December 2008 Online at www.thesmartcenter.biz

Venture Island And, the winner is.... Eric Mogensen of Elements in Shasta Lake, who wins $25,000 in cash and prizes. First runner up was Gisele Maxwell of Shasta Crystals in Anderson and second runner-up was James Phillips of Inovius in Redding. Congratulations! See The Grand Finale on ventureislandnorthstate.com Could you be the next Venture Island winner? Venture Island - the contest, the drama, the money and the prizes - will be back again in 2009. Could you be the next winner? 10 Traits Entrepreneurs and Einstein Share Entrepreneur.com Have you sized up the competition? A quiz from SCORE Want to compete in the next Venture Island North State? Learn how to submit a successful executive summary by purchasing: How to be a Venture Island Contestant in Five Easy Steps available for $6.95 through the Smart Online Store.

December is the 12th month. Here's a list of "12 things" for your consideration: 12 Questions to Measure Employee Engagement (workforce.com) 12 Ways to Lower Your Business's Workers'-Compensation Costs (hrworld.com) 12 Ways to Market Your Business (ezinearticles.com) Lighter Footstep: 12 Ways to Green Your 21st Century Business greenoptions.com 12 Ways to Increase Online Sales entrepreneur.com The Anywhere Office: What It Is and How It Can Help Your Business Thrive December 3rd Looking for out-of-the-box (or out of the office) solutions? Check out this free webinar. Source: Workforce Management From the Better Business Bureau: Small Business Charitable Giving Guide for the Holiday Season

Professional Workplace Skills December 8, 9, 10 & 11 at Smart in Redding Effective communication - Teamwork and Productivity - Attitude in the Workplace - Service Orientation Essentials This series of 4 full-day trainings will enhance your employees' current skills at no cost to you. Registration is required thesmartcenter.biz/workplaceskills Seating limited to 15 Open to all entrepreneurs! NextLevel Network Meeting December 9, 12-1:30 The NextLevel Network Meeting will be held at Angelo's Pizza in Redding. The focus is on networking. Lunch is on us! Call 245-1509 to learn more. If you haven't given much thought to networking before, read this: The Importance of Being Memorable (about.com)

Spot the Business Problems the Internet Can Solve (www.score.org) Website Design Workshop December 8 & 9 (2 hours each day) Create the website you need for your business - the quick and easy way. Can you use a computer? Can you type? You can do this! Only $50. You'll get: 4 hours of instruction, 3 months website hosting, and a domain name for 1 year Increase your bottom line online Click here to learn more or call 245-1561 Learn about the celebrations - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa - and a myriad of other (sometimes bizarre) observances in December at brownielocks.com. Smart Centers will be closed from December 25 until January 2, our annual closure between Christmas and New Years.