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

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.

Back to the Drawing Board: How Failure Can Lead to Success

Presented by: Brant Myers

Defeat gives you a chance to pivot your business ideas into a better chance at success. This course will help turn your resilience into a more powerful leap forward as you navigate the world of entrepreneurship. More than just a pep talk, in this course you will learn:

• What parts of your past business venture can be carried into your new vision

• How your hands-on experience and knowledge direct your future decisions

• When to switch course if you’re not seeing the results you expected

Be prepared to share real-world examples and receive coaching specific to your needs.

Tuesday, June 3

9:00-10:30am via Zoom

Bookkeeping Made Easy: Keep Calm and Get Organized

Presented by: Ali DeRoche

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

Instructions:

Zoom Link Sent After Registration

June 4, 2025

10:30am-12:00pm via Zoom

The Power of SEO: Dominate Local Search and 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

June 5, 2025

9:00-10:30am via Zoom

How to Get WOSB Certified and the Advantages for Your Business

Presented by: Angela Watson, Golden State APEX Accelerator

Learn about the value of the SBA Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification and its components.

Join us with Angela Watson from Golden State APEX Accelerator as she details:

• The Purpose of SBA’s WOSB Program & Definitions

• Current Regulatory Overview

• Eligibility Requirements

• Application Process

• How to Identify & Compete for WOSB Contracts

Get your questions answered at the end of the session and let us help you with this important aspect of building your business!

Ideal for Woman-owned Small Businesses pursuing Local, State, or Federal Market Opportunities

Wednesday, June 11

12:00-1:00pm via Zoom

Small Business Entity Essentials

Presented by: Catherine Mineo

Choosing the correct legal structure for your business can be confusing. Between Sole Proprietor, LLC, Partnership, S-Corps, and C-Corps, you want to make an informed decision and avoid complications down the road. Join us with Cat Mineo, Attorney at Law, for a breakdown of small business entities and how they can limit your personal liability. Learn about:

• Types of Business Entities

• Filing Requirements 

• Ongoing Governance and Related Documents 

Thursday, June 12, 2025

12:00-1:00pm via Zoom

Design Like a Pro with Canva

Presented by: Andrea LaRosa

Ready to level up your branding, marketing, and content creation without hiring a designer?

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to confidently use Canva to create stunning graphics, professional presentations, engaging social media content, and more—even if you’ve never designed a thing in your life.

We’ll cover:

• Canva basics

• Time-saving pro tips

• Canva’s newest features

• Tools to make your visuals look polished and on-brand

This workshop is held live over Zoom, but come prepared with your laptop or smart device—you’ll be working inside the app, designing in real time, and playing with new features as we go!

Perfect for: Small business owners, content creators, entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to stop feeling intimidated by design and start having fun with it.

Let’s turn Canva into your favorite creative tool—no design degree required!

Instructions: 

Zoom link sent after registration

Zoom recording will only be sent to live participants!

Business Protection Essentials

Presented by: Lesley Santos

Would you like to completely understand all your company’s commercial insurance needs and costs in less than 60 minutes? Every business has several unique variables and risk factors (years in business, management experience, driving records of your employees, location of your store/office… to name a very few) that will determine what insurance coverages are necessary to properly protect your business, which insurance carriers will provide that coverage, and what that coverage will cost. So, while we can’t teach you everything you need to know about your business’ individual insurance needs in a 60-minute class, we can and will teach you:

· The surprising ways commercial insurance differs from personal insurance.

· A basic understanding of the types of commercial insurance available.

· A few key strategies for minimizing insurance premiums.

Please join California Insurance Agent Lesley Santos (LIC 0K14522) for a simplified and informative overview of commercial insurance, including answers to your individual insurance questions. Prior to opening an insurance agency with her husband where she manages the agency’s commercial accounts, Lesley was the Agency Business Consultant for the District Office of Farmers Insurance in San Luis Obispo and North Santa Barbara Counties. She has unique small business management experience both in the insurance industry and in the nonprofit sector where she spent more than a decade as a consultant and trainer in nonprofit management. She’s enthusiastic about providing small business owners with the information, education, and encouragement they need to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true and is excited to help MCSC clients successfully navigate the often-daunting realm of commercial insurance.

Wednesday, June 18

12:00-1:00pm via Zoom

Monterey WBC provides one-on-one no cost small business consulting. With an elite team of consultants with expertise in marketing, organizational development, finance, management, etc. Small business consulting is offered as an individual service, or supplementary to our entrepreneurial training courses. Consulting is available in English and Spanish.

Monterey WBC offers “Explore, Design, & Launch” - small business training program for startup entrepreneurs and existing small business owners. This course will equip you with the necessary knowledge, tools, and resources needed to start and/or grow your business. The outcomes of these courses are a tangible business plan and fine-tuned business pitch. “Empezando” is our Spanish equivalent.

Interested in keeping up-to-date with our Monterey WBC expansion, small business training, and free webinars? Sign-up for our weekly newsletter.