadline extended through Jan. 31.)

Bob Lurz has assembled a team of successful business leaders who are experts and consultants in their own right. They will guide participants through the process of getting started or re-envisioning their existing businesses. The Boot Camp will help entrepreneurs identify their services and validate the value they bring to their clients. They will learn the best structure for their businesses, and develop plans for entrepreneurial personal improvement. They will discover how to market those consulting businesses through strategies that:

• Focus on prospective clients’ needs.
• Employ marketing methods suitable for solo entrepreneurs, including social media.
• Incorporate techniques that work for successful consultants.

If you want to get your business off the ground, or take it to the next level, check out this great opportunity at rochesterconsultants.org/bootcamp. (If you know someone else with similar goals or aspirations, send them there, too).

Upcoming conference

The RPCN Conference Committee, led by Dave Bassett, has been making strides on defining the content of the conference planned for October 2014. With the theme of “Picture Yourself in Business,” the conference will balance its emphasis between starting a new business and boosting an existing one. Dave has assembled a team focused on making this conference a success. If you would like to contribute your ideas and your talent, offer suggestions, or give time to organizing this event, contact Dave at dbassett@bassett.pro or (585) 739-9726(585) 739-9726. We want this conference to exceed the expectations of existing members and visitors alike.

Presentations

We have taken your suggestions for relevant and engaging bimonthly presentations. Don’t miss what we have planned in the near future! Thanks to Lynn Dessert for her assistance in finding speakers.

If you think you know someone who may have a topic of interest to present to the membership, feel free to propose the person’s name, topic description and a summary of their qualifications.

Reminders

• Price of our Brighton Town Hall meetings for non-members is once again $10.
• Online registration and admission payment is available.
• Payment via credit card is available at the door.
• Members can bring a first-time guest at no charge.
• If you know of a full-time student with the talent and interest to become a consultant, let him or her know Student Membership is only half-price: $50.
  

RPCN Consulting Boot Camp deadline extended

The early-bird deadline has been extended through Friday, Jan. 31 for the RPCN’s 2014 Consulting Business Boot Camp in February and March at MCC.

Presenters include: Bob Lurz, owner, Consultants Accelerator; Jon Lazenby, Esq., attorney and partner, Kaman, Berlove, Marafioti, Jacobstein & Goldman LLP; Lynn Dessert, leadership coach; Beth Sears, workplace communication coach; Charlie Hancock, medical sterilization consultant; Kelly Mullaney, website and social media consultant; Jim Payne, marketing consultant; Rich Notargiacomo, director, New Ventures and Commercialization, RIT Venture Creations Incubator; Barbara Moore, social media and computer consultant; Jim Echter, business coach, the Entrepreneur’s Network (TEN) and advisor to the HTR Launchpad; Jean Kase, director, TEN of Monroe County; Bob Kot, director of New Ventures, HighTech Rochester (HTR); Doug Mabon, past chapter chair, Rochester SCORE.

The Boot Camp takes place Feb. 4, 11 and 18 (8:30 AM - 12:30 PM) and Feb. 25 and March 4 (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM). All sessions are at the MCC Corporate College, 1057 East Henrietta Road, across from main campus. For registration, go to: rochesterconsultants.org/bootcamp.

RPCN’s Member Referral Program

Do you know someone who is considering becoming an RPCN member? Are you considering RPCN membership? If so, you could become eligible for a $25 gift card.

RPCN has introduced a new Member Referral Program that provides incentives to both current and new members.

Here’s how it works. Each quarter, we will conduct a drawing that includes the names of new members and anyone who referred a new member within that quarter. (We collect referral information when new members join.) We will draw one name from each group – a current and a new member – and each will receive a $25 gift card.

• The drawings will be held at one of the Friday meetings.
• The winners will be notified by phone/e-mail, if not present at the meeting.
• The winners’ names will be included in the newsletter.

Congratulations to the winners for the second quarter of the new program:

For more information on the benefits of joining the RPCN, click here.

New Members

RPCN welcomes three new members this month. Click on the links below to view their profiles.

Robert Frye
Christopher Harness
Thomas Zamiara

In this issue:

• President's_message  
  
• Member profile
  
• RPCN Consulting Boot Camp
  
• Member referral program
  
• New members
• Upcoming events
• Of interest
  
• Making your business better

We want you!

The RPCN newsletter welcomes news, success stories, tips, resources, events and other items that would be of broad interest to consultants. Submit a newsletter item by email to the newsletter editor. 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 Communication Committee:
Janice Hanson, Chair
Barbara Moore
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Steve Royal
Please send articles for the March newsletter by Feb. 15.

Upcoming events

Technical Forum
facilitated by Lori Cohen
Friday, February 7, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library

An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of any technical issues that consultants encounter in running their business, including computers, the Internet and telephones. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking lately? For a list from recent forums, click here.

The Greater Rochester Region - Poised for Greatness!
presented by Claudia Burcke, Greater Rochester Enterprise
Friday, February 14, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

Claudia Burcke is vice president, investor relations & business development, for Greater Rochester Enterprise. Rochester is known as an innovation hub thanks to our smart workforce, new emerging businesses, entrepreneurial spirit and creation of patents. We led New York State and the nation in terms of job growth over the past year. Attend this presentation to learn how your community engagement can also help strengthen the Rochester region’s economy.

Business Forum
facilitated by Bob Lurz
Friday, February 21, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library

An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of issues regarding starting or running a consulting business. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking lately? For a list from recent forums, click here.

RPCN Board Meeting
Friday, February 21, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pittsford Community Library

RPCN’s monthly board meeting begins at approximately 10:00 AM, after the Business Forum. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only board members may vote.

Beautiful Questions to Guide a Consulting Career
presented by Charles Pfeffer
Friday, February 28, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

More than 25 years ago, Charles Pfeffer made the leap from a job with a regular paycheck to the unpredictable life of a consultant, now as an executive coach. At crucial turning points, Pfeffer found himself asking himself questions at the heart of life and work: topics of identity, value, purpose, belonging, integrity, strategy and methodology. In this talk, he will share his story and invite participants to engage with him and with each other in asking questions that are foundational to the choice to be a consultant.

Of interest

Book Fair: If you’re thinking about self-publishing a book, attend the free Self-Published Book Fair at the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County (115 South Avenue) from 10:30 AM–4:30 PM on Saturday, Feb. 8. While there, look for RPCN member Lynn Dessert, who was accepted as an exhibitor and will have information about her two career books. To register, click here.

Consulting: Several RPCN members and the organization itself were prominently featured in a recent Democrat and Chronicle “Business” section article about consulting. Click here to read the full story.

YouTube: Did you know that the RPCN has its own YouTube channel? You can view short RPCN member profiles, as well as introductions to upcoming RPCN presentations. Subscribe to the RPCN YouTube channel to keep up on the latest RPCN news and features.

Advertising: The Rochester Ad Federation and AMA Rochester host the Super Bowl Ad Review on Tuesday, February 4. A panel of Rochester’s best ad pros give a play-by-play review of the good, the bad and the ugly from this year’s big game. Networking begins at 4:30 PM. Click here for more information and to register.

Making your business better

Pinterest: Barbara Moore lists eight ways businesses can use the social media site Pinterest to showcase their services in her Women at Work article "Pinterest can help out businesses."

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A sweet spot: Lynn Dessert coaches others in their careers

By Chris Swingle Farnum

Not having to work 40 to 50 hours a week. The freedom to work from anywhere and with the type of clients she chooses.

For Lynn Dessert of Brighton, who offers executive career coaching and life coaching, these are among the advantages to having her own business (Leadership Breakthrough) for the past dozen years.

“I’m more balanced, and I’m a nicer person,” she says, compared to when she had full-time corporate roles. Also, “I’m in complete control of where I want to go.”

Read the full story to learn about her career path, how RPCN helped her, how she found her first clients, what she tried that didn’t work out, and how she continues to learn and evolve professionally.

Click here for a video about why Lynn Dessert joined RPCN.

Chris Swingle Farnum (chrisswingle.com) is a writer and editor in Rochester.

What’s up, RPCN?

by Michael Van der Gaag, President

I was thinking of writing about the success of the recent August Group/Monroe Community College (MCC) career fair, and how the relationship between the Rochester Professional Consultant Network (RPCN) and MCC is shaping up to be mutually beneficial. The December career fair had its largest turnout ever. Many people stopped at our table, and 35 requested more information and to be added to our mailing list – which is likely a record. There were multiple conversations about the benefits of RPCN membership and discussions on the value of mutual support and helpfulness of members to each other’s success.

The passing of our friend Dave Young – and recent changes in RPCN leadership as some member-volunteers have either found careers elsewhere or had their businesses take off – gave me pause. What is the benefit of being a member of RPCN? Why do I come to all the events that I can, even if the topics discussed are (occasionally) of marginal interest to me? Why do many of our board and committee members put in almost full-time hours for no pay?

Well, it’s not to smell the coffee! From discussions with others, I hear that members and visitors are here for a variety of reasons – some selfish, some not. Some people say, “I like the camaraderie.” Others say, “I like the thought of helping others grow their businesses.” Many say they are also looking for information and advice to help grow their businesses or solve tech problems.

Personally, I like working with a team to achieve a goal beyond making money. Involvement in RPCN is a chance for me to grow, to apply my skills and to develop skills that laid dormant while working in corporate America. It is an opportunity to feel valued and a chance to get hints on how to grow from a one-person business to a small conglomerate (just kidding … a two- to three-person partnership would be fine).

In our 24 years of existence, RPCN has attracted all kinds of folks looking for an alternative path to success. Most want to become consultants. Others seek their path in business. Some come to us while they figure out what’s next.

We have all kinds of talent knocking at the door. All are invited in. Some even take advantage of opportunities to contribute. One can recognize the high contributors among us, because when they find success elsewhere, we thoroughly miss them.

This year, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in helping build an organization that can help you grow and build your business. The Consultants Bootcamp, co-sponsored by MCC, is taking off in February, and a committee is actively planning a conference with the theme “Picture this: Developing a growing business.”

Plans are in the works for the next TrendTalk dinner and panel discussion, which will be on challenges and opportunities in the human services sector. That promises to provide interesting insight into how consultants can apply our talents to helping agencies serve the community.

To address member requests for evening events, we are also planning social gatherings on fifth Thursdays (or the night before a fifth Friday). Upcoming on Friday mornings in 2014, we have invited speakers to help us keep up with the tax laws, get ahead on marketing and economic trends, and guide us to achieve business success through consulting excellence.

So why get involved? Because RPCN can help you:
•    Expand your network and influence
•    Become known
•    Showcase your talents
•    Establish a reputation as a consultant

I’ll see you Fridays at 8 a.m.!

RPCN Consulting Business Boot Camp

Interested in learning how to successfully start a one-person consulting business or improve an existing one? Take part in the upcoming RPCN/MCC Consulting Business Boot Camp. RPCN, in partnership with Monroe Community College (MCC), Corporate College, presents this series of presentations, workshops and panel discussions for five Tuesdays in February and March 2014.

Successful consultants and experts will share their knowledge and experience and you'll get hands-on, practical advice on topics like:

•    Defining your consulting services, clients and benefits
•    Choosing a legal business entity (DBA, LLC, etc.)
•    Planning your personal entrepreneurial development
•    Building your professional image
•    Marketing yourself as a consultant, including social media

You complete the boot camp by presenting your value proposition to a panel of evaluators who help you improve your message.

The boot camp takes place Feb. 4, 11 and 18 (8:30 AM - 12:30 PM) and Feb. 25 and March 4 (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM). All sessions are at the MCC Corporate College, 1057 East Henrietta Road, across from main campus.

Sign up early and save $50. You can register through MCC by clicking here. Early registration discount ends January 17, and there is also a $70 discount for RPCN members. (If you join RPCN for $95 for a one-year membership, you can save $70 on the boot camp, and get 20 RPCN $10 meetings for free).

Benefit from the RPCN’s new Member Referral Program

Do you know someone who is considering becoming an RPCN member? Are you considering RPCN membership? If so, you could become eligible for a $25 gift card.

RPCN has introduced a new Member Referral Program that provides incentives to both current and new members.

Here’s how it works. Each quarter, we will conduct a drawing that includes the names of new members and anyone who referred a new member within that quarter. (We collect referral information when new members join.) We will draw one name from each group – a current and a new member – and each will receive a $25 gift card.
•    The drawings will be held at one of the Friday meetings.
•    The winners will be notified by phone/e-mail, if not present at the meeting.
•    The winners’ names will be included in the newsletter.

Congratulations to the winners for the first quarter of the new program:
•    Martin Brett
•    Ernie Newcomb

The drawing for the second quarter will be on Jan. 10. Click here for more information on the benefits of joining the RPCN.

In this issue:

• President's_message  
  
• Member profile
  
• RPCN Consulting Boot Camp
  
• Member referral program
  
• Of interest
  
• Upcoming events
• New members

We want you!

The RPCN newsletter welcomes news, success stories, tips, resources, events and other items that would be of broad interest to consultants. Submit a newsletter item by email to the newsletter editor. 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 Communication Committee:
Janice Hanson, Chair
Barbara Moore
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Steve Royal

Upcoming events

Technical Forum
facilitated by Steve Royal
Friday, Jan. 3, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
NOTE: This Technical Forum will be held in the Downstairs Meeting Room at Brighton Town Hall.

An informal, facilitated round-table discussion of any technical issues that consultants encounter in running their business, including computers, the Internet and telephones. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking lately? For a list from recent forums, click here.

Annual Tax Update
presented by John Foote, Expert Tax Group
Friday, January 10, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

Learn about aspects of income tax (bracket amounts, credits, deductions, etc) which will apply when preparing taxes for the just closed 2013 tax year. This presentation will also focus on elements that can still be used to adjust taxable income such as retirement contributions, and will address various aspects of the economy and forecasts for planning purposes, as well as taxation that will affect tax year 2014.

Business Forum
facilitated by Bob Lurz
Friday, January 17, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Pittsford Community Library

An informal, facilitated roundtable discussion of issues regarding starting or running a consulting business. Wondering what kind of questions people are asking lately? For a list from recent forums, click here.

RPCN Board Meeting
Friday, January 17, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pittsford Community Library

RPCN’s monthly board meeting begins at approximately 10:00 AM, after the Business Forum. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only board members may vote.

Practical Application of Web Technologies for Consultants
presented by Rob Marriage & Dave Horan of Inductor Media
Friday, January 24, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Brighton Town Hall - Downstairs Meeting Room

Learn how to apply technology to common business problems you may encounter. Topics include: how to find the right-sized site for your business; leveraging Internet technologies into business processes; what is social media marketing and how it can benefit or hurt you; why mobile sites are becoming more important than ever; how to find a good web technology partner for your consulting business.

Of interest

Emotional Intelligence

Digital Rochester hosts an interactive lunch-and-learn workshop on measuring your aptitude in areas like self-awareness, empathy and dealing sensitively with other people. Deepen your understanding of what emotional intelligence is, find out where you stand and begin improving your emotional intelligence at this event. Wednesday, Jan. 22, Irondequoit Country Club, 11:30 AM. Click here for more information and to register.

New Members

RPCN welcomes two new members this month. Click on the links below to view their profiles.

•   Steve Davio
•   Rosemarie Caillier

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Where to from here?

by Michael Van der Gaag, President

December is a month for looking forward to exciting possibilities. At RPCN, we are planning a year of making strides toward growing even more relevant and valuable to our members and community.

The Marketing Committee, under the leadership of David Powe, will help us better understand our stakeholders, both the membership and the non-member audience with whom we would like to engage.

With the energy of Program Chair Mike Molaire, we continue to broaden our reach in the community. Our TrendTalk dinner series brings influential thought leaders face to face with members and visitors, to stimulate conversation and inspire us. These panel discussions focus on opportunities and challenges in various business sectors in the Rochester area. The first session on the high-tech sector turned out to be a great success. We had eight sponsors and more than 60 participants (including 16 Simon School MBA students and one faculty member). Future TrendTalks will focus on the human service and health care sectors, among others.

Behind the scenes, we have a most industrious Communication Committee (chaired by Chris Swingle Farnum) that helps make every RPCN event a success. The "Using a Newsletter to Tell Your Story” presentation by the newsletter team of Chris, Janice Hanson and Ruth E. Thaler-Carter provided hints and guidance on using newsletters to market to your target audiences and the community at large.

So, what’s next?

In December, under the umbrella of “Learning from the Best,” we have Jim Ramerman coming in to share his secrets of consulting success. Jim is a very successful and highly experienced leader and an innovative organizational consultant. He believes that the essentials of a successful consulting business lie in building a strong, personal connection with each client.

In the New Year, we plan to continue with presentations from leaders in various consulting fields, including some of our own highly successful members, as well as others in the community. We are considering workshops on:

• Best practices in consulting
• The support we can provide to our clients as extensions of our fields of expertise 
• The keys to client success that will lead to our success
• Trends in consulting that presenters have observed
• How consultants can help each other to grow and succeed
• What the RPCN can do to support the more advanced among us

Starting in February, RPCN will continue to support startup and experienced consultant entrepreneurs with Bob Lurz leading the Consultants Bootcamp. In May or June, Dave Bassett will lead a conference on the talents and tools you need to get and keep your business rolling (see below). If you would like to be part of this rewarding event, get in touch with Dave.

Tracey Aiello, in his recent presentation on “Having the Best Year of Your Life,” offered a number of guidelines that we should all consider as we make resolutions for the new year. Among them:

• Keep your goals visible on your wall
• Take one step toward a major goal every day
• Have a big enough reason “why” to achieve each goal
• Start today

During the recent membership survey review, it was very clear that our members are enthusiastic, energetic and have some great ideas. We encourage you to get involved, to express your leadership skills and influence the direction of the organization: get known, showcase your talents, build your credibility.

Until next month, have a great holiday season. Here’s hoping that 2014 is “the best year of your life” (thanks, Tracey).

RPCN filled in the blanks for launching ROC Shots Video Services

By Chris Swingle Farnum

Many people wish their parents’ stories and wisdom could be captured and preserved for future generations. Todd Parker of Fairport has started a business to do just that.
   
ROC Shots Video Services creates custom videos for families and small organizations to capture their legacies. A customer can choose a video autobiography with the option of adding family pictures, slides and video clips, or ROC Shots can create a video scrapbook from digital photos and scanned prints, with the option of narration.

Parker launched the business in June 2013, after learning valuable tips and solutions through the Rochester Professional Consultants Network (RPCN). “RPCN has helped me fill in a lot of the blanks – how to create a business, how to manage a business and the day-to-day decisions,” says Parker.

Read more about Parker, including how he changed his target market, why he made his mentor cry, and how he’s now using his skills to help RPCN and his new business. Click here for the full story. Here is a video interview with Todd Parker:

 

Chris Swingle Farnum is a freelance writer in Rochester.

Boot up your business

By Bob Lurz

It’s happening – we’re planning the next RPCN Consulting Bootcamp, for five Tuesdays in February and March 2014. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to successfully start a one-person consulting business or improve an existing one. Successful consultants and experts will show you what’s unique about consulting and how to immediately apply the information to your business.

Here’s a sneak peek at the proposed lineup so far:

• A consultant’s journey to success
• Define your services, clients and benefits
• Decide on legal issues (DBA, LLC, S Corp, C Corp, etc.)
• What it takes to become a consulting entrepreneur
• Market yourself as a consultant
• Build your image and reputation
• Identify who needs your consulting service
• Use social media to grow your business
• Present your value proposition to prospective clients

Save these five Tuesdays: mornings of Feb. 4, 11 and 18; full days on Feb. 25 and March 4. When registration opens on our website in December, sign up quickly – we’ll limit attendance to only 25 people.

Stay tuned. Schedules, prices, location, etc., will follow.

Bob Lurz is leader of the RPCN Bootcamp and president of Consultants Accelerator.

Spring conference: building your business

By Dave Bassett

The RPCN plans to hold a full-day conference in May or June 2014 that will be open to members and non-members alike. Several members are forming a Conference Team and we are looking for additional volunteers to join.

The theme is building your business and the program will be geared toward small-business topics such as:

• Putting structure to your business
• Effective collaboration
• Effective interpersonal communication skills
• Negotiating skills
• Closing sales
• Legal basics
• Accounting basics