Winona State University Adult & Continuing Education (ACE) partnered with the Spring Grove Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide Effective Business Financial Management training for Spring Grove area businesses and entrepreneurs. This workshop offered insights and solutions to help business professionals understand how to use their financial statements as a powerful management tool to impact their bottom line.
Attendees included a mix of budding entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and small business owners as well as those in managerial positions in a variety of organizations. The group benefited from becoming more grounded in the basic principles of business finance and gained strategies to analyze financial statements with new clarity. “Our entrepreneurs and businesses are some of our town’s greatest assets, and we want to provide them with as much support and knowledge as possible,” commented Courtney Bergey Swanson, Spring Grove EDA.” Rebecca Charles, Spring Grove EDA said, “It’s fantastic that we could bring this program to Spring Grove.”
The session facilitator, Mark Thein, works with entrepreneurs and business owners serving as a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Consultant in southeastern Minnesota. He has expertise in loan packaging, financial analysis, marketing, and business plan development. Attendee Dane Lamb said, “This was a very interesting presentation and great introduction to understanding the two primary financials, our income statement and balance sheet.”
The Spring Grove EDA has plans to build upon this first session with other Business Breakfast Workshops in the area of employee management and other relevant topics.
Business Breakfast Workshops meet WSU university criteria to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to all attendees. WSU will continue to partner and support the professional development and continuing educational needs to help area businesses grow and succeed.
Spring Grove Economic Development Authority (EDA) serves to create and maintain a pro-business environment, a high quality of personal life style and a strong sense of community. The EDA considers ways to attract and retain businesses in Spring Grove, assist businesses with expansion, and enable the quality commercial and industrial development and/or rehabilitation of areas within the community.
