Genesee County celebrates small business week

Small business entrepreneurs face many challenges when building their businesses, most of which involve growing a client base and networking but there are also subtle nuances involved - such as networking and etiquette.

The SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center has partnered with Genesee County to celebrate Small Business Week and offer an array of seminars geared toward small business owners.

Small Business Week runs from April 11 to April 16. A Business Etiquette Advantage seminar will be hosted at the Batavia City Centre Council Chambers from noon until 1 p.m. Jerry Kozlowski, of the Best Center, will be the featured speaker. The fee is $10 and a light lunch is included.

A Women in Business luncheon will be held April 14 from noon until 1:30 p.m. at Bohn's Restaurant. Melinda Rath Sanderson and Amy Rath of Canisius College Women's Business Center will be presenting the program.

Also on April 14 from 5 to 7 p.m., a Business After Hours Networking will be held at the GO Art! Cultural Center. The Business Idea Winner announcement will be made at that time. The fee is $10 for non Chamber members; $5 for Chamber members; free for Chamber Premier Members.

Jay Gsell, Genesee County manager, will moderate a policy forum panel discussion centering on Public Sector Collaboration/Consolidation. Panelists include: State Senator Mary Lou Rath; President of Liberty Pumps, Charles Cook; Cornell Local Government Program Administrator Michael Hattery and Shelly Stein, supervisor Town of LeRoy. The forum will be a perspective on reducing the cost of government through collaboration and/or consolidation.

Participants can also celebrate working women on April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Batavia City Centre.

The week's events wrap up with the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner awards being held at Batavia Downs beginning at 5:30 p.m. The fee is $45.

Call the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce at 343-7440 for information on programs or go to the website at: www.geneseeny.com. Activities are listed under the Chamber of Commerce - What is New section.