The $227.4 million Partner Colorado Credit Union in Arvada, Colo., is one of two small businesses chosen to participate in the third SMB Social MediaMakeover Forum, scheduled for Thursday at the University ofDenver's Daniels College of Business.

Organized by social media consulting firm LISTEN Interactive,the SMB Social Media Makeover Forum provides an opportunity forexperts who work for big brands – including Chipotle, RE/MAX andFrontier Airlines – to teach small businesses how to revamp theirsocial media plans before a live audience of local small businessowners and marketing, PR and advertising professionals looking toimprove their own social media strategies, LISTEN Interactive said. The firm previouslyhosted the forum in Charlotte, N.C. and Atlanta.

“By providing a venue to share and learn from the experiences ofothers, the SMB Social Media Makeover Forum will offer therecipients and members of the audience valuable advice to overcomechallenges that stand in the way of successfully identifying andengaging fans, followers and viewers,” said Dan Greenfield,president for LISTEN Interactive.

Kathy Sianis, vice president of retail services and marketingfor Partner Colorado CU, said the credit union currently has awebsite and Facebook and Twitter accounts, but no specific strategyfor fostering member communication through social media. She addedthe credit union has approximately 25,000 members, yet only 41followers.

By participating in the live workshop, the credit union hopes tolearn how to gain more followers and create posts that are fun,engaging and interactive, Sianis said.

“We have all the right tools for social media, and we're readyto take the next step,” Sianis said. “We'd like to put together aclear, defined roadmap and start knocking it out.”

Greenfield said he saw the credit union as a successfulcandidate for the SMB Social Media Makeover Forum because it'scommunity-based and carries the tools necessary for a winningsocial media strategy.

“They have resources at their disposal, and they're lively,energetic and willing to share,” Greenfield said. “Putting yourselfout there in a public forum takes courage, and they seemed verycomfortable with the idea.”

House Lights Media, a Denver-based independent film distributioncompany, will also receive a live social media consultation atThursday's event, LISTEN Interactive said. More information aboutthe event, including how to purchase tickets, can be found online.