University of Oregon’s New Venture Competition starts April 8th up in Portland, Oregon. Over its 18-year history, this International MBA business plan competition has become one of the top 3 competitions throughout the world. A result of its intense academic focus and guaranteed interaction with multiple panels of judges in a professional format, NVC is an unmatched experience for any startup venture team.
Palo Alto Software is proud to be a sponsor of this competition and will be on hand to award the Best Written Plan award to one of the many participating teams.
We wish all the teams the very best of luck!
Over its 18-year history, this International MBA business plan competition has become one of the top 3 competitions throughout the world. A result of its intense academic focus and guaranteed interaction with multiple panels of judges in a professional format, NVC is an unmatched experience for any start-up venture team. We are proud to announce that NVC was designatedA Top 15 Graduate Business Plan CompetitionbyForbes.
The fifth annual Small Business Summit is almost here! The date to remember is March 16th in New York City and Palo Alto Software is once again sponsoring the event.
What goes on at the Small Business Summit? I’m super glad you asked! This year the event is focused on Strategies for the New Economy and some of the highlights include:
HOT TECH Demo (60+ companies have submitted their entries)
Exhibitors including Google, Intuit, Microsoft, and Dell and many more
Strategies for Growth Panel (Representatives from Intuit, Wasp, Elance and Google)
Keynotes include: Mel Parker, Director of Small Business at Dell (IT Strategies), Seth Godin (Being Indispensable), Melanie Atta, Campaigner (Boosting Email Marketing), Tim Davis (Using Comedy for Boosting Sales)
Women of Success Share Their Community Building Secrets
10 Minute Power Presentations (Social Media; Business Card Design Tips; Optimize Your Time)
This is the hottest ticket going right now. And speaking of tickets… we’ve got some to give away! Free!
To enter to win a full-day conference ticket, answer this question:
What is a SWOT?
The first three people to email hello@paloalto.com with the correct answer will win a free ticket – that’s a full day’s conference admission!
Today we say goodbye to one of our favorite Business in General authors, Steve Lange.
After 12 years with Palo Alto Software, Steve and his lovely wife Vie (who happens to be Palo Alto Software’s Controller and has been with the company for 15 years) are retiring.
Steve has been invaluable in the documentation department and I know they will feel his absence keenly. He’s also been a strong blogger for me and his interesting and informative pieces will be missed.
Thank you, Steve, for all the fantastic work you’ve given the company, and the words you’ve given to this blog.
I can’t begin to tell you how much you’ll be missed.
Palo Alto Software Offering Business Plan Workshop to Lincoln County Business Owners – Oregon
It’s not a secret that Oregon is a great state to start a business. If you are a business owner in Lincoln County you know the challenges of staying open and staying solvent. Do you have a plan to thrive in this changing economy? Palo Alto Software can help you develop a solid business plan for your business. This software company, based in Eugene Oregon is following up on this past summer’s Small Business Boost by offering a workshop on their Business Plan Pro software. This workshop is being held in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center at Oregon Coast Community College, which is dedicated to the success of businesses on the Central Oregon Coast.
The workshop will be held at Oregon Coast Community College, Newport campus in South Beach. It will be a three hour workshop starting at 6:30 p.m..
Please call for reservations at 541-867-6200 Ext 202
Palo Alto Software’s head of Training and Education, Sean Serrels, will be leading the workshop. The evening will focus on existing businesses using Business Plan Pro to manage operations. The first part of the workshop will demonstrate the power of computerized business planning. The second part will focus on regular financial forecasts and comparing this data to actual performance and then proactively maintaining a roadmap for business success.
There will be an attendance fee of $25. For attendees of this workshop, Business Plan Pro Premier Edition will be available for $100 (50% off the retail price).
Local business owners looking to for that helpful nudge to develop your business plan are encourage to attend. You will get an overview of the nuts and bolts of the Business Plan Pro software in addition to greater fundamental understanding of the benefits of continuous business plan development.
What: Business Plan Pro Workshop When: December 2, 2009 at 6:30 pm Where: Oregon Coast Community College, Newport Campus in South Beach
Space is limited. Call 541-867-6200 ext 202 for reservations — $25.00 attendence fee
Learn a new and different approach to planning, making the task quicker, easier, more flexible, and much more useful in making business decisions for growth.
We’re extremely pleased to be a part of Network Solutions first ever Grow Smart Biz Conference in Washington DC next week (October 29th).
Jake Weatherly, our VP of Customer Experience will be speaking on a panel during the one-day educational workshop and networking event at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington DC.
All small business owners, entrepreneurs and aspiring CEOs should attend to learn how to overcome challenges that all small businesses face. Attendees will leave the conference with:
Insights into best practices of successful small businesses
Strategies for growth despite the current economy
Cost-effective ways to market and promote their businesses
Tips for raising capital, and
An opportunity to connect with small business owners, experts, and solution providers
I’m proud to pass on the news that Jim Blasingame won a big award at the American Chambers of Commerce meeting last week. Here‘s the press release.
I’m pleased to join Jim on his Small Business Advocate radio show every once in a while. The first time I did that, back in 1997, I thought he was a natural interviewer and a good guy. I decided soon after to become a sponsor as Palo Alto Software.
His show and his fame have grown a lot since then. He’s won a number of major awards on his way up. Take a look at his website, sample his audio archives, and you’ll see why. He’s compiled more than 10 years of good practical interviews on important subjects in small business.
Palo Alto Software moved from California to Eugene, Oregon in 1992 with two employees (founder Tim Berry and his wife Vange), and has grown into a successful business employing 45 people. But unfortunately, our state has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country. In discussions about what our company could do to help the local economy, CEO Sabrina Parsons came up with the idea of creating our own stimulus package for the state. From there, the Oregon Small Business Boost took off.
Tomorrow we’ll be giving away 15,000 copies of Business Plan Pro Premier to any Oregon resident who can make it to one of 80 giveaway locations throughout the state.
We’re giving away the software to Oregonians, says Berry, “So that they can develop their business plans, and we at Palo Alto Software can contribute to the economy in Oregon, which has been great to us for 17 years now. So this is really giving back.”
Palo Alto Software’s CEO, Sabrina Parsons, was interviewed by Anna Farmery of The Engaging Brand this morning. During the podcast, they talked about online marketing, the difference between advertising and marketing, the link between social media and customer service, and lots more.
Make sure to check out the rest of Anna’s podcasts and articles. Lots of great stuff there!
Palo Alto Software was honored this month as one of Oregon’s 100 Best Companies to work for. Oregon Business Magazine runs the awards and sends out surveys for employees to fill out.
Thank you to both Oregon Business for running this survey, and thank you to all of our employees who diligently filled it out! We are recognized because all of our employees think this is a great place to work!
I am beyond thrilled to have the company recognized in this way.
There is nothing more important to me at Palo Alto Software than the team of people who make this company what it is. Without them we would be nowhere. Because our people are so critically important to our success we do our best to make sure that we provide the best working environment,with the best benefits we can possibly afford. Skimping on your people is just not smart. Before you know it you are also skimping on your customers. I truly believe that being a healthy profitable company goes hand in hand with providing a happy, healthy, productive work environment.
Jake Weatherly, our VP of Customer Experience will be speaking on a panel during the one-day educational workshop and networking event at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington DC.
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