Clark County business calendar

Tuesday

Workshop: “Building Your Brand and You: Branding,” featuring Jim Mains and VaNessa Duplessie, will explore the importance of branding a business, 9-11:30 a.m. Sept. 20, ESD 112, 2500 N.E. 65th Ave. Registration fee, $39 per person, includes light refreshments and materials. * Details: http://www.clarkcountyentrepreneurs.com.

Restaurant topics, networking: American Underwriters Insurance Agency is sponsoring a Restaurant Topics Series, hosted by chefs Kevin Basarab and Mike Horn, 2-3 p.m. at The Coachman Restaurant, 1417 S.E. Rasmussen Blvd., Suite 130, Battle Ground. Topic: “Delivering Safety for Savings.” Free. * Reservations: 360-723-5283.

Veterans job fair: All veterans and families are welcome at the Veterans Stand Down & Job Fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland. Free. * http://www.portlandstanddown.org, 503-226-7387.

Wednesday

Speaker series: Business professionals will offer their expertise at a noon meeting, sponsored by SoHo Mastermind, at SoHo Marketing Institute, 953 Officers Row, with Rich Wersinger, “Using Screencast Web Video for Fun and Profit.” Free and open to the public. Registration is recommended. SoHo Mastermind founded by Veronika Noize, the Marketing Coach, is a members-only business-building community that offers marketing success coaching, consulting and training.* http://www.sohomastermind.com/public_events, 360-882-1298.

Neil Kelly Design, Build & Remodeling free seminars: Designers teach all sessions and share trends in design, information on new materials and techniques, as well as review on the professional design/build process. The free one-hour sessions are informal in style, allowing for plenty of questions and discussion. The eastside showroom, 804 N. Alberta, Portland will have a 12:30 p.m. seminar on kitchen design and remodeling. Both the westside showroom at 15573 S.W. Bangy Road, Lake Oswego, and the eastside showroom will remain open until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday so visitors can explore kitchen and bath exhibits. * Information and schedule: http://www.neilkelly.com or 503-335-9204.

Women Entrepreneurs Organization of Washington: Monthly meeting begins with networking, 5 p.m. at the Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greewood Drive. “Simple Strategies for Staying Happy” with Kellie Grill, motivational speaker, author, songwriter and publisher. Fees, $35-$40, include dinner. Reservations required. * reserve@weowa.org or 360-907-4407.

Thursday

Free tax workshop: The Vancouver office of the Washington State Department of Revenue is hosting a free workshop for new and small-business owners, 9 a.m. to noon at 8008 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Suite 340, Vancouver. Participants will learn about Washington excise taxes, reporting classifications, deductions, tax incentives, sales tax collection and record-keeping requirements. All receive a workbook and a reference guide to Department of Revenue rules and regulations. Space is limited. A complete schedule of workshops statewide and short streaming video version of the workshop in English and Spanish are available on the website. * Register http://www.dor.wa.gov or 360-256-2060.

Financial aid workshop: Clark County chapter of Thrivent is sponsoring a free educational workshop specifically designed for parents whose children are in high school who are going through the college admission and financial aid process which may seem complex and overwhelming. A 90-minute workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive. * Reservations: E-mail leslie.munson@thrivent.com or call 360-694-1197.

Stay-at-home moms: Laura Hofmann, a career and educational counselor, will present topics on how to re-launch a career for stay-at-home moms, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 17 at Firstenburg Community Center, 700 N.E. 136th Ave. * Full course topic outline and free upcoming info session schedule available at http://www.lhcareers.com.

Southwest Washington Human Resources Management Association: Offering a study group for human resources professionals desiring a review course in preparation of their PHR/SPHR professional certification exam or gaining a broader understanding and overview of management. Study group meets 6-9 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 16 at Dick Hannah Subaru conference room, 7407 N.E. Vancouver Plaza Drive. Cost is $125 members, $75 returning course participants, $200 others. * Contact Tracy Whitmore, 360-944-3364, tracyw@dickhannah.com or Tami Harmon, 360-567-1321, tharmon@cadetco.com.

Estate planning: Attorney Margaret Madison Phelan will present a seminar for Clark County seniors about the top estate planning questions, 10 a.m. to noon. Free. * For location and necessary reservations, 360-696-2069.

New rules in retirement: The Portland/Vancouver chapter of the American Association of Individual Investors meets at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, 8235 N.E. Airport Way, Portland. Judith A. McGee, a financial adviser, will discuss new rules that investors must apply when planning their retirements in an increasingly volatile world. Cost $15 for those registered; $20 at the door. * Reservations, http://www.aaii.com/pdx.

First-time homebuyer class: Seminar on buying a home for the first time, 4-9 p.m. at Evergreen Home Loans, 204 S.E. Park Plaza Drive, Suite 105. Leslie Girard from Evergreen and Deana Nerton, Windermere Real Estate, will make a presentation. Pizza and beverages provided. * Reservations, 360-260-6979 or email dpalmer@evergreenhomeloans.com.

Washington caregivers: A free Web conference, sponsored by the nonprofit National Private Duty Association, 5 p.m. The live and interactive program will cover an overview of elder law issues, powers of attorney, informed consent and guardianship, advance directives and wills and trusts. Free. * http://www.privatedutyhomecare.org.

Thursday through Sunday

Christian entrepreneurs: The Nehemiah Project International Ministries will host a conference and banquet, NPIM Weekend. The Nehemiah Project is an international business training and support organization founded in 1999 in Washington, D.C. * Information or registration, http://www.nehemiahproject.org.

Saturday

Vancouver SCORE: “Your Business — Plan It, Start It, Grow It,” a full-day workshop to get your business off the ground, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Clark College Columbia Tech Center, Corporate Learning Center, Room 337, 18700 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. Topics include building a business plan, understanding your market, financing alternatives. Cost, $85. * http://www.scorevancouver.org/workshops, 360-699-1079.

Upcoming

Jobs fair: A free jobs fair, hosted by Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, 1-6 p.m. Sept. 28, at the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay, is open to all residents of Southwest Washington. * Ryan Hart, 360-695-6292.

Franchising seminar: The Pacific Northwest Business and Franchise Expo, 1-4 p.m. Sept. 29, at the Meadows Meeting Room, 5300 Meadows Road, Lake Oswego, Ore. The free seminar is open all people curious about starting or buying their own business. * http://www.franchiseexposept2011-linkedin.eventbrite.com or call 503-534-3695.

Business innovation workshop: The Columbia River Economic Development Council, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt and Frumenti, Landers & Wallace are sponsoring “Business Innovation Workshop: Move the Dial. Innovate Your Business Today,” noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 at Clark College Columbia Tech Center, 18700 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Room 144. Cost is $25. * Nick Ferderer at nferderer@credc.org or 360-576-3175.

Free digital workshops: Washington State University Vancouver digital communications instructors are hosting free, first-come, first-serve workshops open to any local resident, small-business owner or nonprofit group employee. Upcoming sessions: Google Maps 101, with Will Luers, YouTube 101, Oct. 5; Working with Sound for Websites 101, John Barber, clinical assistant professor, Oct. 19; Social Media Web Strategy 101, Frank Mungeam, adjunct professor, Nov. 2; Go Mobile: Website or Web App, Brett Oppegaard, assistant professor, Nov. 16; and Optimizing your Website for Search Engines 101, Dene Grigar director and associate professor of the Creative Media & Digital Culture Program, Nov. 30. They run from noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Multimedia Classroom Building, Room 111, on the WSUV campus at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. Each is limited to 24 persons, ideally, a maximum of 30. There is a fee to park on campus. * Reservations: dgrigar@vancouver.wsu.edu.

Financial webinar: Dave Ramsey, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host who helps people with their finances, will speak on the topic “EntreLeadership” through a national Web simulcast, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 30, Clark College at Columbia Tech Center, 18700 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. Topics: defining the difference between traditional leadership and the EntreLeader model; dreams, vision and goal setting; financial peace for the business leader; hiring and firing; and decision making. Cost is $39, plus $12 optional lunch. * Registration: http://www.daveramsey.com/entreleadership/simulcast/ or 360-687-3089.

To submit to the business calendar, send information to mary.ricks@columbian.com or fax 360-735-4491. Sales awards are not published.