SMART Workshops

SMART Workshop #7 | Marketing Bootcamp

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 8:30 a.m. - noon 

Place: Sault Ste Marie EDC Offices, 2345 Maridian, Sault Ste Marie

Workshop Description: Close the gaps in your marketing and strengthen your brand and messaging. We work with you to bootstrap your way to improved communication through a series of activities, including core concepts like segmentation, targeting, and placement. In the four hour bootcamp, we’ll cover product strategy, place and convenience, price decisions, and promotional image choices. Each business will be challenged to finish the workshop with actionable plans and a blueprint for their specific business. 

Take Aways

In just a few hours, you’ll walk out with:

• Methods to identity the most profitable buyers
• Evaluating your brand assets
• Prioritizing marketing activities to reach customers
• A framework for actionable tasks captured in a workbook format
• Simple ways to conduct market research
• An approach for establishing product and service prices
• A defined truth table for your business communication  
• We will confront core marketing questions, such as
  • How and when does your customer make the decision to buy?
  • What constitutes convenience to them?
  • How to build continuous feedback into your communications?
  • How do your marketing assets compare to the competition?
  • What role does Google search play and how to improve it? 

Register

Student Audit

Expert - Matthew Monte, Monte Consulting

Matt has worked in sales and marketing since 1997, and supports his team of writers, designers, and developers in generating high level branding for businesses across the U.S. Educated in engineering, communications, and theater, he has substantial expertise in product development and industrial marketing. He often focuses on product naming, business storytelling, and photo/video.
 

SMART Workshop #5 | “Money Talk” with Diana Goode

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 8:30 a.m. - noon 

Place: Sault Ste Marie EDC Offices, 2345 Maridian, Sault Ste Marie

Workshop Description: Let's be honest: Financial management can feel like a foreign language. Many of us started our businesses because we're good at what we do, not because we're expert accountants! It's completely normal to rely on bookkeepers and CPAs—but ultimately, the financial decisions that drive your business growth (and what gets reported to the IRS!) are your responsibility.

This practical, free workshop is designed to remove the guesswork and help you feel confident, not confused, about your company's money.

Take Aways

• Understand Your Numbers: Stop delegating your financial knowledge! You'll leave knowing how to read your Balance Sheet, Income Statement (P&L), and Cash Flow documents.
• Evaluate Your Experts: You'll get a clear sense of how effectively your current accountant or bookkeeper is performing.
• Essential Tools in Hand: You'll walk out with cash flow documents, balance sheets, and income statements pulled directly from your accounting system (or set up in a spreadsheet).

Bonus: 5 Top Financial Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)

We'll also dedicate time to revealing the most common financial blunders small business owners make and give you simple, actionable strategies to steer clear of them.

• Bring your laptop! This is a hands-on session. We want you to sign in and work on your own business's numbers and tools with guidance.
• Bring your team! If you use a bookkeeper, accountant, or business partner, encourage them to attend with you so everyone can get on the same page.

Register

Student Audit 

Expert - Diana Goode, Ops+

Diana Goode is the co-founder of Ops+, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Michigan's small business owners. She brings a powerful blend of deep empathy and serious financial expertise to her role, understanding that behind every spreadsheet is a passionate business owner working hard to succeed.

For years, Diana was at the heart of the Detroit entrepreneurial ecosystem. Her recent roles include serving as the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of TechTown Detroit and holding various key positions at Wayne State University, where she was deeply involved in supporting growth and stability.
 

SMART Workshop #4 | Business Formation & Agreements: Build It Right From the Start

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 8:30 a.m. - noon 

Place: Sault Ste Marie EDC Offices, 2345 Maridian, Sault Ste Marie

Workshop Description: Legal structure shouldn’t be overwhelming. In this 3.5 hour in-person SMART Workshop, attorney Zach Meyer will guide you through choosing the right entity, understanding key agreements, and putting the right protections in place for your business. This is for any age or size business.

In this practical workshop, Zach will cover:

• Business Formation Basics — Understand your options and select the entity type that aligns with your goals.
• Operating Agreements (LLCs) — What they should include, why they matter, and how to set yours up.
• Shareholder Agreements (Corporations) — Key provisions, roles, rights, and what to clarify now to avoid conflict later.
• Legal Clinic Time — Bring your questions. Zach will offer guidance and help you think through next steps specific to your business.

This is straight talk, real examples, and practical help — not legal theory.

You’ll leave with clarity, next steps, and the groundwork for agreements that will serve your business for years.
 

Register

Student Audit 

Expert - Zach Meyer, Varnum Law

Zach is a seasoned business attorney with over 14 years in experience advising clients in many industries. He prioritizes problem-solving through meaningful counselling. He is eager to assist clients in navigating the risks of business and legal compliance.

SMART Workshop #3 | Hands-On Strategy & Systems: Your Playbook in a Day

“Vision, goals, and processes—identified, documented, and ready to put into action today.”

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 8:30 a.m. - noon 

Place: Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone

Workshop Description: Every small business needs a playbook — a clear vision, measurable goals, and simple systems that everyone can follow. In this hands-on SMART Workshop, operations expert Tyler Sharette will guide you step-by-step through building one. You’ll define your vision, set practical yearly and quarterly goals, and map your key processes.

By the end, you’ll walk out with a working playbook you can start using with your team the very next day.

Take Aways: 

• A concise, written vision framework
• A 1-year and quarterly goal plan you’ll actually use
• Your core customer journey and key processes mapped
• Practical tools: Level 10 meeting format, issue-solving method (IDS), Accountability Chart, Scorecard, and Proven Process playbook

What to Bring: Your laptop and any planning documents you already have.

We’ll provide: templates, worksheets, and a binder to take it all home.

Expert - Tyler Sharette

Tyler is a creative ops leader with over 13 years of experience driving growth across diverse industries, including marketing, nonprofit fundraising, manufacturing, and hospitality. As an expert in EOS and the Six Key Components of Traction, he works hands-on with entrepreneurs and small businesses to establish a shared vision, optimize key processes, identify inefficiencies, and develop tailored playbooks that drive growth and bring clarity and structure to operational chaos.

SMART Workshop #2 | An Employee Handbook Without the Headache

Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 8:30 a.m. - noon 

Place: Chippewa County EDC offices, 5019 W Airport Drive, Kincheloe, MI 49788

Workshop Description: Every business needs an employee handbook, but creating one can feel overwhelming. In this hands-on SMART Workshop, HR expert Robin Chapekis will guide you step by step through building (or upgrading) a handbook that’s both compliant and practical for your business. 

You’ll start with the core state and federal sections that every handbook needs (she’ll provide templates!), then add policies tailored to your workplace. Along the way, Robin will cut through the jargon, share best practices, and make sure your handbook is something you’ll actually use — not just a dusty binder on the shelf. 

To top it off, you’ll have the chance to work one-on-one with Robin after the workshop to fine-tune your policies and procedures for your business. 

By the time you leave, you’ll have a fully functioning employee handbook you can keep updated as your business grows

Take Aways

In just a few hours, you’ll walk out with:

• Your Own Working Employee Handbook: Walk out with a ready-to-use handbook you can keep updating as your business evolves.
• The Foundation (Done!): The first core section — includes the policies that rarely need changing — are completed and ready to go.
• Your Business, Your Policies: A fine-tuned list of policies specific to your workplace (think safety, manufacturing, confidentiality, non-compete, etc.).
• Best Practices for Benefits: Clear, customized policies around benefits and eligibility — like PTO, exempt vs. non-exempt, and who qualifies.
• Performance & Exit Processes: Straightforward policies for managing performance and handling employment transitions with confidence and consistency.

Expert - Robin Chapekis of SvelteHR

Robin Chapekis, SHRM-SCP and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, is the founder of SVELTE HR, specializing in HR efficiency and effectiveness. With a passion for transforming HR into a competitive advantage, she collaborates with organizations to enhance education, networking, and global HR standards. Based in Escanaba, MI, Robin is also working with ISO/TC 260 on the development of international standards for Human Resource Management.

SMART Workshop #1 | Business Planning for the Busy Business Owner

Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 8:30 a.m. - noon 

Place: Sault Ste Marie SmartZone, 2345 Maridian, Sault Ste Marie, MI

Workshop Description: Business planning doesn’t have to be complicated, boring, or a giant binder you never open again. This workshop is about cutting through the noise and giving you a simple, workable plan that actually helps you run your business. This isn’t theory. You’ll walk out the door with your plan in hand and the confidence to keep using it.

Take Aways

In just a few hours, you’ll walk out with:

• Build a high-level plan that points you (and your team) in the right direction.
• Learn a quick model for planning that saves you time and energy.
• Leave with resources you can use later to refine and update as your business grows.
• Connect with a local business expert you can trust for ongoing help.

Expert - Miche Rayment

Miche has been in organizational design and development for over 30 years and published her book The Hire EffectTM | Hire for Culture and Skill in 2017. She is focused on always adding value, being genuine and guiding business owners to solutions that work for them. She’s certified in four forms of business peer group models and has worked in business support programming since 2007.