Women's Business Center

Another mission of the J.D. Brown Center is to address the unique needs of women in business, women interested in pursuing entrepreneurial ventures, and women in business academics. The Women’s Business Center presents an opportunity for women with an interest in business to develop and utilize their knowledge and to acquire the skills and tools they need to become leaders in business.  The Center provides networking and mentoring opportunities to enable women to connect to key collaborative partners.

Services

Training

The Women's Business Center offers training on a variety of topics that are focused on the needs of women entrepreneurs. Women benefit from the “Starting a Business” program that addresses issues vital to the success of business start-ups. These topics include: defining entrepreneurship, concept generation, writing business plans, accessing capital and grants, selecting the appropriate legal entity, resources, and next steps.

Brown Bag Lunch Workshops are held on the following topics:

• Marketing and Advertising
• Accounting and Financial Management
• Personnel and Hiring
• Developing and Modifying a Business Plan
• Managing Inventory
• Corporate Board Membership for Women
• Operations and Production
• Family Balance
• Strategic Planning
• Additional topics as needed

Please refer to the J.D. Brown Center Upcoming Events Section on the home page of this website.

Individual Consulting and Counseling

Experienced entrepreneurs who understand the needs of women in the entrepreneurial marketplace provide assistance as consultants to meet specific interests of the owner/entrepreneur. This assistance is available by appointment with The J.D. Brown Center.

Women’s Business Owners and Professionals Organization

The Women’s Business Center has founded The Women’s Business Owners and Professionals Organization.  The mission of this organization is to support and educate women business owners and professional women in southcentral Pennsylvania.  The group provides a forum for women to share best practices for growing and improving their businesses.

Women's Business Owners Breakfast Meeting
October 7, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.

Peer Roundtables

Women who are members of the Women’s Business Owners and Professionals Organization may apply for membership in Peer Roundtables.

          Peer Roundtables are:

• Moderated roundtable discussions limited to ten women from non-competing industries and businesses.
• Composed of women at the same revenue levels.
• Held quarterly.
• Charged per roundtable.
• Facilitated by a moderator.

Please refer to the Upcoming Events Section on the J.D. Brown Center home page for a membership application and dates of scheduled events, or call the Center for more information: 717-815-6601.

The Women’s  Business Center at the J.D. Brown Center’s Mentoring Program

The mission of the Mentoring Program is to match women business owners with experienced mentors in the South Central Pennsylvania region to provide knowledge, coaching, best practices, and networking opportunities.

Matching Program:

Mentees complete an application and are interviewed by the WBC.
Mentors are solicited from the Advisory Task Force, Steering Committee, and businesses in the region.

A meeting is held with all mentors and mentees where introductions are made and both mentors and mentees have an opportunity to get to know each other. During the meeting, an orientation is held to clarify roles and expectations. Matches are made following the meeting.

Partners must meet once a month. The mentoring relationship continues for 12 months. Partners agree to a time and place for the meeting.

Requirements for Mentees:

• Mentees must own 51% of their businesses.
• Business must be established for at least one year.

Please refer to the Upcoming Events Section on the J.D. Brown Center home page for dates of scheduled events, or call the Center for more information: 717-815-6601.

Mentoring Application

Resources and Referral Network

This website maintains an entrepreneur and business topics resources listing of books, periodicals, newsletters, and current research for use be women entrepreneurs.  In addition, The Center is connected to numerous federal, state, local, and business assistance programs and services that are available for access.

Idea Validation

Many times people with great ideas need someone with experience to act as a sounding board.  The J.D. Brown Center Women’s Business Center provides this service.  The J.D.Brown Center Pitch Program is available to any entrepreneur.  Call The Center and we will schedule a five minute time for the presentation of the idea to our panel for a friendly discussion and reaction to the idea. 

Alliances and Network Access

Crucial to any venture start-up is access to capital during the critical early stage.  The Center will assess the projected needs of the venture and will recommend a course of action, which may include: development and refining of the business plan, developing a presentation kit, and making introductions to the investors as appropriate.

Women in Banking Consortium

A consortium of women bankers has been created.  Entrepreneurs in need of financing will be able to present their financing needs to this group of women for consideration and possible financing.