ASBA, the Arizona Small Business Association, is a nonprofit Section 501(c)(6) trade organization with business education as it’s hallmark. Since its inception in 1973 in the Phoenix area, ASBA has distinguished itself from other trade groups by making reasonable, practical business training available to its members and the general public. 

The association accomplishes this because we have members with expertise in various areas of business who are willing and able to share that expertise and experience.

ASBA has grown from the original six members to its current strength of 3,000 member companies representing nearly 250,000 employees.

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As any business group we survey our members to query the interest level on certain subjects. What we have found is that in the area of business education and training, the favorite subjects by far are sales and marketing. This then is what we will deliver in 2009.

On Jan. 8 we inaugurated the series with a “Lunch & Learn” session featuring our own ASBA Sales Manager, Phillip Biel, who discussed prospecting, networking and self management.

The “Lunch & Learn” series takes place the second Thursday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the ASBA’s office, 4811 E. Grant Road, Suite 260 in Crossroads Festival.

Future Lunch & Learn sessions will look at:

• Consultative selling, Feb. 12.

• The art of closing, March 12.

• Marketing and public relations, May 14.

• Internet marketing, June 11.

• Niche marketing, July 9.

All of this, along with networking opportunities with fellow small businesses —  and lunch too — for a mere $15!

Other ASBA education opportunities will include an April panel discussion on “being a green business.” And in September we’ll tackle social media.

ASBA also makes its facilities in Crossroads Festival, on the northeast corner of East Grant Road and North Swan Road, available for other presentations dealing with business issues such as preparing your business for an appointment with your banker, business planning and a myriad of other topics.

But wait, there’s more! 

Other information our member surveys have uncovered is that “on demand, on line” training would fit better in some schedules than classroom education. From that was born ASBA Academy where we offer 350 online trainings at a tuition rate of $100 per year per student. ASBA Academy is a full-on learning management system that allows employers to monitor student progress, download transcripts and hold employees accountable for content.

Imagine the power of offering unlimited education to employees who sincerely want to learn and progress career-wise, consider the risk management aspects of requiring training for sexual harassment prevention of all employees, safety training, office etiquette, and time management courses? These are solid value-added benefits for hiring and retention. Additionally, enrolled businesses may see a direct bottom-line benefit participating in our safety plan developed  in association with SCF Arizona (the SCF used to stand for State Compensation Fund, but now it’s full-fledged workers compensation insurance plan.)

In this first month of a new year, everyone is assessing their memberships in  organizations as to value and return on investment. ASBA is the ROI King, considering what the $125 annual fee per company brings in additional benefits to its members such as “guaranteed issue” health insurance written by Cigna, networking and marketing opportunities to the 550 Southern Arizona members.

So, as the story goes, enough about me. What do you think of me? Seriously, if you have questions about ASBA programs, projects, benefits, or more about membership, we are as close as the phone or e-mail. If you have suggestions about services you would like for us to consider providing, again that’s just a call or e-mail away.

Understand that as a member organization, ASBA exists to support you in business and in being as successful as you can be.

Contact Charlie O’Dowd, senior vice president for Southern Arizona of the Arizona Small Business Association, at codowd@asba.com or (520) 327-0222.