Business Calendar

Wednesday, Nov. 9

56th Annual Tennessee Federal Tax Institute, Wednesday through Friday, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Ave. Estate and gift tax topics include: "Estate and Charitable Planning Developments," "How to Fix a Broken Trust," and "Do's and Don'ts of Asset Protection." General session topics include: "Tennessee Tax and Related Legislation Update," "Tax Shelter Gotchas," "Overlooked Opportunities: A Practical Review of Tax Accounting Methods and Issues" and "Recent Federal Income Tax Developments." Open to the public. www.tfti.org.

Thursday, Nov. 10

"Understanding Business Valuation," 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Massey Business Center, Belmont University, 1900 Belmont Blvd. Presented by the Nashville Technology Council, Owen Entrepreneurship Center and Nashville Capital Network, speakers include Ray Capp, Nashville Technology Council; Sid Chambless, Nashville Capital Network; Germain Boer, Owen Entrepreneurship Center; Joe Maxwell, Investment Scorecard; Glenn Perdue, Crowe Chizek; Page Davidson, Bass, Berry & Sims; Bruce Lynskey, Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University; and others. $50 members, $85 nonmembers. Contact: 743-3151 or www.technologycouncil.com.

Lipscomb University's Conversations program will have a panel discussion on Lipscomb's participation in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, 7:30 p.m., Swang Center for Business Administration, Room 108, 3901 Granny White Pike. Free and open to the public. Contact: 279-5804 or steve.prewitt@lipscomb.edu.

Friday, Nov. 11

Employment Law Seminar, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Clement Building, Room C250, Nashville State Community College, 120 White Bridge Road. Presented by attorney Monica Johnson with Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis and the Small Business Development Center. Registration required. Contact: www.tnstate.edu/sbdc or 963-7179.

Monday, Nov. 14

Career Transition Support Group, 6:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood. Topic: "Top Ten Search Techniques." Free. Contact: 477-5651 or mleblanc@ngpusa.com.

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Nashville Business Plan Competition information session, 5:00 p.m., Nashville Business Incubation Center, 315 10th Ave. N. Small business owners may win up to $25,000 in cash and prizes by entering the contest. You don't need a business plan to enter. The contest deadline is Dec. 7. Contact: 963-7184 to reserve.