A "Women’s Biz Symposium" will be held Oct. 29 at the Ardmore convention center.

The conference is sponsored by the Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, a Durant-based economic development organization.

The keynote speaker is Sally Baskey, whose motivational program "Laughter, My Drug of Choice," is a humorous one-woman show delivering the message that finding humor in a difficult situation is key to surviving with sanity intact.

Experts in their fields will present topics during the event and include: “Making Wise Financial Plans,” Dr. Eileen St. Pierre, OSU Extension; “Making Wise Money Decisions,” Mike Visna, Prudential; “Five Techniques to Improve Your Website,” Dr. Brian Whitacre, OSU Extension; and “What Now?  Coping with Adverse Events”, Penny Miller, Venture HRO.

For the first time, entrepreneurs can reserve a booth to sell or promote their products or services.  Booth space is limited but still available.  A style show featuring clothes from area businesses and models from corporate sponsors will be presented at lunch.  

“This is an informative symposium planned for entrepreneurs, but everyone is invited and urged to attend,” said Dr. Barbara Rackley, WBC Coordinator.  “This is a great opportunity to hear topics that are designed to help the small business owners; topics that are vital to the successful operation of a business.”

Partners co-sponsoring the Conference and Expo include the Ardmore, Davis, Pauls Valley and Sulphur Chambers of Commerce; Ardmore Main Street;  OSU Cooperative Extension in Carter, Garvin, Love and Murray counties; Southern Oklahoma Technology Center; Cable One; Keystone Broadcasting; and REI’s Women’s Business Center, as well as 16 corporate sponsors.  The WBC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Symposium registration (includes Keynote Speaker, Meeting Sessions, Expo, Style Show, and Lunch) is $25.  Registration with Booth Space is $50 (space limited.)   To register online, go to www.ruralenterprises.com.   Registration deadline is Thursday, October 22, 2009.   To register by mail, please provide your name, business name, address, telephone number and e-mail address and mail, with registration fee to REI, Women’s Biz Symposium, PO Box 1335, Durant, OK 74702.

 For more information or to request booth space call Dr. Barbara Rackley or Lori Smith 800-658-2823 .

Voting for the 2009 Mayor’s Tulsey Awards has started.

The Mayor’s Tulsey Awards are publicly driven entrepreneur awards recognizing the pioneers and innovators of the Tulsa community. The winner of each category will receive a hand-cased Golden Driller Statuette, symbolizing the entrepreneurial excellence in Tulsa.

Tulsa entrepreneurs were nominated in ten separate Tulsey categories: Civic, Emerging, Entertainment, Franchise, Green, Interactive, Legend, Restaurateur, Serial and Young.

 The entrepreneur with the most votes will then receive the coveted Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The winning entrepreneurs will be announced at the Mayor’s Tulsey Awards Ceremony at the historic Cain’s Ballroom on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 7 – 11 p.m. There is no cost to attend and local restaurants will be providing food samplings at this Academy Awards inspired celebration to recognize Tulsa entrepreneurs.

Voting can only be made through the Tulsey website, at www.thetulseys.com. Voting closes on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The following entrepreneurs were nominated for the 2009 Mayor’s Tulsey awards:

Civic- Judi Grove, Ray Jarvis, George Kaiser, Matt Moffett, Roy Payton, Jennifer Patterson, Donald Tyler, Chris Zenthoefer
Emerging- Carey Baker, Sheryl Chinowth, Steve Cluck, Catherine Decamp, Julie Friend, Julie Hakman, Melanie Henry, Braden Janowski, Karen Luhring, Shelby Navarro, Phyllis Peabody, Charlie Pilkington, Clay Slaton, Scott Smith
Entertainment- Scott Aycock, John & Sara Cruncleton, Jack Frank, Tom Green, Starr Hardgrove, Brad Mathison, Deborah Oldham, Davit Souders, Ben Sumner
Franchise- Ned Bruha, Chester Cadieux, Timothy Dreiling, Greg Ford, Adrienne Kallweit, Shannon Wilburn
Green- Libby Auld, Ren Barger, Marty Hill,  Kristen McCormick, Heather Oakley, Tamara Walden
Interactive- Natasha Ball, Sean McCullough, Ryan Phillips, Susan Reidel, Jeff Rhoton
Legend- Jack Allen, Margot Gray-Proctor, Janet Hudson, Suzette Jones, Charles Keithline, Charles Kingsley, Cari Mashall, Kelley Rash, Jerry Reed, Ted Robertson, Monetta Trepp
Restaurateur- Cheri Asher, Darrell Bowen, Blake Ewing, Michelle Goldstein, Ryan McAdams
Serial- Gavin Manes, Dan Roberts
Young- Garrett Blackwood, Tiffany Bjorlie, Jonathan Conneely, John Hill

Third quarter sales for Ford Motor Co. were 5 percent higher than a year ago, making the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury manufacturer the only company to report a sales increase for the period.

This was the first time in four years that Ford reported a quarterly sales increase. September sales were 6 percent below last year; but July showed a 2 percent increase and August had a 17 percent increase.

Ford estimates it gained over 2 points of market share versus last year in September and the third quarter.  September marked the 11th time in the last 12 months Ford has gained retail market share.

“Our balanced new lineup of high-quality, fuel-efficient products helped us navigate through an exceptional period in industry sales,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.  “With its volatile sales peaks and valleys and dramatic segment shifts, the third quarter was a great test of our One Ford Plan – building a range of vehicles from small cars to hard-working trucks.”

For the Dallas area market, which includes Tulsa, Ford reported the following third-quarter highlights:

Ford Car Sales: +6% Y-O-Y, +11% Quarter over Quarter, best car sales quarter of 2009
Focus:  +13% Y-O-Y, best Focus sales Quarter of 2009
Fusion:  +34% Y-O-Y, best Fusion Hybrid sales Quarter of 2009
Ford CUV sales:  +30% Y-O-Y
Escape:  +40% Y-O-Y, best Escape sales Quarter of 2009, Escape Hybrid sales +53% Y-O-Y
Edge:  +12% Y-O-Y, best Edge sales Quarter of 2009,
Flex:  +58% Y-O-Y
F-150:  +4% Y-O-Y, Super Crew +6% Y-O-Y
Ranger:  +37% Y-O-Y, best Ranger sales Quarter of 2009
    

Seven Tulsa  entrepreneurs advanced to the final round of the Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award business model competition. They were selected from a list of more than 80 business plans.

The finalists will present a two-minute elevator pitch or overview to the panel of Spirit Award judges on Nov. 5.

The finalists are: Blue Label Bartending, CogTogs, Inc., Elote Café and Catering, Filters4me.com, Part-Time Pros, Real Time Rehab and Target Solution Foods.

All the businesses have agreed to expand or establish their companies in Tulsa if they win the award, according to a press release.

The finalists will be coached in two main areas: business model and pitching techniques. Afterword, they will be provided resources to help polish their business plan and pitching techniques for the final round of judging.

The Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award winner will receive a check from SpiritBank for $30,000, second place with $5,000 and third place with $2,500.

The top three will be announced during the Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award ceremony that will be held during Global Entrepreneurship Week at the TCC Center for Creativity on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 5:30-7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.tulsaspiritaward.com

 Thinking about starting a business and wondering how to go about doing it?

A workshop geared toward helping women looking to start a new business will be held in Sapulpa to help answer those questions.

Titled “Entrepreneurship 101,” the workshop is being presented by the Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.

The workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p..m., Sept. 30, 2009, at the Central Technology Center, 1720 S. Main, in Sapulpa.

 Presenters are Dewey Brandon, Oklahoma Tax Commission; John Blue, Oklahoma Small Business Development Center, and Sam Vaverka, REI.

The workshop will offer information on business formation and structures, a step-by-step guide to business registration, bookkeeping techniques, and a line-by-line explanation of the primary business tax forms.  Participants will learn the steps to filling out the various business tax forms and which forms and tax laws have changed according to the latest legislative decisions.

A marketing segment will provide ideas on how to market without blowing the business budget.
Another workshop will focus on how to write a business plan to help get the business off the ground.

In addition, the seminar includes information on obtaining funding for starting or expanding one’s business. Participants will learn how to approach a lender, what is expected of the borrower and what homework needs to be done in advance of seeking financing.  

Although the workshops are targeted toward women, all business owners and entrepreneurs are invited to attend. There will be question and answer periods throughout the workshop.  

The workshop is co-sponsored by Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce, Sapulpa Main Street, OSU Cooperative Extension, Oklahoma Small Business Development Center and REI’s Women’s Business Center which is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

For additional information, contact Dr. Barbara Rackley or Lori Smith at 800-658-2823.  Also visit REI’s website at www.ruralenterprises.com.