You’re not in this alone! It’s important as a small business owner, to surround yourself with individuals who have expertise in a variety of different fields. This group of people will serve as an informal Advisory Board you can bounce ideas off, or go to for advice on matters you’re not familiar with. They can help you identify areas for improvement, potential partnerships, or help with your strategic direction.

But where do you start when you want to create an Advisory Board? In this seminar, Stewart Gates, will go over some of the best practices for identifying and asking people to be a part of your advisory board. The work doesn’t stop there though. Stewart will also be going over how to get the most out of your advisors and how to develop long standing business relationships with them.

MEET THE PRESENTER:

About Stewart Gates
Stewart Gates has served as a business advisor to the NH SBDC‘s North Country since 2006. He brings a wealth of business experience to the clients he serves. Stewart, a Certified Business Advisor, was a commercial lender for 20 years and has owned a financial services company for 10 years. Stewart’s extensive business experience in the North Country has enabled him to forge relationships with both conventional and alternative lenders. He knows what lenders expect in a business plan and enjoys helping NH SBDC clients craft their business plans. In addition, he relishes marketing challenges that demand unconventional and creative solutions. He served as a business counselor for the Vermont Small Business Development Center and as a lecturer at the University of Vermont Extension System. Stewart holds a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.