The Florida SBDC at FGCU presents training workshops and tradeshows to help small business owners grow their business. Topics include social media, marketing, technology, international trade, and finance. There is something for all businesses owners, both those just getting started and those well established.

1. PROGRAM GUIDE
JULY - DECEMBER 2015
Offices in Fort Myers · Cape Coral · Naples · Port Charlotte · Bonita Springs ·
Punta Gorda · Lehigh Acres · N. Fort Myers · Labelle
www.FSBDCSWFL.org

2. FSBDC Quick Tip
Online and in-class training is available throughout the
year provided by FSBDC consultants and local experts in
a variety of topic areas.
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING
Best Practices of Customer Services
Date: Tuesday, 8/21
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - 3 hr(s)
Location: Charlotte County Chamber of
Commerce - 2702 Tamiami Tr, Pt. Charlotte,
FL 33952
Cost: $10.00
Learn what you should and should not be
doing to attract and hold customers in your
business. We wil cover techniques to maintain
customer service and provide examples of
what works and what does not work. Program
is formatted for existing businesses.
Getting Close to the Customer
Date: Wednesday, 10/14
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - 1.5 hr(s)
Location: Liles’ Hotel, 27300 Old 41, Bonita
Springs, FL 34135
Cost: $10.00
Customers, clients are the lifeblood of every
business. Thoughts will be developed in
a practical manner so you can take the
ideas back to work this afternoon and start
implementing some improvements in your
customer relations work and increase sales
as a result. Program is formatted for existing
businesses.
Doing Business with the Federal
Government Series
Dates: 7/24, 7/31, & 8/7; then 10/2, 10/9, &
10/16
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - 2 hr(s)
Location: CareerSource SWFL - 4150 Ford
Street Extension, Fort Myers, FL 33916
Cost: None
Parts 1 & 2 on 7/24 and 10/2 - Methods
of Procurement, Contracts, Social Economic
Interests, Objectives, Chapters, Parts, and
Forms. Parts 3 & 4 on 7/31 and 10/9 -
Solicitations, Format, Amendments, and
Successful Proposal Writing. Parts 5 &
6 on 8/7 and 10/16 - Subcontracting
Opportunities, Government’s Role, Payments,
Pricing, and Profit
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Surviving the Off Season
Date: Thursday, 8/13 Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00
pm - 2 hr(s)
Location: Iberia Bank - 7580 Winkler Rd,
Fort Myers, FL 33919
Cost: $10.00
We will be presenting ideas on how to
survive the offseason. This will be directed
at Retail. Program is programmed towards
existing businesses.
SBRN Luncheons
Dates: Thursdays
7/16 - Topic: Websites and Website
Opitimization for Your Business
8/20 - Topic: Technology Solutions for Your
Business
10/15 - Topic: Health Insurance Coverage
11/19 - Topic: It’s All About the Money –
Securing a Business Loan!
Time: 11:45 am - 1:00 pm - 1.75 hr(s)
Location: Connors Steak & Seafood - 10076
Gulf Center Dr. Fort Myers FL, 33913
Cost: $30 Non-members; $20 Members
PER LUNCHEON
Taking Your Business to the Next
Level and Working Less!!! - 3 Part
Series
Dates: Wednesdays, 9/16, 10/7, & 11/4
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - 2 hr(s) (6 hrs
total)
Location: Iberia Bank - 7580 Winkler Rd,
Fort Myers, FL 33919
Cost: None
This is a 3-part series, be sure to register
for sessions 1, 2, and 3. Learn how to take
you business to the next level of growth
and success. We will be presenting the
ideas in the Book Emyth Revisited. Program
is formatted for existing businesses.
REGISTER ONLINE TODAY AT:
WWW.FSBDCSWFL.ORG
SBRN Golf Tournament
Date: Saturday, 9/26 Time: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Old Corkscrew Country Club
See our website for more details!
REGISTER
NOW

3. Small Business Chat
Dates: Wednesdays 7/22, 8/26, 9/23, 10/28
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - 1.5 hr(s)
Location: City Public Works Building Nicholas
Annex Community Room - 815 Nicholas
Parkway, Cape Coral 33990
Cost: None
Business owners gather to chat and discuss
business issues and network. Program is
formatted for existing businesses.
“Think Tank” Small Business
Meeting
Dates: Wednesdays, 7/1, 8/5, 9/2, 10/7, 11/4,
12/2
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - 1 hr(s)
Location: Lehigh Acres Chamber of
Commerce - 1261 Homestead Road Lehigh
Acres, FL 33936
Cost: None
The small business owner will learn 21st
Centry concepts to grow their business.
They will take away benchmarks to develop
personal Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities
(S.K.A’s.) Program is formatted for existing
businesses.
B2B Luncheon
Dates: Wednesdays, 7/15, 8/19, 9/16, 10/14,
11/18, 12/16
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - 1.5 hr(s)
Location: Fort Myers Incubator - 3903 Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Fort Myers, FL
33916
Cost: None
The luncheon is designed to bring together
small Business owners to share from each
other and learn products and practices that
will grow their business and wealth. Topics
include best practices, business planning,
and details on how to utilize the County
Wage Reimbursement Program for new
hires. Program is geared towards existing
businesses and for the business owner.
CASH FLOW MANAGEMENT
Making Your Nest Egg Last
Date: Friday, 7/24
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - 3 hr(s)
Location: FGCU Punta Gorda - 117 Herald
Ct Sq. Ste. 211, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Cost: None
The seminar will focus on strategies for
sustainable income in retirement. The
speaker will reveal the five key challenges
in retirement and how to successfully
achieve them with an income plan.
Workshop is programmed and geared
towards existing business and the business
owner(s).
Understanding $ Money in My
Business
Date: Wednesday, 11/18
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - 1.5 hr(s)
Location: Liles’ Hotel, 27300 Old 41, Bonita
Springs, FL 34135
Cost: $10.00
Reading Financial Statements causes many
business owners to have headaches. This
session will make the stuff understandable
and we will learn where to find comparative
information to help decide if we are
making the right money moves. Program is
formatted for existing businesses.
NETWORKING COMMONS
CAPE CORAL
LEHIGH ACRES
NORTH FORT MYERS
InternationalTradeExpoInternationalTradeExpo
Thursday, October 8th
, 2015
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Holiday Inn, Fort Myers Airport
9931 Interstate Commerce Dr,
Fort Myers, FL 33913
NO COST!
Attendees will be able
to meet one-on-one
with international trade
experts, banks, and
logistic experts and
discover how to take
their business global.
AccesstoTechnologyFairAccesstoTechnologyFair
Wednesday, September 23rd
, 2015
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
NO COST!
Attendees will be able
to meet one-on-one
with network and other
technology experts to
find out how to best
leverage new and
existing technology.
Holiday Inn, Fort Myers Airport
9931 Interstate Commerce Dr,
Fort Myers, FL 33913
NO COST!
Holiday Inn, Fort Myers Airport
9931 Interstate Commerce Dr,
Fort Myers, FL 33913
Friday, August 7th
, 2015
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
AccesstoCapitalFairAccesstoCapitalFair

4. WHAT IS THE SBDC? The Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University is a dynamic community-based resource, helping small business owners take advantage
of new opportunities to grow their business through a diverse collection of programs and services. The SBDC is located in FGCU’s Center for Leadership & Innovation, the external
administrative unit of the Lutgert College of Business, providing a unique collaboration between the College of Business faculty, students and small business owners. The Center serves
a five-county area and provides business assistance through various partner locations in Southwest Florida.
MISSION STATEMENT We are a customer driven organization of business professionals, dedicated to helping small businesses succeed by enthusiastically providing creative solutions
which exceed customer, employee, and stakeholder expectations.
The Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service network funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
State Designated as Florida’s Principal Provider of Business Assistance [§288.001, Fla. Stat]
OUR RESOURCE PARTNERS
WEBINARS - ONLINE LEARNING
Library Series
Dates: Mondays
7/27 - Enhanced Marketing Using a Free WordPress.Com
Site – What it is and how to create your own!
9/28 - Understanding Financial Statements; P&L, Balance
Sheet, Forecasting and Cash Flow
11/6 - Existing Business - Get Contracts with Lee County
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm - 2.5 hr(s)
Cost: None
Location: Fort Myers Regional Library - 2450 First St., Fort
Myers, FL 33901
FORT MYERS LIBRARY
Facebook for Business Parts 1 & 2 -
Cape Coral
Dates: Tuesdays 7/7 & 7/14
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - 3 hr(s)
Location: FSBDC Office - 1020 Cultural Blvd.,
Cape Coral, FL 33990
Cost: $10 PER SESSION
Facebook for Business Parts 1 & 2 -
Bonita Springs
Dates: Wednesdays 7/8 & 7/15
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - 3 hr(s)
Location: The Liles’ Hotel - 27300 Old 41,
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Cost: $10 PER SESSION
Facebook for Business Parts 1 & 2 -
Fort Myers
Dates: Tuesdays 10/13 & 10/20
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - 3 hr(s)
Location: Renaissance Center - 8695 College
Pkwy, #1256, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Cost: $10 PER SESSION
Attendees must register separately for each
part. In these classes, we will take a step by
step approach on how to establish a more
personalized and interactive presence for you
and your business. Please bring your laptop as
this is a hands on class. Program is formatted
for existing businesses.
MARKETING & SALES
Build Your Own Wordpress.com
Website & Blog for Low to No-Cost
Date: Wednesday, 9/16
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am - 2 hr(s)
Location: The Liles’ Hotel - 27300 Old 41,
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Cost: $10
Learn the basics on how to get started with
your own low to no-cost website and blog
using WordPress.com We will explore the basics
of set up and how to tie your WordPress.com
site to the most popular social media channels.
Program is geared towards both new and
existing businesses.
The Business of Social Media
Date: 8/11 Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am - 2 hr(s)
Location: Renaissance Academy of FGCU, 1010 Fifth
Avenue, Naples, FL 34102
Cost: $25.00
If you have been considering whether or not to
pursue social media as an avenue of promoting
your business, come get the ABC’s and 123’s of this
dynamic and exciting phenomenon! Workshop
program is geared towards existing businesses.
Webinar: Build Your Own Wordpress.
com Website & Blog for Low to No-Cost
Date: Thursdays, 7/9 & 11/5
Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am - 1 hr(s)
Cost: $5 PER SESSION
Learn the basics on how to get started with your own
low to no-cost website and blog using WordPress.com
We will explore the basics of set up and how to tie your
WordPress.com site to the most popular social media
channels. Program is geared towards both new and
existing businesses.
“The Ask” Webinars
Dates: Tuesdays
8/11 - What are some of the Best
Marketing Practices that Generate Repeat Sales?
9/8 - How do I Start a Business?
10/6 - What Do I Need To Do To Access Capital for My
Business?
Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am - 1 hr(s)
Cost: None