IPA Workshop: Are You “Agency Ready?”

INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONERS ALLIANCE WORKSHOP
Friday, February 3, 2017
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Lawry’s Prime Rib
100 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(Free parking; hot buffet breakfast)

Is professional development on your New Year’s resolution list? If not, maybe it’s time to start thinking about taking your business to a new level. Opportunities abound and you need to make sure that you’re ready to partner with local, national and international agencies to grow your business.

Register below for “Are You ‘Agency Ready’?” and join fellow independent practitioners for an exciting half-day workshop that will give you the step-by-step tools for building a business model that will align your practice with the needs and operations of larger agencies, while you retain your independent practice.

Registration includes a full hot buffet breakfast, free on-site parking and quality time with some of the most dynamic entrepreneurs, financial experts and agency leaders in Los Angeles.

Bring your business cards. There will be time for networking, questions and plenty of coffee!

Program

8 a.m.-8:30 a.m. – Eat and greet

Fuel yourself for the morning and enjoy a full buffet breakfast with fellow independent practitioners.

8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m. – Welcome and introductions

8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m. – Panel: Building a Better Business Model

Business pros will share strategies to help you create a sustainable business model that increases profits and helps generate new business. Topics include developing an effective business plan, financial planning and avoiding the pitfalls of managing a practice. Panelists:

• Management consultant Cliff Beacham will lend his expertise in accounting, leadership and negotiating the right deals to make your business grow.
• CPA Scott Streitfeld of Streitfeld Accounting will help put you on the right financial path. Among topics discussed will be preparing taxes as an independent practitioner, paying employees and getting the most out of your business model.
• Evelyne Teman, a fashion entrepreneur who took her online clothing business to a six-figure level, will share her strategies for a successful business model and some of her most valuable lessons learned.

9:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m. – Networking and coffee

10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m. – Panel: The Agency Perspective

Learn how to find the right agency match for your business. Leaders from small, medium-sized and large agencies will explain how they partner with independent practitioners – and what solo professionals need to know – to create a win-win partnership. Panelists:

• Linda Martin, partner and managing director, Porter Novelli, oversees the company’s regional talent management and strategic growth initiatives.
• George Medici, executive vice president, PondelWilkinson, is responsible for leveraging strategic partnerships to support the firm’s growth efforts.
• Jason Wonacott, founder, Wonacott Communications, an independent agency serving entertainment, media and tech clients.

11:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. – Networking and coffee

11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. – Panel: Closing the Deal: Marketing Yourself Beyond “Let’s Stay in Touch”

You’re already great at promoting others, but what about your business? This panel of experts will motivate you to get out there and close the deal. Branding experts will share tangible tips on how to market and position yourself and build lasting and valuable relationships. Panelists:

• Robert Conley is founder of Bedrock Leadership, a management and leadership development consultancy.
• Paul Flaharty, vice president at Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group, oversees sales, business development, consulting/freelance, and full-time placement for companies and independent practitioners in L.A.
• Branding and marketing expert Tiffany Scott is founder of You Me She Collective.

12:45 p.m.-1 p.m. – Review of the morning and closing remarks

This workshop is sponsored by PRSA Los Angeles and its Independent Practitioners Alliance and PondelWilkinson, Inc.

A $5 administrative fee will be processed for cancellations by Jan. 26, 2017. NO REFUNDS AFTER FRIDAY, JAN. 27, 2017