Seminar focuses on business visibility online - Rapid City Journal

SPEARFISH -- The South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity at Black Hills State University will host a business seminar on ways to increase your visibility online, optimize business-to-business efforts and build and sustain a group of contacts. “LinkedIn for beginners—what you need to know to get started using LinkedIn for professional success,” will be offered both in Spearfish and Rapid City.

The Spearfish seminar will be held Tuesday, April 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. in Jonas Hall, Room 209 on the BHSU campus. A duplicate seminar will be held Wednesday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at the University Center-Rapid City, Room 106.

Michelle Kane, owner of Black Hills PR in Spearfish, will present the “LinkedIn for Beginners” seminar. With more than 20 years experience in marketing for a wide range of companies and nonprofit organizations, Kane guides her clients in all areas of public relations, marketing strategy and social media. She speaks about entrepreneurship, marketing, social media and personal growth with an emphasis on using technology to achieve success. She continues to ensure her clients gain value and see results by her experience, smart strategic thinking and enthusiasm for going the extra mile.

Join Michelle for this hands-on workshop that will guide you through each component of LinkedIn. You will learn about profile setup, using applications, how to participate in groups and getting the most from the search and research functions of LinkedIn with the goal of growing your reach, visibility and professional opportunities. Come prepared with a hard copy of your resume and a list of 10 professional contacts that you have worked with in the past.

Registration ends Monday, April 16. Cost is $40. For more information or to register, go www.BHSU.edu/SDCEO, or call 605-642-6435.

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Center for Enterprise Opportunity names its new board - Rapid City Journal

SPEARFISH -- The South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity (SD CEO) at Black Hills State University announces the appointment of four new board members.

The SD CEO is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that works in partnership with the Small Business Administration and Black Hills State University to help small businesses get started or grow. The mission of the SD CEO is “to provide comprehensive training and business assistance, support and counseling for aspiring and established entrepreneurs to foster economic development in South Dakota.”

New board members include:

Bruce Byrum has been in banking for 35 years. He has served as president of First Interstate Bank Spearfish (formerly known as First Western Bank) for 22 years. Byrum previously worked as a commercial loan officer for First Bank Systems at banks in Rochester, Minn., and Bismarck, N.D. Prior to that, he was the manager of Metropolitan Federal Savings and Loan branches in New Rockford, N.D., and Mitchell.

Erika Kroetch Campbell, Esq. is a Rapid City native. She received her J.D. from the William and Mary School of Law in Williamsburg, Va., in 2000, where she served as the editor in chief and symposium editor of the William and Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review. She was also the Historian for Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and received the prestigious Dean's Certificate at graduation. Kroetch completed her bachelor's degree with honors in 1993 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. She also studied at the University of Haute Bretagne in Rennes, France.

Sheryl Eisenbraun grew up on a farm and ranch in eastern South Dakota and later attended Black Hills State University, where she earned a degree in business administration. She then attended USD and received her MBA. She also is a graduate of Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado. Eisenbraun has been in banking for more than 19 years. She currently is the senior vice president/branch manager of the Pioneer Bank and Trust in Sturgis. She is involved in the Sturgis community with her involvement in Relay for Life, Sturgis Regional Hospital Advisory Board, the SD CEO at BHSU, and serves as the secretary/treasurer of Sturgis Economic Development Corp. Eisenbraun lives in the country near Vale with her husband, Scott, and 5-year-old daughter Maria.

Dwight Hansen is an accomplished fundraiser who was named director of development at Black Hills State University in 2008. For the past decade, Hansen has been involved in university development and planned giving. Hansen, who was previously major gifts officer for the University of South Dakota Foundation, has a wealth of fundraising experience planning and implementing capital campaigns and planned giving programs. Hansen earned his bachelor’s degree in history education from Wayne State College, Wayne, Neb., and a master’s degree in political science/public administration from USD. He also has worked as a bank vice president, small business owner, budget analyst for the state, teacher and coach.

The SD CEO is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Association, and is part of a network of more than 110 centers nationwide established through the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership. While services are available to all those interested in entrepreneurship, there is a special emphasis on women, women veterans, Native Americans, the socially and/or economically disadvantaged, and youth entrepreneurs.

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Business briefs for March 11 - Rapid City Journal

Black Hills Corp. sells business

RAPID CITY — Rapid City-based Black Hills Corp. on March 1 announced the closing of the transaction to sell all of the outstanding stock of its energy marketing business, Enserco Energy Inc., to Twin Eagle Resource Management LLC. The agreement to sell Enserco, announced by the company Jan. 18, was subject to customary regulatory approvals that recently were received.

Net cash proceeds to Black Hills from the transaction are expected to add up to about $160 million to $170 million, considering cash proceeds received to date and any post close adjustments.

Learn QuickBooks in eight hours

RAPID CITY — QuickBooks training will be from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 22 (for beginning users) and from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, March 23 (for advanced users) at Casey Peterson & Associates Ltd., 909 St. Joseph St., Suite 101.

The half-day seminars will help business owners and bookkeepers understand and better use the popular accounting software. Theresa Hook of the accounting team at Casey Peterson & Associates will facilitate the training.

To register or learn more go to www.caseypeterson. com/cpa-news/seminars or call 348-1930.

Take marketing ‘Beyond Facebook’

SPEARFISH — The South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity at Black Hills State University will host a business seminar on ways to promote your business online.

“Beyond Facebook — Exploring Other Social Media Platforms to Build Your Business” will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, in Spearfish at Jonas Academic Hall, Room 301.The same seminar will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, in Rapid City at the University Center, Room 104. Michelle Kane of Black Hills PR will present the seminar.

Registration ends March 19. Cost is $40. For information or to register, go to www.BHSU.edu/SDCEO, or call 642-6435.

SBA offers emerging executive training

The South Dakota District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration is taking applications from those interested in participating in the 2012 e200/ Emerging Leaders executive-level training initiative, which begins in April and includes 13 sessions.

Small business owners will have the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders and financial communities.

The instructor is Kim Tilsen-Brave Heart, an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe and the owner of Painted Skye Consulting. Tilsen-Brave Heart is also the co-founder of the South Dakota Indian Business Alliance and serves as president of the Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce.

For information, go to www.sba.gov/e200 or call Lisa Claassen at the South Dakota District Office, 330-4243, ext. 28. The application deadline is March 16. Participation is limited to 17 companies. Go to www.interise.org/SBAe200 or contact Claassen to apply.

Chamber plans mixer at Sam’s Club

RAPID CITY — The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its March mixer from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at Sam’s Club.

The event costs $13 for members and $19 for nonmembers. To attend, email rsvp@rapidcitychamber.com or call 343-1744.

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