Becoming a Consultant

The field of consulting is exciting, fun, challenging, and widely varied. This course will provide you with a
broad overview of the field to help you determine if consultancy is the path for you and to start you on
your journey. Well cover the basics of deciding whether being an independent or an employee better
suits you, how to determine the best legal structure for your business, and multi-pronged strategies for
marketing your services to public sector organizations versus nonprofits vs. corporations. Topics of
discussion include the characteristics of a consultant, setting up your work space, costs and benefits of
working with diverse clients, marketing, determining fees and budgeting, time management, proposal
writing and presentations, and invoicing.
Participants will come away from the course with a full breadth of knowledge about the consulting
business and a toolbox of ideas and strategies to use in the creation of their own successful firm.
Advertising and Marketing Your Small Business
The huge hurdle for most small businesses is addressed right here, how to advertise and market locally
or regionally. Learn the difference between market awareness and competition and how to deal with each
one. Learn the rule of five in any marketing campaign or networking system. Understand when to use low
tech or high tech marketing.
How to Write a Business Plan
Designed for the beginner who is just starting out with an idea and looking to go from idea to plan to
action to profit. The business plan is the starting point for any successful small business. Key areas
covered include, target marketing, market testing, pricing, finances, cost analysis, profit margins, labor,
advertising, growth, production, services, etc. A number of successful businesses will be used as role
models in developing a basic plan of action.
ProWrite Professional Writing Certificate Program
ProWrite offers employees a carefully sequenced series of four-hour workshops that, combined with
individual feedback on their writing, will enable them to write professional documents that will be useful in
any number of environments.
Topics
Effective Business Writing (8 hours, in two 4-hour sessions)
Effective Technical Writing (8 hours, in two 4-hour sessions)
Writing for the Web (4 hours)
Writing for a Global Audience (4 hours)
Internet Marketing: Web 2.0
Topics:
Internet Marketing & Web Design Principles (8 hours, in two 4-hour sessions)
Web Advertising Theory & Methodologies | Creating Effective Digital Media Content (8 hours, in two 4-
hour sessions) Internet Marketing Research | Web Analytics & Reporting (4 hours)
Social (Viral) Media and Global Strategies (4 hours)





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Nonprofit Organization and Operation: A Hands-on, How-to
Approach
This workshop is designed for nonprofit entrepreneurs and volunteer leaders from organizations
somewhere between the starting up and staffing up phases. By taking an approach that is tailored to
the needs of class participants, the course will help you to develop an organization with the means and
resources to be successful. Topics of the course will include but not be limited to:
Beginning a nonprofit
Recruiting and organizing board members
Building committees and leaders
Building and leading a management team
Recruiting and placing volunteers
Creating plans and measuring results
Operating a results oriented organization
Creating resources
Communications

Project Management: A Systems Approach
A Systems Approach to Project Management is a hands-on workshop helping participants develop critical
thinking and skills to address this challenge.
Purpose: To provide project managers, project team leaders and members with skills, best practices and
tools needed for achieving successful project outcomes.
Content is focused on: Project Definition, Plans, Schedules & Budgets, Risk Management, etc. This is an
approved course by the Project Management Institute where participants can earn 14 Professional
Development Units towards PMIs Project Management Professional certification.
Methodology will include a facilitated workshop using demonstrations, case studies and real world
application to participant projects.

Retirement Planning Today
It takes more than money to live a rich life. In just 2 entertaining and informative sessions, youll learn
what they didnt teach you in school. Discover 5 strategies to manage investment risks, 11 ways you may
save money on this years taxes, important questions to ask before buying insurance coverage, how to
invest in and take money out of your companys retirement plan, as well as determine the savings you
need to retire today or in the future.
This course includes a 226-page illustrated textbook. Couples may attend together for a single
registration fee.

2011 Dakota County Leadership Academy
The Dakota County Leadership Academy is a partnership of Dakota County Chambers and Inver Hills
Community College whose purpose is to develop leadership capacity within businesses throughout
Dakota County. The program is a combination of leadership skill training, community awareness and
addressing critical issues facing Dakota County. It will challenge and motivate individuals to make a
difference through personal commitment and involvement in their local communities. The 2011

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Leadership Academy runs from January to May. The more detailed schedule will be made available in
the next few weeks.
Enrollees will become better leaders at work, in their communities and at home. Specifically, participation
in the Dakota County Leadership Academy will benefit individuals, employers and the community.
Individual Benefits:
Develop a great network throughout Dakota County.
Become a more effective and influential leader at work.
Employer Benefits:
Gain company exposure.
Develop a strong employee to increase the leadership talent within the organization.
Create ambassadors for their company in the community.
Community Benefits:
Support growth and investment in the community.
Employees and employers will gain a greater understanding of their communities.
Both groups will take a more active role in ensuring a strong, vibrant environment in which
business can thrive.
All sessions are 8 a.m. - Noon*. Participants are expected to attend all sessions and participate in
a community service project. Instruction will be held at Inver Hills sites in your community.
*Subject to event time and time allowed for networking.
Chamber of Commerce Phone Numbers:
Apple Valley (952-432-8422)
Burnsville (952-435-6000)
Hastings (651-437-6775)
Lakeville (952-469-2020)
Northern Dakota County (651-452-9872)
River Heights (651-451-2266}
Tuition
Tuition for the 2011 program year is $750. The fee covers all program-related costs,
refreshments, collateral materials, and site visits including Business Day at the Capitol. Upon
selection, payment is due in full prior to the start of the program year.
Tuition Assistance
Various forms of tuition assistance may be available to applicants from non-profit organizations or
small businesses able to demonstrate financial need. Given the limited number of scholarship
funds available, it may not be possible to honor all scholarship requests. Requests for scholarship

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support does not affect the selection process. Please contact your local Chamber of Commerce
for scholarship options.
Sponsorship
Sponsorships are available to support this program while gaining exposure for your company in Dakota
County. Please contact your local Chamber to find out what opportunities are still available.
Advanced Career Planning for Unemployed and Underemployed
Workers
This course is an in-depth process of assessing and identifying individual personality traits, aptitudes,
skills, abilities and prior work experience. The process then matches up these traits to jobs/careers that
use these traits to be successful in that field. The course provides in-depth information on new and
emerging careers/jobs over all areas of business including; manufacturing, health care, transportation,
computer technology, energy production, hospitality, service industries, and government. Job duties,
salaries, and job vacancy outlook is also covered. This course also provides advanced job search skill
training including one on one assistance in resume writing and interviewing coaching.
How to Read and Repair Your Credit Report
According to CNN/Money Magazine, twenty-five percent of credit reports contain errors serious enough to
deny consumers access to credit, favorable loan rates and in some cases a job. This course is designed
to help you read and understand the 3 major credit reports and, if necessary, equip you with information
on correcting those errors and improving your credit ratings.
Keyboarding
Teach and learn basic keyboarding and introductory typing skills. Instruction includes teaching lesson
plans, printable practice worksheets, fingering charts, and exercises. Students learn proper typing
technique, basic typing position, posture, practice key stroking, spacing, return, and other typing skills.
Maximize Your Potential with Professional Sales Skills
Discipline of Selling(tm) puts your career on an entirely new career path - straight towards SUCCESS.
Discipline of Selling is today's only professional sales program created specifically for the non-sales types
that have always wanted to venture into the world of professional sales. It is taught by seasoned sales
training professionals; selling professionals who are eager to share their practical applications, strategies,
and techniques that propelled them through their career in sales.
From Discipline of Selling, you will take away a world of knowledge -- beginning with increased sales
revenues. The advantages accrue from the moment you start the program. In just 8 hours, you learn how
to:
Implement a winning systematic sales process
Super-appointment skills knowing exactly when to set the appointment
Demonstrate value and avoid the price-driven sale

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Close the sale- by using trial-closing techniques that are less threatening and obvious
Overcome objections, a process of neutralizing and reversing any objection to determine if it's
real or fabricated merely to stall the sale
Use motivational quotes that relate specifically to the sales process.
Build lasting relationships that refer sales to you weekly.

Discipline of Selling is the most important investment you can make in yourself, and your future. Learn to
think professionally as an entrepreneur and prepare for any future market conditions. Get the professional
selling skills now and learn the system that will generate new business and increase your earnings.
QuickBooks
This course is designed for business owners and other business professionals who need a basic
overview of QuickBooks accounting software capabilities. There is an emphasis on practical applications
for business or personal use and is designed for the small business owner with zero or limited experience
with bookkeeping. Topics include: entering sales receipts, paying expenses, paying sales tax,
entering/paying credit card charges, reconciling bank/credit card statements, and an overview of financial
reports.
Retirement Planning Today
It takes more than money to live a "rich life." This course blends financial education with life planning to
help you build wealth, align your money with your values, and achieve your retirement lifestyle goals.
In just 2 entertaining and informative sessions, you'll learn what they didn't teach you in school. Discover
5 strategies to manage investment risks, 11 ways you may save money on this year's taxes, important
questions to ask before buying insurance coverage, how to invest in and take money out of your
company's retirement plan, as well as determine the savings you need to retire today or in the future.
This course includes a 226-page illustrated textbook. Couples may attend together for a single
registration fee.