Diane McCarthy conducts office hours at the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce office on the second and every other fourth Tuesdays of each month. This drop-in event will provide business owners and entrepreneurs and opportunity to learn more about the SBDC resources available to them. To make an appointment, contact Diane via email or call 540.568.3227.
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS WORKSHOP.
PLEASE VIEW OTHER DATES ON OUR CALENDAR.
- Do you reside in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and are thinking about starting a new business?
- Do you have questions about how to move forward?
- Are you considering moving your hobby into a more structured business form?
- Have you already started your small business and now realize you may have missed a few things?
Your Shenandoah Valley SBDC has answers, information, and resources to help!
In our Start Smart Workshops, we discuss the path to good decisions and a successful start. You’ll learn to take a thorough 360° approach to your business and all its components – from product development to target marketing to financial projections and bookkeeping. We also cover the regulations and registrations you need to know.
Follow-up appointments are then available with SBDC business advisors to focus on your individual business growth needs.
Thank you for your registration to Start Smart Workshop. Please let Rosie know if you are unable to attend or have questions via email to rigglerc@jmu.edu
Thank You! Barry Henderson, Shenandoah Valley SBDC
Having a good landing page is the foundation of digital marketing. Without a well-crafted landing page, potential leads have no way to access or learn more about your business online.
In this webinar, you’ll learn the basics of digital marketing, the key components of a landing page and how to turn your landing page into a funnel that turns leads into sales.
What we’ll cover:
- Finding and registering a domain
- Creating a landing page
- Understanding marketing funnels
- How to get traffic to your site
- How to measure the success of your landing page
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
Overview of this Live, webinar (Unmasking the Threat: How Hackers Exploit AI to Target Small Business Owners)
Attention all small business owners!
Navigating the blurred lines between reality and deception is increasingly difficult given recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Join us for an engaging live webinar where we delve into the intricate world of cyber threats. Witness firsthand sophisticated AI tactics used by malicious actors to exploit small business owners. In this session, you will:
- Gain a Deeper Understanding: Explore real-life instances showcasing the fusion of AI and cybercrime.
- Arm Yourself with Knowledge: Discover emerging dangers that could impact your business.
- Strengthen Your Defenses: Learn effective strategies to safeguard your company against AI-fueled scams.
Who should attend: Small business owners who want to avoid being scammed by attacks targeting their company.
Speakers:
- Dr. Teresa Piliouras, CEO and Founder, Technical Consulting & Research, Inc., is an IT consultant, educator, inventor, and author. She holds a BS from the University of Illinois, an MBA from Iona College, a PhD from NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
- Pui Lam (Raymond) Yu, Executive Vice President Engineering at Technical Consulting & Research, Inc., has over 20 years of industry experience in Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Systems Engineering. He received his BEEE and MSEE from Stevens Institute of Technology and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, respectively, and his MSCS from New York University Tandon School of Engineering.
- Curtis Rowe II, Cybersecurity Analyst, Technical Consulting and Research, Inc., holds a BS in Cognitive Science from the University of California, San Diego.
Co-sponsor(s) & Partner(s): Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Prince William Chamber of Commerce
Cancellation Policy: Kindly send an email to help@masonsbdc.org (preferred) or call 703-261-4105 to notify the team.
Special Instructions: This live webinar will be presented via Zoom. Webinar access details (Zoom invitation) will emailed after registration.
During this webinar you will learn about:
- The government customer
- Readiness to be a government contractor
- Marketing to the customer
- Government jargon
- Steps to get started
- Small business set-asides
- Targeting the government customer – what the buyer wants to know
- What should go into a capability statement
Speakers: Timm Johnson – Director, Mason SBDC
Co-sponsor(s) & Partner(s): Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Prince William Chamber of Commerce
Cancellation Policy: Contact the Center regarding cancellation earlier than 24 business hours prior to event. Kindly email – help@masonsbdc.org (preferred) or call 703-261-4105 to notify the team.
Special Instruction: This live webinar will be presented via Zoom. Webinar access details (Zoom invitation) will be provided after registration.
Grab your lunch and join us virtually for the first Thursday of each month to learn more about SBA programs and network with other small business owners.
Topic: SBA Programs Update
The SBA offers several programs for small businesses. This session will provide an update on their various programs the SBA offers including 7(a) lending, 8(a) updates, the new VOSB application platform, and HUBZone.
Key Takeaways:
- 7(a) lending updates
- 8(a) application updates
- VOSB application updates
- HUBZone map updates
Speaker(s): Carl Knoblock, SBA District Director of the Virginia District Office. Carl Knoblock currently works for the Small Business Administration and prior to becoming District Director, Knoblock owned a couple of small businesses from manufacturing to service industries. He served as C-Level executive for several innovative startups. Carl started as the district director for Virginia in June 2014.
If you need further assistance or have a question, please contact us at (540)654-1383
Join us for an empowering webinar dedicated to supporting and guiding women entrepreneurs on their journey to securing funding for their businesses.
Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business, this webinar will help you understand the different funding options available to women entrepreneurs, how to pitch your business vision effectively and how to overcome gender biases and create a supportive network.
In this webinar, you’ll learn:
- Understanding the different funding pathways
- Building a Compelling Funding Pitch
- Overcoming Gender-Specific Challenges
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center Auditorium
620 Simms Avenue Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Council Chambers, Harrisonburg City Hall
409 S Main St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Before we know it, the holidays will be here! Have you already begun your black Friday & Small Business Saturday prep work? If not, join us as we discuss key topics related to holiday shopping.
Topics:
- Advertisement & Marketing
- How to analyze your sales trends to prepare your inventory
- Email & social media campaigns
- Planning your holiday promotions
- Website traffic
Speaker(s): Charese Chambers
Diane McCarthy conducts office hours at the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce office on the second and every other fourth Tuesdays of each month. This drop-in event will provide business owners and entrepreneurs and opportunity to learn more about the SBDC resources available to them. To make an appointment, contact Diane via email or call 540.568.3227.
Crowdfunding is not only a good way to raise capital, but it’s also a great way to build a community and customer base for your product or services. However, running a successful crowdfunding campaign is not easy.
In this webinar, our presenter will walk you through best practices to ensure your crowdfunding campaign reaches its funding goals and connects with your target audience on a meaningful level.
You’ll learn:
- Setting clear funding goals and timelines
- Identifying and connecting with your ideal backers
- Crafting a compelling pitch and marketing strategy
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
Get ready for the ultimate online celebration of Virginia agribusiness on SBA National Farmer’s Day, featuring Livvy Preisser, Agritourism.
Martha was recognized as one of “America’s Most Amazing Women” by Country Woman Magazine and was inducted into the National Capital Friends.
The Virginia General Assembly, honored Martha Boneta with a Joint Commendation from both the House and the Senate recognizing Martha for her significant contributions to the Commonwealth and nation.
Martha was awarded “Unsung Hero” by CRTV in 2018 for fighting back against burdensome over regulation. In 2019, Martha was chosen as the featured cover story of Christian Times Magazine and later asked to join CTM as an editor. Martha has two bills named after her in the oldest legislative body in the nation, The “Boneta Bills” I & II that protect property rights and cut burdensome red tape and over regulation.
Martha Boneta is a frequent co-host on several radio talk shows and contributes to various media shows and is also owner of a media network. Martha attended George Mason University for undergraduate school, Martha received her Juris Doctor law degree from George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. Martha also attended the Strauss Institute at Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, where she studied Alternative Dispute Resolution. Today, Martha speaks all over the country to corporations, universities, business communities, political organizations and many other entities about a variety of topics.
Livvy Preisser will present on current Agritourism programs in Virginia and how to connect to resources to assist your business.
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Join us for SBA National Farmer’s Day, an event where will learn about the Virginia Grown Program and its benefits!
Ms. Wheeler is the Manager of the Office of Domestic Marketing and Promotions at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services where she partners with producers, farmers market managers, farmers market vendors and buyers across the state of Virginia to promote fresh, local products and to enhance the marketing opportunities for those products. In addition to that role, Heather is also the Program Manager for the Virginia Horse Industry Board and serves on the Virginia State Team for Agritourism as an Agritourism Marketing Specialist. Heather has an educational background in business administration, business management and accounting and she combines that with a true passion for agriculture and working with those in the industry.
The Virginia Grown program is a marketing tool promoting fresh, local products to consumers and has a proven track record for increasing visibility, developing additional media attention and enhancing marketing opportunities for Virginia Grown products. The program provides resources to the participants to display and use on marketing materials including flyers, web sites, advertising and menus. Show your support for Virginia agriculture, the Commonwealth’s number one industry, by proudly displaying the Virginia Grown logo and directing your customers to the freshest and highest quality products around.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) introduced the Virginia’s Finest® Trademark Program to enhance the economic opportunities and success of Virginia’s specialty food companies, processors and agriculture producers. The classic Virginia’s Finest® trademark identifies, differentiates and promotes top-quality Virginia agriculture and specialty food and beverage products. Buyers and consumers have grown to recognize the blue and red “VA check mark” logo and know they are purchasing top quality Virginia-produced and processed products.
Hiring an SEO company can be an excellent investment to improve your online presence, but it can also be risky.
Unfortunately, some SEO experts take advantage of clients by doing quick work that wrecks a website’s optimization in the long run. So how can you determine the right SEO partner to hire?
In this webinar, our expert presenter will break down what an SEO company does, what you should expect and the interview questions you can ask to feel confident when hiring an SEO expert.
You’ll learn:
- What an SEO company should be providing
- What services are not worth investing in
- Interview questions you should be asking and the answers you should expect.
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.