Led by successful business start-up entrepreneurs, this presentation portrays the risk and reward of starting a business in today’s competitive marketplace. The traits that lead to success will be discussed. Also participants will be introduced to concepts of market need, the role of one’s personal background, building a plan, and idea feasibility. Tools to be surveyed include Market Research and data collection for industry, customer, competitor, and market trends.

Presenter: Diane Winston

Diane Winston is a change management consultant and communications strategist with 30+ years of corporate and consulting experience. In 2005, she established her consulting firm, Winston Strategic Partners, LLC, to support change impacting organizations, people, and cultures. Diane is a member of the US and NY Women’s Chambers of Commerce, Women Impacting Public Policy, Collaboration of Professional Minority Women, and the Black Business Alliance. She has a BA from NYU and an MBA from Chicago.

Presenter: Peter Engstrom

Peter Engstrom is the founder and former COO of SCHMERSAL USA and Steute Meditech, Inc. He has been helping small and medium-size industrial firms increase their marketing effectiveness and grow sales since 1981. Other clients have included EG&G, Eaton, Opcon, Electrovert, APM Hexseal, Kollmorgen, and Panasonic. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Sacred Heart’s College of Business, and as a SCORE volunteer delivering the Marketing Strategy module of its Simple Steps program.

This Workshop is Sponsored by Darien Library and First County Bank