Mar
19
Tue
Create With Canva @ online
Mar 19 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

In this beginner-friendly course, you’ll dive into the exciting world of graphic design using Canva.

Canva is a versatile design platform with thousands of ready-to-use attention- grabbing promotional templates to create business cards, flyers, social media posts, presentations, and business plans, just to name a few.

Canva also has a Magic Studio which utilizes AI to create images, videos, presentations, and so much more. Get ready to unleash your creativity with Canva!

Speaker(s): Dana Knott, LSBDC Central Region Director

Co-Sponsor(s): LSBDC, GMU, VSBDC, SBA, GoVA

Insuring Your Craft Beverage Business @ online
Mar 19 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Making and selling alcohol involves significant and varied risks, all of which need to be managed. But how can breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries determine the insurance they need at each stage of growth?

In this webinar, Craft Beverage Assistance Manager Chris Van Orden will ask Kyle Rheiner of Arthur Hall Insurance about the types of policies available to producers and best practices for developing a comprehensive risk-management strategy.

Speaker: Kyle C. Rheiner is a Certified Insurance Counselor, Agency Principal and is the Food & Beverage Practice Leader at Arthur Hall Insurance in West Chester, PA. Kyle has over 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry along with actually brewing and distilling craft beverages. Since 2013, Kyle has become the trusted insurance advisor for over 150 craft beverage makers in the US. Kyle is also the Host of The Beer Mighty Things Podcast – a craft beverage business library with over 25,000 downloads including interviews with industry leaders throughout the world.

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.

Mastering Credit Repair – A Guide to Improve your Credit Score @ online
Mar 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Regardless of whether you’ve learned from past credit mistakes, your bad credit history can hold you back from achieving your financial goals. Join us and learn the actionable steps you can take to repair your credit score.

In this webinar, our expert presenter will walk you through the strategies and techniques that will help you take control of your credit score. Whether you’re struggling with overdue bills, loan denials or just want to improve your credit standing, this webinar will equip you with the tools to succeed.

You’ll learn following:

  • The fundamentals of credit scores and the impact of bad credit
  • How to identify common credit report errors and how to dispute them
  • Effective strategies to repair your credit
  • The healthy financial habits you can use to maintain good credit

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

Mar
20
Wed
GovCon 101-HubZone @ online
Mar 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

The Federal Government has contracting goals for Women, Minorities, Service Disabled Veterans and HUBZone located small businesses. These set asides are a great way to gain entry into the complex world of Federal contracting. This class will introduce you to the HUBZone certification. We will cover these key areas: • Eligibility requirements for HUBZone • Understanding the application process • Understanding how to prepare before applying • Staying Certified Don’t miss out on this informative presentation on how you can take advantage of the SBA’s socio-economic small business set-asides.

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.

If you need further assistance or have a question, please contact us at (540) 654-1383

Mar
21
Thu
Trade Talk: The Role of Customs Brokers @ online
Mar 21 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

In today’s globalized economy, it can be easy to take the flow of goods from market to market for granted. But there are experts operating behind the scenes who ensure that shipments clear customs and make it into the country smoothly.

In this webinar, the Virginia SBDC’s Assistant Director of International Business Development Chris Van Orden will ask Shawn Jarosz, Founder & Chief Strategist at TradeMoves, about her experience working with small businesses as a licensed customs broker.

Speaker: Shawn Marie Jarosz – Founder & Chief Trade Strategist, TradeMoves LLC Shawn’s tenure in international trade spans more than 25 years managing global sourcing/supply issues on behalf of U.S. companies of all sizes as well as related industry associations, primarily in the food and agriculture sector. Shawn is a cleared industry advisor to the U.S. Government on trade issues affecting U.S. small, minority and women-led businesses (past Chair, Industry Trade Advisory Committee/ITAC 9). She has been a licensed U.S. Customs broker since 2007 and is a Certified Customs Specialist. Shawn, along with members of her TradeMoves’ team, is a Certified Global Business Professional.

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.

Cyber Incident Response Planning @ online
Mar 21 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Preparing for cyber incidents is pivotal for small businesses to mitigate potential damages and ensure continuity in the face of cyber threats.

This training is designed to assist small business owners and decision-makers in developing robust cyber incident response plans. “Cyber Incident Response Planning: Building Resilience for Small Businesses” offers a comprehensive understanding of incident response frameworks, strategies, and best practices tailored to the specific needs and resources of small businesses.

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.
Google My Business – How to Get Your Business on Google Search and Maps @ online
Mar 21 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Ensure your business appears on Google Search and Maps and boost your online visibility by leveraging Google My Business, now known as Google Business Profile.

In this webinar, our expert presenter will show you how to build and manage your Google Business Profile, ensuring visibility and accuracy across Google Search and Google Maps. Take advantage of this opportunity to maximize your online presence and attract customers in your local community and beyond.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • Understanding the basics of Google Business Profile
  • Step-by-step guidance on creating and verifying your business profile
  • How to build a profile without a brick-and-mortar
  • How to optimize your business information
  • How to manage your business profile to stay relevant

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

Mar
26
Tue
Shenandoah Valley SBDC Drop-In Event @ Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce
Mar 26 @ 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.

Grow Your Sales by Getting Higher-Paying Clients @ online
Mar 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

For entrepreneurs, time is money, so why settle for low-paying clients when, with the same amount of effort, you could attract high-paying clients like major corporations and potentially double your sales income?

In this valuable webinar, bestselling author and USA TODAY’s small business columnist Steve Strauss will show you how to find high-paying clients who will give you the highest return on your time and effort.

In this webinar, you will learn:

  • Pitch to high-paying clients
  • Convince them to say yes
  • Land a high-paying client that will lead to more high-paying clients

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

Mar
27
Wed
Learn about Lender Match @ online
Mar 27 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Lender Match is a free online referral tool that connects small businesses with participating SBA-approved lenders.

In this webinar, you will learn:

  • How it works
  • How You Should Prepare
  • Other Details You Need to Know
SEO & Social Selling @ online
Mar 27 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

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.Speaker: Hussain Shah, Subject Matter Expert – Digital Marketing, Mason SBDC & 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 24 business hours prior to the event. Kindly email – 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 be provided after registration.

Mar
28
Thu
Biometric Betrayal: How Our Bodies Become Tools for Hackers @ online
Mar 28 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Overview of Live Webinar

Attention all small business owners! Biometrics are being used everywhere to “improve” the security of user logins and to help us authenticate our identity. However, if your biometrics are compromised, they are compromised forever. Join us for an engaging live webinar where we show you the latest tricks bad actors are using to steal your identity and what you can do to help protect yourself against this growing threat. In this session, you will:

  • Gain a Deeper Understanding: Learn how MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) is being used for identification and authentication, and the role biometrics can play.
  • Arm Yourself with Knowledge: Discover ways bad actors can steal your biometrics and use them to impersonate you when perpetrating their latest scams.
  • Strengthen Your Defenses: Learn effective strategies to safeguard your company against identity theft.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your awareness and fortify your business’s security. Register now to stay steps ahead of the evolving cyber landscape!


The webinar will be presented by the following speakers:

Dr. Teresa Piliouras – CEO and Founder, Technical Consulting & Research, Inc., an IT company specializing in AI, cybersecurity, quality management, and data analytics. Dr. Piliouras is a consultant, educator, inventor, and author. She holds a BS from the University of Illinois, an MBA from Iona College, and 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.

Adithya Rajendran – Cybersecurity Analyst at Technical Consulting & Research, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Baskin Engineering at UCSC, and has a strong foundation in programming, data structures, algorithms, and software engineering.

Curtis Rowe II – Cybersecurity Analyst Intern, Technical Consulting and Research, Inc., received his BS in Cognitive Science from the University of California, San Diego.

Start Smart Workshop @ SV SBDC
Mar 28 @ 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

Trademark Basics @ online
Mar 28 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Join us for a discussion about what all entrepreneurs, small businesses, and start-ups should know about trademarks. We’ll discuss what trademarks are, the benefits of federal trademark registration, and the basics of the registration process. We’ll also talk about why it’s so important for any new business to select a trademark that is both federally registrable and legally protectable.

We’ll direct you to free resources from the USPTO and close out the discussion with a question-and-answer session.

Speaker: Mariessa Terrell, Attorney Advisor, Trademarks Customer Outreach, USPTO

Webinar presented in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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.
How to Use Sales Funnels & Marketing Automation to Grow Your Business @ online
Mar 28 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

A sales funnel is a marketing term describing where your customers are in their purchasing journey and what marketing tools you can use to guide potential customers from interest to purchase.

In this webinar, you’ll learn how to use sales funnels to grow your business, automate your marketing tasks, create a complete customer journey map and determine your business KPIs so you can easily track what’s working and what’s not.

You’ll learn:

  • What is a sales funnel and how to use it in your business
  • How to create a complete customer journey map from discovery to purchase
  • Automation tools you can use to streamline marketing processes
  • How to establish and measure KPIs

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