Oct
24
Tue
Shenandoah Valley SBDC Drop-In Event @ Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce
Oct 24 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Diane McCarthy from the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center will be at the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce office from 9am until 4pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every 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.

Federal Contracting: Simplified Acquisition for Small Business Contracting @ online
Oct 24 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Start with the federal government using simplified acquisition procedures and build a strong relationship.

  • Why use simplified acquisition procedures
  • Know the government market place
  • Understand government set-a-side procedures
  • A comprehensive strategy for success

About the instructor: Daryl Corley, Virginia PTAC Procurement Counselor

More than 30 years of contracting experience with comprehensive contract Life Cycle support in reviewing initial procurements package for accuracy to contract closeout. Most recently, he worked as a Senior Consultant for MSDS Consultant Services, LLC, which included working with the diverse business community, and clients on contractual issues, provide training material for stakeholders and clients — instructing classes on contract regulatory compliance in the federal government. He created a best practice mentor protégé program by combining governmental and commercial organizations.

Previously, he worked as a consultant/trainer for CACI providing government business solutions and services. In these positions, he demonstrated the ability to resolve a variety of issues (such as acquisition and supply systems, integration, data mapping and analysis service, system testing, training customers, and software malfunctions. He also provided consultant support creating solicitation matrixes, market research, acquisition plans at the contracting offices for the various agencies. Daryl is also a Service Disabled Veteran and dedicated to assisting Veteran Entrepreneurs.

Webinar information will be sent to registrants prior to the class and will be conducted via GoToWebinar. After registration is complete, your email confirmation will contain the link. You MUST register your name and email and receive the login information and calendar invite before you can join the webinar. You may attend without downloading the software, but please understand your webinar functions may be limited.

See Yourself Cybersecurity @ online
Oct 24 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

In honor of cybersecurity awareness month this webinar will assist small business owners with the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance your current security posture.

Speaker: Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert

A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.

Year-End Tax Planning for Your Business for 2023 @ online
Oct 24 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

With the final quarter of the year still ahead, learn what year-end tax planning you can do to favorably impact your bottom line and your tax bill for 2023 and how to better position yourself moving into 2024.

Whether you work with a CPA or go it alone, learn which tax breaks apply to you and how to nail them down now before time runs out.

In this webinar, you will learn:

  • What’s new for your 2023 return
  • Year-end actions to reduce your 2023 tax bill
  • Best business practices to avoid problems with the IRS
  • Necessary actions to get ready for 2024

Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.

Oct
25
Wed
Global Women in Entrepreneurship 2023 @ The Festival Conference and Student Center Grand Ballroom
Oct 25 @ 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

In celebration of Global Women in Entrepreneurship Week, the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship will be organizing a showcase to highlight local female entrepreneurs from throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Enjoy light refreshments while browsing their products and learning about their unique entrepreneurial journeys.

In partnership with Women for Madison, Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, we aim to bring the JMU community and local community together to support female-led companies and learn from their stories.

Click here to see what women-owned business’s will be in attendance at this year’s Women in Entrepreneurship Week showcase.

Pathway to Success: Childcare Business Informational Meeting @ Council Chambers, Harrisonburg City Hall
Oct 25 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Thank you for your interest in this FREE program! The City of Harrisonburg, the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, and Early Education Business Consultants have teamed up to offer special training and personalized assistance to new or existing in-home or center-based childcare providers located in the City of Harrisonburg. The goal is to provide participants with the tools and support needed to start, grow, and succeed as a childcare provider. American Rescue Plan Act grant funding is available to those who complete the program and can demonstrate they have increased childcare spaces in their home or center.
We look forward to sharing the details with you at one of the upcoming informational meetings.
Monday, October 9, 6:30pm
Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center Auditorium
620 Simms Avenue Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Wednesday, October 25, 6:30pm
Council Chambers, Harrisonburg City Hall
409 S Main St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Please fill out the short form at the ticket link to indicate your interest in participation.
Oct
26
Thu
Start Smart Workshop @ SV SBDC
Oct 26 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

THIS SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Please view our calendar for upcoming dates.

  • 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

Keeping Up with Digital Marketing – A’s for Your Q’s – ChatGPT @ Online
Oct 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

What’s all the fuss about AI and ChatGPT?

What AI tools are available, and how can a small business use them to streamline customer service and marketing tasks?

This session with the Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson will help answer those questions and more. The first half of the session will give an overview, and the second half will be set aside for Q & A.

A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.

Presenter: Cameron Nelson, Chief Digital Advisor, VA SBDC

Mr. Nelson has over 19 years experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products have the ability to help shape our world for the better.

 

Storytelling Marketing – Using Your Story to Create Marketing Content for Your Business @ online
Oct 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Do you want to learn how to use your story to create engaging content for your business? As a business owner or entrepreneur, your first marketing asset should be your story. Whether it’s in the form of a bio, personal narrative, website copy or blog, your story will set you apart from your competition and establish to your audience why they should do business with you.

During this webinar, national bestselling author Joylynn M. Ross, founder and CEO of Path To Publishing, and Brandy M. Miller, Path To Publishing Copywriting and Storytelling Expert, will teach you how to use your story to create story-driven content that will bring awareness to your business.

You’ll also learn how to repurpose your story to create other marketing material, such as:

  • Blogs
  • Articles
  • Website Copy
  • Newsletters
  • Social Media Content
  • Books

Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.

Nov
2
Thu
Federal Contracting: WOSB (Woman Owned Small Business) Certification @ online
Nov 2 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Why Get WOSB Certified?

This program creates significant contract opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The program is designed to help more women owned small businesses win federal contracts and thrive in a competitive business environment. It is also intended to help federal agencies meet contracting goals for women owned small businesses.

Instructor Lisa Wood is the current statewide director of Virginia PTAC, an APEX Accelerator. She previously was the Statewide Director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) for the Connecticut PTAC and prior to that was Statewide Director with the Ohio Department of Development after serving as PTAC Director for the Northwest Commission of Pennsylvania. Before joining the PTAC community, Lisa was a Contracting Officer for Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

Webinar information will be sent to registrants prior to the class and will be conducted via GoToWebinar. After registration is complete, your email confirmation will contain the link. You MUST register your name and email and receive the login information and calendar invite before you can join the webinar. You may attend without downloading the software, but please understand your webinar functions may be limited.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that this GoToWebinar event will be recorded for future publication/distribution by the Virginia APEX Accelerator. By joining this session, you automatically consent to be recorded during the Q&A period if you choose to speak. If you do not consent to being recorded, you may constrain your questions to written submissions. If you have questions or concerns, please email ptac@gmu.edu to discuss with the host organization or do not join the session.

Marketing 101 @ online
Nov 2 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Refresh your knowledge to effectively market your goods and/or services! This live webinar (via Zoom) will cover the following marketing essentials:

  • How to choose your target group(s)
  • How to communicate with your target(s)
  • Market Definition
  • Market Segmentation
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Company Branding
  • Online (SEO) and Offline Marketing

Speaker: Bernard Ferret – Senior Business Counselor, Mason SBDC & Serial Entrepreneur

Co-sponsor(s) & Partner(s): Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Prince William Chamber of Commerce

Cancellation Policy: Contact us earlier than OR 72 hours (3 days) 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 offered on the Zoom platform. You will receive a Zoom inivitation link after the registration.

First Thursdays with the SBA: SDVOSB/VOSB @ online
Nov 2 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Grab your lunch and join us the first Thursday of each month to learn more about SBA programs and network with other small business owners.

Topic: Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)

The federal government aims to award at least 3% of all federal contracting dollars to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) each year. Joining the SDVOSB program makes your business eligible to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. You can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs you qualify for.

Key Takeaways:

  • What is a SDVOSB?
  • Who is eligible for the program?
  • What to expect with the recent changes to the program?

 

Nov
7
Tue
Start Smart Workshop @ SV SBDC
Nov 7 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • 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

Nov
9
Thu
How to Start a Business Without Access to Capital @ online
Nov 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Don’t let the lack of capital stop your entrepreneurial dreams. Join us and discover cost-effective strategies and innovative approaches that allow you to turn your vision into reality.

In this webinar, SCORE Mentor and Executive Consultant Cynthia Rhodes will guide you through the essential steps of starting a business without relying on external funding. You’ll also learn how to craft a business strategy that positions your venture for long-term profitability. Finally, we’ll teach you how to access capital once your business has gained traction.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understanding the system of business
  • How to Develop a Winning Profit Strategy
  • How to Build Profit without Access to Capital

Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.

Nov
14
Tue
Shenandoah Valley SBDC Drop-In Event @ Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce
Nov 14 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Diane McCarthy from the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center will be at the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce office from 9am until 4pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every 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.