BEEDA Meeting Minutes – February 2, 2012
Meeting was called to order at 8:06 am.
Present: Mitch Zundel, Mark Kubricky, Mark Riemer, Chris Erickson, Andy Shinkle, Susie
Trush, Troy Christensen, Eden Johnson, Janene Pearce, Ken Kennedy, Lyle Holmgren, Jason
Yerka, Monica Holdaway, Holly Lamb, Karen Cronin, Brian Carver, Jay Agulair
Following a welcome, Mitch invited those present to introduce themselves. Following
introductions, the following business was discussed:
I.
Legislative Update
Mitch Zundel provided updates on HB 220 and HB 318, both sponsored by Rep. Ronda
Menlove. Mitch explained the definition of “rural” is a population of under 30,000 and is eligible
for Fast Track funding; Box Elder is considered a “shoulder” county. HB 318 is intended to keep
the BEAR program going, indefinitely.
Monica Holdaway commented about HB 228, Economic Development Task Force, echoing a
concern of Paul Larsen because there are no local people on the task force. If GOED is forming a
taskforce and there is a bill, we should be represented.
II.
BEAR Program Update
Eden Johnson (Workforce Services) provided a BEAR program update with Susie Trush
completing 157 surveys now. “She is working hard and doing a great job. It’s a great program.
Please let businesses know; please help us to get the word out there. Let Susie know if there are
businesses you would suggest that could benefit. Committee meeting is Feb 15 in Logan. We’ll
have data from July through end of 2011 and look at trends and should be able to report back on
specifics in March.”
Susie reported she is now down to smaller businesses and asked for our help to get the word out.
“They don’t know how much they do need it. They are waiting for a white horse business to
come and build the community back up. They need to understand that they need to try and get
going faster and do things more. A lot of small businesses in town see no need to be on the
internet, especially in Tremonton. They see no need for it and are not going to do it. They don’t
have email and they don’t look at it. I have to write hand-written thank-you notes because they
don’t have email. “
Eden said Cache is having an economic summit March 22
Utah Health Exchange is a good deal for businesses. Patty is set up to do a presentation at the
Cache Summit on March 22. Mitch suggested brining them into our Box Elder expo.
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Ken Kennedy asked about the BEAR process and benefit. Susie explained the information goes
into Executive Pulse software and concerns are flagged as a journal entry and require a response;
they are evaluated by a core group. Most of the time the referrals go to the Business Resource
Center. Jason Yerka is going out to businesses to teach them how to do a business plan, build a
web page, etc., but then the businesses don’t accept the help.
Eden said the database is very comprehensive and helps to identify trends, patterns, multiple
needs.
Mitch asked if there is enough data that can show us the trends. Eden said it can be discussed in
March.
Mitch commented about some of the lack of participation in the BEAR surveys -- not enough
time, desire, confidence. Maybe that’s it?
Monica said there’s been positive and negative feedback. “I did my community service, I did my
survey, it’s an hour and a half of my time. I didn’t necessarily get anything from it.” When
someone says, “I need to know about marketing or the health exchange,” Monica says she is able
to give that information to them immediately. Susie says she also has all the information to refer.
Monica reported that we do provide the information – we’re handing them the tools and their
setting them down – there’s nothing we can do.
Holly mentioned the survey is pretty extensive and can take some legwork to complete.
Susie explained only 80% of the questions need to be answered. She’s got it down to a 30-minute
interview.
Karen Cronin recommended that we put an article in the paper providing an update that 150 have
been done and highlight two success stories.
Dennis Porter expressed a lot of businesses are so strapped, it’s not that they don’t want to, they
are trying to run a business. He said they may be a little skeptical because it is similar to past
programs and they don’t see this as being different. He asked if it would be helpful if some of us
called the businesses beforehand. If Susie could give us a schedule of who she is going to call,
we can call ahead and let the businesses know to expect Susie. Just a word ahead would pave the
way for Susie better. Mitch advised Susie to lean on this group a little bit more.
Andy Shinkle commented that if there are any instances where the county has learned something
and they changed their policy, we need to make a big deal about that. “We are probably doing
that right now, but we are not making a big deal about it. We need to prove the worth of the
program.
The assessment is the big, big, thing. This gives us empirical data. We are not guessing. That
kind of information is critical. If people understand that this will seed further activities not just
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for their individual businesses, but for the larger group. It can be hard for some businesses,
because we don’t know what we’re going to get.”
Lyle recommended talking about it more and talking it up.
Susie heard four success stories when she spoke at the Bear River Chamber. Susie said she didn’t
know the success stories because she just takes the surveys and doesn’t know what happens.
Karen asked if we can get this in the paper because it gets people talking. Eden said they would
do that.
Jason reported the BRC is doing great but could be busier. Jason said 80% of his clients are ones
he picks up from BEAR. 10% are referrals from BEAR. The other 10% are walk-ins. On a
monthly basis? Jason said he had 26 individual consultations that broke down between 10 new
people and 3 that carried over.
Jason said he started in November and doesn’t have a lot of data yet for good month-to-month
comparisons. It’s mostly small businesses with 5 or fewer employees.
Dennis Porter – Theses folks don’t have their own resources; they don’t have the training
opportunity like Procter and Gamble have.
Lighter version of training that could be offered to them to help them see more immediate
response?
Two forms of advertising: if it’s easy, it’s going to hit you in your pocket book.
Marketing plans are time-intensive. If you don’t have money to spend, you have to put time into
it. Easy networking sites? e.g., Where they can put their products up without a full-blown
website?
Another thought is a county-wide advertising buy-local campaign – a Utah’s Own concept here.
Susie said since going to the local businesses, you can get a pretty deal local deal here. Mitch
says you can’t find them online and it’s almost all word of mouth.
Holly suggested a one-page factsheet of success stories could be simple and effective.
Mitch added that entrepreneurs have to be more and more outside of the box; can’t rely on
customers to just come.
III.
Business to Business Expo
Mitch asked if there were any conflicts with April 27.
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Lyle asked if we had evaluations from our last summit. Mitch said he collected a spreadsheet of
survey comments--it’s all over the spectrum, but Mitch said there are some recurring themes.
Karen thought April 27 would be a good date; beyond tax season and before summer.
Mitch said Tooele has done a business to business expo. Different twist; same people. Breakout
sessions. Tools for business owners and businesses to talk and network among themselves.
Public welcome after such and such time. Monica said with their expo they included lunch the
second year. Monica said the chamber is not doing it anymore. Monica said their goal was to
combat some of the sentiment from citizens that they don’t know about things – but they didn’t
come to the event. Monica has her data for pricing and attendance she can share.
Monica said to be aware of rules of hosting on a campus.
Jay Aguilar suggest entry fee as a deposit and to make lunch pricing separate. Mitch encouraged
suggestions, thoughts to be sent his way and recommended a small group work on it further.
Jason again plugged the Huntsman School of Business lectures that are rebroadcast at 6 p.m.
Jason said the information is tremendous. You can also find them online on their school website.
Next Friday we will start a 3-part tax webinar.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m.
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