Training Seminars & Events

The MSBDC Northeast Regional Office conducts free and low-cost training addressing a wide range of concerns for both start-up and existing businesses. Events are held in Massachusetts and offered at no charge unless otherwise noted. Pre-registration is required.

Registration through our office closes at noon on the day prior to the seminar. Unless a seminar is full, walk-ins are welcome! Please be courteous...if you cannot attend a seminar, please call our office at least 48 hours in advance so that someone else may fill your spot. Please review our cancellation and inclement weather policies.

Visit www.msbdc.org for a complete list of training offered statewide by the MSBDC.

2019 Training Calendar
MAY
30	Powering Your Exports: A Program for Manufacturing and Tech Companies (Lawrence)

JUNE
18	Grow Your Business (Cambridge)

JULY
17	Entity Formation, Negotiation and Legal Basics (Boston)

Program Descriptions

Powering Your Exports: A Program for Manufacturing and Tech Companies 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? 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! Date: Thursday, May 30, 2019 Time: Registration 8:00 a.m.; Program 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., including time for discussion Location: IndusPAD Industrial Innovation Hub (formerly Polartec Fleece Headquarters), Rear Entry, 46 Stafford Street (Route 28), Lawrence Cost: No charge Contact: Massachusetts Export Center at 617-973-6610 Cosponsored by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce
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. Speakers include: Jill Beresford, Senior Business Advisor — MA Small Business Development Center Network, Southeast Regional Office Nadine Boone, Lender Relations Specialist — U.S. Small Business Administration Ted Clark, Director — Center for Family Business at Northeastern University Kathleen Kelly, SVP SBA Relationship Manager — Webster Bank Kathleen Kinanhan-Newell, Trade Compliance Manager — Massachusetts Export Center Seating is limited to the first 50 people. Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Time: Program 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.; Networking 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Location: Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 56 Brattle Street, Cambridge Cost: No charge Contact: RSVP by June 4 to rmccain@websterbank.com Sponsored by Webster Bank
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: Lolita Darden is a registered Patent Attorney and Clinical Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School. Lolita teaches in the area of intellectual property law (patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret). She is the Director of Suffolk's Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship Clinic, a multi-disciplinary clinic serving new and emerging businesses. Prior to joining Suffolk, Lolita was Chief IP Counsel for Honeywell Consumer Products. She was also a partner with Sachnoff & Weaver where she counseled emerging technology businesses, Fortune 100® companies, and individuals on protecting, exploiting and creating rights in patents, trademarks, and copyrights as well as choosing an operating entity structure based on business goals. William (Will) Bernat is a partner with Nutter McClennen & Fish. He co-chairs the firm's Emerging Companies Group and co-leads the firm's Food and Beverage group. Clients routinely rely on Will to help them navigate through private equity, venture capital, and angel financing transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending transactions, and other corporate governance issues. Tech, life sciences, consumer/retail, and food & beverage companies look to Will for assistance throughout their entire lifespans, from initial planning and formation to operations and exit. Click here for flyer. Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Location: Suffolk University Law School, Room 170 (Multi-Function Room), 120 Tremont Street, Boston Cost: No charge Contact: Loletta Darden at 617-305-1641 or ldarden@suffolk.edu Cosponsored by Suffolk University Law School

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received by noon the day prior to the seminar will be entitled to a refund. No refund will be given on notifications received after that time or in any no-show situation. When the Enterprise Center collects the registration fees, its cancellation policies apply. Please contact them directly for further information. The MSBDC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a seminar due to insufficient enrollment. Registration fees will be returned or credited towards a future program. Inclement Weather Policy: In the event that a host school is closed due to inclement weather, SBDC workshops scheduled at that location are also canceled. We will try to cancel workshops before the actual scheduled date if we know that there is bad weather predicted for that day. We will make every effort to reschedule workshops that have been canceled due to weather conditions as early as possible. Refer to the host school websites for schedule changes, weather alerts and updates.

Powering Your Exports: A Program for Manufacturing and Tech Companies

export 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?

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!

Date: Thursday, May 30, 2019
Time: Registration 8:00 a.m.; Program 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., including time for discussion
Location: IndusPAD Industrial Innovation Hub (formerly Polartec Fleece Headquarters), Rear Entry, 46 Stafford Street (Route 28), Lawrence
Cost: No charge
Contact: Massachusetts Export Center at 617-973-6610

Cosponsored by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce

Grow Your Business

Webster Bank 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.

Speakers include:

Jill Beresford, Senior Business Advisor — MA Small Business Development Center Network, Southeast Regional Office
Nadine Boone, Lender Relations Specialist — U.S. Small Business Administration
Ted Clark, Director — Center for Family Business at Northeastern University
Kathleen Kelly, SVP SBA Relationship Manager — Webster Bank
Kathleen Kinanhan-Newell, Trade Compliance Manager — Massachusetts Export Center

Seating is limited to the first 50 people.

Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Time: Program 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.; Networking 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 56 Brattle Street, Cambridge
Cost: No charge
Contact: RSVP by June 4 to rmccain@websterbank.com

Sponsored by Webster Bank

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:

Lolita Darden is a registered Patent Attorney and Clinical Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School. Lolita teaches in the area of intellectual property law (patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret). She is the Director of Suffolk's Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship Clinic, a multi-disciplinary clinic serving new and emerging businesses. Prior to joining Suffolk, Lolita was Chief IP Counsel for Honeywell Consumer Products. She was also a partner with Sachnoff & Weaver where she counseled emerging technology businesses, Fortune 100® companies, and individuals on protecting, exploiting and creating rights in patents, trademarks, and copyrights as well as choosing an operating entity structure based on business goals.
William (Will) Bernat is a partner with Nutter McClennen & Fish. He co-chairs the firm's Emerging Companies Group and co-leads the firm's Food and Beverage group. Clients routinely rely on Will to help them navigate through private equity, venture capital, and angel financing transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending transactions, and other corporate governance issues. Tech, life sciences, consumer/retail, and food & beverage companies look to Will for assistance throughout their entire lifespans, from initial planning and formation to operations and exit.

Click here for flyer.

Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Suffolk University Law School, Room 170 (Multi-Function Room), 120 Tremont Street, Boston
Cost: No charge
Contact: Loletta Darden at 617-305-1641 or ldarden@suffolk.edu

Cosponsored by Suffolk University Law School

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received by noon the day prior to the seminar will be entitled to a refund. No refund will be given on notifications received after that time or in any no-show situation. When the Enterprise Center collects the registration fees, its cancellation policies apply. Please contact them directly for further information. The MSBDC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a seminar due to insufficient enrollment. Registration fees will be returned or credited towards a future program.

Inclement Weather Policy: In the event that a host school is closed due to inclement weather, SBDC workshops scheduled at that location are also canceled. We will try to cancel workshops before the actual scheduled date if we know that there is bad weather predicted for that day.

We will make every effort to reschedule workshops that have been canceled due to weather conditions as early as possible. Refer to the host school websites for schedule changes, weather alerts and updates.