Business Retention & Expansion Training Course

Date: October 6-7, 2011
Location: Phoenix, AZ
http://www.iedconline.org/?p=Training_BRE_AZ
Register by THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 and save $100 with our Early Registration Rates

Date: November 3-4, 2011
Location: Sacramento, CA
http://www.iedconline.org/?p=Training_BRE_CA
Register by THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 and save $100 with our Early Registration Rates

This interactive course presents the core components of a BRE program and why the concerns of local businesses need to be actively addressed. By building an understanding of business visitation techniques and survey methods, practitioners will be able to clearly gauge their community's business climate. Learn the "red flags" that may indicate a company is looking to move elsewhere, and learn how to structure an effective technical assistance program to respond to business concerns. This course helps participants understand how a BRE program relates to attraction, workforce development, small business finance, technology transfer and many other economic development activities.

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Establishing, maintaining and upgrading a BRE program
• Creating effective models for business visitations and surveys
• Customer-Relationship Management (CRM) techniques
• Marketing a BRE program
• Establishing an early warning system
• Cluster and industry-focused BRE programs
• Tracking and analyzing customer feedback and response
• Quantitative and qualitative economic development metrics

INSTRUCTORS

Laith Wardi, CEcD
President
ExecutivePulse, Inc.

Laith has comprehensive experience in business retention & expansion that includes outreach to hundreds of value-added client companies, work as a resource provider, and 15 years of regional program management. In 1994-95, Laith pioneered the first web based system for business retention. Today, the ExecutivePulse™ Business Intelligence System is the most widely used database for business retention & expansion in North America.

Erik Collins
Economic Development Manager
Montgomery County, Ohio

Erik Collins is the Economic Development Manager for Montgomery County, Ohio – the state's fourth largest county. Erik manages the Economic Development Division and is responsible for business attraction, retention and the county's incentive programs. His accomplishments include development of Montgomery County's Linked Deposit Program in partnership with the Montgomery County Treasurer; the Linked Deposit program a $20 million program designed to buy-down interest rates for businesses that create and retain jobs in Montgomery County.

ACCOMMODATIONS/TRAINING LOCATION

For Phoenix:
Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort
6160 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
Phone: (480) 991-1414
IEDC Room Rate: $95 single/double
Cut-Off Date: September 5, 2011

For Sacramento:
Radisson Hotel Sacramento
500 Leisure Lane
Sacramento, CA 95815
Phone: (916) 922-2020
Website: www.radissonsac.com
IEDC room rate: $99 single/double
Cut-off date: October 3, 2011