Leverage Your Distinctive Competence to Uncover Opportunities in the Ever-Changing Business Landscape

WHAT:   October CEO Tools Workshop
WHEN:  Wednesday October 8, 2014 
WHERE: Merit Harbor Group, Tacoma

Make your company more market driven, uncover new market opportunities before your competitors, enable your company to diversify into new markets, add new products or services and gain market share. 

This workshop will provide you with a framework on how to identify potential market problems, use a company’s distinctive competence and knowledge of the competitive landscape to identify unmet market needs. 

Prepare for evolving customer needs and gear up for new competitors entering your market with alternative solutions.  Join us in October to find out how new markets and new product offerings can position your company on a strong pathway to future growth.

LUNCH

All who are attending the morning workshop session are invited to join us for lunch. Please let Lauren Owen or Michele Bosworth know if you are not able to attend lunch.

MEMBERS

Members arrive at 7:30am for breakfast and check-in. Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by October 1, 2014 if you will be bringing employee guests.

MEMBER CANDIDATES

Member Candidates are invited to join us for the workshop and lunch from 9:00am-12:00pm with lunch immediately following from 12:00 noon to 1:00pm.  Please arrive by 8:50am and wait in the lobby.   Lauren Owen will come get you before the workshop begins at 9:00am.

EMPLOYEE GUESTS

Employee Guests are invited to attend the workshop from from 9:00am - 12:00pm. Please arrive by 8:50am and wait in the lobby.  Lauren Owen will come get you before the workshop begins at 9:00am.

HOST:

There will not be a host for October

WHERE WE WILL MEET:

Merit Harbor Group offices; 2515 South Hood Street, Tacoma (on the backside of the historic Rainier Connect building). Note: if you enter this into Google maps, put in the street address and not the name of the company, Merit Harbor. There is not a sign for Merit Harbor out front of the building or office door.

There will be someone out in front of their offices to greet you and guide you up to the meeting room. The Workshop will be held in the conference room located on the 2nd floor. Parking is right in front and along the building – it’s free angle in parking.  The building is located next to  Tacoma self-storage.

TITLE OF WORKSHOP:

Leverage Your Distinctive Competence to Uncover Opportunities in the Ever-Changing Business Landscape

AGENDA:

Click HERE to view the Agenda.

QUESTIONS THE CEO SHOULD BE ASKING:

• How can I increase my company’s competitive advantage? 

•  How can I build a better pipeline for new and innovative offerings to my current customers and existing target market?

• What opportunities should I pursue in other markets where I might have an advantage?

TAKEAWAYS:

• Market Problems assessment process

• Competitive Landscape & Win/Loss Analysis templates

• Market Definition & Product Roadmap tools

PREPARATION:

• Interview customers and prospects about their problems, challenges and decision making using the Strategic Market Interview Questions Template below.
• Strategic Market Interview Questions Template

As a reminder, please set aside some time prior to the October CEO Workshop to have conversations with a few customers and/or prospects using The Strategic Interview Questions Template.

This tool will help you gather information to better understand some of the business challenges your customers face and provide you with information to enable you to become more of a value-added partner.  Helping your customers be successful in their business, through providing services and products that meet their needs, will result in you becoming more successful in your business.

During this conversation you will gain a better understanding of customers’ needs and wants so you can identify ways to respond proactively to their needs and wants and serve them better. This insight will help you identify ways to work in partnership with them to meet their future needs and distinguish you from other suppliers that take their order and only talk with them when there is something to be sold. The strategic insights about the market, the views of customers and prospects will be useful for you to keep in mind during the October workshop discussion.

PRESENTERS:

Elizabeth Andreini

As the President of Accelerate Marketing, LLC, Elizabeth Andreini, is the "secret weapon" CEOs turn to at key growth points when they need to transform marketing and product management to grow their customer base, increase revenue & scale their business. 

 In addition to providing experienced executive insight and guidance, Elizabeth often works as an interim CMO or VP to provide the hands-on leadership needed tore architect marketing and product management and improve execution from the inside.  

Elizabeth Andreini, founder & president of Accelerate Marketing, LLC Accelerate Marketing, LLC
206-769-3420 or elizabeth@accelerate-marketing.com
www.accelerate-marketing.com
Twitter: @acceler8mkting
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethandreini

Sue Sanford

Sue Sanford is a marketing management and strategy consultant with skill and a penchant for developing high performing teams. In her 25 plus years in marketing, she has launched dozens of B2B programs for Microsoft and other high-growth companies, and successfully managed campaigns with budgets of every shape and size. With her background in the high-tech, startup, non-profit, and educational sectors, Sue is well-versed in translating values to customers clearly and with meaning. And with her deep empathy and passion for building relationships, she is an inspired, innovative marketer and team leader. 

Sue Sanford, Principal Partner and Co-Founder, Upstart Group
sue@upstartgroup.com or 425-503-2600
www.upstartgroup.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sanfordsue
Twitter: @UpstartGroupSea, @UpstartGroup