The Creative Coast | Cultivating the Innovation Economy in Coastal Georgia.

Understanding the Business Loan Process with the SBAC featuring Victoria Saxon

Victoria Saxton joins us to share insights on the business loan process with the Small Business Assistance Corporation. Victoria is the Chief Financial Officer of the Small Business Assistance Corporation and has been a member of the SBAC team for 7 years. At Monday's virtual Lunchtime Topic, she'll share: - About the different loan options available - The qualifying factors when seeking to get a loan - If you don't yet qualify, steps to take to qualify for a loan - About the application process - About Technical Assistance available to loanees Victoria Saxton joins us to share insights on the business loan process with the Small Business Assistance Corporation. Small Business Assistance Corporation (SBAC) is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury, and operating since 1989. SBAC is licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Community Advantage Lender, Certified Development Company (504/CDC), and a Microloan Intermediary. SBAC is also contracted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for lending to rural area businesses, manages the City of Savannah Business Loan programs, and services the Savannah Regional Small Business Capital Fund. SBAC offers twelve (12) different loan programs, with loan ranges from $1,000 - $5.5 Million, to assist start-up and established businesses across all economic and demographic sectors. SBAC strives for socio-economic improvement for all citizens through the expansion of small business by creating equitable access to capital. About Victoria: Understanding the Business Loan Process with the SBAC image Victoria Saxton is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the Small Business Assistance Corporation (SBAC). In her role, she oversees cash flow planning, preparing and reviewing budgets, and tracking operational metrics. She has been a member of the SBAC team for 7 years and has a total of 14 years of work experience in non-profit accounting. Victoria completed her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accounting at Savannah State University in Savannah, GA and received her Master of Accounting Degree (MAcc) at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA. She is a graduate of the Savannah Area Chamber Leadership Savannah Class of 2019-2020 and currently sits on the Subcommittee of the City of Savannah Taskforce for Economic Empowerment and Wealth Development. ________ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.

Show Me the Money: How to Raise Funds for Your Startup

Looking for funds to help your business launch or grow? Jen Bonnett is a recovering entrepreneur with years of experience as a serial entrepreneur. She has held numerous CEO/CTO positions in bootstrapped, angel and venture-backed technology startups and has raised over $50 million in angel and venture capital funds across three startups. In this Lunchtime Topic, she’ll share multiple ways you can fund your business idea or existing venture. About Jen: Jennifer Bonnett is a recovering entrepreneur turned entrepreneurial ecosystem builder focused on helping entrepreneurs launch, grow and scale technology businesses in the Savannah, Georgia region. She is a former technology entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in Information Technology and Software Development specializing in web and mobile technologies. Jennifer has held numerous CEO/CTO positions in bootstrapped, angel and venture-backed technology startups. Jennifer serves technology entrepreneurs through her role as Executive Director of the Creative Coast and Vice President of Innovation/Entrepreneurship for the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA). Prior to these roles, Jennifer was Director/General Manager of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), Georgia’s Technology Incubator, a “top twelve incubators changing the world” according to Forbes Magazine. While at ATDC, Jennifer spearheaded the development of a recurring year round curriculum, statewide expansion, the Accelerate” program and growing the number of physical incubatees from 19 to 90 companies. ________ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.

Why Merchants Should Pay Close Attention to Credit Card Processing Costs | Robert Day of weAudit.com

Robert Day is the founder and managing partner of weAudit.com. The company saves average clients over $30,000 per year in credit card processing costs and the largest clients save millions. Day is passionate about helping local companies realize there are many unnecessary charges they incur during credit card processing. He'll be talking with us tomorrow, May 25th, at noon about why local businesses should pay attention to what they're being charged and what they can do about it. Tune in live for Q&A with Day! ________ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.

Create a Red Velvet Rope Policy and Never Have Another Bad Day at Work

There are some people we are meant to serve—others, not so much. The Red Velvet Rope Policy is a filtration system that allows in only your ideal clients. Clients who energize you and inspire you, and most importantly, clients who allow you to do your best work. Because two things happen when you’re doing your best work: 1. People are talking about your best work—and that’s the most powerful marketing in the world. 2. You will love almost every minute of the work you do. If you love almost every minute of the work you do, you will want to do more of it. And if you want to do more of it, guess what? Marketing and selling becomes fun and natural, and you’ll be a magnet for awesome clients. In this workshop I’ll give you the tools and inspiration to define and create your own Red Velvet Rope policy, so you can only work with clients who you want to have a drink with (instead of the ones who drive you to drink). About Jaime: Jaime Blair helps entrepreneurs and small business owners create powerful personal brands so they can attract more ideal clients, even if they hate marketing and selling. Jaime has been working with small businesses for over a decade, showing them how to communicate their value with passion, confidence, and precision. She’s a Book Yourself Solid® Licensed Professional, and only works with clients whose birthday she wants on her calendar. Let’s see if yours is one of them. Website: https://www.jaimeblair.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeblair/ Calendly: https://calendly.com/jaimeblair/consult ______ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.

How to Avoid Feast or Famine Syndrome Forever ft. Ilise Benun

How to Avoid the Feast or Famine Syndrome Forever If you’re ready to do what it takes to get rid of feast or famine forever, you have to start with the right mindset. Easier said than done — but your single greatest success factor isn’t your education, experience or network. It’s your mindset. So if you want to succeed as a self-employed creative professional, the right mindset must be cultivated. How? That’s what you will learn in this session with Ilise Benun, who has been successfully self-employed for 30+ years. She will show you — among many other things: -How to show what you know (i.e. your value) with confidence -How to listen to and follow the market -Which marketing tools are best suited to position you as the expert you are -Best of all, how to put the feast or famine syndrome behind you forever. Ilise Benun is the founder of Marketing-Mentor.com, the go-to online resource for creative professionals who want better projects with bigger budgets, through which she offers business coaching to small groups and 1:1. She is also a national speaker and author of 7 books, including “The Creative Professional’s Guide to Money,” 3 online courses via CreativeLive and The Simplest Marketing Plan – all tailored to the needs of creative professionals. Since 2008, she has hosted the Marketing Mentor Podcast. Connect with her on LinkedIn and get her Quick Tips at www.marketing-mentortips.com View more Lunchtime Topics here: https://thecreativecoast.org/category... ______ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.

Lunchtime Topic: Marketing Funnels to Keep Your Pipeline Full ft. Brenden DelaRua

You need a sound marketing strategy to keep your pipeline full of ideal clients. Marketing your creative services becomes an unwanted chore when you are too busy keeping up with your current workload. So how do you make your marketing funnel work for you? In this workshop, Brenden The Marketer shows you how to create a marketing funnel that is defined for your target audience even with all the outside influences that are affecting your marketing funnel every day. Among other things, he discusses: -The Phases Of The Marketing Funnel -Defining Your Marketing Funnel -How To Pivot Your Funnel When New Platforms Emerge -How You Can Utilize A Marketing Funnel Without Paid Ads About the Speaker: Brenden The Marketer is the founder of The Marketer, an online marketing blog and resource for business owners and marketers alike. Brenden is also a paid media buyer & digital advertiser, managing over $200,000 per month in ad-spend for the Big Sea marketing agency based out of St. Petersburg, FL. Connect with Brenden on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendende... ______ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.

How I Turned My Service-Based Business Into a Digital Product with Caitlin Lindsey | Creative Coast

A Conversation with Caitlin Lindsey, Founder of Fit To Entertain. Have you been sitting on an online product idea, but aren’t sure how to get it going? Want to figure out how to set up a potential passive income stream that has you making money while you sleep? In this Brunchtime Topic, we will talk to Caitlin Lindsey, Founder of Fit To Entertain, to learn how she launched her new online product Fit To Eat, plus how she is marketing it. About Caitlin: Hi There! My name is Caitlin Lindsey, and I am the owner and founder of Fit to Entertain. A Savannah-based private chef, clean living advocate, and lover of travel, my business is built on two of my greatest passions : lifestyle entertaining and nourishment. My life as an entrepreneur began when I started a cookie business before I was even old enough to put the baking sheet in the oven. With more than 15 years in the event planning industry, entertaining has always been at the core of my expertise. As someone living with food allergies, the recipes I curate bring in rave reviews from even those who don’t have a list of foods they have to avoid. From private dining experiences and cooking classes, to multi-day retreats and building beautiful displays of cheese, charcuterie, and handmade hors d’oeuvres, my greatest joy is serving others through healthy and delicious food. ______ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.

Why Resolutions Fail & How to Achieve Lasting, Fulfilling Results ft. Shannon James

How many New Year’s resolutions have you made in your life? How many have you successfully accomplished? The estimate is that less than 10% of New Year’s resolutions are actually achieved. And many goal-setting processes used in the professional world have similarly dismal outcomes. During this Lunchtime Topic, we’ll speak with Shannon James, Owner of Shannon James LLC and certified Success Coach and Project Management Professional, to discuss proven strategies to achieve lasting results on what’s most important to you this year. About Shannon James Shannon is a seasoned team leader, consultant, coach, writer and facilitator with a wide variety of clientele including C-level leaders, small business owners, and solo entrepreneurs wishing to up their game or seeking a richer, deeper experience of life. With over 25 years of experience, including 16+ years as owner of Shannon James LLC, she’s guided individuals and teams around the world to get lasting results by closing the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Her passion is helping business owners, solopreneurs and teams get clear on what success means to them and then empowering them with practical tools and proven strategies – to create real results — and enjoy both the work and the life they love. ______ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.

How to Avoid Social Media Overwhelm ft. Lisa Kanda

Lisa can be reached at lisa@elkayadvisors.com. Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisakanda/ Learn more about Elkay Advisors and Lisa’s work at www.lisakanda.com Does the thought of producing content and keeping up with social media overwhelm you? Doing a ton of work and not seeing any results? This is the Lunchtime Topic for you! Learn tools and tips to help you manage your social media so that you can work smarter, not harder. About Lisa Kanda: Lisa Kanda, president of Elkay Advisors, LLC, is a marketing strategist, speaker, facilitator, and trainer who focuses on helping businesses and entrepreneurs learn how to establish and grow their online presence to get visible, connect with their ideal client, and use their digital real estate in a strategic, effective way to get results. Her approach is to demystify the ever-changing digital landscape to make it easy to understand while sharing proven, actionable tools and tips. Her client roster includes authors and experts, professional services organizations, restaurants and retail shops, software developers, finance, and creative arts; entrepreneurs and business owners; and non-profit organizations. Lisa co-hosts the podcast Business Dig and has contributed as a columnist to Jersey Shore Woman magazine. Lisa has been noted as an Entrepreneurial Woman on the Move from Jersey Shore Woman and she was recognized as the 2013 Outstanding Alumna from Monmouth University’s Corporate and Public Communication Graduate Program. Elkay Advisors won a Bronze Astra Award from the New Jersey Communications, Advertising and Marketing Association. Lisa is a consultant to the New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) at Brookdale Community College and has counseled hundreds of business owners on how to use social media to promote and build their businesses. She was instrumental in the creation of the NJSBDC’s successful Digital Blueprint Certificate program. She has taught classes as an adjunct professor at Monmouth University and the Savannah College of Art and Design. She is past president of the New Jersey Communications, Advertising and Marketing Association and is a member of the Social Media Marketing Society. Lisa received her MA in Corporate and Public Communication from Monmouth University and her BA in Communication from the University of Dayton.

So You Want a Career in the Tech Industry? ft. Kevin Lawver

Kevin Lawver is a 26 year veteran of the tech industry. He spent the first 13 years of his career at AOL, which was supposed to be a summer job, where he built search engines, social media things before the term existed, and spoke at conferences around the world. He spent the next 13 years working at small startups, building things, breaking things, getting his heart broken, and saving the internet. He’s now at Gusto, where he’s working on building tools to make life easier for business owners and employees around the country. We’ll be talking with Kevin on Wednesday the 9th at noon to learn what it’s like to work in the tech industry. We’ll be discussing things like... -The general advantages of working at a tech company – Typical salary level for entry-level computer programmers – Challenges and hurdles new coders often face – How to break into the industry without any experience – What it’s like to work at a startup company as opposed to a well established one ______ About the Creative Coast Our Mission Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia. The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies. Our Vision Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals. Our History The Creative Coast was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah to create/foster the creative technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through our activities, we strive to make an economic impact on our community, our city, the region and our state, through the creation of high-wage, high-tech and creative jobs. Learn more at https://thecreativecoast.org.