Chester County Economic Development Council

Can small and mid-sized farming operations increase profits in the current economic environment where everyone must do more with less? Higher profits don't necessarily depend on higher sales. Improving efficiency and effectiveness by just 10% typically doubles profits. This workshop focuses on methods for streamlining operations and maximizing value creation in small to mid scale agriculture by applying management, accounting, operations and performance measurement approaches that improve and sustain profitability over the long term. Attendees will participate in a variety of hands-on small group exercises and assignments to create a specific actionable plan to improve profitability for their operations. Upon completion of this workshop, attendees will be able to apply a toolkit of techniques to:

• Define, assess containment approaches and prioritize problems/issues.
• Increase profitability by increasing value to customers.
• Develop strategies for products and services based upon customer demands and requirements.
• Reduce time and costs to produce products and provide value-added services.
• Optimize production capacity and quality of products and services by eliminating waste.
• Improve the delivery of products and services to the customer.
• Improve accounting and operational budgeting processes.
• Identify products and value-added services that will make their farm more successful in the future.

The workshop is offered by Liz Alakszay, Business Process Analyst. She has been helping businesses and individuals develop and streamline operations since 1990. Her workshops are educational, informative, practical and fun. Holding a bachelors and masters degree in chemical engineering, process design and an MBA, her focus is on identifying the cost effective combinations of technical and human aspects of businesses. Currently at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co., she coordinates and leads numerous improvement initiatives in financial operations. Additionally, she is an adjunct profession at Keller School of Management, an instructor of sustainable small scale backyard food production at West Chester Night School and a grower of custom heirloom and open pollinated vegetable and herb transplants.

Date: *Inclement Weather Make-Up Date:*	Tuesday, February 16, 2010 *Wednesday, February 24, 2010*
Time:	9:00 am - 3:00 pm (working lunch)
Location:	Delaware Valley College Room To Be Confirmed Doylestown, PA
**Cost:	$30

TO REGISTER:
(please register by February 14th)

In order to be registered you must provide your contact information via the registration link below.

**NOTE: The original cost of this training is $120. To receive the reduced cost of the training, you must provide your social security number on the day of the event, as required by our grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. We always practice safe and secure methods to protect the privacy of your SSN.

Registration Link - please click on the following link or paste into your browser - please register by February 14th:
http://www.cceconomicdevelopment.com/register/2-16-10/