Cañada College Develops Courses to Help Green Entrepreneurs

The courses are being taught by Chris Yalonis, a leader in green business development.

In an effort to support budding entrepreneurs interested in developing “green” businesses, Cañada College has developed two short courses designed to help students create business and marketing plans tailored to the specific sector.

The courses were developed and will be taught by Chris Yalonis, a 25-year veteran of seven start-ups as well as a strategy consultant and marketing expert-advisor to more than 100 organizations large and small across the technology, consumer goods, and professional service sectors. Yalonis is the founding partner of Sustainametrics, a sustainability consultancy that helps cities, businesses, and colleges with sustainability strategy planning execution.

Business 396: Creating a Business Plan Embedding Sustainable Principles, starts Monday, March 4 and meets every Monday through April 15. It will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and will be held in Building 13, Room 116.

“This is a practical course created for the entrepreneur who wants to learn how to develop and execute a new venture plan designed around sustainable principles,” Yalonis said. “The course examines how to use a plan to crystallize thinking, to recruit and lead teams, raise money, communicate direction to senior management, partners, suppliers, and customers.”

The course uses the top-rated online business planning tool, LivePlan, developed by Palo Alto Software. Students will also work with business model guides developed by Steve Blank, serial Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

“Students will finish the course with a professional business plan ready for investors and partner presentations,” Yalonis said.

Business 397: Creating and Executing a Marketing Plan, starts Monday, April 22 and meets every Monday through May 20 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in Building 13, Room 116. Students who are starting businesses or leading marketing functions in organizations will learn how marketing integrates with other business functions. They will also learn best practices for marketing effectiveness. The course integrates the key components of the marketing function, including market research, positioning, targeting, product and brand management, pricing, demand creation/promotion, Internet marketing tools and practices, driving sales opportunities, and measuring performance.

“Throughout the course, we embed sustainable principles into the practices so marketing efforts can minimize environmental impact, create positive social impact and enable long-term economic viability,” Yalonis said.

Students can sign up for either course online at https://webschedule.smccd.edu/default.php.