Business Planning Begins with START

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Description:

Introduced in 2001, the Strategic Tracking and Reporting Tool (START) helps Neighborhood Networks center staff develop online business plans that define their centers’ missions and facilitate their successes. With START, critical facets of center development can be tracked and evaluated. After providing an overview of START and highlighting recent enhancements, this session offers step-by-step guidance through the various START sections, demonstrates how to use the START Workbook and User Guide to collect information, and explains the process of submitting and reviewing START business plans. Program development staff will also be available to assist participants with completing their own START business plan.

Presenters:

Silvia Benavides
Program Development Manager
Neighborhood Networks
Phone: (301) 495-4361

Luticia Williams
Program Development Specialist
Neighborhood Networks
Phone: (301) 495-4363

Silvia Benavides has been a member of the Neighborhood Networks team for seven years. Ms. Benavides serves as the manager of the Neighborhood Networks' program development team, providing direct technical assistance to Neighborhood Networks centers that are using the Neighborhood Networks Strategic Tracking and Reporting Tool (START) to develop business plans and assisting HUD staff with the completion and approval of START business plans submitted by centers. In addition, Ms. Benavides works with HUD staff to certify Neighborhood Networks centers and responds to requests for assistance with center classification. Ms. Benavides also supports the Neighborhood Networks Information Center, responding to telephone and electronic requests from Neighborhood Networks centers, HUD staff, property owners and managers and the general public. Ms. Benavides has conducted training sessions and workshops at a number of conferences and meetings, and has supported various HUD programs since 1995. Ms. Benavides earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

As a Neighborhood Networks program development specialist, Luticia Williams works with Neighborhood Networks centers to develop effective business plans using START. She also supports HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinators by guiding them through the process of reviewing and approving these electronic business plans. In addition, Ms. Williams responds to telephone and e-mail inquiries from Neighborhood Networks centers, HUD staff, property owners and managers, and the general public. Previously, Ms. Williams worked as a Neighborhood Networks technical assistance coordinator providing assistance to help centers maintain self-sufficiency. In this role, she helped center staff identify operational needs, organize resident committees, administer needs assessments, design and/or enhance center programs and services, identify prospective partners, and update business plans. Ms. Williams also encouraged property owners and managers to open Neighborhood Networks centers. She was the point of contact for more than 20 HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinators, providing them with updates about Neighborhood Networks activities and coordinating onsite visits.

Presentation