BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:IEEE vTools.Events//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260308T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=2SU;BYMONTH=3 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20251102T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=1SU;BYMONTH=11 TZNAME:EST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20251118T144203Z UID:7495F9A6-3B31-4A12-85E7-6CB852BEC3FC DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T123000 DESCRIPTION:The IEEE Southeastern Michigan Consultants' Affinity Group cove ring the greater Metro Detroit area partnering with the IEEE-USA Consultan ts Committee invites you to attend a workshop that will benefit independen t and potential consultants. The workshop will take place in Rochester/Aub urn Hills area in Michigan (Oakland University). The workshop will cover a range of issues that will interest current consultants and individuals in terested in potentially becoming a consultant.\n\nTopics will include impr oving your networking skills\, how to start a consulting business\, what c onsultants need to know about creating your base\, how to start one\, mark eting and entrepreneurship. This intensive workshop will also include a cl osing discussion where a top and well known engineering consultant will sh are focused tips on why a business should hire a consultant and address an y final questions from workshop participants. The workshop will be held on Saturday\, November 15\, 2025.\n\nNon-IEEE Members are Welcome (additiona l fee applies)!\nMembers and non-members please register at the link below . Seats are limited!\n\nIEEE Students Members : $20\nIEEE Members: $25\nNo n-Members: $30\n\n---\n\nAn interesting article recently published on Link edIn may be worth a glance before registering for this event!\n\nSee https ://www.linkedin.com/news/story/many-professionals-want-to-be-their-own-bos ses-6692644/\n\nCo-sponsored by: IEEE USA\n\nAgenda: \n08:30 am to 09:00 a m: Registration\, Coffee and Muffins\n09:00 am to 09:10 am: Welcome & Open ing Remarks\, SEM IEEE Consultants' Network Chair: Sharan Kalwani and Moha mmed Billoo\, IEEE-USA Consultants Committee Chair\n\n09:10 am to 10:00 am : CONSULTING 101\, Mohammed Billoo\, IEEE-USA\, Founder: MAB Labs\, LLC. T his presentation is for those interested in becoming full-time independent consultant. Our speaker will share what someone will need to do if they w ant to become a full-time independent consultant. So\, if you’re a stude nt wanting to learn about this career path\; or if you’re just consideri ng making the transition from a full-time corporate position to a full-tim e independent consultant\, this presentation is for you.\n\n10:00 am to 11 :00 am: Building a Client Base\, Theresa Brunasso\, President: D&S Microwa ve Inc. One of the most important aspects of being an independent consulta nt is finding and keeping a strong client base. Having clients willing to pay you for your expertise will be the life blood of your practice. This p resentation will focus on clients. Ms. Brunasso has had 20 years of experi ence as an independent consultant\, and she will share with you techniques on capturing clients and maintaining relationships with them to keep thei r business.\n\n11:00 am to 11:50 am: Creating a Business that is Right for you\, Jacob Beningo\, President: Beningo Embedded Group LLC. Starting out in consulting can be exciting\, but consultants often turn out to be thei r own worst enemies if they aren't careful. Consulting practices shouldn't be reactive\, but proactive and designed to meet the consultant’s needs . In this session\, we will discuss the general career progression that co nsultants make and how they can design their practice to be successful fro m the start. Attendees will walk away with an understanding on how to mana ge their practice while maintaining a practical life balance.\n\n11:50 am to 12:30 pm: Lunch & Networking (included with registration fee)\n12:30 pm - 01:30pm: Why do Businesses Hire Consultants?\, Charles Lord\, Past Chai r IEEE-USA Consultants Committee\n\n1:30pm - 1:50pm: Closing Remarks\, Mod erated by Sharan Kalwani/Daryll Griffin\, This session is an interactive s ession between consultants and attendees to discuss current topics and que stions about consulting.\n\nRoom: EC 281\, Bldg: Engineering Center\, 115 Library Drive\, Rochester\, Michigan\, United States\, 48329 LOCATION:Room: EC 281\, Bldg: Engineering Center\, 115 Library Drive\, Roch ester\, Michigan\, United States\, 48329 ORGANIZER:sharan.kalwani@ieee.org SEQUENCE:81 SUMMARY:IEEE Southeastern Michigan Consultants Workshop - How to Start or E nhance Your Consulting Practice: A Half-Day Workshop URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/500076 X-ALT-DESC:Description: <br /><p>The IEEE Southeastern Michigan Consultants ' Affinity Group covering the greater Metro Detroit area partnering with t he IEEE-USA Consultants Committee invites you to attend a workshop that wi ll benefit independent and potential consultants. The workshop will take p lace in Rochester/Auburn Hills area in Michigan (Oakland University). The workshop will cover a range of issues that will interest current consultan ts and individuals interested in potentially becoming a consultant.</p>\n< p>Topics will include improving your networking skills\, how to start a co nsulting business\, what consultants need to know about creating your base \, how to start one\, marketing and entrepreneurship. This intensive works hop will also include a closing discussion where a top and well known engi neering consultant will share focused tips on why a business should hire a consultant and address any final questions from workshop participants. Th e workshop will be held on Saturday\, November 15\, 2025.</p>\n<p>Non-IEEE Members are Welcome (additional fee applies)! <br>Members and non-members please register at the link below. Seats are limited!</p>\n<p>IEEE Studen ts Members : $20 <br>IEEE Members: $25&nbsp\;<br>Non-Members: $30</p>\n<p> ---</p>\n<p>An interesting article recently published on LinkedIn may be w orth a glance before registering for this event!</p>\n<p>See <a href="http s://www.linkedin.com/news/story/many-professionals-want-to-be-their-own-bo sses-6692644/">https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/many-professionals-want -to-be-their-own-bosses-6692644/</a></p>\n<p>&nbsp\;</p><br /><br />Agenda : <br /><p><strong>08:30 am to 09:00 am:&nbsp\;</strong><strong>Registrati on\, Coffee and Muffins<br></strong><strong>09:00 am to 09:10 am:&nbsp\;</ strong><strong>Welcome &amp\; Opening Remarks\,&nbsp\;</strong>SEM IEEE Co nsultants' Network Chair: Sharan Kalwani and Mohammed Billoo\, IEEE-USA Co nsultants Committee Chair</p>\n<p style="text-align: justify\;"><strong>09 :10 am to 10:00 am: CONSULTING 101\, </strong>Mohammed Billoo\, IEEE-USA\, Founder: MAB Labs\, LLC. <em>This presentation is for those interested in becoming full-time independent consultant. Our speaker will share what so meone will need to do if they want to become a full-time independent consu ltant. So\, if you&rsquo\;re a student wanting to learn about this career path\; or if you&rsquo\;re just considering making the transition from a f ull-time corporate position to a full-time independent consultant\, this p resentation is for you.</em></p>\n<p style="text-align: justify\;"><strong >10:00 am to 11:00 am: Building a Client Base\,&nbsp\;</strong>Theresa Bru nasso\, President: D&amp\;S Microwave Inc. <em>One of the most important a spects of being an independent consultant is finding and keeping a strong client base. Having clients willing to pay you for your expertise will be the life blood of your practice. This presentation will focus on clients.& nbsp\;Ms. Brunasso has had 20 years of experience as an independent consul tant\, and she will share with you techniques on capturing clients and mai ntaining relationships with them to keep their business.</em></p>\n<p styl e="text-align: justify\;"><strong>11:00 am to 11:50 am: Creating a Busines s that is Right for you\, </strong>Jacob Beningo\, President: Beningo Embe dded Group LLC. <em>Starting out in consulting can be exciting\, but consu ltants often turn out to be their own worst enemies if they aren't careful . Consulting practices shouldn't be reactive\, but proactive and designed to meet the consultant&rsquo\;s needs. In this session\, we will discuss t he general career progression that consultants make and how they can desig n their practice to be successful from the start. Attendees will walk away with an understanding on how to manage their practice while maintaining a practical life balance.&nbsp\;</em></p>\n<p><strong>11:50 am to 12:30 pm: Lunch &amp\; Networking (included with registration fee)</strong><br><str ong>12:30 pm - 01:30pm: </strong><strong>Why do Businesses Hire Consultant s?\,&nbsp\;</strong>Charles Lord\, Past Chair IEEE-USA Consultants Committ ee<br><br><strong>1:30pm - 1:50pm: </strong><strong>Closing Remarks\, </st rong>Moderated by Sharan Kalwani/Daryll Griffin\,<strong> </strong>This se ssion is an interactive session between consultants and attendees to discu ss current topics and questions about consulting.</p> END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR