Small Business Creation

Presented by the Iowa Asian Alliance



Monica L. Dolezal Owner/President, BIZSTARTS, LLC


Join Monica Dolezal as she takes you into the exploration of small business creation. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or currently a small business owner, your future or current business will benefit from learning the answers to the following questions:

• Looking within - What does it take? Do you have it?
• Should you buy a business, buy a franchise, create your own from scratch?
• Finding the idea - Where, how, when
• Beginning the Process - The right step, the right people, the right plan
• Mitigating the Risk - Acknowledging the Risk, Preparing for the Risk

There will be time for questions and answers at the conclusion of Monica's presentation.

Prior to starting her small business consulting company BIZSTARTS, LLC in February 2004, Monica was a Vice President with Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, N.A. Monica has her teaching degree from Iowa State University. Since 1974, Monica has benefited from working in several functional areas in banking including teller, operations, wire transfer, manager of the mail room, marketing and advertising, personal banking (including loans to individuals), and since the early 80's was in the business banking arena until her retirement in 2004. It is in the Business Banking Division that she bought indirect paper and made loans to businesses, including SBA loans. She assisted small business clients in loan structure, cash flow product choices (i.e. Merchant Credit Card Services, On Line Payroll Services, Business Credit Cards, etc.) and many other small business needs.

Monica is known as a decisive, self-motivated leader with a strong background in SBA guaranteed loans and is considered an expert in small business start-up assistance. Her professional experience provides an in-depth knowledge of commercial and consumer lending and operations in the financial industry. She is an experienced speaker, focusing on presenting to, and working with, business start-up clients from concept to turn key stages. She is recognized as a self-starter and independent worker with highly developed organizational and prioritizing skills. Strengths include solid coaching, people and communication skills, being an attentive listener and teacher, and working to high standards. Known as a helpful, confident decision-maker that is able to think independently and quickly resolve problems.

She has been active in the Central Iowa Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) for many years and most recently served on the Board as the Public Policy Chairperson from July 2005 through June 2007. She has helped women, minorities, and disadvantaged people help themselves. In the past, she has been involved with the Iowa Targeted Small Business (TSB) program, Self Employment Loan Program (SELP), Institute for Social and Economic Development program (ISED), Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), Mid City Business Center, and Golden Circle Business Center. She has participated as a speaker for SCORE's (Service Corps of Retired Executives) "How to Start a Business" seminars. In 1993 American Institute of Banking awarded her the Instructor of the Year title. In 1996 she was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Iowa Financial Services Advocate of the Year and in 2003 the Des Moines District Office of the SBA selected her as the it's Women in Business Advocate of the Year in its district. Monica has taught a few Entrepreneurship classes—"Small Business Start-Up", "Small Business Marketing", and "Small Business Management" at the Ankeny DMACC campus. In June 2008 Monica was chosen to teach the first SBA Entrepreneur 200 (e200) Program offered in Des Moines, one of the initial 11 Cities in the US that is providing this educational opportunity to existing businesses to help them grow into the future. Monica has been an Urbandale Chamber of Commerce Board member since 2005, and past member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Her focus is still guiding people to their self-defined success. Her self motto is "Learn something each day and Teach something each day."