2015 Wisconsin Business Management Seminar

The Wisconsin Business Management Seminar (WBMS) is a seminar designed for American ethnic minority, women, veteran, and LGBT (heretofore referenced as "minority") business owners and executives. WBMS is a subsidiary of Science and Math for Everyone, Inc. and is presented in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin Small Business Development Center. Its purpose is to help minority entrepreneurs become more competitive and successful in the free enterprise system.

Business theory and practical application are integrated into a core curriculum taught by some of the country’s most distinguished business faculty and practitioners.

Program objectives were created to enhance the management expertise of minority owners and executives. Additionally, they were formulated to increase opportunities for entrepreneurial success; provide an environment for business owners/executives to network, interact and learn from a broad spectrum of entrepreneurs and educators; and generate cognizance and interest by public- and private-sector patrons regarding minority business ownership/operation in the United States.

Seminar topics include:

• Wealth Management
• Agreements and Contracts - The Legal Perspective
• Understanding Business through Financial Statements
• Key Metrics Using Financial Ratio Analysis
• Key Qualitative Factors in Due Diligence of a Strategic Partner
• Business Valuation and Banking Relations
• Effective Marketing from the Buyer's Lens
• Crreating an Overall Digital Strategy and Understanding Web Analytics
• Multidimensional Management: Essentials of Leadership, Conflict Management and Cross-cultural Communication
• The Profitable Strategy of Quality
• Lean Management
• Strategic Hiring and Firing
• Goals and Objectives for the Next Twelve Months

Populations Served

Minority Owned Businesses (MBE)

A minority-owned business is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated and controlled by minority group members. "Minority group members" are United States citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American.

Ownership by minority individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members.

• Asian-Indian - A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
• Asian-Pacific - A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas
• Black - A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa
• Hispanic - A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only. Brazilians shall be listed under Hispanic designation for review and certification purposes
• Native American - A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number).

Women Owned Businesses (WBE)

A woman owned business, is defined as:

• Ownership of at least 51% or more is women-owned, managed, and controlled
• The business must be open for at least six months
• The business owner must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien
• The contribution of capital and/or expertise by the woman business owner is real and substantial and in proportion to the interest owned
• The woman business owner must direct or cause the direction of management, policy, fiscal, and operational matters
• The woman business owner shall have the ability to perform in the area of specialty or expertise without reliance on either the finances or resources of a firm that is not owned by a woman.

Veteran Owned Business Enterprises (VBE)

A veteran owned business, is defined as:

• Ownership of at least 51% by one or more veterans which can produce sufficient documentation to establish the ownership of at least 51% of the business by a veteran owner or owners
• Such documentation may include, but not limited to, the following: buy-out agreements, financial agreements, cancelled checks used to purchase ownership, partnership agreements, purchase agreement, and articles of incorporation, by-laws, and corporate borrowing resolutions.