Groups schedule workshop to help small businesses survive

A free workshop to provide survival skills to northern Nevada businesses is scheduled in Reno on May 30.

A February workshop on survival skills sold out, and the May 30 event is limited to the first 120 to register online through University of Nevada, Reno, Extended Studies (www.extendedstudies.unr.edu). Registrants should select the Business Survival Workshop link to register for the workshop and desired breakout sessions.

The partners sponsoring the workshop include the Service Corps of Retired Executives of Northern Nevada, Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Sparks Chamber and Hispanic Business Network; UNR Extended

Studies; UNR College of Business; and, the Nevada Small Business Development Center.

"We know that many local businesses are continuing to have a very difficult time in this recession" said Judy Haar, president of the Reno Chapter of SCORE.

The workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Nevada, Reno, Continuing Education Building at 1041 N. Virginia St. Although admission is free, registration is required for both the workshop and the individual breakout sessions.

The agenda will include speakers, breakout sessions on surviving the current economic environment, networking time for attendees and an open forum question-and-answer panel with all of the workshop presenters.

The breakout session topics were selected after a survey of northern Nevada small Businesses, will include:

* Controlling and reducing expenses and cash management, led by Steve Welch of the SCORE.

* Marketing strategies for success, led by Gary Smith of SCORE.

* Legal issues that can affect your business, led by Reno attorney Bonnie Drinkwater.

* Preparing for eventual recovery, led by Erica Olsen of M3 Planning.