Colin Fleming and Carol Ostrem are the Small Business Advisory Group at State Bank  La Crosse, and will be the featured speakers at the next Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting on April 13. They like to be looked to as educators and connectors for the communities that they are working in.

With “Money Matters in Your Business,” they will discuss what bankers look for from business owners when preparing a loan application and how they can help you make your business successful. Topics include: setting up credit card accounts and making them more efficient, what to look for in an attorney or an accountant/bookkeeper and how to organize your financials. Consider such questions as, how big do you want your business to be, are you registered with the State of Wisconsin, do you have a business exit or succession plan, and how to determine the best structure for your business. Learn how to read and understand Profit/Loss Statements and Balance Sheets and what those figures can tell you that is useful, how outside income affects your financials, and how to assess if your business is viable or not.

Fleming, Vice President of Small Business Lending at State Bank La Crosse, has 20 years of experience in banking of which 14 have been focused on small business lending.

He notes, “I like working with small business owners. It is exciting to see people working hard, developing new ideas and becoming successful. It is very rewarding to be a part of this process, helping people grow their small businesses through small business banking solutions.” His favorite business solution that he provides to customers is offering loan terms that benefit the borrower by improving cash flow and reducing interest expense. This allows borrowers to better serve their customers by offering lower prices, more selection and better service.

Ostrem has over 13  years in banking with State Bank holding positions including teller, customer service rep, branch manager and currently Community Development Officer.

She said, “I enjoy networking with business owners to develop solutions to help them achieve their goals. I’m a small business owner and I know the day to day struggles that businesses experience.  I will be here for whatever your business needs.”  She enjoys “building a relationship with the businesses I work with and helping them grow their day to day operations. I love to learn how you run your business and what you do from day to day. It’s a great way to learn new ideas.”  Her favorite business solution that she provides to customers is offering merchant services at a better rate than what a business might currently be receiving. Many times, this can mean more money for the business.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 13 at the Food Enterprise Center, 1201 North Main St., Viroqua. Networking starts at 5:30 p.m, the program begins at 6 p.m.

Meetings are free and no reservations are required.

The I&E club is organized jointly by Vernon Economic Development Association and Viroqua Chamber Main Street.

For more information, contact Sue Noble at snoble@veda-wi.org or 638-8332, or Nora Roughen-Schmidt at vcmsprograms@gmail.com or 637-2575.