A 4-Point Approach to Economic Development:  Presented by Todd Barman, National Trust Main Street Center January 12, 2012

Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• This approach gives a new way to explain the 4-Point Approach that will make it easier for others to understand.
• Working in a group with others from my community.
• I liked the asset based economic development exercises - helped focus our specific needs/assets.
• Making me think about everything through my economic developer eyes.
• Communicating the relationship of economic development to each committee that in turn helps bind the program together.
• Updating the 25 year old 4-Point model.
• Networking with other Main Street communities.
• Bringing together the elements, then hearing how others have put them into practice.
• Realization that our committees need to be working together more.
• Brainstorming and sharing ideas.
• Detailed information on business development.
• The basic how to's of going after businesses in this economy.  The ideas generated energized me to come home and share these ideas, and get moving on revitalizing our community!
• Exchanging ideas

Promotion for Main Street & the New Frontier:  Presented by Jay Schlinsog, Downtown Professionals Network & Ben Muldrow, Arnett Muldrow & Associates August 18, 2011 

 Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• Getting ideas.  It is always great to have input from others, not just one person can come up with everything.  I am sure bits and peices of the seminar were beneficial to the presenters as well.  GREAT STUFF!
• "Image" is most important.  Clever how they came up with a theme or tag implementing colors and all the major interest points of the location.
• The interaction between the speakers and the group.  Really got my creative juices working.  Great use of examples.
• The real life applications they used.
• Branding
• One on one conversations between participants and those providing the information.
• Concepts and multi-use applications of community branding.
• Seeing pictures from other communties in the presentation and receiving a copy of the presentation is very helpful.
• The practical ideas given.
• Seeing success of profiled communities.
• Seeing the different ideas on how to brand.

Transforming Ordinary People Into Effective Board Members and Fundraising Superheroes:  Presented by Carol Weisman, April 14, 2011

Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• The exchange of ideas and I loved the "WISH LIST" idea.  Roles and responsibilities of board members.
• Carol's practical ways of communication, tips and advice to use with your board and the fact that she talked on a human level that most anyone could understand.  I didn't have to write down words to look up in the dictionary when I got home!
• Different ways of obtaining donations and utilizing all board members.
• New ideas for funding and membership, and I like the idea of credit cards that could generate more funding spread out over several months.
• Learning various ways to approach a possible client for fundraising.
• The topics were varied and useful.
• Interaction with other Main Street participants.
• Individual examples of fundraising specifics.
• Presentation was very good.
• Getting new ideas that we can implement in our Main Street program and to get others involved and hopefully increase membership and income.
• Fundraising and how diversified a committee needs to be.
• The take home materials were wonderful.
• I enjoyed the entire day and learned a lot!  Thanks!
• Telling us to do the WOW factor...and giving us examples that we cange change to our locale.
• This was one of the most beneficial trainings that I have been to.  She had very good information and creative ideas.
• Appeal to alumni.

RX:  Prescriptions for a Healthy Business Mix:  Presented by Hilary Greenberg, January 20, 2011

Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• I can see how clustering downtown businesses to help with retail flow would be great.
• Data collection sites/information for use in generating usable reports.
• When she was able to put numbers and graphs into "real" situations like the furniture store...that is when it all made sense to me.  I have already begun researching some of the resources that she told us about.
• Understanding that we need to know the people and businesses in our town.
• Strategic planning - good content was provided.
• Additional web resources
• Identifying the market and business clustering.

Fearless Fundraising:  Presented by Marc Pitman, April 14, 2010

Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• Nuts & bolts of fundraising
• Just the simplicity of the approach - everyone can use it
• Very good verbiage, gave us great terms and phrases to use
• Informational, thought provoking, a great deal of references
• Google news alerts, endowment, just ask, make the ask with 2 people
• Information on "foucs" for fundraising & specific info on things like creating a database
• Material was applicable to large and small communities & different kinds of organizations
• Learning how to prepare to "ask" for funds
• Points and tips towards fundraising - entertaining speaker

Promotion 2.0:  Promoting, Engaging & Branding Your Downtown  Presented by Kathy LaPlante  January 21, 2010

  Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• How to put marketing ideas into your business
• Retail events that work!
• Image consistency through several campaigns
• Event evaluation
• Branding examples & image bulilding campaigns
• Variety of events that may work for our community
• Brainstorming session with everyone sharing experiential shopping
• An excellent, well informed speaker who involved us all in learning how to improve our downtown

 Do It Yourself Property & Business Development                                 
Presented by Dr. Jim Stephens, Pam Thayer & Todd Barman -August 6, 2009

Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• The website resources and handouts
• Community supported business and marketing tools
• Real examples of actual businesses
• Demographic & psychographic resources
• Relating basic business and marketing principles to actual examples
• Resources for coop/community ownership programs
• Loved the "real world" case studies
• Real estate development presentation

What is the Secret to Good Design?                                                     
Presented by Joseph Lawniczak, Design Specialist,
Wisconsin Main Street - May 19, 2009

Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• Many useful topics, will be great for articles and to share with committees
• Signage, awnings and other elements as ways to improve buildings, good examples that may not cost too much money
• Historic Preservation information
• Great use of visuals
• Examples to take back to my community, design committee and building owners
• Funding availability
• Learning the do's and don'ts of restoring buildings as well as restoring vs demolishing
• Knowledge of instructor - interaction by the entire group

BIG Ideas for Main Street:  Success in the Experience Economy          
Presented by Betsy Wiersma - January 28, 2009

Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• Sharing of promotional ideas
• Actual take home and use ideas
• Interactivity
• Ideas for events and fundraisers, involvement of committee and volunteers
• Practical exercises throughout the day - especially brainstorming
• The five steps of WOW
• Having everyone brainstorm on each other's events

Putting Your Retail Market Information to Work                               
Presented by Kennedy Smith - August 6, 2008

Most Beneficial Aspect of Training:

• Working in group to develop marketing and event ideas
• Information for estimating consumer buying power in your area
• Market based surveys
• Informaiton on special events and customer base
• The graphs to figure business and shopping patterns
• Example on involving all committees in strategic market goals
• The relationship of the market analysis to economic restructuring