Refining Your Business Model and Financial Planning Instructors Ron Ashe and Rich Smith Spring 2017 

Small business owners and entrepreneurs are often advised of the need to create a business plan, but before creating a business plan, you need a business model. This seminar helps new businesses structure their finances by outlining the fundamentals of business operational and financial planning. It also discusses the process of applying for funding from commercial lenders.

Instructors: Ron Ashe has an extensive business background with 25 years with Union Camp Corp. (now International Paper) holding positions in human resources management and organizational development.  During his career, he has developed human resources strategies for major re-engineering and total quality projects and has been involved in labor-management dispute resolutions and colective bargaining.  Ron has international experience as well as experience in strategic planning and organizational change initiatives.

Instructors: Richard Smith, like possibly you, has been in the trenches via the successful part ownership of 4 small consumer packaged goods & service firms.  He explains complex concepts in simple, practical terms.  He has also worked for Nabisco, Kraft Foods, and BASF.  Smith taught Strategy and Corporate Finance at UNCW and Campbell University, respectively.  Smith is particularly skilled in business plans & strategy, forecasting, job & standard costing, business valuations, acquisitions, fund raising, buy/sell agreements, cash flow projections, price/cost/margin analysis.