Mesa Dinner Seminar Filling
“We learned more than we anticipated, and now know we need to make a financial plan and cover our assets,” said Cheryl Girrbach, owner of CMG Marketing. Cheryl was one of the more than 50 business owners who attended last Thursday’s dinner seminar at the Landmark Restaurant, hosted by MCbiz, Cook Financial Group and Davis Miles, PLLC.
MCbiz is Maricopa County’s Small Business Enterprise Program charged with finding procurement opportunities for small businesses. MCbiz collaborated with Cook Financial Services and the law firm of Davis Miles, PLLC, to help business owners discover options for expanding and protecting their businesses.
MCbiz program coordinator Nelson Mitchell said that small businesses need to get registered and certified to let County agencies know they are serious about providing their goods and services to the County on a competitive basis. “Our goal is to demystify the process of registration so business owners know how simple the process is,” Mitchell said.
Tyson Cook, financial planner with third-generation family business Cook Financial Group, said that small businesses should consider the value of insurance protection as well as the opportunity for investing in a variety of products for financial growth. He cautioned that what happens to a business as a result of retirement, disability or death can make or break the business.
In our increasingly litigious society, business owners need to know how to protect both their business and personal assets, and minimize risks, according to attorneys Monica Edwards and Kevin Wick of Davis Miles, PLLC. They encouraged small business owners to become aware of the limitations that exist in their current organizational structures and take the necessary steps to preserve their wealth through an asset protection plan.
“Thanks for the dinner. There’s nothing more helpful to a small, growing business than free food,” said Simon Harper, president of AZReam, Inc. He added that the seminar was informative and enjoyable, and he is already making steps to make some additional County contacts as a result of the seminar.
For more information about Maricopa County’s Small Business Enterprise Program, visit our website at www.maricopa.gov/mcbiz.