The Bellingham Business Journal

Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center and Whatcom Community College are collaborating on what they are billing as a simple, affordable training conference that will have maximum value for local business owners. ThinkBiz 2010-Small Business Conference will take place Sept. 9 and 10 at Whatcom Community College’s Heiner Center.

Greg Marshall, director of community education at Whatcom Community College and one of the event’s organizers, said the economy has been tough on everyone and ThinkBiz is an inexpensive way to get people talking and helping each other. Registration is $69.

“I have always wanted to do a conference like this that is simply focused on the training, so businesses get the knowledge they need to grow and expand,” Marshall said.

Marshall said many conferences are diluted with pomp and pageantry, such as booths and sponsor giveaways, but ThinkBiz’s focus on learning allowed them to plan an event packed with learning opportunities that present practical strategies for the businesses in attendance.

For example, over the two-day conference, there are three sessions per day, each with four training options in four basic categories: New Media, Marketing and Connecting, Business Gears, and The Bottom Line. Plus, each session includes a “Take-Away Ten,” which are 10 ideas or strategies the attending business can put in place immediately.

“At the end of these sessions, these business owners are going to come away with tons of practical ideas that can be implemented right away,” Marshall said.

The conference will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9 and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Sept. 10. To register, call (360) 383-3200 or register online here.