Training Seminars & Events

Please note that to ensure the safety of the general public and our staff, all in-person trainings have been postponed until further notice. We are offering webinars.

The Western Regional Office offers a full calendar of business training. Seminars are offered at no charge or for a nominal fee and held at locations throughout Western Massachusetts. This calendar is subject to change. Pre-registration is required for all events. If you do not register, we cannot notify you in the event of changes and/or cancellations. Please view our payment and cancellation policies.

For information on other MSBDC seminars offered throughout the state, visit the MSBDC's statewide training calendar at www.msbdc.org.

We would like to thank the following agencies for cosponsoring our training events:

Platinum Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:
Berkshire Bank | Freedom Credit Union | Greenfield Cooperative Bank | People's United Bank

2021 Training Calendar
Please note: Until further notice, all training is offered only online.
APRIL
20	Business Fundamentals: Human Resources Part 1: Finding and Retaining Talented Employees
27	Business Fundamentals: Human Resources Part 2: Employee Laws All Business Owners Must Know

MAY
3	Basics of Starting Your Business full
4	Business Fundamentals: Managing Business Financials and Bookkeeping
6	Basics of Starting Your Business
6	Small Business Resources Forum
11	Business Fundamentals: Conflict Resolution in the Workplace

JUNE
3	Small Business Resources Forum
3	Basics of Starting Your Business
7	Basics of Starting Your Business

Program Descriptions

Basics of Starting Your Business This free presentation will help entrepreneurs start a business plan and provide structure to starting and managing their venture. 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 Financing There will also 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. Also presenting from the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, Western Regional Office: Samalid Hogan, regional director/senior business advisor; Allen Kronick, senior business advisor; or Anita Eliason, senior business advisor. There is no charge for these workshops, but pre-registration is required. This workshop is offered on several convenient dates. To register, click on your date selection. A Zoom link for the webinar will be emailed to you after registration. Dates & Times: Monthly Mondays (1:00 - 3:30 p.m.) and Thursdays (9:00 a.m. - 12 noon) - click on your date selection below to register Cost: Free: Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line at 413-342-0499
Small Business Resources Forum Learn about current grants, loans, and other resources in Western Massachusetts for small businesses. Join in a live Q&A to get your individual questions answered. There will also be a local business advisor to schedule you for no-charge business counseling services, to help you with marketing your business, understanding your financials and applying for loans or grants available to businesses economically impacted by the pandemic. The forum will be moderated by Jessi Kirley, a small business advisor with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, Western Regional Office. There is no charge for the forum, but pre-registration is required. This event is offered on the first Thursday of the month. You can choose a date on the registration form. Dates: Monthly on Thursdays: May 6 or June 3, 2021 Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EST Location: Online Cost: No charge Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line at 413-342-0499 Brought to you by the Western Massachusetts Means Business (WMMB) and stakeholders: Center for Women and Enterprise, Common Capital, Franklin County Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, SCORE of Western Mass, Valley Community Development Corporation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clark University and Salem State University.
Business Fundamentals: Human Resources Part 1: Finding and Retaining Talented Employees Topics to be discussed include: Information on how to write an accurate job description Strategies for finding and retaining talented employees Tips for interviewing candidates for a job opening and sample interview questions How to check on candidates references General information on effective onboarding of employees Steps to terminate an employee Brief overview of the "Temp-to-hire" model Presenter: Allison Ebner, Employers Association of the Northeast Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 Time: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST Location: Online Cost: No charge Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line: 413-342-0501 Brought to you by the Western Massachusetts Means Business (WMMB) and stakeholders: Center for Women and Enterprise, Common Capital, Franklin County Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, SCORE of Western Mass, Valley Community Development Corporation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clark University and Salem State University.
Business Fundamentals: Human Resources Part 2: Employee Laws All Business Owners Must Know Topics to be discussed include: Overview of employer obligations to employees Employment law highlights: sick time, vacation time, employee classifications, unemployment claims, and termination Presenter: Allison Ebner, Employers Association of the Northeast Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2021 Time: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST Location: Online Cost: No charge Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line: 413-342-0501 Brought to you by the Western Massachusetts Means Business (WMMB) and stakeholders: Center for Women and Enterprise, Common Capital, Franklin County Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, SCORE of Western Mass, Valley Community Development Corporation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clark University and Salem State University.
Business Fundamentals: Managing Business Financials and Bookkeeping Topics to be discussed include: Learn bookkeeping principles and how to effectively track your numbers, including loan/grants received Overview of financial documents Tips on how to organize your documents for tax preparation Presenter: Katishia Gallishaw, KG Virtual CFO Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 Time: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST Location: Online Cost: No charge Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line: 413-342-0501 Brought to you by the Western Massachusetts Means Business (WMMB) and stakeholders: Center for Women and Enterprise, Common Capital, Franklin County Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, SCORE of Western Mass, Valley Community Development Corporation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clark University and Salem State University.
Business Fundamentals: Conflict Resolution in the Workplace 2020 may be behind us, but the polarizing issues it has brought to the forefront continue to infiltrate the workplace. Working with other people can be tricky, as each of us come wrapped up in packages complete with distinct personalities, sensitivities, cultural beliefs, identities, attitudes, and opinions. Navigating workplace relationships often seems like walking through a minefield – particularly when so much of our daily communication has now shifted from in-person to online. In this interactive workshop, we will provide you with tools to stay cool when the workplace heats up. In this webinar, you will learn how, when thoughtfully approached, even the most challenging situations can be an opportunity for career growth and self-empowerment. Presenter: Dawn LaRochelle, Center for Women and Enterprise Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 Time: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST Location: Online Cost: No charge Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line: 413-342-0501 Brought to you by the Western Massachusetts Means Business (WMMB) and stakeholders: Center for Women and Enterprise, Common Capital, Franklin County Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, SCORE of Western Mass, Valley Community Development Corporation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clark University and Salem State University.


Payment Details: Please mail a copy of your registration email, along with a check payable to the University of Massachusetts, to the address below. Your payment must be received prior to the seminar date. We do not accept credit cards or purchase orders. We cannot guarantee your place in a workshop without full payment in advance. Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Attn: Lynn Shedd Scibelli Enterprise Center One Federal Street, Building 101 Springfield, MA 01105-1160 Cancellation/Refunds/Materials Policy: The MSBDC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a training session. Registration fees will be returned or credited towards future programs. Cancellations received by noon the day prior to the workshop will be entitled to a refund. No refund will be given on notifications received after that time or in any no-show situation. Seminar materials are for attendees only.

Basics of Starting Your Business

biz startup This free presentation will help entrepreneurs start a business plan and provide structure to starting and managing their venture. 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
Financing

There will also 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. Also presenting from the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, Western Regional Office: Samalid Hogan, regional director/senior business advisor; Allen Kronick, senior business advisor; or Anita Eliason, senior business advisor.

There is no charge for these workshops, but pre-registration is required. This workshop is offered on several convenient dates. To register, click on your date selection. A Zoom link for the webinar will be emailed to you after registration.

Dates & Times: Monthly Mondays (1:00 - 3:30 p.m.) and Thursdays (9:00 a.m. - 12 noon) - click on your date selection below to register
Cost: Free:
Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line at 413-342-0499

Small Business Resources Forum

business forum Learn about current grants, loans, and other resources in Western Massachusetts for small businesses. Join in a live Q&A to get your individual questions answered. There will also be a local business advisor to schedule you for no-charge business counseling services, to help you with marketing your business, understanding your financials and applying for loans or grants available to businesses economically impacted by the pandemic. The forum will be moderated by Jessi Kirley, a small business advisor with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, Western Regional Office.

There is no charge for the forum, but pre-registration is required. This event is offered on the first Thursday of the month. You can choose a date on the registration form.

Dates: Monthly on Thursdays: May 6 or June 3, 2021
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EST
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line at 413-342-0499

Brought to you by the Western Massachusetts Means Business (WMMB) and stakeholders: Center for Women and Enterprise, Common Capital, Franklin County Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, SCORE of Western Mass, Valley Community Development Corporation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Clark University and Salem State University.

Business Fundamentals: Human Resources Part 1: Finding and Retaining Talented Employees

WMMB Topics to be discussed include:

Information on how to write an accurate job description
Strategies for finding and retaining talented employees
Tips for interviewing candidates for a job opening and sample interview questions
How to check on candidates references
General information on effective onboarding of employees
Steps to terminate an employee
Brief overview of the "Temp-to-hire" model

Presenter: Allison Ebner, Employers Association of the Northeast

Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Time: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line: 413-342-0501

Business Fundamentals: Human Resources Part 2: Employee Laws All Business Owners Must Know

WMMB Topics to be discussed include:

Overview of employer obligations to employees
Employment law highlights: sick time, vacation time, employee classifications, unemployment claims, and termination

Presenter: Allison Ebner, Employers Association of the Northeast

Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Time: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line: 413-342-0501

Business Fundamentals: Managing Business Financials and Bookkeeping

WMMB Topics to be discussed include:

Learn bookkeeping principles and how to effectively track your numbers, including loan/grants received
Overview of financial documents
Tips on how to organize your documents for tax preparation

Presenter: Katishia Gallishaw, KG Virtual CFO

Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Time: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line: 413-342-0501

Business Fundamentals: Conflict Resolution in the Workplace

WMMB 2020 may be behind us, but the polarizing issues it has brought to the forefront continue to infiltrate the workplace. Working with other people can be tricky, as each of us come wrapped up in packages complete with distinct personalities, sensitivities, cultural beliefs, identities, attitudes, and opinions. Navigating workplace relationships often seems like walking through a minefield – particularly when so much of our daily communication has now shifted from in-person to online.

In this interactive workshop, we will provide you with tools to stay cool when the workplace heats up. In this webinar, you will learn how, when thoughtfully approached, even the most challenging situations can be an opportunity for career growth and self-empowerment.

Presenter: Dawn LaRochelle, Center for Women and Enterprise

Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Time: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: Online
Cost: No charge
Contact: Lynn Shedd at lshedd@msbdc.umass.edu or Google Business Line: 413-342-0501

Payment Details:

Please mail a copy of your registration email, along with a check payable to the University of Massachusetts, to the address below. Your payment must be received prior to the seminar date. We do not accept credit cards or purchase orders. We cannot guarantee your place in a workshop without full payment in advance.

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center
Attn: Lynn Shedd
Scibelli Enterprise Center
One Federal Street, Building 101
Springfield, MA 01105-1160

Cancellation/Refunds/Materials Policy:

The MSBDC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a training session. Registration fees will be returned or credited towards future programs. Cancellations received by noon the day prior to the workshop will be entitled to a refund. No refund will be given on notifications received after that time or in any no-show situation. Seminar materials are for attendees only.