Bill Hoke

Following packed workshops in Port Townsend, Silverdale and Yakima, Small Business Marketing Partners had two sold out sessions in Sequim and Port Angeles on Nov. 13. More than 50 business owners attended the morning session in Sequim and 36 non-profit agency directors attended the afternoon session in Port Angeles.

“These workshops really hit the mark,” said Lee Lawrence, executive director of the Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce. “This is the sort of information our members need and appreciate. They leave the workshop with a marketing and communication plan they can take back and put to work.” He added, “These workshops fire them up, and they appreciate the entrepreneurial point of view.”

“Our focus is on the independent business owners, entrepreneurs, local non profit organizations, artists, artisans, home based and emerging businesses,” said Patricia Graf-Hoke, company president.

“In both workshops, participants work from a 20-page workbook and complete a custom marketing action plan that fits within their budget, whatever it is,” Graf-Hoke explained.

The non profit version is for agency executive directors, managers, marketing and community relations outreach, as well as volunteer and board members.

“We’ve just completed workshops that included the 2,000th graduate of the 90 Minute Branding and Marketing Plan program and we hear over and over how much people need small business marketing planning assistance. Deciding how to allocate precious marketing and advertising dollars is a major challenge and we guide business owners to an individual strategic solution,” Graf-Hoke said.

The 90 Minute Branding and Marketing Plan workshop is also offered to small groups, associations and in a three hour one-to-one version.

On Nov. 28, the workshop was offered to local women business owners at the Small Business Marketing Partners office and training center at 1212 Pacific Ave. in Bremerton. “We’re providing a workshop taught by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs and we will offer a series of these workshops next year,” Graf-Hoke said.

Earlier in November, Small Business Marketing Partners offered a free special advanced workshop for business owners in the Washington CASH micro credit program in Bremerton and nearly 30 attended, including members of the newly formed Diversity Partnership, an organization created by the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Hoke, partner in the company, has been asked to join Terrific Speakers.com organization, a national clearing house and recruiting center for business and motivational speakers.

The first workshop scheduled for the Rocky Mountain Region is set for February 17 in Pueblo, Colorado and will be conducted by affiliate partner, Garry Glissmeyer.

The next local 90 Minute workshop is scheduled for Jan. 17, sponsored by the Bainbridge Review and the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce. Planning is nearly complete for workshops in Walla Walla, Port Orchard, Federal Way and Kent-Auburn.

A web site has been launched for the workshops at this link. The company can be reached at 360-271-9448.

Bill Hoke leads a sold out session of the 90 Minute Branding and Marketing Plan workshop in Sequim. More than 50 business owners attended the session at The Dungeness Golf and County Club. The afternoon session for non profit organizations was held in Port Angeles.