Massachusetts SBDC Statewide Training & Event Calendar
Preregistration is required for all events. If no link is listed on the registration page, online registration is not available or registration is closed. Please read important registration information by clicking here.
 The Massachusetts Export Center organizes seminars, webinars and events throughout the year under Partners for Trade—the official export training initiative of the Commonwealth. On the calendar below, 
indicates an exporting training event. |
|
|
~~~ 2025 Training Calendar |
|
|---|---|
|
Unless otherwise
noted, training is offered online.
= export training |
|
| APRIL | |
| 30 |
Breaking Through the Knowledge Silos at
Your Firm to Ensure Trade Compliance |
| MAY | |
| 1 | Effective Marketing Plan for Business Growth (hybrid event: online and New Bedford) |
| 2 |
Trump on Trade: The First 100 Days
and Beyond
|
| 7 | Tech Talks with Rob: Unlock the Power of Cloud Services for Your Small Business! |
| 7 | Are You Bankable? |
| 7 | Ways to Improve Your Credit Score |
| 14 | Financials 101 |
| 21 | Understanding the Business Loan Process |
| 21 | Are You Bankable? |
| 22 |
GPSR: What US Exporters Need to Know About the New EU
General Product Safety Regulation
|
| JUNE | |
| 4 | Tech Talks with Rob: Shield Your Business from Cyber Threats – Essential Tips Webinar! |
| 6 |
Triangulating the Trump Trade
Agenda: Tips and Tools for Addressing Policy Changes |
Program Descriptions
|
Various topics that we will cover:
Whether you are tech-savvy or just getting started, "Tech Talks with Rob" will provide you with the knowledge and tools to leverage technology for your business’s success. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, grow, and secure your business in the digital marketplace. During each session, Rob will present a brief 15–20-minute introduction to the topic at hand, followed by an interactive discussion and Q&A period. This series aims to create a welcoming environment where participants are encouraged to ask questions. Remember, there are no bad questions. Date: Held on the first Wednesday of the month
- click on date below to register
|
|---|
|
Your small business is “bankable” if a commercial bank or lending institution is willing to offer you financing, such as a loan or line of credit. Small business owners often seek financing to buy equipment or inventory, launch a new product line, open or expand retail or manufacturing operations, further grow an existing business, and more. Contrary to popular belief, banks are eager to lend to small businesses. However, in order to be bankable, you need to understand your business' numbers, how to organize the numbers for a commercial loan, and how to present your personal and business story in a compelling manner. In this webinar, you will learn how to:
The webinar will be led by Karen Baldeschwieler, a small business consultant with Zenagos. Also joining us will be local commercial bankers. Dates: Offered
on multiple Wednesdays. Select a date below to
register.
Registration coming soon for dates of Jun 11, Jun 25 and July 9 |
|
Breaking Through the Knowledge Silos at Your Firm to Ensure Trade Compliance Is your company entangled in knowledge silos? Often, silos are put in place to provide safety from the sensitive information they contain from being accessed, whether nefariously or by chance. However, when it comes to trade compliance practices, knowledge silos may be inadvertently created within departments due to lack of information sharing, legacy information systems, and clusters of procedures that are not broadly applied, all of which are detrimental to companies, putting them at risk for violations. Employees may go about doing their jobs and have access to a lot of information that may constitute "knowledge" whether they know it or not. Some of the information they are presented with may be meaningless within their daily responsibilities, however, certain details may point to potential export or sanctions risks. Knowledge—as defined by BIS—includes knowing that a violation may occur, or awareness of a high probability of violation may occur in the present or future. Many employees often do not recognize the importance of the evidence that they have been provided with, or that it creates knowledge. More importantly, because of this lack of awareness the information is not relayed to their designated compliance professional to conduct due diligence and assess any regulatory concerns. Break through the knowledge silos! Join us as our speakers discuss best practices for creating awareness across all departments regarding the acquisition of knowledge important for trade compliance, and developing communication practices that will reduce the risk of violation. Our speakers include:
Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
|
|
Effective Marketing Plan for Business Growth (hybrid event) This event will be presented both online and in-person. A buffet lunch will be available at 11:45 a.m. so that in-person attendees can join the online session at noon. What is the most important part of a business plan? THE MARKETING PLAN!!! To keep one's business on course this plan must be geared toward the business's mission, product and service lines, markets, financial situation, and marketing/sales tactics. Register today to get started on your plan! The speaker will be Clifford Robbins, regional director of the Massachusetts SBDC - Southeast Region. Please select one registration option below. Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Cosponsored by the New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC) and MassDevelopment Growth Capital Division |
|
Trump on Trade: The First 100 Days and Beyond International trade has been at the forefront of the Trump Administration’s agenda, and yet the future of trade policy across a number of areas still remains somewhat unclear. President Trump released the America First Trade Policy Memorandum in January 2025 and, with a focus on enhancing our national edge on technology, called on his cabinet members to cooperatively review economic security, the U.S. relationship with China and unfair trade, and report back by April 1, 2025, in preparation for the 100 day mark of his second term. The Memorandum requested an assessment of fair trade practices and emergency economic issues, which we have seen playing out in daily news cycles with the implementation of tariffs on some of our key trading partners, as well as universal tariffs on steel and aluminum. Foreign investment policy was also flagged for review, which led to the release of the America First Investment Policy Memorandum in February. Additionally, the January Memorandum called for assessments of trade compliance and enforcement, specifically identifying and eliminating loopholes in existing export controls, analyzing enforcement policies and practices, and reassessing Free Trade Agreements for the purpose of renegotiation. Adapting to these new policy directives, whether having been announced or pending announcement, are expected to have significant impact on businesses now and in the future. Join us to hear practical guidance for how global businesses can address the changes affecting their trade operations now and prepare for what may come. This webinar will assess the shifts in trade and tariff policies, the future of export controls, China retaliatory controls, economic sanctions, regulatory enforcement and free trade policy. We will also touch on trade-tangential issues such as outbound and inbound investment reviews. Bring your questions! Our speakers will be:
Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
|
|
Ways to Improve Your Credit Score Are you looking to improve your credit score, but aren't sure where to start? Join our webinar, where we will give you tips on how to increase your credit score. You will learn the following:
The speaker will be Awilda Irizarry, Senior Business Advisor and Financial Specialist with the Massachusetts SBDC - Northeast Region. Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
|
|
Every small business should know how to keep detailed records of the daily transactions involved in their business. They create reports that allow management, stakeholders and regulating authorities to have insight into the financial health of the organization. As the business owner, you need to understand the metrics that are reported in the cash flow and income statements, and balance sheets and how they relate to each other. This workshop will go over all three of these topics and show examples of each one. The speaker will be Awilda Irizarry, Senior Business Advisor and Financial Specialist with the Massachusetts SBDC - Northeast Region. Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
|
|
Understanding the Business Loan Process Do you have a great idea for a business and the only thing standing in your way is the money to give it some legs? Or, you already own your own business but could use some extra capital to take things to the next level? You have come to the right place! In this presentation, you will learn the ins and outs of business loan proposals. The following topics will be covered:
The speaker will be Awilda Irizarry, Senior Business Advisor and Financial Specialist with the Massachusetts SBDC - Northeast Region. Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
|
|
GPSR: What US Exporters Need to Know About the New EU General Product Safety Regulation The EU's new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) was implemented in December 2024, introducing significant new compliance requirements for products supplied to EU consumers. The GPSR modernizes the EU's product safety framework and introduces new responsibilities for businesses throughout supply chains, both D2C and B2B, making it essential for US exporters to understand their obligations. The law has a wide scope, applying to products used by consumers even if not intended for them, and covering connected devices, software and AI as well as physical goods. The new obligations will change how you:
The GPSR also shifts the regulatory enforcement landscape in the EU, with potentially severe consequences for US businesses whose products are non-compliant. This webinar will provide an overview of the GPSR, the new obligations for US exporters, and the practical steps to meet the EU's requirements. Our speakers will be:
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
|
|
Triangulating the Trump Trade Agenda: Tips and Tools for Addressing Policy Changes With a daily flurry of international trade-related executive orders, policy memoranda, and social media posts, businesses are struggling to make sense of U.S. international trade rules and policy priorities. This whirlwind of information has caused uncertainty for businesses attempting to understand how and when they will be affected by trade policy changes, making it difficult to identify priorities and prepare. Join us to gain practical advice on assessing and addressing future actions in real time. This program will review the latest trade-related actions from the Trump Administration, including executive orders, policy and off-the-cuff statements that trade compliance professionals should be aware of when working to address policy changes and maintain compliance. Our speaker will be Luciano Racco, Counsel and Co-Chair, International Trade & National Security Practice with Foley Hoag LLP. Date: Friday, June 6, 2025
|
|
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. Credit cards are accepted ONLY for the Massachusetts Export Center's events. Your spot is reserved once payment is received by the appropriate office. Training events may be added or cancelled; the training schedule is subject to change. Please note: Training confirmations are sent from centeric@clients.msbdc.org. We use this email address frequently, so please add it to your approved sender list. A verification code will be sent from this email address allowing your to register for training. If you have problems signing in, please do not create a new account with a different email in order to register. For help registering, send an email to the contact in the seminar description. Please review our cancellation and refund policies. |
