Work on your business, not just in your business.
The South Haven Regional Business Hub’s (SHRBH) Growth Series is a 26-week cohort program designed for small business owners who have been operating for more than three years and are committed to growing and stabilizing their businesses. The program aligns with the Hub’s mission to engage entrepreneurs early and support them through the most vulnerable years of business development, while fostering a peer-learning entrepreneurial community.
Session Dates and Descriptions
The Growth Wheel
Wednesday, June 10, 4-6 p.m., Lake Michigan College
Sandra Cochrane, Executive Director, WMed Innovation Center
The Growth Wheel is a business tool that provides a structured framework for business owners and advisors to identify key areas for growth and develop actionable plans. This session includes:
- Participants are introduced to the Growth Wheel, the Strategic Plan, and their mentor.
- Participants will leave with a 30-, 60-, and 90-day plan.
- Participants will meet their Mentors!
Foundations of Finance
Wednesday, June 24, 4-6 p.m., Lake Michigan College
Rob Paliani, Retired, Former Head of Portfolio Management and Risk Analytics – HSBC Canada
Methods to determine Cost of Goods Sold, Gross Margin, and Product Pricing so that your products are competitively priced. Learn to:
- Analyze and calculate cost of goods sold and gross margin in your business.
- Understand gross margin expectations in your industry.
- Set competitive product prices.
Advanced Financial Strategy
Wednesday, July 8, 4-6 p.m. Lake Michigan College
Rob Paliani, Retired, Former Head of Portfolio Management and Risk Analytics – HSBC Canada
Understand your financial statements and how they are interpreted by investors and bankers:
- Calculate and project operating cash flow for your business.
- Understand differences between operating cash flow and income.
- Interpret a balance sheet.
Sales / Value Proposition & Target Audience
Wednesday, July 22, 4-6 p.m. Lake Michigan College
Dan Cubr, Sandler/EAM Consulting Group
Business owners are surprised to discover that success hinges not just on their product or service, but also on their ability to sell it. This session will give you tools to confidently navigate that crucial aspect of entrepreneurship:
- Acquire strategies to help you overcome your fear of prospecting & networking for new business.
- Learn how to lead the buyer-seller dance and take control of the sales process.
- Gain confidence in your own selling style.
Marketing Tactics to Reach Your Target Markets
Wednesday, August 5, 4-6 p.m. Lake Michigan College
Jennifer Sistrunk, Executive Director, South Haven/Van Buren County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Attendees will gain practical marketing strategies and resources to effectively reach their target audience.
- Optimize marketing efforts and maximize reach.
- Increase brand awareness and customer acquisition.
- The South Haven Regional Business Hub will advise participants on obtaining website design and a social and digital media implementation strategy.
Reach Customers Online Using Free Google Tools
Wednesday, August 19, 4-6 p.m. Lake Michigan College
Cheri Bales, President, Hannah/Gold Communications
Learn how to leverage these free Google tools and resources to maximize impact and achieve business goals, even with limited budgets.
- Understand what free Google tools are available for you to use.
- Why the Google Business Profile is so important.
- A look at Google ads and acronyms like ROI, KPI, SEO, AEO
Developing Your Internal Processes for Consistency and Success
Wednesday, September 2, 4-6 p.m. Lake Michigan College
Steven Cummings, Managing Partner, SPC Consulting
Attendees will learn to create and implement standardized processes for improved efficiency and operational excellence. This session helps businesses:
- Streamline operations, reduce errors, improve consistency, and lay the foundation for scalable growth.
- Review the typical processes that every organization should have.
- Develop two processes relevant to your business.
Building a Valuable & Sustainable Business
Wednesday, September 16, 4-6 p.m. Lake Michigan College
Brad Scoffin, CEO, Advanced Business Advisors
Participants will leave with an understanding of how running a business with the exit in mind aligns your strategic decisions with your long term goals. Ultimately, this should create better options to successfully exit the business in the future.
- Build a business that you can someday exit… on your terms.
- Understand what drives value in business to create retirement wealth.
- How to use these value drivers to improve cash flow and find more time.
AI for Small Businesses
Wednesday, September 30, 4-6 p.m., Lake Michigan College
Logan Herzog, Executive Director, RISE
In this session, participants will learn how to maximize productivity by using chat based AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT including:
- Learn how to share information with chat tools.
- Learn how to use chat tools to execute tasks for you.
- Adopt your business to an AI driven world.
Capital Confidence: Get Your Business Investment-Ready
Elective Session, Open to the Public to Attend.
Wednesday, October 7, 4-6 p.m., Lake Michigan College
Whether you plan to pursue investors, secure financing, buy a building, or fund your next stage of growth, your business must be financially and operationally prepared. This elective will help founders understand what lenders, investors, and funding partners look for, and how to position your business for future capital opportunities with confidence including:
- Understand the different types of growth capital (loans, investors, grants, lines of credit, revenue-based financing).
- Assess whether your business is actually ready for funding.
- Learn the key metrics funders evaluate.
The Gameplan Framework | Run It Phase
Wednesday, October 14, 4-6 p.m., Lake Michigan College
Afiya Latham, A321 Consulting
This HR based session equips solopreneurs with the systems, hiring strategies, and management practices needed to build a team that supports sustainable growth and long-term economic empowerment including:
- A structured hiring and onboarding framework.
- Foundational HR systems, including key handbook components.
- Practical leadership strategies to effectively run and sustain a team.
PITCH Preparation
Wednesday, October 28, 4-6 p.m., Lake Michigan College
GB Richmond, Our Lady Of the Lake Catholic School
Participants will leave with a draft of a pitch deck for The PITCH.
Unleash Your Leadership Potential: A Two-Hour Deep Dive
Wednesday, November 4, 4-6 p.m., Lake Michigan College
Michael Neiss, Michael T. Neiss & Associates
This session is a dynamic two-hour overview of “The Leadership Challenge,” a proven research and behavior based framework for inspiring greatness in others. Build high-performing teams, and drive business growth. Walk away with actionable strategies to implement immediately in your organization, and:
- Increased self awareness of leadership strengths and blindspots.
- Practical leadership tools for immediate application.
- A clear understanding of the Five Practices of Exemplary Leaders and core behaviors of leadership.
Wednesday, November 18: The PITCH practice, 4-6 p.m., Lake Michigan College
December 2: The PITCH Community Event
December 9: Founders Circle Launch
Cancellation Policy
If Lake Michigan College South Haven’s campus is closed due to weather or other circumstances at the time of the Growth Series (4 p.m.), then the session will NOT run and will be rescheduled. Check our website and social media for cancellation or rescheduling and the LMCC website for closures.All South Haven Regional Business Hub programs or co-sponsored events are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Arrangements for persons with disabilities are made when requested in advance.
