Join our newly active Small Business Chamber Linked In Group (click here). New discussion each Saturday. Post an introduction of yourself and your business under "Promotions."

W

hy the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc has been formed. Who we are, what we hope to become, and what is our purpose, what we hope to accomplish. By John S. Wren, MBA+, founder & temporary CEO   

We are a fellowship of men and women who help others make a Good Living as a way to learn more about how to make a Good Living ourselves. Our workshops and groups are based on the foundational principle of adult learning theory: We teach best what we most want to learn. Leaders are asked to be servants who facilitate the group and each person’s participation, not experts who lecture and give advice. 

As we use the term, Good Living means: #1 customers are satisfied. In addition, those involved in the business: #2 earn an adequate income, #3 constantly learn and grow, and  #4  have the leisure time to be a good citizen, community member, neighbor, friend, and family member. For most of us it also means being an active member of our own church, synagogue, or temple and/or a 12-step recovery program. 

We cooperate with local chambers of commerce, schools, other groups, business professionals, business owners, and community newspapers to organize and facilitate IDEA Café Startup Workshops and Franklin Circle Peer Groups patterned after those we started here in Denver in the early ‘90s.  5280 Magazine has said they’ve, “infused Denver with an entrepreneurial spirit.” Meetings are open source, we constantly improve and share, and each group is autonomous and self-governing.  

My little book on startup will soon be converted into a handbook for our group, we hope to publish it in time for our 1st Annual Meeting and Ben Franklin Birthday Celebration January 17, 2013. To download a 99-cent copy or to buy a paper back copy of the current version Google John Wren Daring Mighty Things. While you are there take a look at the book Just Start by Leonard Schlesinger and Charles Kiefer, it’s the book we recommend now.  

Since 1954 the Small Business Administration in its various disguises (SCORE, SBDCs, etc.) has just about snuffed out the entrepreneurial spirit in America with a venture capital approach to startup ( formal market research and formal strategic planning) that is just not the way most successful businesses actually get started. If they did, we’d have a planned economy and not a market economy. 

How do we know? We’re based on adult learning theory and the research and experience of  Amar Bhide http://bhide.net, Saras Sarasvathy www.effectuation.org, Leonard Schlesinger www.babson.edu, Charles Kiefer www.InnovationAssociates.com, and my consulting and teaching experience since 1979. 

What is success for us? If an IDEA Café Startup Workshop is successful, those who are in attendance will be too busy to come back the next week. If a Franklin Circle is successful, each member will make a Good Living. If your Small Business Chamber of Commerce is successful these autonomous and self-governing workshops and groups will spread across the country, the unemployment rate will drop, job satisfaction and customer satisfaction will increase, and America will see the dawn of a new era, our being once again the shining light on a hill.  

Want to help? We hope to form a board of directors by our Annual Meeting next January 17. If you’d be open to serving on it or to helping us in any other way we welcome your involvement please call today!

Starting a new career? A new project? Or a new business? Stuck? Need a fresh thought? 

Join us at one of our IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops. We hear people share how they started and we brainstorm, bring your question. Free, we just as that you bring your brain for the brainstorming. It's ok to just observe at your 1st meeting.

The Denver IDEA Cafe is our model group, it meets the 2nd and 4th Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tony's, 950 Broadway here in Denver. There is also an online group Monday afternoons from 2 to 3 p.m. Other groups are forming.

Can't join us now? RSVP "No" and you'll get an invitation to future meetings. For more information and to RSVP click here.  DO YOUR PART TO HELP THE ECONOMY, SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO MIGHT FIND IT HELPFUL.You can also RSVP for some of the groups from links groups have posted on our Facebook Page, hope you'll "Like" http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber 

From John S Wren, founder & CEO of your Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc :

Today, unfortunately, more than ever before lots of people are unhappy with their job because they:
1) don’t earn enough money, or
2) don’t get enough free time, or
3) see the job is stifling, it’s not helping them to learn and grow, or
4) don’t feel their product or service really helps their customer.

If that is you, or if you know someone like that, we can help.

"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Discussion of Denver Startup Week."

We meet on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each week at the Englewood Library. With us at this meeting: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Discussion of Denver Startup Week." All who attended and who held events are invited to share their experience. http://denverstartupweek.org/. Also Gina Schreck, co-founder of SynapseConnecting "We help you use today's technology to build your biz." thttp://SynapseConnecting.com/ Twitter @Ginaschreck; and Valarie Johnson Award-Winning Author, Television & Radio Talent, Producer, Publisher, Writer, Editor, Consultant https://www.facebook.com/valarie.r.johnson : on "How we started our consulting practices and what we are doing now." Get help to start in a new direction. We share startup experience and we brainstorm. Join us when you aren't sure what you are going to do Monday morning. Life's too short for any of us to learn from just our own experience! You can RSVP here or on our Facebook Page see http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber RSVP

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New radio show and new annual meeting.

New! We are sponsoring John Wren's Monday Business After Hours Radio Show, members can use the show to announce new products and services for free from now until Ben Franklin's birthday January 17. Our Small Business Chamber, Franklin Circles, and IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops grew out of the shows John had on the air years ago, John Wren's TV Journal and John Wren's Radio Journal. (Highlights from those old shows will be played next Monday.) Guests on Wren's past shows have included Micheal Gerber, author of The E-Myth, Amar Bhide, author of the Origin & Evolution of New Businesses, Henry Lowenstein, founder of Denver Civic Theatre, Sam Newton, founder of Country Dinner Playhouse, and many, many more. Also new is what we hope will become a yearly celebration of Ben Franklin's birthday & the Annual Meeting for the Small Business Chamber of Commerce Inc, starting the process of turning over our S.B.C.C. to the members when our founder John Wren starts to drool and fade away, which may be soon. :) RSVP before December 15 an you can display information about your company at the event for free. More info and RSVP for both the weekly radio show and annual meeting at http://Meetup.com/Small-Business-Chamber Questions? Know a company (yours?) that might like to be a sponsor of the radio show and/or the annual meeting? Contact the old fart himself, John Wren at (303)861-1447 or John@SmallBizChamber.org

We'll be continuing an online IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop each Monday afternoon, we are cutting the size of the group to 12, so RSVP now to make sure you get a seat. In addition we have face-to-face meetings in Denver and Englewood for the next couple of Fridays, we hope to be starting other workshops across Colorado and beyond soon. For more and to RSVP see http://meetup.com/SBCC-Startup-Workshops 


Would you allow us to announce that you'll share your startup experience at one of our startup workshops? Very casual, no need to prepare a formal talk. We ask that those who share stick to their actual experience and not give advice or guess what might have made things better.

Are you willing to volunteer to help us grow? We need all kinds of help. Want to help your local chamber, service club, fraternity, sorority, or other group to start a new IDEA Café and/or Franklin Circle? Please contact us. Also let us know if you have meeting or office space available.

THERE ARE NO DUES OR FEES FOR SMALL BUSINESS CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP, AND WE NEVER REQUIRE A CONTRIBUTION TO ATTEND A MEETING, BUT WE DO HAVE EXPENSES. AND ANY CONTRIBUTION IS APPRECIATED. Donors will be posted on our website, (unless you ask your name be kept confidential) along with a monthly statement of all income and expenses, starting in November for contributions thru October 31, 2012. Groups may contribute, but no contribution is ever required. Please contribute online when you RSVP for a meeting or send a check, please, make checks payable to Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Send checks to Small Business Chamber, in care of John Wren, 960 Grant St. #727, Denver, CO 80203. Questions? Suggestions? Contact Wren at that address or at (303)861-1447 or John@SmallBizChamber.org 

We have our first online IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop next Monday, Oct 8, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Mountain, hope you'll join us! Limited to the first 21 to RSVP, we may break into groups of 3 for Fresh Thought Hunts, thanks to Charlie Kiefer co-author of Just Start for teaching me the powerful technique that works so well.  Also, I'm giving a talk next Friday at our Denver IDEA Cafe and will publish here the final article that results after our discussion. Hope you can join us next Friday. Details and RSVP for either or both meetngs at http://meetup.com/SBCC-Startup-Workshops 

Just Start is offering another 9 session online workshop again, 1st session is October 10. I've done this and found it very helpful, I recommend it to anyone who is starting in a new direction with their work or who works with startups. For more see http://Just-Start.com 

Here's a message I'm sending out now to people who "Like" our Facebook Page, what I say in it goes for you who read it here now, too. :)

Thanks for the "Like" on our Facebook Page.

Would you be willing to help us? Or do you know anyone who would? 

For nearly 20 years we've been holding startup workshops that 5280 Magazine says have "infused Denver with an entrepreneurial spirit."

We've also been helping people start peer advisory groups based on what Ben Franklin did with his friends. For more about them, just Google "How to Start a Franklin Circle."

Now we've started the Small Business Chamber of Commerce to help local chambers and other groups to start similar workshops and circles across Colorado and beyond.

If we are successful we'll reduce the unemployment rate.

We now need volunteers to help us, to share startup experience and to take a leadership role in the new groups that are starting. We are also forming a board of directors, and hope to establish an annual conference starting next January 17, Ben Franklin's birthday.

All sorts of talents are needed. If you'd be willing to help us, or if you'd like more information about how we can help you get started now, please send me an email and let me know when a good time to reach you on the telephone in the next few days.

Thanks! I look forward to the possibility of us being of service, to make sure the American dream is still a possibility for our grandchildren. 

John

John S Wren, MBA+

Founder & CEO, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc

IDEA Cafes * Franklin Circles

www.SmallBizChamber.org

(303)861-1447 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (303)861-1447      end_of_the_skype_highlighting John@SmallBizChamber.org

Our founder and CEO John Wren has been asked to blog about tonight's Presidential debate. The comments he makes will be his own, he does not speak for our Small Business Chamber, which takes no position on issues or candidates.

You can watch Wren's comments about the debate tonight just click on the link below: http://live.denverpost.com/Event/University_of_Denver_Debate_2012_First_Presidential_Debate_Community_Bloggers

 New! We will have online IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops starting next Monday (Oct 8). We will hold a meeting each Monday afternoon from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and we may schedule them at other times if there is enough interest. Join us next Monday for our "test" meeting and help us get started! More information and RSVP for the online meeting and other upcoming face-to-face meetings at:
http://www.meetup.com/SBCC-Startup-Workshops/

I've just participated in the Capstone meeting, the 9th session for the Just Start Online Class. At least read the book Just Start, if you are really serious about heading in a new direction with your work life. And I highly recommend the online class. Another class starts October 10, see http://Just-Start.com 

Changes have been made in the way we are doing IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops because of my participation in the Just Start Online Class (see above.) We are going to try the changes a time or two more, and then announce the "new" IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop. For a preview, attend a meeting soon! (See link at top of this post.)

Franklin Circles are closed, confidential peer advisory groups based on what Ben Franklin did with his friends each Friday evening starting in the fall of 1727, and also what we've learned here in Colorado since starting the first Franklin Circle in Denver in 1994.  For help starting a group on your own with friends, just Google "How to Start a Franklin Circle" and you'll see the link to the HowWike.com site that we set up to share information. A new group is forming in Denver, if you'd like information about it, contact John Wren at (303)861-1447 or John@SmallBizChamber.org

We are trying to make our Small Business Facebook Page a dynamic, useful dialog that you can go to whenever you have something to share about your business or doing business. You can help us make it a better resource for you by going there and posting from time to time. Thanks! http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber

If you and I aren't Facebook friends yet, I hope you'll invite me. http://Facebook.com/John.S.Wren

Startup experience shared at free meetings.

"Real help from real people."

DENVER— Founder of the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, John Wren says, "If we are successful, you'll be too busy to come back next week. We expect to have an impact on the unemployment rate, one new career or new business at a time."

 

The Small Business Chamber Englewood IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop and the Denver IDEA Cafe both meet from 2 to 4 p.m. on alternating Fridays. The 1st & 3rd Fridays the Englewood group meets at the Englewood Public Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway, 80110. The Denver IDEA Cafe meets the other Fridays at Tony's Market, 950 Broadway, 80203.

 

No meeting on some holiday weekends. Free and free parking. Startup speakers and brainstorming. For speaker this Friday and more information and optional RSVP see http://meetup.com/SBCC-Startup-Workshops.

 

To volunteer to share your startup experience at a future meeting or for help starting a new IDEA Cafe in cooperation with your local chamber of commerce or service club, contact John Wren at John@SmallBizChamber.org or (303)861-1447.

Speakers at upcoming meetings:

Today, Aug 31: No meeting because of holiday. Happy Labor Day!

Sept 7: (Englewood IDEA Cafe at Englewood Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway) Russell D. Dennis, President, Denver Chapter, United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce www.USVCC.com; and Toby Gallegos, business consultant and outreach for Co-operate Colorado, www.healthcareforallforless.org on "How I started my career and how I started what I'm doing now."

 

Sept 14: (Denver IDEA Cafe at Tony's, 950 Broadway) Wilson D. Kendall, President, Center for Business and Economic Forcasting, Inc; Thomas J. Gorman, Director, Rocky Mountain HIDTA, and Kevin Jones, Vice-President of Development, Young Americans Bank on "How I first started my career and how I help start what I'm doing now."
 

Sept 21: (Englewood IDEA Cafe at Englewood Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway) Jenny Ford, founder of www.Monkey-Toes.com and www.SugarLoco.com; Georgia Hoyer, founder of www.TrekPak.com; and Rod Schiller founder of www.JuvoTax.com will speak on "My startup experience."

What is now called the IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop has met since 1994 to help people who are starting in a new direction by sharing experience and brainstorming. The new, free Small Business Chamber of Commerce has been formed to help local chambers across Colorado and beyond to form similar groups. For more see http://meetup.com/SBCC-Startup-Workshops. To volunteer to share your startup experience at a future meeting or for help starting a new IDEA Cafe in cooperation with your local chamber of commerce or service club, contact our founder & CEO John Wren at John@SmallBizChamber.org or (303)861-1447.

Thanks, Kim, for letting us use your image on our Facebook Page, http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber ((You can thank Kim, too, and get a link to her really interesting website and blog cafe by clicking on link here to Facebook, then click on this impage on our Small Business Chamber of Commere Facebook Page. Want help to Just Start? Ask us, we'll help!))

We just sent out this media release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2012

The Small Business Chamber announces new Englewood IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop starting in September.

"We expect to have a dramatic impact on the unemployment rate." John Wren

DENVER—The Small Business Chamber of Commerce is now offering a free Englewood IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop, in addition to the Denver IDEA Cafe. They will both meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Fridays, 1st & 3rd Fridays the Englewood IDEA Cafe will meet at the Englewood Public Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway, 80110. The Denver IDEA Cafe will now meet the 2nd, 4th, and any 5th Fridays at Tony's Market, 950 Broadway, 80203. Free and free parking. Startup speakers and brainstorming. For speaker this Friday and more information see link on http://www.SmallBizChamber.org or call (303)861-1447.

John Wren, Founder and CEO of the Small Business Chamber of Commerce said, "For nearly two decades we've been telling people to just start, and that's what we intend to do. This is the beginning of rapid expansion of our unique startup workshops across Colorado and beyond, in cooperation with local chambers of commerce and others. If we are successful we expect to have a dramatic impact on the unemployment rate of the economic development areas where a chamber of commerce or other group starts meeting.

"This Englewood and our Denver meetings are our model groups. Those who are interested in starting a new one are encouraged to attend, then if they are interested we will help them launch.

"It's now widely acknowledged that businesses just don't start the way we've been told they should since 1954 when the Small Business Administration was formed. Since 1994 I've been inviting successful people to share how they really got started in their career, a project or a campaign, or a new business, and we brainstorm. People who attend tell us the meetings are a helpful boost. We are very grateful for the help the Sullivan Chair at Regis University has given us with this, and also for the new book Just Start which was published recently and that we are encouraging all of our members to read http://Just-Start.org."

Speakers at upcoming meetings:

Today, Aug 17: (Denver IDEA Cafe at Charlie Brown's, 10th & Grant) Entrepreneur and Regis University business instructor Jeffrey W. Buxton, President, Front Range Ski Bus http://Facebook.com/FrontRangeSkiBus on "My startup experience."

Aug 24: (Denver IDEA Cafe at Charlie Brown's, 10th & Grant) Theresa Bombaci Vera www.TheCounselingCouchllc.com on “How I started my counseling practice.”

Aug 31: No meeting because of holiday. Happy Labor Day!

Sept 7: (Englewood IDEA Cafe at Englewood Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway) Russell D. Dennis, President, Denver Chapter, United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce www.USVCC.com; and Toby Gallegos, business consultant and outreach for Co-operate Colorado, www.healthcareforallforless.org on "How I started by career and how I helped start what I'm doing now."

The Denver IDEA Cafe has met since 1994 to help people who are starting in a new direction by sharing experience and brainstorming. The new, free Small Business Chamber of Commerce has been formed to help local chambers across Colorado and beyond to form similar groups. IDEA is an acronym for: I= Inspiration or Identify the Problem; D= Develop Alternatives; E= Evaluate the Alternatives; and A= take Action. The meeting is free and open to anyone who is starting a new career, a new campaign or project, or a new business.

###

John S. Wren, MBA+ http://www.JohnWren.com or http://Facebook.com/John.S.Wren is the founder and CEO of the new, free Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc (http://www.SmallBizChamber or http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber) which has been formed to help local chambers of commerce across Colorado and beyond to organize and facilitate IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops, which Wren has been doing himself for nearly 2 decades. For more contact Wren at (303)861-1447 or John@JohnWren.com

 

PLEASE SHARE We are going to start a weekly Google+ public "broadcast" IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop, but first we want to build a core group that will help us when we launch to build an audience. All you need to do now, and it would be very, very helpful, is to click on the g+ icons at the top of this page, one towards the left and the other at the top of the column to the right.  Thanks!

Free help for finding new work.

Real help from real people. We share startup experience and brainstorm! 

The Small Business Chamber of Commerce's free Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop now meets from 2 to 4 p.m. each Friday in Charlie Brown's at the Colburn Hotel, 980 Grant in Denver. Free and free parking. Startup speakers and brainstorming. More info and RSVP at http://meetup.com/Denver-IDEA-Cafe or call (303)861-1447.

Speakers at upcoming meetings:

Aug 17: Entrepreneur and Regis University business instructor Jeffrey W. Buxton, President, Front Range Ski Bus http://Facebook.com/FrontRangeSkiBus on "My startup experience."

Aug 24: Theresa Bombaci Vera www.TheCounselingCouchllc.com on “How I started my counseling practice.”

Aug 31: No meeting because of holiday. Happy Labor Day!

If you'd like help organizing and facilitating a new IDEA Cafe Co-Creation Startup Workshop in cooperation with your local chamber of commerce, service club, or other group, or if you'd just like to attend one of the existing groups, as a first step join us online at http://meetup.com/SBCC-Startup-Workshops  

Your Small Business Chamber of Commerce is Co-hosting the 2nd annual Colorado Capital Congress with Sullivan Chair of Regis University, a forum on July 30th (click), and the 2nd Annual Meeting on August 7 (click). 

In the July 30 forum, Colorado Limited Registration Offerings will be the main topic.

We will review how businesses can obtain exemptions from limits on non-accredited investors/lenders for local (backyard) investment opportunities.  This initiative is currently advancing with the help of the Colorado Division of Securities on the subject of Limited Registration. Further, an educational program will be presented featuring our key note speaker, Dave Anderson- Congressional Candidate for the 5th Congressional District. David Anderson is a business development and turnaround specialist with more than 30 years of success leading organizations through transitions — with experience in all phases of enterprise formation and development.

You can join us at Regis University, Main campus or follow the proceedings of this session live at: http://academic.regis.edu/stream/  PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS WHO MIGHT LIKE TO ATTEND THIS VERY WORTHWHILE FREE EVENT!

Small businesses are seeing unambiguous gains in employment rates and average compensation and hours worked, while revenue figures are down.

These are among the results of the monthly Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) Small Business Employment and Revenue Indexes, which together provide a complete and current picture of the economic health of the nation’s small businesses.

Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, was the world's first economic developer. He developed some powerful techniques for decision making that have become part of what is taught at leading business schools. He wanted his techniques shared as widely as possible, not just with Catholics and not just with Christians. For more see The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything (click here) by Fr. James Martin which just came out in paperback and is available in most libraries and book stores.

As a test we are going to be encouraging participation in a 4-week study group focused on this book which is called The Jesuit Guide Discussion Group (click here).  Please consider participating if you're looking for the way to proceed now in your work life and you're open to a spiritual approach. One session starts this Saturday, June 30, but we expect other sessions will be offered in August and September in various locations in metro-Denver, RSVP "No" to this June 30th session if you can't attend now but would like to be notified about future sessions.

Can't get a 25-cent raise, and know you are worth more? Want to start a new business? Get help now. Read this website, check out our Facebook Page then if your serious about starting in a new direction join us next Friday, June 29 for our free Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop (click here.) 

Your Small Business Chamber of Commerce will be co-hosting the 2^nd Annual Colorado Capital Congress.  This public forum will address issues on the subject of access to capital by Colorado businesses.ion

Capital is the lifeblood of business, so this is a critically important topic for all startups and small businesses.

This year, the forum will be held on three dates: June 20th, July 30^th, and August 7^th, 2012.  The main event will be held at Regis University; 3333 Regis Boulevard; Denver, CO 80221 (Mountain View Room, Claver Hall).  Arrangements have been made for a live broadcast to different locations in the State of Colorado.  Check the Sullivan Chair website for the latest information: http://www.SullivanChair.org

Each event will feature an educational presentation.  On June 20^th, the JOBS Act and Federal Crowdfunding will be the topic.  On July 30^th, Community Impact Investing and Colorado Limited Registrations will be the topic.  On August 7^th, capital agents/finders and Colorado Issuer Agents will be the topic.

Issues are being solicited for consideration at this year’s Colorado Capital Congress.  Interested participants will form Task Forces on individual initiatives to improve the quality of business offerings and to reduce time and expense of regulatory compliance.

Last year, seven Initiatives were selected: Colorado Capital Agents, Community Impact Investments, Improving Specialty Funds, International Investment in Colorado Businesses, Investor and Investment Scoring, Low Profit Limited Liability Companies (L3C’s) and Government Incentives to Business.

New issues may include a state bank, alternative banking, and the development of an econometric model regarding new laws and regulations.

The Colorado Capital Congress is hosted by the Sullivan Chair for Free Enterprise at Regis University.  Co-hosts for this year’s Congress include several business, government and civic organizations and federal and state representatives.

To register for the 2^nd Annual Colorado Capital Congress, go to: http://www.ColoradoCapitalCongress.com

Your Small Business Chamber of Commerce's free Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop now meets from 2 to 4 p.m. each Friday in Charlie Brown's at the Colburn Hotel, 980 Grant in Denver. Free and Free Parking. Startup speakers and brainstorming. No RSVP is required, walkins are welcome. But an RSVP guarantees you a seat at the table. For more information and to RSVP see http://meetup.com/Denver-IDEA-Cafe

 

Speakers at upcoming meetings:

 

Today, June 8: John Wren, http://www.SmallBizChamber.org, "My experience starting the IDEA Cafe and our new Small Business Chamber of Commerce." 

 

June 15: Daniel McCoy, Co-founder & CEO, Association of Veteran Entrepreneurs http://trepvets.com/ on "How our group started."

 

June 22: Dick Ling, founder of Mile Hi Conversations; and Paul Kottke, Pastor, University Park Methodist Church http://UniversityParkUMC.org on "How I started my career."

Our 2nd business meeting went well. I'll be the speaker tomorrow at our Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop to share about the start of our new Small Business Chamber of Commerce, where we have been, where we are now, my best guess of what will happen in the next few months.

Hope you can join us, and please forward this along to any of your friends who you think might like to attend. Your friend will thank you, and so will I if you'll let me know what you've done.

I've posted a few very interesting articles on our Facebook Page over the last few days. You can RSVP via the link to our June 8 IDEA Cafe there and at the same time check out the articles. See http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber 

We've started a process for turning our Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc into something more substantial than the one-man band it has been for nearly 20 years, when it all started with "John Wren's TV Journal" and those first meetings back then to meet the TV guests that we called the IDEA Association.

Part of this process is conducting a monthly "business meeting" right after the Denver IDEA Cafe on the last Friday of each month. Our second meeting will be June 1, it will be the first one with an official agenda. I hope you'll RSVP now for our June 1 Denver IDEA Cafe (click here) and then stick around or just join us at 4:15 p.m. business meeting, no need to RSVP but please do plan on being on time or a little early. If you have any questions or items you'd like to see on the agenda, contact John Wren at (303)861-1447 or John@JohnWren.com 

Starting in a new direction? Join an IDEA Cafe Startup Group to get a boost as you get underway with a new career, a new project or campaign, or a new business. We share startup experience and brainstorm. Attend just once and get a quick boost, or attend each week as you get underway. Later, we hope you'll return from time to time to share your startup experience with others. For more information, see http://meetup.com/Denver-IDEA-Cafe

 This media release just went out from PioneerHQ.com about our joint effort:

PioneerHQ.com begins effort with Small Business Chamber of Commerce to help launch more startups.

DENVER, April 5, 2012 – Business owners who buy a marketing page in the PioneerHQ.com business directory (www.PioneerHQ.com) for their own business by July 1 will be able to designate a local chamber of commerce, trade association, club, or local newspaper to receive a similar PioneerHQ.com page for free.

The Small Business Chamber also will give the designated organizations help to launch low cost/no cost IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops and Franklin Circles with their members.

Announcing the new effort, PioneerHQ.com co-founder Robert Schwab said, “Now that SB 143, which would have duplicated our efforts with tax dollars, is behind us, we plan to reach out aggressively to businesses throughout the state to offer them the opportunity to participate.” The outreach will include contacting every chamber of commerce in Colorado to solicit their assistance with the project.

When PioneerHQ.com launched last month, John Brackney, president and CEO of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, said: “I applaud the founders of PioneerHQ.com for their ambitious effort to provide a much-needed resource for businesses statewide. And I especially like the fact that they plan to work with the state’s local chambers of commerce.”

PioneerHQ.com is an almanac and business directory serving the Colorado business community as a meeting place, information source and marketing tool. The almanac will provide the latest market information about industries operating in the state and put the information in historical context to give businesses a real-time perspective on the growth or decline of the markets where they do business. The directory will serve as a real-time measure of market participants and a source for finding customers, partners, investors and suppliers.

In addition to free listings available to any business in Colorado, the directory will include paid listings that offer businesses an opportunity to offer more information about themselves. Go to www.PioneerHQ.com to sign up for a free listing or obtain information about the paid listings.

PioneerHQ.com was founded by three men with strong ties to Colorado’s small-business community and a long history of helping small business succeed and grow -- John S. Wren, Robert Schwab and Scott Rodgers.

Wren founded the Small Business Chamber of Commerce in 2011 and since 1994 has organized and facilitated IDEA Cafes and Franklin Circle Peer Advisory Groups that help  people starting new careers, new projects or new businesses.

Schwab was editor of ColoradoBiz magazine for seven years and is a former small-business columnist and deputy business editor of The Denver Post. He was named Region VIII Small Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 1998. He writes a blog on small business, politics and other issues.

Rodgers is a digital marketing engineer who has enabled organizations to take advantage of the web to engage their audiences and meet business objectives since 2001.  He has managed over 120 websites owned by radio, television and newspaper properties and was at the center of building a $4 million digital media business.

Contact:

Jerry Brown

303-594-8016

jerry@pr-impact.com