BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions - ECPv6.10.1.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261005 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261006 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006098-1791158400-1791244799@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:The Business Plan DESCRIPTION:Whether starting a business or growing the one you have\, a business plan serves as a roadmap and can help secure needed funding. In this course\, you evaluate the many aspects and potential hurdles of the business and build the Business Plan\, one step at a time. This practical\, hands-on approach encourages you to immerse yourself in the vision and planning aspects of your business. Focusing on the most critical components of the Business Plan enables you to uncover hidden risks and assess the business from a marketing\, management\, and financial vantage point. \nAgenda \nUnit 1\nGetting Started—Refine your concept and begin your plan.\n• Prepare your concept statement—What\, Who\, Why\, When\, and How.\n• Identify product/service features and benefits.\n• Identify limitation\, liabilities\, and regulations.\n• Write your Business Description and evaluate it against a Business Description checklist. \nUnit 2\nPrepare the Marketing Plan\n• Conduct an industry and competitive analysis.\n• Perform a market analysis and identify target markets and a market penetration strategy.\n• Identify your pricing strategy.\n• Write your Marketing Plan and evaluate it against a Marketing Plan checklist. \nUnit 3\nPrepare the Management and Financial Plans\n• Identify key people and positions\, duties and responsibilities.\n• Determine funding needs and sources.\n• Create sales and expense estimates.\n• Write your Management and Financial Plans and evaluate them against checklists. \nUnit 4\nComplete the Business Plan and Assess Business Feasibility\n• Polish the plan and add final elements—Cover Page\, Executive Summary\, Table of Contents.\n• Evaluate business plan against checklist and identify items in need of additional work.\n• Assess business against feasibility checklist.\n• Identify next steps. URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/the-business-plan/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261005 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261006 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006094-1791158400-1791244799@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Intermediate Data Analysis DESCRIPTION:Many of your business decisions involve comparing groups for differences. For example\, would men and women prefer different product features? In addition\, you may look at relationships between variables. Does product recognition relate to subsequent product purchase? This Intermediate Data Analysis course will introduce you to the statistics behind these group differences and relationships. In addition\, you’ll learn how to work with ratings\, graphs and user-friendly reports of statistical results. \nAgenda \nUnit 1\nLooking for Differences between Groups\n-Two separate groups\n-Two related groups\n-Three or more groups \nUnit 2\nLooking for Relationships\n-Pairs of variables\n-Clusters of variables\n-Predicting one variable from one or more variables \nUnit 3\nLooking at Ratings\n-Tests of difference using ratings\n-Tests of relationship using ratings \nUnit 4\nLooking at How to Report the Results\n-Visual displays\n-How to draft the narrative\n-How to engage your audience URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/intermediate-data-analysis/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006095-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Advanced Data Analysis DESCRIPTION:After taking this Advanced course in Data Analysis\, you will be able to perform inquiries that will be useful to your business or organization\, and have the skill necessary to communicate these results through graphs and text that your fellow employees will understand. Take the guesswork out of important company decisions and make decisions based on statistically significant information. Whether your business is home based or a large company\, this class will take you to the next level where important decision-making is concerned. \nAgenda \n Unit 1\n Developing a Survey\n-Purposes of surveys\n-Fundamentals of Survey Research\n-Ethical Considerations\n-Likert Scales \nUnit 2\nComparing Means\n-Chi-Square\n-Statistical Significance\n-Communicating Results Graphically and Textually\n-Practical Problems involving Means Comparisons \nUnit 3\n Finding Differences between Groups\n-ANOVA\n-Post Hoc Comparisons\n-Communicating Results Graphically and Textually\n-Practical Problems Involving ANOVA \nUnit 4\nIndividual Research Inquiries\n-Developing Research Questions\n-Setting Up Study\n-Communicating Results Graphically and Textually URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/advanced-data-analysis-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006089-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Managing Generations in the Workplace DESCRIPTION:Get an understanding of managing workers in different generations in the workplace. Discover what motivates each generation at work\, what incentives they respond to\, and what messages they value. Generations X and Y are significantly different than the Boomer generation. Each generation has different expectations and styles of work in the workplace. Come explore the characteristics of the different generations in the workplace. Discover the current motivations of Boomers\, Gen Xers and Gen Yers and what messages they value. Then Identify practical\, how-to tips and techniques for managing Boomers\, Gen Xers\, and Gen Yers in the workplace. \nAgenda \nUnit 1\nWhat makes these generations different\n-The transition from the Industrial Age to the Internet Age\n-How society shapes us\n-Who are the Boomers?\n-Who are Xers?\n-Who is Gen Y? \nUnit 2\nEvolving standards of hard work and success\n-Knowledge work and the value of time\n-Time as key to profitability\n-The focus on outcomes\n-The problem with meetings\n-A new type of leadership \nUnit 3\nWhat motivates generations at work\n-Monetary and non-monetary rewards\n-Key role of the “boss”\n-A balanced life\n-Lateral career moves\n-Second careers\n-Supporting social causes\n-Retirement reservations \nUnit 4\nWork styles and technology\n-Customizing work styles and processes\n-Peak work time and place\n-A new role for technology and work\n-Working collaboratively\n-Modern recruitment URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/managing-generations-in-the-workplace-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006141-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Closing Procedures and Financial Statements DESCRIPTION:This course shows you how to create a worksheet used to adjust the account balances and prepare the financial statements. Use your financial statements to measure performance\, make improvements and set goals. The final step covered in this course is closing your books and preparing them for the next accounting period; this is done by journalizing and posting closing entries. \nAgenda \nUnit 1: Prepare a Worksheet\n· What is a worksheet\n· Columns included in the worksheet\n· Completing each column \nUnit 2: The Income Statement\n· Review the worksheet columns for the Income Statement\n· Prepare the income statement\n· Determine a profit or loss \nUnit 3: The Balance Sheet\n· Review the worksheet columns for the Balance Sheet\n· Prepare the balance sheet \nUnit 4: Closing Entries and Statement of Changes in Owner’s Equity\n· Prepare post-closing entries for revenue and expense accounts\n· Prepare a statement of changes in owner’s equity\n· Applying year-end steps monthly or quarterly URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/closing-procedures-and-financial-statements-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006124-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Advanced Six Sigma Green Belt DESCRIPTION:The final course in the Six Sigma Green Belt program is the Advanced Six Sigma Greenbelt course which teaches participants to improve and control processes. Topics included in this course include hypothesis testing\, design of experiments\, and statistical process control. Participants will have to apply the concepts learned in the Introduction and Intermediate Six Sigma Green Belt courses. The instructor will share many handouts\, spreadsheets\, and web links that have tools participants will use while completing Six Sigma projects. Upon successful completion of this course\, participants will be awarded certification as a Six Sigma Green Belt. URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/advanced-six-sigma-green-belt-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006148-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Advanced Power BI DESCRIPTION:Expand your knowledge of Power BI Desktop to the highest level. This course focuses on the advanced capabilities of Power Query\, Data Modeling and Reports. Check for data inconsistencies\, design efficient queries\, create proper relationships\, and write DAX code to ensure reports update quickly and accurately. Add navigation and analytical features to your reports to enable consumers to analyze the results. \nAgenda \nUnit 1: Power Query\n-Utilize Column profile\, distribution\, and quality\n-Perform fuzzy match\n-Duplicate versus Reference queries\n-Debug errors \nUnit 2: Data Modeling\n-What a Star Schema is\n-Understand relationship types\n-Manage relationships \nUnit 3: DAX\n-Understand contexts\n-CALCULATE function\n-COALESCE function\n-Compute visual totals accurately \nUnit 4: Reports\n-Insert Objects\n-Create Bookmarks\n-Use Analytics pane\n-Create Key Influencer visual URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/advanced-power-bi-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006086-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Program Evaluation for Nonprofits DESCRIPTION:Enhance your understanding of program evaluation within the nonprofit context. Find out how to improve your evaluation planning\, data collection\, data analysis and data use. Special attention will be paid to the real-world challenges that organizations may face when conducting evaluation\, including staff time\, costs and reporting evaluation results to funders. By the close of the course\, you will have a complete program logic model and evaluation plan ready for implementation. \nAgenda \nUnit 1: Introduction to Nonprofit Evaluation & the Logic Model\n• What evaluation is and is not\n• Why evaluation is important to nonprofit organizations and why your funders are asking you for it\n• Planning for evaluation begins when you apply for the grant\n• Types of evaluation\, and the approaches best suited to nonprofit programs\n• Planning tools for evaluation – introduction to the logic model\n• Crafting accurate\, concise outcome statements \nUnit 2: Creating an Evaluation Plan\n• What an evaluation plan is and why you need one\n• Using outcomes from our logic model to create your evaluation plan\n• Setting priorities for your evaluation (navigating barriers based on budget\, funder requirements\, staff time and staff capacity)\n• Creating indicators for your outcomes\n• Defining benchmarks and targets where appropriate \nUnit 3: Collecting the Data\n• Taking stock of the data you already use\n• Making data collection systematic\n• Choosing and/or creating data collection tools – output information\, surveys\, interviews\, focus groups \nUnit 4: Analysis\, Reporting and Use – Putting it All Together\n• Appropriate analysis of the common data collection tools covered in Unit 3\n• Common analysis mistakes and how to avoid them\n• Reporting to various stakeholders (funders\, donors\, Board of Directors and the community)\n• Using data for program improvement URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/program-evaluation-for-nonprofits-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006120-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Project Management Knowledge Areas DESCRIPTION:In today’s business environment\, there is a need for good project management. Project management provides visibility of project health to the business and the customer. Through continuous monitoring\, early detection of variations to plan\, schedule\, and budget can be communicated to stakeholders for quick resolution\, including project cancelation. The Project Management Professional community does this through the five Project Management Processes supported by the ten Project Management Knowledge Areas. This course introduces the student to the ten Project management Knowledge Areas and their support role and relationships to the five Project Management Processes. \nAgenda \nUnit 1\nProject Integration & Scope Management\n– Integration Manag\n– Direct & Manage Project Work\n– Perform Integrated Change Control\n– Scope Management\n– Control Scope \nUnit 2\nProject Time & Cost Management\n– Time Management\n– Sequence Activities\n– Control Schedule\n– Cost Management\n– Plan Cost Management \nUnit 3\nProject Quality\, Human Resources & Communications Management\n– Quality Management\n– Human Resources Management\n– Communications Management \nUnit 4\n Project Risk\, Procurement & Stakeholder Management\n– Risk Management\n– Plan Risk Responses\n– Procurement Management\n– Stakeholder Management URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/project-management-knowledge-areas-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006119-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Financial Analysis and Planning for Non-Financial Managers DESCRIPTION:With the demands of daily operations\, non-financial managers may put financial reports on the shelf. But take a look at some of the most admired companies like Apple\, Google\, and Berkshire Hathaway. Sure\, they are evaluated by their products\, innovation\, and culture but they wouldn’t be in the limelight without profits. Money matters! This course will help you build on your understanding of financial concepts and help you establish your role in the financial success of your organization. Designed for non-financial managers\, business owners\, entrepreneurs\, and other decision-makers\, this advanced course will take the mystery out of money matters. Throughout this course\, financial information that drives your organization\, as seen on the business’s reports\, will be assessed and analyzed to understand it. An understanding of this information will help you make smart decisions when it comes to budgeting\, setting goals\, and assessing performance within your own area of influence. \nAgenda \nUnit 1 – Financial Strategies\n1.1 Your Role in Financial Decision Making\n Who is responsible for the financial decisions in your company?\n The Goal of Business\n1.2 Understand the Language of Finance\n Accounting as a Language\n Learn the Language\n Visual Activity – Accounting Process\n Accounting and Recordkeeping Systems\n Self Check – Account Categories\n1.3 Read the Story\n A Word about Financial Concepts\n ***Financial Concept: The Accounting Equation***\n ***Financial Concept: The Matching Principle***\n The Common Financial Statements\n Income Statement\n The Balance Sheet\n Statement of Cash Flows\n1.4 The Purpose of Financial Statements \nUnit 2 Financial Dashboard – Introduction to Financial Gauges\n2.1 Understand Basic Financial Concepts\n Introduction\n The Story Statements Tell\n ***Financial Concept: The Accounting Equation***\n ***Financial Concept: The Profit Matching Principle***\n ***Financial Concept: The Fund Matching Principle***\n ***Financial Concept: Cash Basis vs. Accrual Basis Accounting Methods***\n ***Financial Concept: Cash vs. Profits***\n ***Financial Concept: Debt vs. Equity (Optimum Capital Structure)***\n2.2 Financial Strategies\n Financial strategies stem from business goals\n Take a Look: Example Financial Strategies\n2.3 Financial Gauges\n Introduction to Financial Gauges\n Your Financial Gauges\n Profitability-based gauges\n Performance-based gauges\n2.4 Reading Your Financial Gauges\n The Story Financial Gauges Tell\n Research and Analysis \nUnit 3 Financial Gauges – Profitability\n3.1 Profitability Gauges\n Ratio Analysis\n Financial Gauge: Net Profit Margin (or) The Bottom Line\n Financial Gauge: Gross Profit Margin\n Financial Gauge: Operating Margin\n Using Profitability Ratios\n3.2 The Components of Profitability\n The Origin of Profits\n Sales and Expenses\n3.3 Sales\n Sales Strategies\n Pricing Strategies\n3.4 Cost of Goods Sold and Cost of Sales\n Cost of Goods Sold\n Gross Profit Margin\n Gross Profit Analysis and Planning\n Evaluate Profitability of Product or Service Lines\n3.5 Expenses\n Budget vs. Actual Analysis\n Cost Management and Efficiency \nUnit 4 Financial Gauges – Performance\n4.1 Making Money\n The Goal of Business\n Value Growth\n Company Resources\n4.2 Taking Advantage of Assets\n Tangible vs. Intangible Assets\n Cash\n4.3 Making the Most of Liabilities and Equity\n Liabilities\n Equity\n4.4 Performance Financial Gauges\n Financial Gauge: Current and Quick Ratio (Liquidity)\n Financial Gauge: Return on Assets\n Financial Gauge: Return on Equity\n Financial Gauge: Debt to Equity Ratio\n4.5 Financial Analysis and Planning Summary\n Downtown Publishing Financial Performance Analysis\n Summary URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/financial-analysis-and-planning-for-non-financial-managers-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261102 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261103 DTSTAMP:20260707T133347 CREATED:20250114T070000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T070000Z UID:10006099-1793577600-1793663999@laurelridgeworkforce.com SUMMARY:Entrepreneurial Marketing DESCRIPTION:To succeed in today”s marketplace\, entrepreneurs must know how to effectively market their product or service. This course offers you a step by step approach to attract and keep customers\, all within a realistic budget. With an emphasis on customer-driven marketing decisions\, you will learn how to build a strong brand\, analyze which tactics to use\, and implement your marketing plan. Whether you are starting a business or growing an existing one\, you will take away practical marketing tips and tools that you can use to improve your marketing efforts. \nAgenda \nUnit 1\nThe Customer as the Driver\n– Marketing Decisions Framework\n– Positioning Your Product or Service\n– Marketing Strategies and Goals \nUnit 2\nCommunicating Value to Customers\n– Key Selling Messages\n– Creating Emotional Connections\n– Personal Selling\n– Networking: Your 30-Second Introduction \nUnit 3\nCreating a Strong Brand\n– Managing the Marketing Mix\n– Marketing on a Shoestring Budget\n– Your Marketing Calendar\n– Implementing Your Plan \nUnit 4\nBuilding Customer Relationships\n– Tools to Meet Your Strategic Goals\n– Online Opportunities and Social Media Checklist\n– Generating Buzz: Word-of-Mouth Marketing\n– Measuring Effectiveness URL:https://laurelridgeworkforce.com/event/entrepreneurial-marketing-3/ LOCATION:Online 24/7 CATEGORIES:Business Administration / Management,Business and Professional Development END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR