Two-part workshop offers small business owners tools to save time and reduce workload

May 4, 2026

Viroqua small business owners will have an opportunity later this month to learn how modern software tools can help them save time and streamline their work through a free, hands-on workshop hosted at the Food Enterprise Center.

The two-part workshop, Small Business Shortcuts: Doing More with Less, will be held on Wednesday evenings, May 13 and May 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The sessions are being offered through a partnership with Michael Browne of Rise Above Partners and are open to entrepreneurs, freelancers, and anyone interested in improving the efficiency of a small business.

Rise Above Partners is a go-to-market and operations consultancy that works with growing companies and rural small businesses. Browne brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing leadership roles within the outdoor and cycling industries, including positions with Trek Bicycle, Quality Bicycle Products, and Ride with GPS. He launched Rise Above Partners to help smaller organizations apply proven business strategies and tools in practical, accessible ways.

According to organizers, the workshop is designed to be highly interactive and accessible, even for those with little or no prior experience with software tools or artificial intelligence. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop and be ready to follow along during demonstrations and exercises.

The first session, titled “See It,” will focus on demonstrating modern software in real-world small business situations. Topics will include marketing tasks, customer email communication, research, content creation, and the repetitive administrative work that often takes up a large portion of an owner’s time. Attendees will see examples of how these tasks can be handled more efficiently using current digital tools.

The second session, “Build It,” will guide participants step by step through setting up their own software toolkit from scratch. The goal is to ensure attendees leave with systems they can reuse and adapt in their own businesses after the workshop concludes.

The workshop is free to attend, but space is limited and advance registration is required. Participants may attend one or both sessions. Registration is available online at rise-above.net/shortcuts.

Organizers say the sessions are intended to be welcoming and practical, with a focus on helping business owners do more with fewer resources. The workshops are open to the public, and anyone interested is encouraged to register soon due to limited seating.