Education & Training Courses

Education & Training Courses

February – June2018 Schedule

Marketing for Results

February 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington Street

Leigh Kramer, Owner, Helicopter Marketing

How can you market your business to increase traffic or improve your reputation? Learn how (and why!) to develop a marketing plan, set goals, and establish a strategy. Also, get an overview of different tactics, such as advertising, social media, in-store promotions, and merchandising, that you can use to implement the plan. This course will be interactive and focus on practical knowledge. Come prepared to participate!

Leigh Kramer owns Helicopter Marketing consulting firm as well as Mondo Deco, an art, gift, and home accessories shop in Waverly Main Street. Prior to opening her consulting firm, Leigh was the Director of Marketing for Continental Realty Corporation, where she served as a key member of the Reisterstown Road Plaza redevelopment team. She also worked for the Rouse Company as the marketing manager for White Marsh Mall.

Dealing with Panhandling & Loitering

March 6, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

The Atrium Apartments, 118 N. Howard Street

Nate Fields, Manager, City of Baltimore Street Outreach Team; Nick Usher, Homeless Outreach Manager, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore; and Bill Marcus, Vice President of Safety Programs, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

This course is for business owners and employees of businesses frequented by panhandlers and loiterers. Participants will learn how to interact with panhandlers and loiterers effectively, how to identify body language of suspected shoplifters, who to call for assistance in specific situations, and how to communicate observations to police.

Nate Fields, Manager for the City of Baltimore’s Street Outreach Team, is in the human services field and has a history of working with foster care youth, aging adults, and the mental health population. He has worked with the homeless for about two years and has lived experience with homelessness. William Marcus is the Vice President of Safety Programs at the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. Nick Usher is the Homeless Outreach Manager at the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.

How to Make Social Media Work for You

March 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington Street

Michele Alexander, Director of Marketing, Everyman Theatre

Social media can be a great way to tell your story, reach new customers, and stay in touch with current customers, but with so many social media platforms available, how do you determine which to use? Learn the basics of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, how to target and grow your audience, and how to work within the dreaded “algorithms” which determine who sees your posts.

Michele Alexander is the Director of Marketing for Everyman Theatre, where she oversees all marketing and public relations. She has also worked as Communications Officer for Maryland Humanities Council, Marketing Manager for Alter Communications, and Media Buyer for Judith Green & Associates.

Access to Loans & Lines of Credit

April 25, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington Street

Eric Thompson,Assistant VP and Community Development Officer, BB&T Bank; Stanley Tucker, President and CEO, Meridian Management

This course will focus on practical steps you must take when preparing to apply for a loanor line of credit. Learn about the type of information you will need to provide, how banks and other lending institutions assess your request, the roles of credits scores and collateral, and how to increase your chances of success. This course will include a lot of time for questions and answers.

Eric Thompson is Assistant Vice President and Community Business Development Officer for BB&T Bank in the Maryland Region. He helps small businesses, non-profits, and organizations in Baltimore City with financial literacy, planning, business development, and commercial lending. Mr. Thompson has served in business management and financial services industries for over 12 years.

Stanley Tucker has more than 30 years of diversified business experience with a strong emphasis on lending, venture capital investing and the development of socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses. Mr. Tucker is President, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Meridian Management Company, Inc (MMG).

Basic Business Planning

May 23, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington Street

Jim Peterson, BLocal Small Business Outreach Coordinator, Small Business Resource Center

Learn the basics of business planning, how to think strategically about starting and growing a business, how to assess market opportunities, and how to develop a business plan.

Jim Peterson is the BLocal Small Business Outreach Coordinator at the Baltimore City Small Business Resource Center. Prior to joining the SBRC, he was the owner of Criterion Flooring Systems, Firehouse Flooring, Starquartz Tile and Starquartz Grout which operated at 1301 Russell St. After selling his companies he did contract sales for several industrial manufacturers and volunteered as a counselor for the Service Corps of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E.)

Small Business Accounting & Finance

June 27, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington Street

Steve Hsin, VP and Treasurer, PTC International; Financial Analyst and Advisor, IPM/InvestED

Learn basic accounting concepts, including profit and loss, cash flow and more.

Steve holds a Master’s degree in Finance from University of Baltimore, and has worked in the finance and investment industry for close to 20 years. He has been the financial analyst and financial advisor for IPM/InvestEd. He is currently the VP and Treasurer at PTC International, InvestEd's parent company, and handles taxes for the related entities of PTC. He’s worked in Taiwan, Korea, and the U.S., and has tremendous knowledge about global financial markets. He has been awarded the RFC certification from the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants organization. He's fluent in English and Mandarin, and conversant in several Chinese dialects.

Credit Card Services

May 23, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington Street

Sam McNeill, M & T Bank

Learn what to look for in credit card services, and how to use banking services, such as drop boxes and treasury management, to make your business more efficient.

Sam McNeill is a Senior Branch Manager with M & T Bank. He has also worked as a Credit Underwriter for the Credit Union of Denver, and Branch Manager and Relationship Manager with Key Bank.

MCMA Education & Training Schedule, February – April 2018