Events Calendar

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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Sarah Yasukochi is a brand builder and integrated marketing strategist. She is the Founder of House Collective, a boutique marketing agency for purpose-driven entrepreneurs in the health, wellness and green living space who want to elevate their brands, grow sales, and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. 

Sarah has created brand blueprints and marketing frameworks that have resulted in triple digit increases in client web traffic, social media followers, and sales conversions. Sarah’s clients have become industry leaders, fast growing companies, and 8-figure businesses.

Before starting House Collective, Sarah worked close to 20 years as a senior marketer for Fortune 500 and Global 2000 corporations. With an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University, she has taught undergraduate courses in marketing at University of California San Diego Extension and Southern New Hampshire University. As a proven brand builder, Sarah has also launched multiple award-winning retail and service-based businesses and has been featured in San Diego Magazine and CEO Mom Magazine. 

With a passion for the personal development industry, Sarah attributes much of her success to mindset and magic as much as marketing. She is also a creative and aspiring author currently working on a multimedia book that blends short stories, poetry and art. She lives in Oceanside, California.
You may want to ask Sarah questions related to:

- What types of marketing activities can I do on my own (or with a small team) to launch a new business, service or offering?

- What are some best practices for specific social media channels?

- What are some recommended tools and software solutions to help me manage my marketing and social media activities?

- How do I build the marketing strategy for my brand? 

Learn more about Sarah or connect with her during her GURU hours, every Friday from 10-11am. Please use the following link to schedule your time slot with Sarah:

Email Sarah at sarah@housecollectivesd.com to schedule your 30-minute Zoom call.

Website: housecollectivesd.com

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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Hera Hub GURU Valerie Grant has two decades of fundraising experience, helping obtain millions of dollars in funding for organizations across the globe. She is the principal owner of Grant Consulting Services LLC., a fundraising consulting firm, and as President of the Grant Professionals Association, San Diego Chapter, she is recognized in the community as a funding expert. Collectively, her team has 33 years of funding development experience and is committed to positively impacting organizations through funding development work.

Valerie is passionate about helping people and organizations to utilize available resources, including aiding private small and women-owned businesses in searching and applying for government contracts. She also assists nonprofit organizations through project development, comprehensive funding searches, expert grant management, and professional grant proposal writing services. She has secured funding for clients in the youth development, education, and human services fields from government, corporate and foundation funding sources.

Questions you may want to ask Valerie include:
- Is my business or organization eligible for grants or government contracts?
- What is the process to find and obtain grants and/or contracts?
- How do I cut through the red tape and obtain contracts with the government?
- Should my business become certified and why?

Valerie has a baccalaureate degree in Business Administration from Baker College in Flint, MI, and studied Social Work for two years at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA. At Grant Consulting Services, she practices what she preaches by helping others. Some of Valerie’s community involvement and volunteer work includes:
KOCT Board of Directors
Fashionkind Board of Directors
Grant Professionals Association San Diego County Chapter-President
North County Philanthropy Council-Mentor

Website: www.grantconsultingservices.com
Email: Valerie@grantconsultingservices.com  

We are excited to announce that move @ make will be offering outdoor Yoga classes in the Amphitheater on Mondays at 4:30pm-5:30pm (5600 Avenida Encinas). The class will be instructed by Wendy Garafalo (bio below). Spots will be given on a first come, first serve basis. All attendees will be asked to bring their own yoga mat.

Wendy is a 500-ERYT certified yoga teacher and has been teaching yoga and movement for 20 years. She has a passion for teaching movement, muscular engagement and fluidity to students of all ages and abilities. Her teaching style has a way of helping you move your body and quiet your mind. In today's world, finding space to quiet the mind and maintain a healthy body is more important than ever. She looks forward to meeting you and giving you the time you need to breathe and change the perspective on your life. For more info, visit wendygarafalo.com.

Women’s Business Center (WBC) Training, Mentorship and Business Development Hours are FREE and open to the public - by appointment.

Hera Hub Carlsbad is proud to host Stephanie Garcia from the Women’s Business Center. She provides free virtual one-on-one business consulting to help entrepreneurs plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses.

PLEASE READ!
Stephanie is available on Tuesdays at 10am and 1pm. To confirm your appointment with her, please schedule a time via this link: https://calendly.com/sgarcia3/wbc-herahub

Before the meeting, please take a few minutes to complete this short assessment so you can get the most from your time with Stephanie: https://sdwbc.ecenterdirect.com/signup

CANCELLATIONS: PLEASE be considerate of Stephanie's full schedule when booking your appointment, as time slots are extremely popular and can book up weeks in advance. If you cannot make your appointment, make sure to cancel through Calendly well in advance so she can open up your appointment to another entrepreneur. Multiple cancellations will result in disqualification from the program.

ABOUT STEPHANIE:
Stephanie is a business professional with over 10 years of experience working with small to medium size businesses in San Diego County. She spent 8 years as a Sales Account Manager, for a fortune 100 company, where she managed over $15M in annual sales with over 100 clients. Last year, she joined GroLens,Inc., a tech startup as a Business Development Manager. She has experience in both consumer packaged goods and cannabis industries. Her work has led her to become a subject matter expert in entering new markets, developing sales and marketing plans, business operations and business planning. This year she started her own business, G-West Express LLC, a trucking company. Her goal is to become a small to mid-size fleet carrier in the next 10 years. She’s interested in Cyber Security and dedicates her free time reading and learning the field. Stephanie has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Information System from the University of Southern California. She is very passionate about serving others, developing and cultivating new relationships, and seeing others succeed.

ABOUT WBC:
The San Diego & Imperial WBC is a partner of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and is hosted by Southwestern College at the Center for Business Advancement in National City. The WBC provides training, mentoring, business development and financing opportunities for entrepreneurs throughout San Diego and Imperial County.

For more information and a full calendar of WBC’s trainings, events and activities, please visit https://sdwbc.ecenterdirect.com/events  

- Open to Members and Non-Members -
Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

Dawn DeSantis, founder and CEO of Afflatus Media, is an SEO and inbound marketing specialist who helps businesses thrive online. Afflatus Media provides Search Engine Optimization services, inbound content marketing, social media management and website design and development.

Living in a relationship-driven economy where 90% of research begins with an online search, Afflatus Media equips your business with the marketing, tech and SEO strategies needed to reach your target audience.

Dawn is an ‘early adopter’ and her genuine curiosity combined with her innate ability to learn new software keeps her on the cutting edge, continuously adding new professional skills and tech solutions for growing businesses. A tenacious problem solver, she finds great satisfaction in helping business owners overcome the technical and implementation hurdles that so often stand in the way of growing and succeeding in business.

Questions you might ask Dawn during her GURU hours:
- How to speed up a slow website
- How to improve SEO and get your website to show up on page 1 of Google
- How to install Facebook pixel, Google Analytics, or Google Ads tracking codes
- How to set up Google My Business
- How to take a website backup/how to restore a backup
- Which software and tools best help you achieve your marketing goals

A huge part of Dawn’s work includes sorting through various clients’ business and technical structures, untangling the webs, optimizing their software, website, and other marketing tools for high speed and low drag. Dawn and her team are highly proficient at learning and adapting to any software due to clients’ needs. By providing their own servers, Dawn and her team manage multiple websites with thousands of monthly visitors, launch and manage multiple clients’ podcasts and run and manage ads on various platforms.

Learn more about Dawn or connect with her during her GURU hours, on the first and third Tuesday monthly from 12-1pm. These are open hours, but if you would like to lock in your time with Dawn, please use this optional scheduling link: https://calendly.com/afflatusmedia/seo-guru-hour  

Learn more about Afflatus Media: https://afflatusmedia.com

Email: dawn@afflatusmedia.com

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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Hera Hub Carlsbad GURU Asako Okuma Svolopoulos is a Financial Education Entrepreneur and Senior Marketing Director at Revolution Financial Management. She manages two San Diego offices as well as a team of associates, delivering trustworthy financial education and expertise to clients from all walks of life. 

As a GURU, Asako consults with entrepreneurs on the critical balance between personal and business finances; on the ultimate goal of separating the two; and on how to invest in both. She can guide you through savings plans in the absence of employer plans, debt consolidation and debt management planning, insurance, retirement, and benefit plans. 

You may want to ask Asako questions related to:

•How should I use my personal finances to support my entrepreneurial goals? What are the pros and cons of investing my own money into my business?
•What are the savings and tax consequences of my financial choices?
•How much insurance do I need and what types should I consider?
•Are there products where I can grow my money and still have access to it without penalty or taxation?
•What are the rules and regulations for tax-deferred accounts and benefit plans?
•Are there financial professionals who will work with me if I don't have a lot of money?
•How do I get out of debt?

Learn more about Asako or connect with her during her GURU hours, on the first and third Tuesdays monthly from 1-3pm. 
Website: www.financialrevolution.com
Email: aokuma16ALS@wfgmail.com  

*Calendly link to schedule your virtual GURU appointment with Asako: https://calendly.com/rfm_smd/30min*

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

____________________________________________
With her extensive skill and experience in molecular biology, immunology and virology, registered Patent Attorney Dr. King helps companies protect their intellectual property. Dr. King represents and counsels clients in domestic and international patent and trademark prosecution, negotiation of patent licenses, and trademark coexistence agreements. She also represents clients in opposition and infringement cases before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, federal courts, the International Trade Commission, and in Inter Partes Reviews in front of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Combining her law degree with her doctorate in Molecular Biology, Dr. King brings her legal expertise to bear on patent application preparation and prosecution, both foreign and domestic, in areas ranging from biotechnology, molecular biology, immunology and virology to diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, small molecules, and pharmaceuticals.

Example Questions:

1. What is the most cost-effective way to protect my idea?
2. What do I do if someone has taken my idea?
3. What is the best way to protect my name?
4. Should I get a copyright registration for my material?

I have over 10 years’ experience as a patent attorney. Before becoming an attorney, I obtained a doctorate degree in Molecular Biology, and a bachelor’s of science degree in Microbiology, as well as worked in the biotechnology industry for several years.

https://www.matrix.law/laura.html

Set up an appointment during her hours: laura@matrix.law

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

____________________________________________
Lucy Kelleher is the founder of Keep Them Loyal. In her "former" life as a litigation paralegal and elementary school teacher, she quickly learned how important building relationships was to a successful business. When she became a full-time entrepreneur, she realized that her relationships with clients and business partners was even more critical to her success. She no longer saw her contacts daily or even weekly! She had also started networking and needed to connect with potential referral partners and business resources. She began to create systems to ensure that she stayed connected as well as stayed “top of mind” to them.

She assists business owners grow their business by helping them build relationships with their clients and referral partners. We work one-on-one or in small groups to create their own client retention and referral programs by strategizing ways to stay connected.

What is a CRM? There are so many of them out there! How do I decide if I need one and then which one do I choose? Do they all cost money?

I have a stack of business cards from various events I have attended. What do I do with that stack of business cards?

I'm feeling overwhelmed that I am not handling the clients and leads that I have now - I'm hesitating in attending events and meeting new people. If I can't handle what I already have, how can I take on anything new?

What's a follow up process? How do I follow up? I can't meet everyone for coffee or talk to everyone I meet one-on-one. How do I decide who to meet and follow up with?

I network but I'm not getting anything out of it. What should I be doing?

Learn more about Lucy or connect with her during her GURU hours, on the first and third Wednesday monthly from 9:30-11am. These are open hours, but if you would like to lock in your time with Lucy, please use this optional scheduling link: https://calendly.com/lucykelleher/guru20min

Website: http://www.keepthemloyal.com/

Email: lucy@keepthemloyal.com

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

____________________________________________
As a fellow entrepreneur, Renie has the knowledge, understanding and passion required to help and care for the various needs an entrepreneur faces on a daily basis. Throughout her career, she has focused on assisting the small business owner, working with individual entrepreneurs, small businesses, and middle market companies in various industries. Her litigation background gives her an edge as she can draft agreements and negotiate transactions for you with dispute avoidance in mind.

You may want to ask questions related to:
What business form is best for my business?
Is my business ready to grow and what kind of investor would be a good fit for me and my company?
What is my personal liability for actions I take as an entrepreneur and what do I need to do to protect myself?
How can I efficiently and economically handle any business dispute that may arise?
Do I need to take any preventative law measures to protect my business from harm and to allow for growth and profitability?

_________________________________________________________________________

Renie Leakakos, Esq. is a detail oriented and entrepreneurial leader who has worked in various business settings as an attorney, manager, sales and marketing professional. Originally from Chicago, she moved to Southern California to study business management and psychology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She went on to study law at Loyola Law School. Not only does Renie have “traditional” attorney work experience in a law firm setting as an associate and managing partner, she also has extensive hands on experience working in the corporate arena in sales and marketing. Her expertise is in corporate formation and compliance, contract negotiation, investment due diligence, business transactions and real property law.

This event will be hosted on the Hera Hub Global Zoom Line. Please contact Tamina@herahub.com for Zoom line and passcode, or locate the link on our Facebook members' group Events tab.   
 *This event is open to any Hera Hub member nationwide who is making or has made the transition from solopreneur to team leader for her business.*
  
At Hera Hub, we strive to serve members in all phases of business ownership. We have identified a need in members who have graduated from being the only person working both in and on their business to hiring contractors or employees. Being a team leader whose goal it is to work ON rather than IN the business comes with an entirely new set of challenges and required skills. The From Solo[preneur] to Scaled Sub-Hub is new group of similarly-situated members within our community who meet regularly to share ideas, support, and educate each other on the path to becoming true CEOs of their businesses.

Come to this planning mastermind meeting to set forth what you'd like to gain from this new Sub-Hub and how you think the members in our community who have scaled their businesses can support each other. Lisane Basquiat will lead the meeting and the goal is to hear from YOU about how Hera Hub can support you as you scale, topics for discussion, use of the Facebook group, etc. Any and all members who think they would benefit from the From Solo[preneur] to Scaled Sub-Hub are welcome to attend!

Upcoming meeting presenters and topics:
4/16 - Gwen Beren - Staying Within Your Zone of Genius
5/14 - Nikkie Achartz - Post-Scale Profitability
6/11 - Lucy Kelleher - Delegation Best Practices
7/9 -  Lisane Basquiat - How to Interview and Hire the Right People  
8/13 - Nicole Hagaman - Work/Life Balance
9/10 - Virginia Rodriguez - Defining & Sharing Your Vision
10/8 - Valerie Grant - Managing Team Members: Sharing Best Practices  
11/12 - Renie Leakakos - AB5/Independent Contractor Navigation  

 **We also have a From Solo[preneur] to Scaled Sub-Hub Facebook group in which you can ask questions, share resources, and get to know the other members. Please contact Tamina to request access to the Sub-Hub group!**

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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Jessica Hornbeck is a seasoned entrepreneur with over twenty years experience navigating corporate, nonprofit and small business organizations with such fervor that she has been able to boil down lessons learned into a thoughtful and easy-to-grasp approach that has created value add for her clients, team, and community. A "big picture thinker," Jessica thrives on working with business owners to build financial systems and workflow foundations to help them do more with less; maximize their limited time; and grow both their income and freedom.  

You may want to ask Jessica questions related to:

Learn more about Jessica and connect with her during her GURU hours, on the second and fourth Thursdays monthly from 12-1pm: https://calendly.com/jessica_hornbeck/guru-hours

Website: bigpicresults.com

Email: jessica@bigpicresults.com

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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After spending the majority of her professional career as an HR Leader in various startup and non-profit organizations, Hera Hub GURU Cheryl St. Cyr embarked on a new journey as an HR Consultant with a few trusted and talented colleagues - and never looked back! In this new direction, Cheryl has had the opportunity to collaborate with accomplished and brilliant professionals, all working towards the same goal of creating the most efficient business processes possible.

Cheryl is obsessed with structure and problem (read: puzzle) solving, and both skills lend themselves well to the world of people culture and human capital compliance. Smart business owners recognize the part their people play in synergistically making them the top choice for their customers. Cheryl partners with leaders to not only take the worry out of managing the complex world of employment, but also to provide insight and strategy for culture definition and improvement. Cheryl is a Thought Leader in the People and Culture movement but understands the paperwork and policies needed to have flawless execution in order to support the vision.

You may want to ask Cheryl questions related to:

* What documentation, posters, practices, and procedures do I need to have in place as a business owner to maintain compliance with state and federal laws?

* Why does my small business need a Company Handbook? Job Descriptions? Mission, vision, and values? Performance management process?

* How do I start a/multiple benefits program(s) for my team members? Medical, dental, vision?401k? Health and wellness? Professional development?

* What are key components to team member retention and acquisition? Sourcing ideas? Non-monetary incentives? Culture and branding opportunities?

* How can I better structure my organization in order to optimize workflow and communication dissemination?

Cheryl has experience in the following areas:

Conflict resolution • Grievance processes • Internal investigations • Management-employee communications • Onboarding and offboarding procedures • Employee paperwork • Handbook creation and updates • Performance management • Professional development and planning • Intranet structures • HRIS implementation and administration • Full-cycle recruiting • Retention strategies • Salary reviews and compensation analysis • Benefits administration • Job descriptions and profiles • Succession planning • Payroll setup and administration • Bonus structures • Company branding strategies • Executive and leadership coaching • Non-monetary rewards and benefits • State and local employment law compliance • Workers’ compensation claims • HR file records and retention policies • HR audits • Interim HR leadership • FMLA/LOA/CFRA/PDL administration • Mission, Vision, Values creation facilitation • Diversity and inclusion strategies • Skills assessments • Wellness programs • Employee engagement and satisfaction surveys and action plans

Learn more about Cheryl or connect with her during her GURU hours, on the second and fourth Thursdays monthly from 1-2pm.

Website: www.linkedin.com/in/cherylstcyr/

Email: cherylmstcyr@gmail.com

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Sarah Yasukochi is a brand builder and integrated marketing strategist. She is the Founder of House Collective, a boutique marketing agency for purpose-driven entrepreneurs in the health, wellness and green living space who want to elevate their brands, grow sales, and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. 

Sarah has created brand blueprints and marketing frameworks that have resulted in triple digit increases in client web traffic, social media followers, and sales conversions. Sarah’s clients have become industry leaders, fast growing companies, and 8-figure businesses.

Before starting House Collective, Sarah worked close to 20 years as a senior marketer for Fortune 500 and Global 2000 corporations. With an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University, she has taught undergraduate courses in marketing at University of California San Diego Extension and Southern New Hampshire University. As a proven brand builder, Sarah has also launched multiple award-winning retail and service-based businesses and has been featured in San Diego Magazine and CEO Mom Magazine. 

With a passion for the personal development industry, Sarah attributes much of her success to mindset and magic as much as marketing. She is also a creative and aspiring author currently working on a multimedia book that blends short stories, poetry and art. She lives in Oceanside, California.
You may want to ask Sarah questions related to:

- What types of marketing activities can I do on my own (or with a small team) to launch a new business, service or offering?

- What are some best practices for specific social media channels?

- What are some recommended tools and software solutions to help me manage my marketing and social media activities?

- How do I build the marketing strategy for my brand? 

Learn more about Sarah or connect with her during her GURU hours, every Friday from 10-11am. Please use the following link to schedule your time slot with Sarah:

Email Sarah at sarah@housecollectivesd.com to schedule your 30-minute Zoom call.

Website: housecollectivesd.com

We are excited to announce that move @ make will be offering outdoor Yoga classes in the Amphitheater on Mondays at 4:30pm-5:30pm (5600 Avenida Encinas). The class will be instructed by Wendy Garafalo (bio below). Spots will be given on a first come, first serve basis. All attendees will be asked to bring their own yoga mat.

Wendy is a 500-ERYT certified yoga teacher and has been teaching yoga and movement for 20 years. She has a passion for teaching movement, muscular engagement and fluidity to students of all ages and abilities. Her teaching style has a way of helping you move your body and quiet your mind. In today's world, finding space to quiet the mind and maintain a healthy body is more important than ever. She looks forward to meeting you and giving you the time you need to breathe and change the perspective on your life. For more info, visit wendygarafalo.com.

Women’s Business Center (WBC) Training, Mentorship and Business Development Hours are FREE and open to the public - by appointment.

Hera Hub Carlsbad is proud to host Stephanie Garcia from the Women’s Business Center. She provides free virtual one-on-one business consulting to help entrepreneurs plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses.

PLEASE READ!
Stephanie is available on Tuesdays at 10am and 1pm. To confirm your appointment with her, please schedule a time via this link: https://calendly.com/sgarcia3/wbc-herahub

Before the meeting, please take a few minutes to complete this short assessment so you can get the most from your time with Stephanie: https://sdwbc.ecenterdirect.com/signup

CANCELLATIONS: PLEASE be considerate of Stephanie's full schedule when booking your appointment, as time slots are extremely popular and can book up weeks in advance. If you cannot make your appointment, make sure to cancel through Calendly well in advance so she can open up your appointment to another entrepreneur. Multiple cancellations will result in disqualification from the program.

ABOUT STEPHANIE:
Stephanie is a business professional with over 10 years of experience working with small to medium size businesses in San Diego County. She spent 8 years as a Sales Account Manager, for a fortune 100 company, where she managed over $15M in annual sales with over 100 clients. Last year, she joined GroLens,Inc., a tech startup as a Business Development Manager. She has experience in both consumer packaged goods and cannabis industries. Her work has led her to become a subject matter expert in entering new markets, developing sales and marketing plans, business operations and business planning. This year she started her own business, G-West Express LLC, a trucking company. Her goal is to become a small to mid-size fleet carrier in the next 10 years. She’s interested in Cyber Security and dedicates her free time reading and learning the field. Stephanie has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Information System from the University of Southern California. She is very passionate about serving others, developing and cultivating new relationships, and seeing others succeed.

ABOUT WBC:
The San Diego & Imperial WBC is a partner of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and is hosted by Southwestern College at the Center for Business Advancement in National City. The WBC provides training, mentoring, business development and financing opportunities for entrepreneurs throughout San Diego and Imperial County.

For more information and a full calendar of WBC’s trainings, events and activities, please visit https://sdwbc.ecenterdirect.com/events  

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

____________________________________________
With her extensive skill and experience in molecular biology, immunology and virology, registered Patent Attorney Dr. King helps companies protect their intellectual property. Dr. King represents and counsels clients in domestic and international patent and trademark prosecution, negotiation of patent licenses, and trademark coexistence agreements. She also represents clients in opposition and infringement cases before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, federal courts, the International Trade Commission, and in Inter Partes Reviews in front of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Combining her law degree with her doctorate in Molecular Biology, Dr. King brings her legal expertise to bear on patent application preparation and prosecution, both foreign and domestic, in areas ranging from biotechnology, molecular biology, immunology and virology to diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, small molecules, and pharmaceuticals.

Example Questions:

1. What is the most cost-effective way to protect my idea?
2. What do I do if someone has taken my idea?
3. What is the best way to protect my name?
4. Should I get a copyright registration for my material?

I have over 10 years’ experience as a patent attorney. Before becoming an attorney, I obtained a doctorate degree in Molecular Biology, and a bachelor’s of science degree in Microbiology, as well as worked in the biotechnology industry for several years.

https://www.matrix.law/laura.html

Set up an appointment during her hours: laura@matrix.law

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

____________________________________________

As one of the foremost branding photographers and image-based branding strategists in San Diego, Nikkie Achartz has leveraged her background in psychology, marketing, and sales, to help hundreds of entrepreneurs create a visual brand that boosts relationships, referrals, and revenue.

Beyond photography, Nikkie helps clients develop a comprehensive visual marketing and sales strategy that integrates the right mix of psycho-graphic behavioral profiling, impact driven images, and sales model development to build the KNOW ⇨ LIKE ⇨ TRUST ⇨ BUY relationship. She believes sustained profitability is a result of strong brands, strong buying triggers, and a streamlined sales conversion process.

You may want to ask Nikkie questions related to:

- Guidance in helping you identify a target market that will properly value your services – If I “niche” will I be leaving money on the table from other potential sources?
- Identifying the compelling fears, pains, and desires of your ideal client – How are you ideally positioned to meet the needs/wants of your target audience?
- Support matching your brand with the ideal target market – Do you want high end clients, but have a bargain basement brand?
- Understanding how much time you must spend “on” your business vs. “in” your business – How do you get off the feast-famine income roller coaster that often comes with a service-based business?
- Understanding your revenue funnel and how to move potential clients from “hello” to bigger ticket packages – How are you converting inquiries to income in a way that allows prospects to easily “buy in” to your services without causing instant sticker shock?
- Ways to add value so you don’t get caught in the discounting trap – In what ways are you standing out in the crowd of your competitors without engaging in a “race to the bottom” pricing plan?

Website: www.SNAPSavvyStrategies.com

Email: nikkie@SNAPSavvyStrategies.com

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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Sarah Yasukochi is a brand builder and integrated marketing strategist. She is the Founder of House Collective, a boutique marketing agency for purpose-driven entrepreneurs in the health, wellness and green living space who want to elevate their brands, grow sales, and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. 

Sarah has created brand blueprints and marketing frameworks that have resulted in triple digit increases in client web traffic, social media followers, and sales conversions. Sarah’s clients have become industry leaders, fast growing companies, and 8-figure businesses.

Before starting House Collective, Sarah worked close to 20 years as a senior marketer for Fortune 500 and Global 2000 corporations. With an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University, she has taught undergraduate courses in marketing at University of California San Diego Extension and Southern New Hampshire University. As a proven brand builder, Sarah has also launched multiple award-winning retail and service-based businesses and has been featured in San Diego Magazine and CEO Mom Magazine. 

With a passion for the personal development industry, Sarah attributes much of her success to mindset and magic as much as marketing. She is also a creative and aspiring author currently working on a multimedia book that blends short stories, poetry and art. She lives in Oceanside, California.
You may want to ask Sarah questions related to:

- What types of marketing activities can I do on my own (or with a small team) to launch a new business, service or offering?

- What are some best practices for specific social media channels?

- What are some recommended tools and software solutions to help me manage my marketing and social media activities?

- How do I build the marketing strategy for my brand? 

Learn more about Sarah or connect with her during her GURU hours, every Friday from 10-11am. Please use the following link to schedule your time slot with Sarah:

Email Sarah at sarah@housecollectivesd.com to schedule your 30-minute Zoom call.

Website: housecollectivesd.com

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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Hera Hub GURU Valerie Grant has two decades of fundraising experience, helping obtain millions of dollars in funding for organizations across the globe. She is the principal owner of Grant Consulting Services LLC., a fundraising consulting firm, and as President of the Grant Professionals Association, San Diego Chapter, she is recognized in the community as a funding expert. Collectively, her team has 33 years of funding development experience and is committed to positively impacting organizations through funding development work.

Valerie is passionate about helping people and organizations to utilize available resources, including aiding private small and women-owned businesses in searching and applying for government contracts. She also assists nonprofit organizations through project development, comprehensive funding searches, expert grant management, and professional grant proposal writing services. She has secured funding for clients in the youth development, education, and human services fields from government, corporate and foundation funding sources.

Questions you may want to ask Valerie include:
- Is my business or organization eligible for grants or government contracts?
- What is the process to find and obtain grants and/or contracts?
- How do I cut through the red tape and obtain contracts with the government?
- Should my business become certified and why?

Valerie has a baccalaureate degree in Business Administration from Baker College in Flint, MI, and studied Social Work for two years at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA. At Grant Consulting Services, she practices what she preaches by helping others. Some of Valerie’s community involvement and volunteer work includes:
KOCT Board of Directors
Fashionkind Board of Directors
Grant Professionals Association San Diego County Chapter-President
North County Philanthropy Council-Mentor

Website: www.grantconsultingservices.com
Email: Valerie@grantconsultingservices.com

We are excited to announce that move @ make will be offering outdoor Yoga classes in the Amphitheater on Mondays at 4:30pm-5:30pm (5600 Avenida Encinas). The class will be instructed by Wendy Garafalo (bio below). Spots will be given on a first come, first serve basis. All attendees will be asked to bring their own yoga mat.

Wendy is a 500-ERYT certified yoga teacher and has been teaching yoga and movement for 20 years. She has a passion for teaching movement, muscular engagement and fluidity to students of all ages and abilities. Her teaching style has a way of helping you move your body and quiet your mind. In today's world, finding space to quiet the mind and maintain a healthy body is more important than ever. She looks forward to meeting you and giving you the time you need to breathe and change the perspective on your life. For more info, visit wendygarafalo.com.

Women’s Business Center (WBC) Training, Mentorship and Business Development Hours are FREE and open to the public - by appointment.

Hera Hub Carlsbad is proud to host Stephanie Garcia from the Women’s Business Center. She provides free virtual one-on-one business consulting to help entrepreneurs plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses.

PLEASE READ!
Stephanie is available on Tuesdays at 10am and 1pm. To confirm your appointment with her, please schedule a time via this link: https://calendly.com/sgarcia3/wbc-herahub

Before the meeting, please take a few minutes to complete this short assessment so you can get the most from your time with Stephanie: https://sdwbc.ecenterdirect.com/signup

CANCELLATIONS: PLEASE be considerate of Stephanie's full schedule when booking your appointment, as time slots are extremely popular and can book up weeks in advance. If you cannot make your appointment, make sure to cancel through Calendly well in advance so she can open up your appointment to another entrepreneur. Multiple cancellations will result in disqualification from the program.

ABOUT STEPHANIE:
Stephanie is a business professional with over 10 years of experience working with small to medium size businesses in San Diego County. She spent 8 years as a Sales Account Manager, for a fortune 100 company, where she managed over $15M in annual sales with over 100 clients. Last year, she joined GroLens,Inc., a tech startup as a Business Development Manager. She has experience in both consumer packaged goods and cannabis industries. Her work has led her to become a subject matter expert in entering new markets, developing sales and marketing plans, business operations and business planning. This year she started her own business, G-West Express LLC, a trucking company. Her goal is to become a small to mid-size fleet carrier in the next 10 years. She’s interested in Cyber Security and dedicates her free time reading and learning the field. Stephanie has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Information System from the University of Southern California. She is very passionate about serving others, developing and cultivating new relationships, and seeing others succeed.

ABOUT WBC:
The San Diego & Imperial WBC is a partner of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and is hosted by Southwestern College at the Center for Business Advancement in National City. The WBC provides training, mentoring, business development and financing opportunities for entrepreneurs throughout San Diego and Imperial County.

For more information and a full calendar of WBC’s trainings, events and activities, please visit https://sdwbc.ecenterdirect.com/events  

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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You may want to ask Lindsay questions related to:

- What should my tax position be in the coming year?
- How can I begin to build my bookkeeping and accounting needs for myself and my business?
- Am I compliant with the new AB5 independent contractor tax laws moving forward? If not, how can I become compliant?
- How do I set up a business entity?
- What entity is right for me?  

Learn more about Lindsay or connect with her during her GURU hours, on the third Tuesday monthly from 10:30am - 12:30pm.

Website: wileyfinancialinc.com

- Open to Members and Non-Members -
Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

Dawn DeSantis, founder and CEO of Afflatus Media, is an SEO and inbound marketing specialist who helps businesses thrive online. Afflatus Media provides Search Engine Optimization services, inbound content marketing, social media management and website design and development.

Living in a relationship-driven economy where 90% of research begins with an online search, Afflatus Media equips your business with the marketing, tech and SEO strategies needed to reach your target audience.

Dawn is an ‘early adopter’ and her genuine curiosity combined with her innate ability to learn new software keeps her on the cutting edge, continuously adding new professional skills and tech solutions for growing businesses. A tenacious problem solver, she finds great satisfaction in helping business owners overcome the technical and implementation hurdles that so often stand in the way of growing and succeeding in business.

Questions you might ask Dawn during her GURU hours:
- How to speed up a slow website
- How to improve SEO and get your website to show up on page 1 of Google
- How to install Facebook pixel, Google Analytics, or Google Ads tracking codes
- How to set up Google My Business
- How to take a website backup/how to restore a backup
- Which software and tools best help you achieve your marketing goals
-  have a face-to-face business that I need to bring online. What are my next steps?

A huge part of Dawn’s work includes sorting through various clients’ business and technical structures, untangling the webs, optimizing their software, website, and other marketing tools for high speed and low drag. Dawn and her team are highly proficient at learning and adapting to any software due to clients’ needs. By providing their own servers, Dawn and her team manage multiple websites with thousands of monthly visitors, launch and manage multiple clients’ podcasts and run and manage ads on various platforms.

Learn more about Dawn or connect with her during her GURU hours, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 12-1pm. These are open hours, but if you would like to lock in your time with Dawn, please use this optional scheduling link: https://calendly.com/afflatusmedia/seo-guru-hour  

Learn more about Afflatus Media: https://afflatusmedia.com
Email: dawn@afflatusmedia.com

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

____________________________________________
With her extensive skill and experience in molecular biology, immunology and virology, registered Patent Attorney Dr. King helps companies protect their intellectual property. Dr. King represents and counsels clients in domestic and international patent and trademark prosecution, negotiation of patent licenses, and trademark coexistence agreements. She also represents clients in opposition and infringement cases before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, federal courts, the International Trade Commission, and in Inter Partes Reviews in front of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Combining her law degree with her doctorate in Molecular Biology, Dr. King brings her legal expertise to bear on patent application preparation and prosecution, both foreign and domestic, in areas ranging from biotechnology, molecular biology, immunology and virology to diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, small molecules, and pharmaceuticals.

Example Questions:

1. What is the most cost-effective way to protect my idea?
2. What do I do if someone has taken my idea?
3. What is the best way to protect my name?
4. Should I get a copyright registration for my material?

I have over 10 years’ experience as a patent attorney. Before becoming an attorney, I obtained a doctorate degree in Molecular Biology, and a bachelor’s of science degree in Microbiology, as well as worked in the biotechnology industry for several years.

https://www.matrix.law/laura.html

Set up an appointment during her hours: laura@matrix.law

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

____________________________________________
Lucy Kelleher is the founder of Keep Them Loyal. In her "former" life as a litigation paralegal and elementary school teacher, she quickly learned how important building relationships was to a successful business. When she became a full-time entrepreneur, she realized that her relationships with clients and business partners was even more critical to her success. She no longer saw her contacts daily or even weekly! She had also started networking and needed to connect with potential referral partners and business resources. She began to create systems to ensure that she stayed connected as well as stayed “top of mind” to them.

She assists business owners grow their business by helping them build relationships with their clients and referral partners. We work one-on-one or in small groups to create their own client retention and referral programs by strategizing ways to stay connected.

What is a CRM? There are so many of them out there! How do I decide if I need one and then which one do I choose? Do they all cost money?

I have a stack of business cards from various events I have attended. What do I do with that stack of business cards?

I'm feeling overwhelmed that I am not handling the clients and leads that I have now - I'm hesitating in attending events and meeting new people. If I can't handle what I already have, how can I take on anything new?

What's a follow up process? How do I follow up? I can't meet everyone for coffee or talk to everyone I meet one-on-one. How do I decide who to meet and follow up with?

I network but I'm not getting anything out of it. What should I be doing?

Learn more about Lucy or connect with her during her GURU hours, on the first and third Wednesday monthly from 9:30-11am. These are open hours, but if you would like to lock in your time with Lucy, please use this optional scheduling link: https://calendly.com/lucykelleher/guru20min

Website: http://www.keepthemloyal.com/

Email: lucy@keepthemloyal.com

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

____________________________________________
As a fellow entrepreneur, Renie has the knowledge, understanding and passion required to help and care for the various needs an entrepreneur faces on a daily basis. Throughout her career, she has focused on assisting the small business owner, working with individual entrepreneurs, small businesses, and middle market companies in various industries. Her litigation background gives her an edge as she can draft agreements and negotiate transactions for you with dispute avoidance in mind.

You may want to ask questions related to:
What business form is best for my business?
Is my business ready to grow and what kind of investor would be a good fit for me and my company?
What is my personal liability for actions I take as an entrepreneur and what do I need to do to protect myself?
How can I efficiently and economically handle any business dispute that may arise?
Do I need to take any preventative law measures to protect my business from harm and to allow for growth and profitability?

_________________________________________________________________________

Renie Leakakos, Esq. is a detail oriented and entrepreneurial leader who has worked in various business settings as an attorney, manager, sales and marketing professional. Originally from Chicago, she moved to Southern California to study business management and psychology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She went on to study law at Loyola Law School. Not only does Renie have “traditional” attorney work experience in a law firm setting as an associate and managing partner, she also has extensive hands on experience working in the corporate arena in sales and marketing. Her expertise is in corporate formation and compliance, contract negotiation, investment due diligence, business transactions and real property law.

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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Jessica Hornbeck is a seasoned entrepreneur with over twenty years experience navigating corporate, nonprofit and small business organizations with such fervor that she has been able to boil down lessons learned into a thoughtful and easy-to-grasp approach that has created value add for her clients, team, and community. A "big picture thinker," Jessica thrives on working with business owners to build financial systems and workflow foundations to help them do more with less; maximize their limited time; and grow both their income and freedom.  

You may want to ask Jessica questions related to:

Learn more about Jessica and connect with her during her GURU hours, on the second and fourth Thursdays monthly from 12-1pm: https://calendly.com/jessica_hornbeck/guru-hours

Website: bigpicresults.com
Email: jessica@bigpicresults.com

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

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After spending the majority of her professional career as an HR Leader in various startup and non-profit organizations, Hera Hub GURU Cheryl St. Cyr embarked on a new journey as an HR Consultant with a few trusted and talented colleagues - and never looked back! In this new direction, Cheryl has had the opportunity to collaborate with accomplished and brilliant professionals, all working towards the same goal of creating the most efficient business processes possible.

Cheryl is obsessed with structure and problem (read: puzzle) solving, and both skills lend themselves well to the world of people culture and human capital compliance. Smart business owners recognize the part their people play in synergistically making them the top choice for their customers. Cheryl partners with leaders to not only take the worry out of managing the complex world of employment, but also to provide insight and strategy for culture definition and improvement. Cheryl is a Thought Leader in the People and Culture movement but understands the paperwork and policies needed to have flawless execution in order to support the vision.

You may want to ask Cheryl questions related to:

* What documentation, posters, practices, and procedures do I need to have in place as a business owner to maintain compliance with state and federal laws?

* Why does my small business need a Company Handbook? Job Descriptions? Mission, vision, and values? Performance management process?

* How do I start a/multiple benefits program(s) for my team members? Medical, dental, vision?401k? Health and wellness? Professional development?

* What are key components to team member retention and acquisition? Sourcing ideas? Non-monetary incentives? Culture and branding opportunities?

* How can I better structure my organization in order to optimize workflow and communication dissemination?

Cheryl has experience in the following areas:

Conflict resolution • Grievance processes • Internal investigations • Management-employee communications • Onboarding and offboarding procedures • Employee paperwork • Handbook creation and updates • Performance management • Professional development and planning • Intranet structures • HRIS implementation and administration • Full-cycle recruiting • Retention strategies • Salary reviews and compensation analysis • Benefits administration • Job descriptions and profiles • Succession planning • Payroll setup and administration • Bonus structures • Company branding strategies • Executive and leadership coaching • Non-monetary rewards and benefits • State and local employment law compliance • Workers’ compensation claims • HR file records and retention policies • HR audits • Interim HR leadership • FMLA/LOA/CFRA/PDL administration • Mission, Vision, Values creation facilitation • Diversity and inclusion strategies • Skills assessments • Wellness programs • Employee engagement and satisfaction surveys and action plans

Learn more about Cheryl or connect with her during her GURU hours, on the second and fourth Thursdays monthly from 1-2pm.

Website: www.linkedin.com/in/cherylstcyr/

Email: cherylmstcyr@gmail.com

- Open to Members and Non-Members -

Hera Hub GURUs are subject matter experts who donate their time to meet one-on-one with local entrepreneurs (members and non-members welcome) to answer questions they may have on a variety of topics related to their field. Think of it like “office hours” with your professor. It’s a great way to get free mentoring and advice from business experts. Just drop by during GURU hours, no appointment necessary!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Sarah Yasukochi is a brand builder and integrated marketing strategist. She is the Founder of House Collective, a boutique marketing agency for purpose-driven entrepreneurs in the health, wellness and green living space who want to elevate their brands, grow sales, and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. 

Sarah has created brand blueprints and marketing frameworks that have resulted in triple digit increases in client web traffic, social media followers, and sales conversions. Sarah’s clients have become industry leaders, fast growing companies, and 8-figure businesses.

Before starting House Collective, Sarah worked close to 20 years as a senior marketer for Fortune 500 and Global 2000 corporations. With an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University, she has taught undergraduate courses in marketing at University of California San Diego Extension and Southern New Hampshire University. As a proven brand builder, Sarah has also launched multiple award-winning retail and service-based businesses and has been featured in San Diego Magazine and CEO Mom Magazine. 

With a passion for the personal development industry, Sarah attributes much of her success to mindset and magic as much as marketing. She is also a creative and aspiring author currently working on a multimedia book that blends short stories, poetry and art. She lives in Oceanside, California.
You may want to ask Sarah questions related to:

- What types of marketing activities can I do on my own (or with a small team) to launch a new business, service or offering?

- What are some best practices for specific social media channels?

- What are some recommended tools and software solutions to help me manage my marketing and social media activities?

- How do I build the marketing strategy for my brand? 

Learn more about Sarah or connect with her during her GURU hours, every Friday from 10-11am. Please use the following link to schedule your time slot with Sarah:

Email Sarah at sarah@housecollectivesd.com to schedule your 30-minute Zoom call.

Website: housecollectivesd.com