Noon - Registration Area Opens

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Breakout Sessions

Technology 1 - Internet Profitability 101
Presenter: Philip Stalnaker, Location: tbd

Policy - Rural Policy: Issues, Policy and Media Training
Presenters: John Crabtree and Traci Bruckner, Location: Jasmine

Marketing - Branding on a Shoestring - for Small Business
Presenters: Craig Lutz-Priefert and Jim Fries, Location: tbd

Business Development - Being Sensitive in a Road Rage World
(mediation and communication skills)
Presenters: Marian Beethe and Dena Beck, Location: Persimmon

Community Development - Rural Funding Opportunities
Presenters: Rich Barta, Karissa Berks and Weldon Sleight, Location: Hibiscus

4:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Exhibit Area (optional)

Download the Pre-Conference Session Descriptions as a 1-pg pdf.

Agenda for Wednesday, February 24, 2010

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Exhibit Area Opens

7:00 a.m. - Noon - Registration Opens

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. - Welcome, General Session with Bridget Lynch, Networking - What Is It?

9:30 - 9:45 a.m. - Break (Visit exhibitors - food and beverage in Azalea Ballroom)

9:45 - 10:45 a.m. - Breakout Sessions

Business Development - Maximizing the Value of Your Business
Presenter: Frank Haverkamp, Location: Paradise Ballroom 3

Marketing - Goal Setting and Achieving
Presenter: Rick Meyer, Location: Paradise Ballroom 4

Financial - Financing Resources for Your Business and Loan Packaging
Presenters: Jen Wolf, Glennis McClure and Gene Rahn, Location: Hibiscus

Agriculture - High-Value Markets for Beginners
Presenter: Wyatt Fraas, Location: Paradise Ballroom 1 A,B,C

Women Business Owners - How Women-Owned Businesses Can Gain Government Contracts
Presenters: Lauralee Miller and Scott Knapp, Location: Persimmon

Youth - Understanding Trade Resources
Presenters: Cynthia Vencill, Kelsee Sharpe and Kayla Fischer, Location: Palm/Lotus

Technology 1 - Power of eBay - Are You Exposed to over 1 Billion Potential Customers?
Presenter: Todd Messing, Location: Paradise Ballroom 2

Hispanic - Money Management and Understanding Credit
Presenter: Adriana Dungan, Location: Board Room

Technology 2 - Basic Bookkeeping Skills - Quickbooks!
Presenter: Connie Harvey, Location: Bit-Mobile

Community Development - Start a Leadership Development Program that Maintains Momentum
Presenters: Milan Wall and Kurt Mantonya, Location: Jasmine

10:45 - 11:00 a.m. - Break (Visit exhibitors)

11:00 - Noon - Breakout Sessions

Business Development - Risk Management: Are You Managing Your Destiny?
Presenter: Cory Kruse, Location: Paradise Ballroom 3

Marketing - Business to Business Target Marketing and Research
Presenters: Phil and Pamela Soreide, Location: Paradise Ballroom 4

Financial - Small Business Survival Skills 101
Presenter: Jeff Reynolds, Location: Hibiscus

Agriculture - Transition Skills: Keeping Peace in the Family
Presenter: Marian Beethe, Location: Paradise Ballroom 1

Women Business Owners - Defining Your Market
Presenter: Denise Johnson, Location: Persimmon

Youth - Six Pillars of Character and Ethics
Presenters: Cynthia Vencill, Kelsee Sharpe, Kayla Fischer and Brittani Faimon, Location: Palm/Lotus

Technology 1 - NxBizSuccess.com: A Tool to Network
Presenters: Marilyn Schlake and Tonia Franklin, Location: Paradise Ballroom 2

Policy - State and Federal Policy
Presenters: Brian Depew and Steph Larsen, Location: Board Room

Technology 2/Hispanic - Advantages of Networking Websites for Your Business
Presenter: Nancy Flock, Location: Bit-Mobile

Community Development - Authentic Leadership: The New Frontiers
Presenter: David Bernard Stevens, Location: Jasmine

Noon - 12:30 p.m. - Break, (Networking and visit exhibitors)

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. - Chuck Hassebrook, Center for Rural Affairs and Sponsorship recognition, Lunch buffet featuring Nebraska grown foods

1:30 - 2:00 p.m. - Break (Visit exhibitors)

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Breakout Sessions

Business Development - Business Planning and Your Financial Projections
Presenters: Jeff Reynolds and Gene Rahn, Location: Paradise Ballroom 3

Marketing - How to Improve Your Marketing Effectiveness
Presenter: Dave Buchholz, Location: Paradise Ballroom 4

Financial - Resources for Self-Employed Tax Filers
Presenters: Karen Mavropoulos, Ed Leahy, and Jon Bailey, Location: Hibiscus

Agriculture - Value Added Producer and Energy
Presenters: Casey Foster and Karissa Berks, Location: Paradise Ballroom 1 A,B,C

Women Business Owners - What Flew / What Flopped!
Presenters: Shari Rickertsen, Katrina Frey and Margaret Kring, Location: Persimmon

Youth - Power of eBay - Are You Exposed to over 1 Billion Potential Customers?
Presenter: Todd Messing, Location: Palm/Lotus

Technology 1 - Social Networking - What's the Buzz About?
Presenter: Tim O'Brien, Location: Paradise Ballroom 2

Hispanic - Strategies for Successfully Funding Your Business
Presenter: Marisoul R. Rodriguez, Location: Board Room

Technology 2 - Social Media Is Here to Stay!
Presenters: Connie Hancock and Jay Jenkins, Location: Bit-Mobile

Community Development - Health Care Reform: What Does It Mean to You?
Presenters: Steph Larsen and Angel Romero Kiester, Location: Jasmine

3:00 - 3:30 p.m. - Break (Visit exhibitors and enjoy brownies, cookies and refreshments)

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Breakout Sessions

Business Development - Personal Skills Assessments: Tool for Selecting Work Team Members
Presenter: Berva Arensdorf, Location: Paradise Ballroom 3

Marketing - How to Improve Your Marketing Effectiveness
Presenter: Dave Buchholz, Location: Paradise Ballroom 4

Financial - Six Steps to Financial Success
Presenters: Dale Percival and Blake Erwin, Location: Hibiscus

Agriculture - Stay in the Black while Going Green
Presenters: Karissa Berks, Ken Curry and Bruce Hauschild, Location: Paradise Ballroom 1

Women Business Owners - Balancing Business and Life
Presenter: Sharon Hueftle, Location: Persimmon

Youth - Jingle-a-thon
Presenters: Lauren Bygland, Marina Karel, Kayla Kettelson and Dakota Olson, Location: Palm/Lotus

Technology 1 - Reaching Your Target Audience
Presenter: Philip Stalnaker, Location: Paradise Ballroom 2

Hispanic - Empezando un Negocio an Nebraska
Presenter: Ed Turibio, Location: Board Room

Technology 2 - Web Content to Achieve Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Presenters: Connie Hancock and Jay Jenkins, Location: Bit-Mobile

Marketing - Sales for the Non-Salesman
Presenter: Bridget Lynch, Location: Jasmine

4:30 - 4:45 p.m. - Break

4:45 - 5:00 p.m. - Final Wrap up (stay around for and exciting end to the day!)

Download the Conference Session Descriptions as an 11-pg pdf.

For more information, contact Joy Marshall at joym@cfra.org or 402.614.5558.