Home Business of Food – Project Manager

Business of Food – Project Manager

Position Available Immediately:
Project Manager for The Business of Food Conference 2015

Objective: to manage the successful coordination, promotion, and execution of the Business of Food (BoF) Conference on June 29, 2015 and to ensure consistency with the grant goals and desired outcomes.

A joint project of the Central Virginia and Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Centers, the Business of Food Conference will feature a broad range of workshops topics of value to food service professionals, restaurant managers and owners, and all who desire to learn more about starting or growing a food business. Learn more about the conference at ValleySBDC.org/event/the-business-of-food-conference/

Responsibilities

Work with the BoF Planning Team to implement the planned activities and to develop a detailed schedule that identifies all tasks, timelines, and needed resources.
Serve as the primary contact for the project and communicate effectively with presenters, sponsors, and others to coordinate activities and insure smooth operations.
Complete the agreed upon tasks, monitor progress of the project, and make adjustments as necessary to ensure successful completion.
Communicate processes and progress on a regular basis to the BoF Planning Team.
Ensure that project communications, logistics, contacts, and resources are documented.

The BoF Project Manager reports to the Directors of the CV and SV SBDCs.
Work space will be allocated in one of their offices or work may be completed from home.
Term of service: Immediate start thru July 10, 2015
Payment: $3,000 with potential of commission on sponsorship goals met or exceeded

Qualifications

Set priorities, develop schedules, monitor progress, and track details
Communicate effectively to deliver information and promote the conference
Work independently and as part of a team

Tasks

Administrative

Meet with Betty & Joyce for overview of project: scope, goals, targets, and timelines
Set up cloud-based files for sharing info with BoF Planning Team members
Work with planning team to identify sponsors & presenters

Manage Workshops

Create file to collect suggestions for presenters, panelists, and topics as well as distribution channels
Distribute RFPs to the suggested list and via channels to assure widespread distribution
Collect RFPs; categorize, and share with team
Follow up on all proposals, respond to queries
Respond to proposals with confirmations (or otherwise) and confirm logistics
See tasks for Presenter/Panelists

Manage Publicity

Create a marketing campaign within the team’s approved budget. The campaign can include, but not limited to:
- Existing SBDC Websites and Facebook pages
- Existing BoF Facebook page
- Create a unique website for the conference
- Create content for other media: flyers, press releases, posters etc.
- Set visual identity standards
Implement & manage publicity activities
Monitor results and make recommended changes as needed

Manage Sponsorships

Create file to collect suggestions for sponsors from team members
Create/update sponsorship levels handout
Communicate via email, personal contact, or phone with potential sponsors
Follow up, respond, answer questions, upsell, etc. with contacts
Invoice sponsors appropriately and timely
Manage Sponsor perks/relationships – use of logos, registration tickets, etc.
Solicit and manage/collect sponsor door prizes

Manage Presenters / Panelists

Once confirmed, obtain final blurbs and bios for program
Communicate logistics of the day: directions, parking, arrival times, lunch, AV needs, etc.
Obtain their presentation & handouts

Manage Day-of Registration, Agenda, Signs, etc.

Establish registration process with CV SBDC
Coordinate with team / JMU for festival logistics, including lunch
Create and have printed the day’s program agenda
Create and have printed signage for the day - sponsorships, logos, directional, etc.

To apply: Send an email letter that explains your experiences and qualifications and why you are the best person to help us make the Business of Food Conference a success. Include the names, email addresses, phone numbers, and your relationship to three personal or professional references. Attach a current resume.

Send the email to bhoge@cvsbdc.org Betty Hoge, Director Central Virginia SBDC,
and cc krechjh@jmu.edu Joyce Krech, Director, Shenandoah Valley SBDC

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This has to be the most under-utilized free service available to a business owner. Whether you are a start-up or have been in business for 50 years, the SBDC can help you!

-Richard Halterman, CPA | Murphy Business Brokers and Appraisels-
The SBDC helped Immerge Technologies in its founding years from QuickBooks training to general business practices. As a group of young, talented JMU graduates, we struggled with how to bring our skills and services to market. The SV SBDC helped us with business plan development and helped us connect to the Valley community. They contributed much needed advise and helped us reach the success we enjoy today. Immerge Technologies celebrated its five-year anniversary on May 17, 2010, and shortly thereafter we sold the company to McClung Printing to become their Web Division. We are still based in Harrisonburg and still actively involved with the SV SBDC.

William Roy, prior Owner & now Web Accounts Manager
Immerge Technologies, a division of McClung

-William Roy-
What a great opportunity to say thank you for what the SBDC did for me. They made the process of opening Casual Friday easier, as they know how everything is done—from registering your business to marketing it after it is open. The SV SBDC is such a great free organization that helps throughout the process. I recommend a lot of people to them because of their success rate. I went from a 600 square foot to a 1200 square foot store, and then expanded again! Great mentoring.

-Crystal Fleming, Owner | Casual Friday Ladies Fashion Boutique-
The SBDC was instrumental in making our transition to a new business smooth and successful. If you are starting a business, start with the SBDC. They are knowledgeable, experienced, and can guide you through the business planning process. They provide you with excellent professional resources and, through effective planning, give you the confidence to achieve your dream.

-Jay and Ann Walsh-Brown, Owners | Brown & Co. Hair Design-
Whenever I meet with a new small business owner, the first place I have them go is the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center. The SV SBDC provides excellent insight on what it takes to succeed in our business community. With their knowledge and expertise, the SV SBDC gets businesses on the right track and helps them maintain their goals along the way. I'm very thankful to the SV SBDC for the work they've done for my clients, and I will continue to utilize this tremendous resource.

-Jonah Pence, Commercial Lender | Farmers and Merchants Bank-
I have the pleasure of working with entrepreneurs who have great ideas for new business ventures that they want to investigate and launch in the Shenandoah Valley. Often there is a piece of the puzzle in which the entrepreneur could use some assistance. Harrisonburg is fortunate to have the staff and resources of the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center available to work with area entrepreneurs. Business plan development, marketing, and accounting are just a few of the many subject areas that I know the SV SBDC offers, with great advice and expertise to clients I have referred their way.

-Brian B. Shull, Economic Development Director | City of Harrisonburg-
I've always had a productive experience with the SBDC. They were there for me and my business every step of the way. From the beginning, when Campus Cookies was just a twinkle in my eye, to the present—I could always count on the SBDC for dependable, non-biased, practical business advice. The SBDC gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself and my business model, allowing me to take the risks and handle the roller coaster ride of starting a business. Not only did the SBDC give me valuable knowledge, but they also helped to connect me within the local community and Shenandoah Valley, making the transition into a chain a lot less stressful. If there is one thing I've learned in business, it's the value of dependability, and the SBDC has always been there for me.

-Scott Davidson, Owner  | Campus Cookies-
The SBDC is a great partner with the Chamber of Commerce, helping small businesses grow and succeed.

-Frank Tamberrino, President & CEO | Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce-
I am very thankful for the SV SBDC. I was starting a new business and had no idea of where to begin to get things set up correctly from the very beginning. The consultant knew everything that I needed to do and went over it step by step for my specific needs. This is a valuable service... My consultant had all of the answers to my questions and gave me the resources I needed to get started. She saved me a lot of time, trouble, and money trying to figure all of this out on my own. When I had a follow-up question and called the office. I was very impressed with the way the staff went out of their way to find the answer to my question.

-Linda Trainum, Owner | Autumn Olive Farms-