Meeting Minutes 1/26/10

Jefferson County Entrepreneurial Advisory Team (JCEAT) 

January 26, 2010

5:15 P.M.

Hillsboro City Hall 

Minutes of Meeting
 

B. J. Eavy opened the meeting with a welcome and introductions. Those members present were: B.J. Eavy, Mary Ann Gebhardt, Phil Gebhardt,

Paul Klossner, Gery Marmaduke, David McKinney, Gene Roth, Melissa Scheer, Shirley Williams, Debbie Wilson, and Kenny Wilson.  Each person told us something about themselves that we probably did not know. 

ACE Team report: B. J. reported that her conversation with President Cummiskey of Jefferson College did not result in a definite answer.  He has not talked with the people he needs to discuss it with and will probably not have an answer for a while.  JCEAT decided to proceed with another ACE Team in addition to the pilot group, which wants to continue as a group.  There is no reason to be idle concerning the ACE project while waiting for an answer from the college. However, it is important to stay in touch with the college and be ready to assist them when they are ready to include entrepreneurship and the ACE Team concept in their offerings. JCEAT members are going to think about which very small start-up businesses might be interested in being part of an additional ACE Team and we will discuss it again in February.  We will also think about people to invite to give presentations to ACE Teams.  These presentations need to be very basic and at the beginning level.  The Pilot ACE Team felt the presentations and also the coaches were very good, but some were way too advanced to do them much good right now. They are so small and so new that they really need the bare basics. 

The “Be All You Can Dream” Workshop status was reported on by Gery Marmaduke:

1. Gery invited JCEAT members to attend the February 17 meeting at the high school from 10:30 – 11:40 a.m. with Mrs. Durrwachter, our main contact at Hillsboro High School.  If you attend, be sure to sign in at the office before going to the classroom.  Discussions will include how to revamp scheduling and perhaps hold part of the program in the classroom before the actual workshop.  In addition, we will discuss the bus schedule with her to see if the bus can pick the students up later from the workshop. These two changes would make the timing far more doable on the day of the workshop.
2. Gery will take care of booking the Viking Room and Annex for the workshop.
3. Melissa & Gery will be the workshop facilitators.  They feel that two facilitators will be sufficient, especially if the introductory parts of the workshop can be done in advance of the workshop.
4. David & Paul will share the duties of the Volunteer Coordinator.  Paul has the list from last time and they will start contacting people soon.
5. Mary Ann & Shirley will share the duties of the Prize Coordinator.  The list of donated prizes from last time will give them a good place to start asking individuals and businesses to participate.

The Proposed Web Site will be created by Brenda King, who will work with Meredith and Phil to develop content.  This will be a One Stop Reference Source for Entrepreneurs and will be connected to the JOIN-N site and the library system will link to them as well.  When it is up and running, it will be a big help to entrepreneurs in Jefferson County and other places as well.  

The JCEAT members all agree that at this time we are continuing the projects that are most relevant to our mission.  To add more projects would dilute the ability of this committee to give the support necessary for success.  We will evaluate our progress on a regular basis and make decisions accordingly.  All three JCEAT projects, ACE Team(s), Dream Workshop, and Website are priorities; therefore, we will simultaneously work on them all using plans in place and those developed along the way.  The issues small business people face are critical and the JCEAT is dedicated and committed to doing all they can to help the struggling entrepreneurs of Jefferson County and beyond. 

The next meeting of the JCEAT will be called by our Chair, Gery Marmaduke on February 22, 2010 at 5:15 p.m. at the Hillsboro City Hall. 

Adjournment was called by Kenny Wilson, who has volunteered to be the Secretary for the JCEAT.   

A big “thank you” to all members of JCEAT for your willingness to actively work to make all the plans become reality.  Be safe and rest assured, Spring is coming soon.     BJ 

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