Statewide Training & Event Calendar
All training events are held in Massachusetts unless otherwise noted. Preregistration is required for all events. Each registration link is program-specific. If no link is listed, online registration is not available or registration has closed.
Training registrations are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve your space for fee-based events, mail your payment to the appropriate office with a copy of the completed registration form. We accept credit cards only for the Massachusetts Export Center's events. Your spot is reserved once payment is received by the appropriate office. Training programs may be added or cancelled; the training schedule is subject to change.
Please review our
Registration and Cancellation Policies.
  The Massachusetts Export Center organizes seminars, webinars
and events throughout the year under Partners for Trade—the
official export training initiative of the Commonwealth. The Export Center
also offers an opportunity to view archived webinars. For further
information, visit www.mass.gov/export.
Click on image to right to download the Export Center's Spring 2019 Partners for Trade export training brochure. |
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 The
Massachusetts Export Center created the
Massachusetts Export Resource Center, a comprehensive, one-stop resource for
accessing a wide range of instructional and practical information on
exporting to help your business grow and take advantage of international
opportunities. Registration is free! |
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 Did you know that the U.S. Small Business Administration offers free online training? Click on the SBA logo to view topics. |
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2019 Training Calendar |
= export training |
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| JUNE | |||
| 14 | Legal Clinic (Plymouth) | ||
| 18 | Grow Your Business (Cambridge) | ||
| 19 |
Powering Your Exports: A Program for Manufacturing
and Tech Companies (Springfield) |
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| 19 | Which QuickBooks Version is Best for You...Desktop vs. Online? (New Bedford) | ||
| 21 | Success for Small Business (SSB) Boot Camp (Mansfield) | ||
| 25 | QuickBooks Online - Part 1 of 3 (Springfield) - also July 2 & 9 | ||
| 26 | QuickBooks Tips & Tricks for Online and Desktop Versions (New Bedford) | ||
| 28 |
Complying with the New Sanctions Against Huawei
(webinar) |
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| JULY | |||
| 2 | QuickBooks Online - Part 2 of 3 (Springfield) - also July 9 | ||
| 9 | QuickBooks Online - Part 3 of 3 (Springfield) | ||
| 11 | Basics of Starting or Growing Your Business (Greenfield) | ||
| 17 | Entity Formation, Negotiation and Legal Basics (Boston) | ||
| 19 |
Managing Export Operations and
Compliance (webinar) |
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| AUGUST | |||
| 5 | Basics of Starting a Business (Springfield) | ||
| SEPTEMBER | |||
| 9 | Basics of Starting a Business (Springfield) | ||
| 12 | Basics of Starting or Growing Your Business (Greenfield) | ||
Program Descriptions
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How to Become a GSA Federal Supply Schedule Holder and Government Contracting 101
This free one-day workshop is typically held monthly in Boston. This workshop, designed to encourage and support small businesses interested in obtaining a GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract; learn more about contracting opportunities, the procurement process and resources available. Not sure which solicitation applies to your product or service? Refer to GSA's Schedules e-Library website in order to view or download solicitations. You can also view and download solicitations by visiting the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. Before attending the workshop, please review the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program and the GSA Vendor Tool Box. Please direct any questions regarding the GSA MAS Program to the GSA MAS Helpdesk (National Customer Service Center) by phone at 800-488-3111 or by email at mashelpdesk@gsa.gov. Space is limited, so register early! To register, click on a specific date below and you will be transferred to the registration form. Space is limited to the first 25 participants, so register early! Date:
Wednesday,
June 12, 2019 |
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Introduction to Government Contracting
To register for an event, click on a specific date below and you will be transferred to the registration form. Space is limited, so register early! Dates:
TBA |
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General information will be provided on the following programs and services:
These free two-hour programs are offered frequently at various locations. Click on button below to visit SBA's website for dates, locations and registration information.
Cosponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and area chambers of commerce |
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Legal Clinics (offered monthly in Southeast Massachusetts)
These free and confidential 30-minute sessions are offered once a month at various locations. Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opens online two weeks prior to each legal clinic's date. If you have questions, please call the MSBDC office at 508-673-9783.
As a courtesy to Attorney Cassara, who is volunteering
his time for the clinics, please call our office at at least 24 hours in
advance if you cannot attend your appointment. Dates: Monthly on Fridays
- see dates below Register online by clicking on the desired date below:
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Topics will include: introduction and need for planning; basic business plan format; choosing your legal form of organization; marketing, market planning and research; cash flow projections; financial statements; and financing. In addition, there will be an overview of the U.S. Small Business Administration's programs and services. The presentation will help you gain a better understanding of the various SBA programs and services available to prospective or current entrepreneurs who need assistance in starting or expanding their businesses, and will include capital, counseling and contracting information. Oreste Varela, branch manager of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Springfield, will be a speaker. In addition, Allen Kronick, a senior business advisor with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network's Western Regional Office, will speak. There is no charge for these workshops, but pre-registration is required. To register, click on the appropriate date below. If you have questions or problems registering online, please contact Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or 413-577-1768.
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Basics of Starting or Growing Your Business Learn the whole nine yards of starting a business! This free workshop will help entrepreneurs write a business plan and provide structure to starting/managing their venture. It will also focus on business fundamentals; from startup considerations to business plan development and funding sources. Both those who want to start a business and existing business owners looking for guidance on creating a business plan and securing financing to grow their business will find this session helpful. Topics will include: introduction and need for planning; Basic business plan format; choosing your legal form of organization; marketing, market planning and research; cash flow projections; financial statements; and financing. In addition, there will be an overview of the U.S. Small Business Administration's programs and services. The presentation will help you gain a better understanding of the various SBA programs and services available to prospective or current entrepreneurs who need assistance in starting or expanding their businesses, and will include capital, counseling and contracting information. Bonus: If your business is food-related, you are invited to attend a guided tour of the Franklin County Community Development Corporation commercial kitchen following the workshop. Please follow these guidelines when visiting the commercial kitchen: no open-toed shoes, tank tops, or strong perfumes/colognes and limited jewelry. Anyone under the age of 18 is not permitted in the commercial kitchen area. Oreste Varela, branch manager of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Springfield, will be a speaker. In addition, Anita Eliason, a senior business advisor with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network's Western Regional Office, will speak. There is no charge for these workshops, but pre-registration is required.
To register, click on the appropriate date below. If you have
questions or problems registering online,
please contact the MSBDC Western Regional Office at
lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu
or 413-577-1768.
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Powering Your Exports: A Program for Manufacturing and Tech Companies
This program is about taking your sales and operations to the next level – we’ll discuss the steps to take for international expansion, implementation of export operations, and some of the potential pitfalls to be avoided. We will also review the many government resources, including grants and other supports, that are available to help supercharge your exports! Available on the following convenient dates and locations:
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Creating More Customers for Your Small Business - Lunch and Learn
Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Cosponsored by the New Bedford Economic Development Council and Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation |
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Speakers include:
Seating is limited to the first 50 people. Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Sponsored by Webster Bank |
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Which QuickBooks Version is Best for You...Desktop vs. Online?
The speaker will be Anna Hattub, owner of AMH Business Services and QuickBooks instructor at Bristol Community College. Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Cosponsored by the New Bedford Economic Development Council, Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation and Bristol Community College |
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Success for Small Business (SSB) Boot Camp
Business owners who successfully complete the SSB program would then be eligible* for an initial business line of credit in the amount of $5,000 from HarborOne. After a year of responsible handling of the business line of credit, HarborOne would increase the credit line amount to $10,000. *Loan subject to credit approval. Flexible and innovative credit underwriting parameters considered. Date: Friday, June 21, 2019
Cosponsored by HarboOne U at HarborOne Bank |
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QuickBooks Tips & Tricks for Online and Desktop Versions
The speaker will be Anna Hattub, owner of AMH Business Services and QuickBooks instructor at Bristol Community College. Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Cosponsored by the New Bedford Economic Development Council, Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation and Bristol Community College |
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Complying with the New Sanctions Against Huawei
Shortly after adding Huawei to the Entity List, BIS issued a Temporary General License, effective May 20 through August 19, 2019, authorizing certain transactions with Huawei. These authorized transactions are for specified Huawei end uses and subject to certification and recordkeeping requirements. Huawei is China's largest telecommunications firm and is the world’s second largest manufacturer of smartphones, after Samsung and before Apple. It is a $105 Billion company that sources many of its components from U.S. suppliers, with Massachusetts being a design and production hub for the type of technology procured by the firm. Huawei is a deeply-embedded player in the global supply chain for electronic components, networking and telecommunications technology, and with China's multi-layered distribution infrastructure, it can be challenging for U.S. companies to ensure compliance with the new sanctions. Join us for this timely webinar to learn about the Huawei sanctions, and strategies for compliance amidst China’s complex distribution and OEM environment. The webinar will also provide guidance on allowances under BIS’ Temporary General License, including scope of authorized transactions, certification requirements and documentation of due diligence to mitigate compliance risk. Our speakers will be:
Date: Friday, June 28, 2019
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Entity Formation, Negotiation and Legal Basics Are you wondering what legal entity you should choose for your new business—sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation or something else? When it comes to selecting the right legal entity for your company, there are many options. No one particular form is better than another, but there is a better choice based on how you envision operating the business. The operating entity you choose will determine your legal obligations, financial rights, liability for business debts, and tax liability. This workshop will provide an overview of the most common types of operating entities. We also cover some guidelines and considerations to help you choose the best legal structure for your company. Finally, we will discuss negotiating points for those looking to secure venture and angel financing or to provide equity stakes in the company in exchange for services rendered or capital invested. Speakers include:
Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Cosponsored by Suffolk University Law School |
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In this class, you will learn to identify how best to use the program for your business needs and receive a private class with Kelly to clarify your specific questions. This class is for business owners, small business employees or folks who are less than one year from starting a business. You do not have to be using QuickBooks previously to attend. Topics include:
Please note that this is not QuickBooks desktop training. Pre-registration is required. Parking is $5 with validation by UMass Tower Square. Dates: Tuesdays, June 25, July 2 & July 9
Cosponsored by Common Capital and SCORE |
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Managing Export Operations and Compliance In today’s complex export environment, regulatory compliance and traditional operational issues are inextricably linked. Even simple logistical or reporting mistakes may have repercussions that can lead to noncompliance. Companies that don’t take a holistic and systematic approach to all of these issues will leave themselves open to fines, customs seizures, delays, and possible enforcement action. This webinar will provide an overview of the U.S. export regulatory environment, including essential steps for compliance with export controls and sanctions laws. The webinar will also discuss other steps in the export operational process, including AES reporting, global trade classification, free trade agreement compliance, shipping terms, export documentation, and more. This nuts-and-bolts program will provide you with the essentials for ensuring compliance and help you to cut through the confusion that can sometimes impede export operations. Bring your questions! Speakers include:
Date: Friday, July 19, 2019
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All
services are provided by PSH which is not acting as an agent and/or
representative of the Massachusetts Small Business Development
Center Network. By meeting with PSH you agree to indemnify and hold
harmless the MSBDC from any and all claims and liability arising
from your session with PSH. Participants will receive a general
waiver statement prior to their meeting. 
Learn the whole nine yards of starting a business! This free
workshop will focus on business fundamentals, from start-up
considerations to business plan development and funding sources. It will help entrepreneurs write a business plan and
provide structure to starting/managing their venture. This workshop
is appropriate for anyone who wants to start a business and existing
business owners looking for guidance on creating a business plan and
securing financing to grow their business.
If you are a manufacturing or technology company in
Massachusetts, you should be connected to the global market. Many
successful exporters derive more revenue from outside the U.S. than
from within it. How do they do it? What steps can you take to do
the same? And how can you build export operations that are both
effective and compliant? 
You bring your lunch and we'll help you learn... What is job ONE
for YOUR business? Creating Customers! How do you do that? By
writing and executing a solid Marketing Plan! Join Cliff Robbins, a
senior business advisor at MSBDC, to learn how to do just that! You
will walk away with a strategy in place and a marketing plan outline
to help you use the tools and tips you learn in this workshop to
start or grow your business. 
Join
us for an expert panel discussion including topics on SBA financing,
exporting, family businesses, preparing business plans, and
financial projections for your business. We will also discuss the
SBA 8(a) business development / government contract program and HUB
zones, along with an overview of the agencies. There will be time
for Q&As and the event will conclude with networking. 
For anyone contemplating using QuickBooks, join us for an
overview of both the desktop and online versions to see which one
will be a good fit for your small business. We will walk through
common tasks in both versions to help you decide. 
Join us for a one-day
intensive workshop that covers the five "core" classes of
the Success for Small Business (SSB) program which will cover the
following: 
On
May 16, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and
Security (BIS) announced the addition of China’s Huawei Technologies
Co., Ltd., as well as sixty-eight of Huawei’s global affiliates, to
the Entity List, with the presumption of license denial. The
addition of Huawei to the Entity List prohibits the export,
re-export or transfer of all U.S.-origin goods, software or
technology to Huawei or its named affiliates.
This is a three-week training event.
Attendance at all three sessions is necessary for best results. Participants who attend all
three sessions will receive a free consultation at the end of the
training. Common Capital’s Director of Business Assistance, Kelly Tiedemann, will teach this general review of QuickBooks Online in tandem with
basic accounting practices.