EDUCATIONAL CLASSES
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.
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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.
Business Credit 101
Presented by: Jeanette Vierra
Join us with Jeanette Vierra as she breaks down the intricacies of Business Credit and prepare yourself for this important aspect of growing your small business!
How Business Credit differs from Personal Credit
Why it is important to use Business Credit to protect your Corporate Veil
How to establish your Small Business as a Credit-Worthy Institution
What Lenders look for when you are ready to apply for a line of Business Credit
Tuesday, June 24
5:30-6:30pm via Zoom
Paving the Road to Success with Caltrans 5: Know Your Small Business Resources
Presented by: Richard Myerscough
Join us for “Know Your Small Business Resources” the fifth presentation in our continuing Caltrans training series by Richard Myerscough, Caltrans District 5 District Small Business Liaison.
Assess and determine your firms Goal(s).
Learn how to provide goods and services to Caltrans.
Identify resources inside and outside of Caltrans, after certification.
Free resources available from Caltrans partners.
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, June 25
12:00-1:00pm via Zoom
Aprende a Hacer Publicidad Visual para tu Emprendimiento
Presentador: Marissa Hernandez
¿Eres emprendedor y quieres que tu negocio se vea profesional sin gastar mucho?
Entonces este curso es para ti.
Te invito a una clase práctica de donde aprenderás a usar Canva, una herramienta gratuita y fácil de usar, ideal para crear diseños increíbles para tu negocio: publicaciones para redes sociales, flyers, logos, menús, tarjetas y mucho más.
No necesitas experiencia
Diseños listos en minutos
Perfecto para promover tu marca y atraer más clientes
viernes 27 de junio de 2025
9:00-10:30am por Zoom
Market Research Toolkit: The Why and How for Business Growth
Presented by: Andrea LaRosa
If you're a small business owner, chances are you’ve been told to “know your audience” more times than you can count. But what does that actually mean—and how do you do it without hiring a pricey research firm or getting lost in a sea of spreadsheets?
In this power-packed 90-minute workshop, we’re breaking down the why and the how of market research so you can confidently make business decisions that lead to real growth. Whether you run a boutique shop downtown, sell hand-poured candles at pop-ups, or offer services like photography, fitness, or coaching, this session is your shortcut to understanding who your ideal customer is, what they actually want, and how to speak their language.
You’ll learn how to:
Identify your true target market (spoiler: it's not “everyone”)
Tap into local data without fancy tools
Gather insights through surveys, interviews, and community feedback
Spy (ethically!) on your competitors and what’s working for them
Use your research to shape better marketing, product development, and service delivery
Perfect for product- or service-based business owners, side hustlers, and anyone looking to level up their strategy with clarity and intention.
*Recording for this workshop will be sent to attendees only*
Instructions:
Zoom Link Sent After Registration
Tuesday, July 1
10:30am-12:00pm via Zoom
Budgeting Like a Boss - Small Business Strategies
Presented by: Ali DeRoche
Do you really need a budget? Yes, you really do!
Learn all about the importance of budgeting for small businesses.
Wednesday, July 2
10:30am-12:00pm via Zoom
The AI Revolution: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship
Presented by: Andrea LaRosa
Join us for an engaging 90-minute workshop where we’ll unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way small businesses operate and how entrepreneurs can leverage AI for growth and innovation. Whether you’re an AI newbie or curious about the next steps, this session is packed with actionable insights, tools, and strategies tailored to your needs.
You'll learn:
The benefits and risks of adopting AI in your business.
Real-life success stories and what they mean for you.
Tools and techniques to make AI work for you – no tech background required!
Plus, you'll leave with a step-by-step checklist to start implementing AI today.
Wednesday, July 9
9:00-10:30am via Zoom
Paving the Road to Success with Caltrans 6: How to Make Your Certification Work for You
Presented by: Richard Myerscough, Caltrans
Join us for “How to Make Your Certification Work for You” the sixth presentation in our continuing Caltrans training series by Richard Myerscough, Caltrans District 5 District Small Business Liaison.
Utilizing Caltrans resources for your certification needs.
Goals and benefits of certification.
Cal eProcure, California’s government marketplace.
How to network and navigate through Contractors Corner.
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, July 23
12:00-1:00pm via Zoom
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
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
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
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
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U. S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Call MCSC Program Director at 805-595-1357. MCSC is an equal opportunity provider. MCSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.