Last month, current and prospective small businesses owners learned about various aspects of starting a business at the Business Education Expo (BEE) organized by Eatonton Main Street, a local organization that promotes sustainable growth and tourism, along with revitalization and preservation of traditional architecture in downtown Eatonton. The exposition, the third since October last year held in Eatonton, included two sessions, one week apart, with three speakers each week addressing different aspects of the new business experience.
Dr. Marshall Rich, founder and CEO of Rich on Cyber, spoke of the growth in cyber risks and threats that small business owners now face. He said 80 percent of small businesses had some sort of cyber security incident last year and an average 526 attacks are attempted every 15 minutes. He suggested the right time to think about cyber security as a company is at the stage of putting together a business plan.
Tim Broyles, owner of Tim Broyles Insurance and Financial Services has been a State Farm Insurance agent since 2010 and his office in Eatonton was established early in 2020. He and his team assist small business owners with commercial lines of insurance in Putnam and surrounding counties. Broyles stressed insurance as a necessary part of any business plan, no matter the focus or scope of the venture.
“It was really informative,” said Melissa Demaray, founder of Donsa Creations, an arts and craft business in Greensboro. “It was a reiteration of the importance of insurance. I think we don’t give it enough attention. Also learning the specifics of SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in business). This was information that I can put into my business.”
Jenny Watt, founder of Creatively Techy in 2020, lives in Social Circle and has a bachelor’s degree in Math and Spanish from Furman University and a masters in Instructional Design from Capella University. She started her first business teaching computer applications classes in 1990. Watt also is an international best-selling author on Amazon.
“For over 25 years, I had a dream of empowering people by teaching them to create their own businesses,” she said. “After learning to create a virtual business on my own, I felt I had a unique perspective on the world of virtual business that I could use to help others find the freedom of working for themselves.”
Opening day two of the Eatonton Main Street BEE, Bonnie Kallenberg also spoke on the marketing aspects of business, pointing out marketing is all about creating connections with customers and developing their trust.
An Atlanta native, Kallenberg graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in marketing. For 30 years, she owned a consignment business, Finders Keepers, that consisted of three stores in Decatur and Avondale Estates: one for women’s clothing, one for furniture and home décor, and one featuring designer clothing and accessories for both mean and women.
After selling the business two years ago, Kallenberg moved to Lake Country and currently volunteers at a local thrift store.
“I believe in small business, shopping locally, and supporting your community,” she said. “Running a small business is hard, and I am grateful for advice I received along the way. I have mentored many small business owners through the years. We have to help each other by lifting each other up in any way we can.”
Michael Gailey, owner of Gailey Law Firm, is a UGA graduate with a bachelor’s in political science and law degree from John Marshall Law School. He has been practicing law since 1996 and Governor Nathan Deal later appointed him in 2013 to sit as the Putnam County State Court Judge, and he also serves as an Eatonton Municipal Court Judge.
This year marked the third time Gailey addressed BEE attendees. “It is a great opportunity to personally share some of our legal expertise with those in our community who are interested in opening a business,” he said.
Gailey spoke on the legal aspects of starting a new business. He talked about the different types of legal entities that would be right for each of the attending participants’ businesses and emphasized the importance of knowing local elected officials and regularly speaking with them and attending public meetings relevant to business operations and legislation.
Finally, Lauren Singleton, a manager with Eatonton Main Street since June 2020, who currently lives in Covington, gave an overview of what is involved with a Main Street Program and described incentives available to new and current businesses.
“Eatonton Main Street organized the event to assist new business owners,” Singleton said. “During the COVID pandemic, there was a rise in entrepreneurship across the country and we wanted to be part of that movement to help grow the business community in Eatonton and Putnam County.”
Singleton added that Eatonton Main Street (downtowneatonton. com) is already working on the next BEE to take place in March next year.