Help is Available for Wyoming Entrepreneurs

Owning your own business doesn’t mean that you have to do everything alone. Entrepreneurs who have become their own bosses may feel like they have no one to turn to when faced with business challenges. However, the State of Wyoming has numerous organizations whose sole purpose is to help businesses succeed—many offering their services at no cost. All of those organizations will be coming together under one roof on February 21 and 22 at the GRO-Biz Conference & Idea Expo in Rock Springs, WY.

According to the Small Business Administration, 20-percent of small businesses fail in their first year. The top reasons for these failures are cash flow problems and insufficient market need for the business’ service or product. However, these dangers can be avoided through proper research and planning. The GRO-Biz Conference & Idea Expo is a great opportunity to learn how to avoid major pitfalls.

The GRO-Biz Conference & Idea Expo not only provides an opportunity to network with representatives from Wyoming’s extensive Business Resource Network, it also features leading business experts who will discuss a variety of topics relevant to entrepreneurs in Wyoming. This year’s workshops will focus on subjects like digital marketing, market research and providing services and products to the world’s largest customer—The U.S. government. In addition to U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Gov. Matt Mead (R-WY), speakers include Vice President of Trihydro Corporation Craig Carlson, Vice President of Applied Intellect Paul Hunter and John Rotellini—a University of Wyoming alumnus, small business owner and successful Las Vegas magician who will offer a unique look at marketing unconventional products and services.

Visit WyomingSBDC.org/grobiz to see a full list of speakers and workshops. Early registration discounts are available now until February 7.

About the author:
Jill serves as the State Director of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network with a Master’s degree in public administration. She is also a graduate of the 2012 Leadership Wyoming class and holds many valuable certifications in areas such as business advising, technology development and commercialization, business planning, financial management, and productivity. Jill has been with the network since 1998 and loves nothing more than seeing entrepreneurs succeed.

When she’s not in the office or on the road, Jill enjoys loving on her dogs Buttercup and Dilly, spending time with her husband, and knitting something cozy.

About the Wyoming SBDC Network:
The Wyoming Small Business Development Center is a partnership between the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Business Council and the U.S. Small Business Administration offering an enormous amount of business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business.