Training Events
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center - Berkshire Region conducts free and low-cost workshops and conferences addressing a wide range of concerns for both start-up and existing businesses. Many of these programs are cosponsored with local chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, community development organizations, trade associations, banks and corporate sponsors.
For a complete listing of Massachusetts SBDC seminars offered throughout the state, please visit the statewide calendar at www.msbdc.org. Visit our video page for past trainings and helpful videos.
Small Business Open House
Join
the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC), in
partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), for a
Small Business Open House designed to connect businesses and
entrepreneurs directly with lenders, resource partners, and business
advisors from across the region.
The Open House will provide attendees with the opportunity to network, ask questions, explore financing options, and learn more about resources available to support business growth and success. Whether you are starting a business, seeking capital, planning for expansion, or simply looking to make valuable connections, this event is an excellent opportunity to engage with experts and organizations dedicated to helping Massachusetts small businesses thrive.
We encourage all small businesses, entrepreneurs, and community partners to attend. Click here to visit our dedicated Open House page.
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Location:
Berkshire Innovation Center, 45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield
Cost: No charge
Contact: Jayne Bellora at 413-545-8070 or
jmbellora@msbdc.umass.edu
Cosponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Beacon Bank and 44 Business Capital
Tech Talks with Rob: Incident Response for Small Business — What to Do When Something Goes Wrong
You have been hacked. Now what?
We spend a lot of time talking about how to prevent cyberattacks. But what happens when prevention is not enough? When you open your laptop and something is clearly, terrifyingly wrong? Most small business owners have no idea what to do in the first 60 minutes of a cyber incident and that is when decisions matter most.
In this special Cybersecurity Awareness Month edition of Tech Talks with Rob, we will cover:
- The first 5 things to do when you think you have been breached
- Who to call and in what order - IT support, your bank, law enforcement, your customers
- How to contain the damage before it spreads
- What to say to your clients and what NOT to say
- Free resources from the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Massachusetts that exist specifically for businesses like yours
- Why cyber insurance matters and what it actually covers
You have already learned how to lock the doors. This session is your fire escape plan.
Speakers include:
- Rob DelMastro, Director of Berkshire and Western Regional Offices — Massachusetts SBDC
- Gene Kingsley, Cyber Range Manager — The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (guest speaker)
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. ET
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Massachusetts SBDC Berkshire
Region at 413-545-0932
Cyber Resilience in Action: A Hands-On Experience for Small Business
What
would you do if today was the day your small business
was the victim of a cybersecurity attack?
Please join us in person for a high-stakes cybersecurity exercise for small business owners. No tech background needed. No jargon. Just real talk.
If your business operates using a phone, email, a Facebook page, a website, or an app that accepts payments, you already possess everything a cybercriminal needs. You don’t have to be a tech company to be at risk; you simply need to be open for business.
This event is for you, if:
- You use email, Facebook, Instagram, Square, Venmo, QuickBooks, or any app to run your business
- You've ever thought, "I'm too small to be a target".
- You don't have an IT person (you are the IT person)
- You couldn't answer right now: "Who would I call if my business got hacked?"
Pizza shops. Contractors. Home-based businesses. Hair salons. Junk haulers. Consultants. Flower shops. If you run a business, this workshop was built for you.
What to expect: This is not a lecture. There are no slides filled with technical terms, and no one will make you feel overwhelmed.
What it is: You and a table of fellow business owners live through a small business's worst day in real time — reading the story round-robin, hitting the same split-second decisions the owner faces, and working it out at the table as the stakes get higher.
What you will leave with:
- The ability to spot the warning signs most owners miss until it's already costly
- A clear picture of the 2–3 actions that matter most in the first ten minutes
- One practical change you can make this week that significantly reduces your risk
- A simple written action plan to take back to your business
Speakers include:
- Rob DelMastro, Director — Massachusetts SBDC, Western & Berkshire Regions
- Gene Kingsley, Cyber Range Manager — Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
Choose from two convenient dates and locations! This event is offered at no charge. Space is limited, so register today.
Pittsfield Event:
Date & Time: Thursday, October 8, 2026
| 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Berkshire Innovation Center,
45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield
Springfield Event:
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity
Center of Excellence, Union Station, 55 Frank B Murray
Street, Springfield
Cosponsored by The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
Click on icon below to listen to recordings from our recent podcasts, Conversations That Matter.
Massachusetts SBDC training events are supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, you certify that you are legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.