Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program

• Complete 2 Courses to be eligible for exclusive $10,000 Grant Opportunities

• Registration is free and Courses are self-paced

• Every Registration with completion of 1 quick video (any length) helps support MCSC Women's Business Center

• También disponible en español.

Sign Up Here: Register Now

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS

MCSC offers weekly workshops on a wide variety of subjects. In addition to providing a networking platform among attendees, classes are designed to increase understanding of important and current business topics and trends. Workshops are open to the public.

How to Use AI for Social Media

Presented by: Andrea LaRosa

Discover how artificial intelligence can revolutionize your social media strategy. From content creation to audience engagement, this workshop will teach you the best AI tools and techniques to save time, boost creativity, and grow your online presence. Perfect for beginners and seasoned social media pros alike!

What You'll Learn:

• AI-Powered Content Creation: Use tools like ChatGPT to craft engaging captions, create content calendars, and brainstorm viral post ideas with ease.

• Audience Engagement Made Simple: Discover how AI can analyze audience behavior and recommend the best times and strategies to post for maximum impact.

• Visual Content and Editing with AI: Explore AI tools for creating eye-catching graphics, videos, and reels to elevate your brand’s aesthetic.

Wednesday, July 30

9:00-10:30am via Zoom

Legitimize Your Side Hustle

Presented by: Stacey Aragon

Are you balancing a passion project alongside your day job? In this workshop, you’ll learn how to turn your side hustle into a legitimate business with a clear roadmap and actionable steps.

Key Takeaways:

• Why turning your passion into a business could be your best move—and what it takes to succeed.

• When to take the leap from side hustle to business, and how to recognize the right time.

• How to legalize and formalize your business for long-term growth.

Who is this workshop for?

• Has your side hustle earned some money?

If so, you are ready to legitimize! Sign up for this workshop to begin a successful entrepreneurial journey!

Tuesday, August 5

12:00-1:00pm via Zoom

QuickBooks for Small Businesses

Presented by: Ali DeRoche

Are you new to Quickbooks or deciding what accounting software is the right fit for your business? This is the class for you!

• Choosing the right QB Software

• Navigating QuickBooks Online

• Setting up your company

• Intro workflows - Adding customers, vendors and transactions

Wednesday, August 6

10:30am-12:00pm via Zoom

Ordena Tus Finanzas de Forma Simple - Taller para Emprendedores

Instructor: Marissa Hernandez

Aprende a organizar y mantener los registros de tu negocio de forma sencilla y efectiva. En este taller descubrirás cómo llevar el control de tus ingresos y gastos, guardar recibos, preparar tu información para impuestos y elegir el sistema que más te convenga. Ideal para emprendedores que desean tener sus cuentas claras y su negocio en orden.

Instructions: 

El enlace de zoom se enviará después del registro.

martes 12 de agosto

9:00-10:30am por Zoom

Construyendo Éxito Financiero Para Pequeños Negocios

Instructor: Cecy Toro, Working Solutions CDFI

¿Quieres que tu negocio crezca y genere más ingresos?

Entonces, este taller es para ti. Conéctate con recursos clave que te ayudarán a preparar tu negocio para prosperar y acceder a capital.

En este taller cubriremos:
• ¿Qué es un préstamo de negocio?
• Cómo prepararte para solicitar un préstamo exitosamente

Working Solutions CDFI se especializa en financiamiento para negocios que están listos para comenzar o crecer, incluyendo aquellos que aún no generan ingresos o tienen menos de un año operando.

¡Regístrate y da el siguiente paso hacia el éxito financiero de tu negocio!

Instructions: 

El enlace de zoom se enviará después del registro.

martes 12 de agosto

4:00-5:00pm por Zoom

Paving the Road to Success with Caltrans 7: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification Overview

Presented by: Richard Myerscough

Join us for “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification Overview” the seventh presentation in our continuing Caltrans training series by Richard Myerscough, Caltrans District 5 District Small Business Liaison.

• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Overview.

• Benefits of Certification.

• California Unified Certification Program (CUCP).

• Eligibility Requirements.

• Applying for DBE Certification.

• FAQs and Resources.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the information directly with Caltrans and to get your questions answered in a live Q&A with Richard.

Wednesday, August 27

12:00-1:00pm via Zoom

Bookkeeping Made Easy: Keep Calm and Get Organized

Presented by: Ali DeRoche

Join us and take control of your business finances today!

Bookkeeping for Small Business Workshop 

What is Bookkeeping?
Is it accounting, tax preparation, or financial organization? The answer is YES. Find out how bookkeeping ties all these elements together to keep your business on track.

Why Should You Care?
Organized finances offer clear advantages—improve your financial accuracy, make informed business decisions, and get ready for tax season with ease.

Take Action: 7 Steps to Success
Learn seven actionable steps for effective bookkeeping, including how to properly pay yourself!

Methods + Software Comparison
We'll break down popular bookkeeping methods and software options to help you choose the best solution for your business

Thursday, Sept. 4

11:00am-12:00pm via Zoom

AI Tools and Techniques for Marketing

Presented by: Andrea LaRosa

Learn how to harness the power of AI to transform your marketing efforts. This workshop covers AI-driven tools and insights to optimize campaigns, personalize customer experiences, and streamline your workflow. Walk away with actionable strategies to stay ahead in the ever-evolving marketing landscape.

What You'll Learn:

• Crafting Marketing Campaigns with AI: Use ChatGPT prompts to generate ad copy, email campaigns, and creative slogans tailored to your audience.

• AI for Customer Insights: Learn how AI tools can analyze customer data and behavior to deliver hyper-personalized marketing strategies.

• Streamlining Marketing Workflows: Explore automation tools powered by AI to save time on repetitive tasks like scheduling, tracking performance, and reporting.

*Recording will only be sent to live attendees of this event.

Monday, September 15

9:00-10:30am via Zoom

Tus Finanzas en Orden: Registros e Impuestos para Cuidado Infantil

Presenter: Marissa Hernandez

Aprende a llevar un sistema sencillo y efectivo de registros para tu negocio de cuidado infantil. En esta clase práctica verás qué documentos conservar, cómo organizar tus ingresos y gastos, y cómo una buena contabilidad te ayuda a declarar impuestos correctamente, cumplir con requisitos legales y acceder a apoyos financieros.

Instructions: 

El enlace de zoom se enviará después del registro.

miércoles 17 de septiembre

6:00-7:30pm virtual por Zoom

Paving the Road to Success with Caltrans 8: Overview of the Caltrans Minor Program

Presented by: Richard Myerscough, Caltrans

Join us for “Overview of the Caltrans Minor Program (Small Construction Contracts)” the eighth presentation in our continuing Caltrans training series by Richard Myerscough, Caltrans District 5 District Small Business Liaison.

• Minor Program Overview.

• How to Find Projects.

• Minor Program Funding.

• Navigating Bid Opportunities.

• Locating Prior Bid Samples.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the information directly with Caltrans and to get your questions answered in a live Q&A with Richard.

*THE RECORDING FOR THIS WORKSHOP WILL ONLY BE SENT OUT TO ATTENDEES

Wednesday, Sept. 24

12:00-1:00pm via Zoom

Budget Like a Boss: Small Business Strategies

Presented by: Ali DeRoche

Does your small business really need a budget? Yes, it really does. 

Discover:

• How budgeting can help you track your income and expenses

• Identify areas for savings

• Make informed financial decisions. 

Join us with Ali DeRoche and learn how to create a simple yet effective budget.

Thurs., October 2

11:00am-12:00pm via Zoom

Part 1: Make Your Holiday Sparkle with Intro to Social Media Platforms & Holiday Strategies

Presented by: Andrea LaRosa

In this first session, you’ll learn how to navigate the vast world of social media and identify the platforms that best suit your small business. We’ll cover essential strategies for increasing foot traffic and leveraging the holiday season to boost your brand’s visibility.

What to expect:

• A brief intro to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn

• How to choose the right platform(s) for your business

• Using social media to drive more foot traffic to your business

• The power of holiday giveaways and why they work

Wednesday, October 8

10:30am-12:00pm via Zoom

The Power of S.E.O. - Dominate Local Search & Map

Presented by: Jackie Clendenen

Search Engine Optimization can be a powerful tool for bringing in customers and clients. Join us with Jackie Clendenen for this presentation on how to increase your reach and supercharge the online presence of your business by utilizing S.E.O. tactics and best practices. 

Learn about:

• How to make your business listing a priority for local searches

• Where to place keywords on your website

• What is NAP consistency and why it matters

Registration will be limited to In-Business Entities who have an existing Website as this course covers advanced material.

*THE RECORDING FOR THIS WORKSHOP WILL ONLY BE SENT OUT TO ATTENDEES

Thursday, October 9

9:00-10:00am via Zoom

Mastering A.I. Prompts for Small Business Solutions with the Tech Jargon

Presented by: Andrea LaRosa

Feel like everyone’s using ChatGPT to magically run their business — and you’re still stuck wondering what to even type?

You're not alone. Most small business owners have either tried AI and gotten weird, robotic results… or haven’t touched it at all because they don’t have time to figure it out. The truth is, AI can actually help — if you know how to talk to it.

This 90-minute, hands-on workshop is built for real people running real businesses. Not tech experts. Not marketers with full teams. Just folks like you who want to write faster, create smarter, and stop wasting time staring at a blank screen. We’ll focus mostly on ChatGPT, but also show how tools like Canva can level up your content game when used right.

You'll get:

• Easy-to-use prompt formulas you can steal (yep, steal)

• Real-life examples for marketing, content, customer emails, and more

• Space to test prompts live for your actual business

• A better way to use AI that doesn’t make you sound like a robot

No buzzwords. No pressure to “do it all.” Just a chance to finally make this AI thing make sense — and be useful.

Bring your laptop, bring your messy to-do list, and let’s get you unstuck.

This is a participation-heavy workshop! We will be using breakout groups and creating prompts together in real-time.

Friday, October 17

10:30am-12:00pm via Zoom

LinkedIn Marketing Essentials

Presented by: Patty Ross

As one of the most important B2B social media platforms, LinkedIn can help you attract more eyes on your business. The biggest advantage of LinkedIn is that it is frequented by many senior-level influencers, decision-makers, and thought leaders. If you want to grab the attention of top-level executives, then you should work on your LinkedIn marketing strategy. Unlike other social networking sites, LinkedIn offers a goldmine of opportunities for B2B marketers. You’ll be better informed about what’s going on in your industry and the industry of your ideal, favorite and most profitable clients.

 

What You Will Learn:

Why LinkedIn LinkedIn Profile Musts How and Why to Create Your Company Page Finding LinkedIn Groups Making Connections LinkedIn Posts, Articles and Newsletters

*THE RECORDING FOR THIS WORKSHOP WILL ONLY BE SENT OUT TO ATTENDEES

Wednesday, October 22

9:00-10:30am via Zoom

Part 2: How to Run Effective Holiday Giveaways & Campaigns through Social Media Platforms

Presented by: Andrea LaRosa

In part two, we’ll dive deeper into the specific strategies for running successful holiday giveaways and campaigns tailored to each social media platform. Learn how to maximize engagement and drive sales during the holiday season by crafting campaigns that captivate your audience.

What to expect:

• How to run effective holiday giveaways on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn

• Best practices for creating platform-specific holiday campaigns

• Tips for boosting engagement and growing your audience

• Real-world examples of successful holiday campaigns

Wednesday, November 5

10:30am-12:00pm via Zoom

Year-End Financial Peace of Mind: A Checklist for Success

Presented by: Ali DeRoche

Say goodbye to financial stress with this easy-to-follow guide. Our checklist ensures you're well-prepared for the year-end financial season.

• Gathering Tax Documents for your Business

• Finalizing Income and Expense Statements

• Identifying Business Tax Write Offs

• Inventory and Asset considerations

Thursday, November 6

11:00am-12:00pm via Zoom