Learn specific threats to look out for this holiday season & how to keep you and your small business protected.
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.
Please join Senior Business Counselor, and Adjunct GMU Professor George Siragusa as he guides you through a step-by-step process of building a business performance dashboard, complete with relevant metrics, that is invaluable to meet your strategic and tactical goals and objectives. This webinar is extremely useful for early stage companies, growth, or even mature businesses! During this NO-COST webinar you should be able to: :
- See what business dashboards look like
- Understand why a “scorecard” is important
- Become familiar with the principles that guide your 1st dashboard draft
- Know how to get started and begin building a dashboard for your business
- Decide on a group of simple but important key metrics
- See what software is available, making scorecard development easier
- Learn how and when to use these new business metrics with your business team
- See how dashboard insights can make a positive impact on your business performance
- AND… hear answers to many of your business briefing questions in real time!
THERE IS NO COST to ATTEND; but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
This one-hour webinar is designed for small business owners to learn more about credit card optimization, including reducing fees on credit cards and gifts cards.
Learning Outcomes:
- Choosing a Processor – What to look for when picking a company to process credit cards.
- Visa/MC Interchange – Find out how the processors get charged and how it affects you.
- Gift Card Programs – Will setting up a gift card program for your business help? If so, learn how to set one up.
- Cash Discounting – Find out how to pass the fees to the cardholder in a way that doesn’t break Visa/MC compliance.
By registering for this seminar, you grant UMW SBDC permission to share your contact information with the speaker.
Speaker(s): Ed Hopper is the CEO of Altor Processing Systems, founded in 1999. In January 2018, he led his company in a new direction. They launched Altor/50 and now donate half of their net profits to over 20 charities. Ed says “We can usually help merchants save money and help charities at the same time. It’s a Win/Win!” Ed spends his free time in the summer as a Supervisor for Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service and is a previous member of the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad. He sits on the board for both the Virginia Beach Minority Business Council and the Virginia Beach Surf and Rescue Museum. Ed and the company focus on serving SWaM and Veteran owned businesses. They currently teach this course for the City of VA Beach SWaM office as well as the VBOC (Veteran’s Business Outreach Center) in Norfolk which services Virginia and West Virginia.
Join us for an informative session at Explore More Discovery Museum in Harrisonburg, VA, tailored for businesses keen on elevating their HR strategies, compliance, and employee benefits. This event will delve deep into pertinent topics that can shape the way you look at HR and employee benefits.
Discover the latest trends and best practices in HR management, learn how to attract and retain top talent, and ensure compliance with the ever-changing legal landscape. Our expert speakers will share their knowledge and experiences, giving you practical tips and advice to implement in your own organization. Network with fellow professionals, exchange ideas, and gain valuable connections.
Light refreshments will be served.
Dedicated time for networking to connect with peers and industry professionals.
Engaging Q&A sessions after each presentation, ensuring your specific concerns are addressed.
A special thank you to our esteemed sponsor, Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, for making this event possible. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting, this event promises to equip you with the knowledge and resources to optimize your HR practices. Reserve your spot today and position your business for success!
In this webinar, you will learn how to write a one-page business plan for your business. We’ll also discuss how writing a one-page business plan can help you organize your ideas and allow you to be focused and concise about your business goals.
Our expert presenter will show you each element of the one-page business plan, including identifying the problem your business solves, your value proposition, your target audience and much more.
You’ll learn the following:
- The benefits of a one-page business plan vs. other business plans
- Practical tips on writing a one-page business plan
- How a one-page business plan can eliminate distractions and help you focus
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
Overview of This Live Webinar
During this live webinar (Zoom), attendees will learn:
- Financing Basics – Types of Financing
- Funding Sources & Financing Programs
- Common Misconceptions of Small Business Financing
- Bank Financing Basics
- Preparing for Financing
- Strategies for your Bank Presentation
- And Much More!
Speaker: Timm Johnson – Director & Senior Business Counselor, Mason SBDC
Co-sponsor(s) & Partner(s): Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Prince William Chamber of Commerce
Cancellation Policy: Please provide 24-hours notice 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
The growing importance of direct-to-consumer sales for the craft beverage sector is undeniable, yet many companies don’t know how to legally and effectively take advantage of the relatively new sales channel.
In this webinar, Craft Beverage Assistance program manager Chris Van Orden will ask regulatory expert Kevin Anderson what it takes to run a successful DTC business.
Speaker: As a Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority special agent, Kevin Anderson was on the lookout for regulatory violations, underage drinking and other vices. Today, he has switched to the business side of the alcohol industry— navigating state and federal alcohol regulations for his winery, brewery, distillery, wholesale and retail clients. After leaving the Virginia ABC Authority in 2015 Kevin became a consultant with ABC Consulting and BreweryCompliance.com, a national consulting firm based in Virginia that offers state and federal licensing assistance along with compliance and consulting services. Kevin was named 100 People to Meet in 2020 by Virginia Business.
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.
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: Crowdfunding
Are traditional funding sources not a fit for your business? Consider crowdfunding. Join us as we discuss how crowdfunding works, why it may work for you, and tips and tricks on how to be a successful crowd funder. Finding revenue is one of the challenges for a project/idea/business. There are many options to help fund it. One option that may be the stepping stone to success is crowdfunding. Come in and learn if this is a possible funding stream for your future success. Maximized to the fullest use can mean more than money.
Key Takeaways:
- What is crowdfunding?
- How can crowdfunding help you finance your business?
- Mistakes to avoid in a crowdfunding campaign.
Speaker(s): Joey Pocan, Economic Development Specialist Mr. Pocan assists in the design and implementation of economic development strategies and programs related to Start-ups, business attraction, business expansion, and retention. He conducts research, presents training, project management, data collection and analysis, visits with local businesses and agencies to facilitate business opportunities.
Once registered, an automated email with the Zoom link will be sent to you. If you need further assistance or have a question, please contact us at (540)654-1383
Do you want to start your own online business but are worried about the upfront costs? You’re not alone. Many aspiring entrepreneurs face this hurdle when they begin their digital entrepreneurial journey. But starting your online business doesn’t have to break the bank!
In this webinar, our expert presenters will show you practical and cost-effective strategies for starting your business website. From building your digital foundation to running and marketing your website, this webinar is your guide to getting started with minimal financial investment.
Learning objectives:
- How to set up your digital foundation without breaking the bank
- When and where to make strategic investments
- How to bring customers to your website once it’s built
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) doesn’t have to be complicated. Join us for an informative webinar where our expert speaker will teach you simple SEO tips and strategies you can use to grow your online presence.
In this webinar, you’ll learn how SEO can significantly impact your online success, actionable tips and techniques to optimize your website’s performance and a long-term strategy to sustain and continually improve your search rankings.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of SEO
- How to do Keyword research
- Tips for on-page and off-page optimization
- Planning for SEO maintenance
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
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.
Businesses need to understand the basics of digital marketing now more than ever, because digital marketing creates growth.
Learn about the basics of digital marketing, including:
- Social Media
- Email Marketing
- Paid Ads
- SEO
- Affiliate Marketing
- How to use analytics to measure your success
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.
Instructor: Cameron Nelson, Technology 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.
Speaking is the fastest and most predictable way to build and grow a business in today’s market – without ads, funnels or worrying about an algorithm.
In this session, you’ll get the exact, step-by-step blueprint to leverage speaking engagements as your #1 Customer Acquisition Channel (even if you’re just getting started.)
Pat Quinn will teach the step-by-step process to find ideal stages and walk through the results that small businesses can achieve.
Learning Objectives for this session:
- Know why Stages and Speaking Engagements are the fastest (and most effective) way to generate more clients
- Get the top tools to win customers through speaking engagements
- See the exact framework to create a high-converting Signature Talk
- How to find “Dream Stage”
- Get the blueprint to drive 10X the revenue from every Stage
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
The following will be covered during this live webinar:
- Power of SEO and social media for attracting customers, including local SEO to precisely target your market.
- Website optimization for lead generation. How personas, message maps, and content calendars help to make your website and social media footprint more attractive when integrated.
- Social selling as an amplifier of your existing sales and marketing strategy. Learn to build an omni channel presence and customer journey for faster wins.
- What your digital channel strategy needs, to be effective in terms of content, technology and investment.
- How to effectively use paid media and advertising. Cost savings of optimizing your website and SEO to maximize paid media spend and ROI.
The Federal Government buys over $600 billion per year on goods and services, 5% of that spend is allocated for Small Business. In order to be successful in government contracting you must know how to respond to a solicitation with a winning proposal. A properly formatted proposal will help you get noticed and differentiate you from your competition and show you are a responsible and responsive bidder.
Key Takeaways:
- Proper formatting of a proposal
- How proposals are graded
- What are some common mistakes in proposal writing
Speaker(s): Lisa Wood is the Statewide Director of the Virginia PTAC, hosted by George Mason University where she is also an Adjunct Professor of Management. Prior to that, she served as the Statewide Director with the Connecticut and Ohio PTAC programs and was also Director for the Northwest Commission PTAC in Pennsylvania. Before joining the PTAC community, Lisa was a Procurement Specialist for Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. In this role, Wood performed contract administration and negotiation duties. She also recommended bidders, handled issue inquiries, negotiated bids, performed cost and price analysis, and prepared comprehensive letters to justify recommended contract actions. Ms. Wood holds an MBA from the University of New Haven and a BSBA through Robert Morris University of Pittsburgh where she is also pursuing her PhD in Instructional Management and Leadership.
Co-Sponsor(s):
If you need further assistance or have a question, please contact us at (540) 654-1383