Good to great [kit]: why some companies make the leap— and others don't by Jim Collins — Using tough benchmarks, Collins and his research team identified a set of elite companies that made the leap to great results and sustained those results for at least fifteen years. The research team then contrasted these good-to-great companies with a carefully selected set of comparison companies that failed to make the leap from good to great. After sifting through mountains of data and thousands of pages of interviews, Collins and his crew discovered the key determinants of greatness — why some companies make the leap and others don't. The findings may surprise many readers and shed light on virtually every area of management strategy and practice.

Join us on Thursday, May 23 from 6:30-8:00 PM for a demonstration of the business databases Reference USA and DemographicsNow.  Learn how to use them to get accurate, up-to-date information to market your business, research competitors, find a location for your business, get customer leads and more.

Join us on Tuesday, May 21 from 12:00-1:00 PM for an overview of social networking for business. Explore the capabilities of Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter as marketing tools for your company.
No registration necessary.

Thomas the Tank Engine pulls into Greenfield Village at the end of the month. How have trains shaped America's history?

 

The great railroad revolution: the history of trains in America by Christian Wolmar

Railroads across North America: an illustrated history by Claude Wiatrowski

The robber barons: the great American capitalists, 1861- 1901 by Matthew Josephson

Thinking about starting a small business but you're not 

This session is canceled but SCORE will return next month.

Thinking about starting a small business but you're not sure where to begin? Schedule a one hour consultation on Thursday, April 11 from 6:00-9:00 PM with a mentor from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and receive free and confidential advice from a seasoned professional. To register for a session or for additional information, please contact SCORE representative Ed Krupa (epkrupa@yahoo.com).  

Join us as we read and discuss the key points in the classic business book, "Good to Great" by James Collins.  Led by retired executive and Canton Kiwanis Club President, Mark Ott, this discussion is for business owners, leaders and anyone interested in leadership.  

Thinking about starting a small business but you're not sure where to begin? Schedule a one hour consultation on Thursday, March 14 from 6:00-9:00 PM with a mentor from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and receive free and confidential advice from a seasoned professional. To register for a session or for additional information, please contact SCORE representative Ed Krupa.

According to SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) "The real value of creating a business plan is not in having the finished product in hand; rather, the value lies in the process of researching and thinking about your business in a systematic way."

Join us on Thursday, February 28th from 6:00-8:00 PM and find how this tool will help you research and refine your business goals. This workshop is suitable for those considering owning a business, new entrepreneurs as well as established business owners.

Thinking about starting a small business but you're not sure where to begin? Schedule a one hour consultation on Thursday, February 14th from 6:00-9:00 PM with a mentor from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and receive free and confidential advice from a seasoned professional. To register for a session or for additional information, please contact SCORE representative Ed Krupa.

The North American International Automobile Show, known as the Detroit Auto Show around here, opens to the public on Monday, January 19. The first Detroit Auto Show was held in 1907. What began as a local show is now international in scope.

The car: the evolution of the beautiful machine by Rod Green

Merrily we roll along [videodisc]: The early days of the automobile by NBC News Productions

Motorcars of the classic era by Michael Furman

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an internet marketing strategy that strategically considers how search engines work and how people search.  This makes it possible for a website to be on the first page in relevant categories when anyone searches for goods and/or services.   

Join us on Wednesday, January 23rd from 6:30-8:30 PM as Roy of Team Hypernet takes the mystery out of SEO and shows the steps to get your webpage in the top search engine results.  If you are a business owner, be sure to come and pick up some great tips!

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is another day, one dedicated to the businesses that boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country. It's Small Business Saturday®, and this year it’s happening on November 24th. Remember that while shopping small can help boost the economy, shopping local can also help the environment.

The Canton Chamber of Commerce is hosting Business Plans to Boost Your Business featuring John Lankford, Premier Development Solutions on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 8:00 AM.

Canton Chamber Office
45525 Hanford Rd, Canton MI

Free to Chamber members and first time guests. Register today by calling 734-453-4040

Learn to create a spreadsheet and manage a list with Microsoft Excel 2007. Prerequisite: Mouse and keyboarding skills. Join us Friday, November 9th from 10:00 to 11:30 AM.

If you are considering an IT career, New Horizons is hosting a free, upcoming program just for you.

IT Education Career Event: Learn about different IT careers, incomes and certifications, Tuesday, October 23, 6:30 PM, New Horizons Computer Learning Center, 14115 Farmington Road, Livonia.

For more information, contact Wendy Juback Wendy.Juback@nhgreatlakes.com.

The following October events are schedule at the Business Development Center at Schoolcraft College, a great resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs. For details regarding any of these programs, contact the BDC at 734-462-4438.

• Small Business Loan Workshop — Tuesday, October 9, 2:00–4:00 PM, No Charge
• Social Networking for Small Businesses, Tuesday, October 23, 6:00-9:00 PM, $45
• Working for Yourself: The Ins & Outs of Becoming a Consultant, a Contractor, or other Service Provider, Wednesday, October 24, 9:30 AM–12:30 PM, $45

Our Back to Business School series concludes with 
Tweeting for Business Success.   Learn how to use Twitter to connect with and engage potential customers from Mike McClure, president of Social Media Club Detroit and Executive Creative Director at The Yaffe Group on Thursday, September 27, 12:00-1:00 PM.

So, you're considering purchasing a franchise but you have no idea how to begin. You may have questions regarding which franchise to purchase, where to locate it, and how to finance it.

Join franchise owner George Lytle for Franchising 101, part of our Back to Business School Series, on Tuesday, September 18 from 7:00-8:30 PM. George will cover the basics of franchising and give his tips as an 'insider'.

Did you know that author and organizational guru, Julie Morgenstern, met with the counselors at SCORE when she was developing her first business, Task Masters?

If you have a business idea and would like to see it get off the ground, come to Beginning Business with SCORE, part of our Back to Business School series, on Thursday, September 20 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM.