In this issue
	Kutztown SBDC News Power of Marketing - Catherine Nemetz Success Story Decision Makers Forum - By Ron Lewis I've Got A Website. Now What? by Colin A. Bartlett New Feature - Insights to Success

Power of Marketing - Catherine Nemetz Success Story

Catherine Nemetz, owner of Envisions Art & Design Inc., personally assists entrepreneurs with customized marketing materials for every phase of their business development. She believes in educating clients about the many aspects of printing, graphic design and website development and she helps them weigh options that will ultimately affect their bottom line. Catherine's eye-catching logos, print designs, and websites are cost-effective and have greatly contributed to the success of her clients. Envisions Art & Design's mission is to excel in design and customer service to ensure project success. Catherine graduated from Kutztown University in 1994 and went on to acquire experience in several areas of graphic design and marketing. She worked for a newspaper, an ad agency, and a printing company. But Catherine wanted to be her own boss and she had the entrepreneurial itch to start her own business. She wanted the satisfaction of taking an initial concept through to the end product. When she started her own business in 1998, Ms. Nemetz worked as a waitress to help cover expenses. Click here for the complete article about Catherine and more pictures. »

Decision Makers Forum - By Ron Lewis

The Decision Makers Forum, initiated in 1990, has grown steadily and today it is the most visible event on the University's annual calendar and the largest annual speaking event in the region. The Forum features a sumptuous buffet dinner which offers corporate sponsors an opportunity for networking and client cultivation. The buffet is followed by an address by a prominent figure from the world of business or politics. Previous speakers have included Gen. Colin Powell, Margaret Thatcher, Louis Rukeyser, Madeleine Albright, Malcolm Forbes, Jr., and Rudy Giuliani. The 2005 Decision Makers Forum program, scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2005, will be a discussion featuring Mr. George Tenet, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (1997-2004) and Gov. Thomas Kean (pictured), Chair of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, and president of Drew University. The day's activities will also include an afternoon question and answer session for KU students, faculty and staff. The Decision Makers Forum collaborates with the KU Small Business Development Center's Success Celebration, a symposium for regional small business owners, and with KU's Admissions Office, which hosts a workshop for high school guidance counselors on the day of the Forum. Click here for the complete story and more pictures. »

I've Got A Website. Now What? by Colin A. Bartlett

As a company that specializes in eCommerce website development for small business, we receive many individuals who are just beginning to learn what potential the internet has to offer their company. Many of these customers believe the internet has the power to instantly delivery hundreds of willing purchasers to their door step, 24 hours a day. That's only half true. The internet is certainly an extremely cost effective method of reaching out to a limitless number of potential customers. It is, however, no means instant. If you build it, they will not come. Often one needs to put significant thought, time, and sometimes even money into driving traffic to your website. Let's suppose ABC Widget company has just built a brand new online store to sell their high-quality widgets. They need to get traffic to their site and FAST. The holiday season is approaching and the widget may be the next Tickle Me Elmo, but Mom and Dad with open wallet first need to know about ABC's widget website! There are three methods I would recommend to ABC to drive traffic to their site. Click here for the complete article and info about Colin. »

New Feature - Insights to Success

Insights to Success will be a monthly article sharing challenges/learning opportunities encountered by our clients every month relative to their day-to-day business activities. All Insights to Success articles will come from our clients' submittals. The format for the piece will consist of a brief introduction, the respective challenge, and the solution. Insight to Success - Create a Plan and Execute by Mark Levandowski The difference between the successful and the unsuccessful business can many times be found in the execution of the business owner's plan. With the pace of business activity ever increasing, owners are faced with the challenge of making a multitude of business decisions daily. These decisions can be related to virtually every aspect of the business. They can relate to operational and financial needs, employee activities, sales and marketing, or perhaps vendor relations, just to name a few. Many business owners dream of the day when their business operates like a well-oiled machine. But when will that time come? My machine is out of gas, is rusty, -with broken parts... HOW and WHEN will I be able to pull it all together? Will it be this year, next year, or in 5 years? Click here for the complete insight and info about Mark. WE ARE REQUESTING INSIGHTS TO SUCCESS ARTICLES OF 200 WORDS FROM OUR READERS. WE WILL SELECT ONE ARTICLE EACH MONTH AND SEND A GIFT TO THE AUTHOR. Please Email your Insight for Success articles to the Success Connection Editor Thomas Skiba at skib0124@kutztown.edu.