Thanks to Maui Business Brainstormers, National Entrepreneurship Week is being celebrated in West Maui for the first time.

“February 23 is West Maui’s turn to host a nationwide event focused on business education and information,” according to MBB.

Businesspeople should take advantage of the full day of events on Thursday, Feb. 23, at Montage Kapalua Bay. Admission is free for the Maui community, with a program geared to startups, entrepreneurs, “9 to 5” professionals, business owners and managers.

Kahu David Kapaku will lead “Fearless Entrepreneur: You were Born to be a Public Speaker” from 8:15 to 11:30 a.m. Learn ways to conquer fears of public speaking, tips to improve public speaking skills, how to create knockout presentations and techniques to “make your voice count.”

Next, MBB will facilitate a special “Business in the Think Tank” session from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in which attendees will discuss business issues, share solutions and learn best practices from each other. Get help starting, running and growing your business in these spirited discussions.

Lori Fisher of Lahaina will lead “Usability for Entrepreneurs: Designing a Positive Customer Experience” from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m., covering techniques to optimize the experience that your customers have as they try to find your product or service, get started with it and begin using it.

Wayne Wong, Maui Center director of the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network, will lead the last workshop, “Get Your (non)Existent Business Plan Up to Speed,” from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Wong will teach the audience how to view business plans through different eyes and get them moving forward.

Anyone interested in attending the sessions should register online at www.meetup.com/MauiBusinessBrainstormers.

The goal of National Entrepreneurship Week is to publicize the great contributions of American entrepreneurs and the variety of programs now available in every state to prepare and support entrepreneurs of the future.

Thursday’s event is also an opportunity for residents to learn more about Maui Business Brainstormers, a support network and grassroots group operating across Maui since January 2012.

MBB’s current membership has surpassed 1,000 due to its unique initiatives focused on making quality business education and information accessible at no cost to the business community.

National Entrepreneurship Week was launched in 2006 and confirmed by Congress in House Resolution #699. Since its inception, the event has grown dramatically each year, providing networking and educational resources to the small business community. Take advantage of the free help to support your business.