Biz2Grow

HOPE2Women Live Training : Small Business Digital Ready
2023-12-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | VIRTUAL
Join HOPE2Women for a Live Training on Tuesday, December 5 to learn how to effectively use resources from the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform!
In this interactive course, you will:

Learn how to apply for a $10,000 grant, which runs through December 20.
Get hands-on support on how to register and receive custom tailored content.
Be guided through a demonstration of resources offered on the platform, including expert coaching, peer mentorship and a robust library of video content.

Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Time: 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Click here to register.

Overwhelmed, Overstretched, and Over it!
2023-11-14 13:00 - 14:00 | VIRTUAL
HOPE2Women invites you to attend a virtual training session on the topic Overwhelmed, Overstretched, and Over It!
With the holidays around the corner, are you feeling more stressed than usual? Are you busier than ever, yet at 5pm left wondering, “What did I get done today?”
This workshop will be taught by expert Productivity Coach & Trainer, Mridu Parikh who understands the daily demands of your time in a world full of increased distractions, limited resources, and simply too much to do.
Join this motivational talk that will leave you inspired to use tools, strategies, and insights to:

Avoid distractions and beat procrastination
Focus on revenue-generating activities
Reach and surpass your goals

Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET

Get Your Local Business on Google Search and Maps
2023-11-08 16:00 - 17:00 | VIRTUAL
Hope2Women invites you to attend a virtual training session in partnership with Grow With Google on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET.
Do you want your business to be found online? Need to figure out how to manage your business on Google Search and Maps?
If so, then join us to learn about verifying and managing your Google Business Profile, a free tool for local businesses who want to connect with customers on Google Search and Maps. We will highlight the importance of verifying and how to use your Google Business Profile effectively.
In this session, we’ll show you how to:

Create or claim your Business Profile on Google
Manage your business info across Google Search and Maps
Use your Business Profile to connect with potential customers
Tips, tricks, and what’s new!

Date: November 8, 2023
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET
Click here to register.

Verizon Small Business Summit - ATLANTA
2023-11-02 10:00 - 16:00 | The Gathering Spot
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is partnering with Luminary to bring the Digital Ready experience to Atlanta. From panels and workshops to fireside chats and networking, incredible speakers, and experts, together, the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: Atlanta Summit in partnership with Luminary will give you a chance to develop your skills with exclusive live programming and networking.
Join us in creating new connections, engaging with the content you need and the networking opportunities you’ve been missing to grow your business. Together, we are bringing robust workshops from subject matter experts across all areas you need to run your business, not to mention valuable time to connect with other local business owners.
Get ready to level up your productivity at the Atlanta Summit with a sweepstake!*
Verizon is giving away Chrome Books to five small business owners who attend the event in person. But that’s not all! Luminary is also giving away 10 Fellowships during the Atlanta Summit, which provides a free annual digital Luminary membership. Spread the word and share this sweepstake opportunity within your networks!

Date: November 2, 2023

Venue: The Gathering Spot

Location: 384 Northyards Blvd NW, Building 100, Suite 190, Atlanta, GA 30313

Here’s what you can expect:

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Coffee, Light Bites, & Networking

10:30 AM – 10:40 AM

Introductory Remarks with Sarah Nakintu, Small Business Platform Strategic Partnerships at Verizon and Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO of Luminary

10:40 AM – 11:20 AM

Branding Your Business with Jazmyn Williams, Director of Brand Marketing at The Honey Pot

11:20 AM – 12:00 PM

Access To Capital for Small Businesses with Sandra Font, Director at ACE Women’s Business Center, moderated by Alejandro Coss, President & CEO of Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia

Are you seeking funding for your business? In this session, participants will gain valuable insights into the various types of loans available to secure financing for their businesses, along with the associated requirements.

Lunch & Networking 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

12:45 PM – 1:15 PM
The Power of the Digital Ready Platform with Anwar Dougsiyeh, Co-Founder and Lead Organizer of Lotus Rosery, Lakila Bowden, Co-Founder of iSee Technologies, moderated by Rachel Shanklin, Georgia Director/National Women’s Entrepreneurship Director at Small Business Majority
Hear directly from the voices of the small businesses that are using different resources from the platform to move their businesses forward. In this conversation you will hear how Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is impacting business owners and how to navigate the program’s resources.

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
AI-Powered Marketing to Outsmart The Competition NOW with John Lawson, President of Colder Ice Media

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Digital Marketing 101 with Maribel Lara, SVP at The Sasha Group, of Vayner Media
With the way consumer behavior is heading, marketing seems to be where every business should be investing their time. During this session, learn not just the in’s and out’s of digital marketing through social media, but what it means to get inside your consumer’s head and think from a customer’s perspective.

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Fireside Chat with Ryan Wilson, CEO and Co-Founder of The Gathering Spot and Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO of Luminary
3:20 PM – 3:30 PM

Closing Remarks with Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO of Luminary
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Networking
Register Here

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Eligibility for Sweepstake:
Must register and attend the Atlanta Summit in person. Must register for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Platform.
How To Enter:

Register for the Atlanta Summit (below)
Register for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Attend the event in-person. See rules here

How Often You Can Enter:
One entry per person
No purchase necessary. Must be present to win. Sweepstakes starts November 02, 2023 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) and ends on November 02, 2023, at 1:00 PM ET. Must be legal U.S. resident 18 years or older to enter. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc. For official rules, click here.

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Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is a free learning program developed by small businesses to help small businesses grow and build their skills to succeed in the digital economy. Filled with courses, events, coaching sessions, and grant opportunities, it’s an easy way to advance your business, learn new skills, and meet other like-minded entrepreneurs. For more information, visit verizon.com/digitalready.Luminary is a gender inclusive, global membership-based professional education and networking platform created to uplift, up-skill, and propel women and our male allies forward through all phases of their professional journey. Our goal is to provide our community with access to tools, resources, and connections to help build, grow, and move businesses and careers forward.Photo Consent:Participantconsents to be recorded, photographed, and videotaped related to the Event, and hereby irrevocably and perpetually authorizes any of the Released Parties to copyright, publish, reproduce, exhibit, transmit, broadcast, televise, digitize, display, otherwise use, and permit others to use (i) the Participant’s name, image, likeness, and voice, and (ii) all photographs, recordings, videotapes, audiovisual materials, writings, statements, and quotations of or by the Participant obtained related to the recording of the Event (collectively, the “Materials”), in any manner, form, or format whatsoever now or hereinafter created, including on the Internet, and for any lawful purpose, including, the advertising or promotion of the Released Parties and/or the Event without further consent from or payment to the Participant. The Participant understands that the Released Parties are under no obligation to use the Materials. Participant agrees that all of the Materials, and all films, audiotapes, videotapes, reproductions, media, plates, negatives, photocopies, and electronic and digital copies of the Materials are the sole property of the Released Parties and Participant further agrees not to contest the rights or authority granted to the Released Parties hereunder. The Participant hereby waives any right to inspect or approve the recordings, and modes of the use thereof as described above. Participant acknowledges and agrees that: (i) Participant shall not be entitled to any compensation for its appearance at the Event or subsequent use of its appearance in the Materials, (ii) Participant has and will refrain from any offensive or distasteful remarks or conduct and will conduct itself in a courteous and professional manner at all times during its participation at the Event and appearance in the Materials, and (iii) this Agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by applicable law

How to Start Selling on Amazon
2023-10-11 13:00 - 14:00 | VIRTUAL
Join Amazon and the HOPE2Women team for a session on “How to Start Selling in Amazon’s Store.” This session is open to all entrepreneurs and small businesses! 1:00pm ET/10:00am PT

Exploring Ways to Fund Your Small Business
2023-09-13 14:00 - 15:00 | VIRTUAL
In this class we will explore ways an entrepreneur can access funding to start or grow their business! We will look at many different avenues of both traditional (loans, lines of credit) and non-traditional (crowdfunding, microloans) funding.
Topics include:
Traditional Lending
SBA Loans
Community Development Financial Institutions
Small Business Grants
Crowdfunding
and many more!
September 13, 2pm ET/11am PT

Serenity Summer Series: Women's Wellness Weekend
2023-06-22 04:00 - 2023-06-24 13:00 | Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa, 5000 E. Via Estancia, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Find your reprieve at an award winning wellness resort frequented by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Julianne Hough, Giuliana Rancic, Alicia Keys, and more. The resort is known to partner with LEXUS, Maire Claire, Weight Watchers (WW) and to be featured in Conde Nast, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic, ELLE, Forbes, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS This Morning, VOGUE, Architectural Digest, and more!

Why The Serenity Summer Series: A Women’s Wellness Weekend?

Forbes.com said it best, “The pandemic has been tough, and especially so for women. But the opportunity going forward is for us to influence systems and structures to provide more advantages and equity for women— and for people to support each other in the process of empowering and enabling women to improve their conditions and create fulfillment”.
The impacts are significant, and in most cases they are significantly bad. How should we most effectively respond—as people and organizations? It is possible to create the conditions for happiness and fulfillment as well as equity and opportunities, according to Forbes.com
Serenity Summer Series: A Women’s Wellness Weekend Answers the Call, it gives YOU a reprieve with intention and access to uninhibited serenity.
Registration closes soon and spots are going fast! We want you to be there. You deserve to experience this.

REGISTER

LIVE EVENT: HOPE2Women Summit - Tucson, AZ
2023-06-20 06:00 - 11:00 | YWCA Southern Arizona, 525 N Bonita Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85745, United States
LIVE EVENT – Tucson, AZ
HOPE2Women Summits are collaborative educational events designed to support the growth and prosperity of women business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Learn from successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
Participate in engaging workshops and panel discussions.
Connect with organizations that provide resources and support for women-owned businesses.

HOPE2Women Summits welcome –

Aspiring entrepreneurs, supreme side-hustler, passion project professional.
Employed or economically impacted individuals, BIPOC, and anyone curious about launching a business.

REGISTER HERE: WBCofSouthernArizona.com/events

Ask the Expert: Step-by-Step Financial Projections Workshop
2023-06-05 12:00 - 14:00 | VIRTUAL
Many businesses take time to ramp up and become profitable, however if the economics don’t take a turn for the better in the near future, you basically have an expensive hobby. Not having a good understanding of the economics of your business can lead you down the path to financial ruin. Understanding the financial position of your company is essential to your ability to grow, access capital, and your overall long-term success. In this Ask the Expert session, we will walk through our Financial Projections template, including Gross Margin and Profit and Loss calculations, to help you understand what all the numbers mean. We’ll cover financial management terminology and key indicators of business financial health.

To access the event registration page:

Create a free account on Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
See the event listed in the “COACHING” tab of your dashboard, under ASK THE EXPERT Events.

Ask the Expert events are interactive sessions that will connect you with industry leaders in a range of topics: from Access to Capital to Procurement Pathways for MWBEs. These sessions are designed to provide a deep dive into a specific business topic and to help you get answers for your specific questions. You may sign up for as many different Ask the Expert events as you need. Come prepared with your burning questions for our experts.

SBA Funding and Resources for Small Businesses
2023-05-25 11:00 - 12:30 | VIRTUAL
Are you looking to start a business, or expand your current business but need funding?
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) works with approved lenders and community development organizations to offer SBA-guaranteed loans to help your businesses start, grow, expand, and recover.
The SBA helps small businesses get funding by setting guidelines for loans and reducing lender risk. These SBA-backed loans make it easier for small businesses to get the funding they need.
The benefits of SBA-guaranteed loans include:

Competitive terms: SBA-guaranteed loans generally have rates and fees that are comparable to non-guaranteed loans.
Unique benefits: Lower down payments, flexible overhead requirements, and no collateral needed for some loans.
Counseling and education: Some loans come with continued support to help you start and run your business.

Workshop Topics:

Preparing for a Loan
7(a) Loan Guarantee, SBA’s most common loan program
504 Loans, long-term, fixed rate financing of up to $5 million for major fixed assets
Microloans
SBA’s online tool, Lender Match (get matched with lenders)
SBA Disaster Loan Programs
How to access “no-cost” resources available to assist your business.

REGISTER

ERTC and R&D Tax Credits: 2023 Updates & Cash Opportunities
2023-05-24 09:00 - 10:00 | VIRTUAL
Pursuing the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) established by the CARES Act can be complicated. Small businesses still have time and opportunity to capture benefits and secure cash refunds. The Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credit is among small businesses’ least claimed and often misunderstood tax credits. There are synergies and challenges to understanding and using both credits during the same tax period.
Join us and get critical updates on the ERTC and R&D Tax Credits for 2023.

Learning Objectives:

Understand statutory limitations for refund claims of payroll taxes.
Review recent IRS pronouncements.
Define Qualified Small Business (QSB) Income Tax Credit vs. Payroll Tax Offset.
Identify qualifying activities and qualifying costs (B-1 wages from payroll).
Review change to Section 174 amortization.

REGISTER

The Upskilling Grant: Information Session and Application Workshop
2023-05-04 09:00 - 10:00
In partnership with the AARP Foundation and the Association of Women’s Business Centers,
The Upskilling Grant is directed towards small businesses that intend to train and upskill low-wage workers age 50+. The program will reimburse employers up to $2,000-$2,500 per employee for training, provided the grantee meets the program criteria.

Join us for the upcoming information session and application workshop to learn more about the opportunity and how to apply. View the application here, and register below for the session.

REGISTER HERE

Hope2Women Community Welcome Session
2023-05-03 09:00 - 10:00
We cordially invite you to the first ever Community Welcome Session! Join us to learn how the new Hope2Women network can help your business thrive. Attendees will hear from a Women’s Business Center leader, engage in effective networking activities with other small businesses, and have the opportunity to share their current experiences as a small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur.

REGISTER

Women @ Work 2023: Redefining the Workforce of Tomorrow
2023-05-03 07:00 - 11:00
Spotlighting some of today’s leading voices in business, HR and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), the Women@Work Summit delivers compelling and contemporary conversations crafted to help women professionals, leaders of women and women’s allies generate meaningful change at work and in their communities.
The summit caters to various business professionals, from entrepreneurs and small-business owners to global employers, HR and finance practitioners, C-suite executives and more. Regardless of your professional background, you’ll find actionable insights you can use to effect and maintain positive change in your workplace.
Presented by ADP
LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Win the War for Talent by Becoming an Employer of Choice
2023-04-25 07:00 - 08:00
The top challenge accountants face today is people. There is a shortage of accounting talent — and many practices are feeling it. So how do you attract and retain talent in today’s competitive environment? Now is the time to build a firm culture employees want to be a part of — and don’t want to leave.
Join us and get critical insights to help you create an environment that attracts and retains quality talent.
Learning Objectives:

Determine how to promote your firm’s culture and values.
Identify what your future employees want most.
Recognize the importance of offering flexibility.
Discover ways to upskill and develop your employees.

REGISTER HERE

Ask the Expert: Keeping Your Business Afloat in Uncertain Times
2023-04-17 08:30 - 10:00
Are you prepared to do business in a time of uncertainty? Running a small business has always involved an element of risk. However, in today’s world of pandemics, climate change, economic instability, and shortages, business owners need to prepare, pivot, and shift gears now more than ever. Planning and preparation can be the difference between keeping your doors open or closing them for good. Don’t miss this presentation on how to navigate the current business climate, get some tips, and learn from our experts. You’ve worked hard for your business. Are you protected?
Register Here *For access to this event registration page, user must create a free account on Verizon Small Business Digital Ready using the link HERE.

Asset Based Lending: An All Weather Solution for Small Business Borrowers
2023-04-05 09:00 - 10:00
Asset based lending underpins working capital and trade financing and can play a critical role in supporting small business borrowers domestically and abroad. Secured Finance Network leadership will review the performance asset-based lending industry in 2022 and provide valuable insight on the flexible and essential nature of the product. Whether you are a commercial lender, counselor, or business owner, this event will provide information to help you address the working capital needs of your clients or business.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is partnering with the Secured Finance Network (SFNet) to deliver a series of webinars on this topic and share critical updates and intelligence with our lending partners. The Secured Finance Network a not-for-profit association that supports the professionals who deliver and support working capital solutions through secured asset-based lending programs.

REGISTER HERE

Women's Entrepreneurship Ecosystems: Sharing Perspectives and Best Practices
2023-03-22 10:00 - 11:00
The number of women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses has been increasing over the last couple decades. While they are still in the minority – owning only 1 in 3 businesses globally – they are growing and there is increasing recognition of the important role that women play in national and global economic growth. But women face unique and different challenges in the enabling environment.
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Agency for International Development welcome you to join a discussion of entrepreneurship ecosystems to support women to pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship and business ownership and the U.S. Women’s Economic Security Strategy, which in part aims to support women entrepreneurship globally.

REGISTER

Pay Transparency - Managing the Impact to Your People
2023-03-22 10:00 - 11:00
Ushering in a wave of changes, 2023’s new legislation on pay transparency has focused hugely on compliance. Will there be impact to your employees and organization because of new pay transparency laws? And what about talent acquisition and engagement strategies? Will there be consequences for companies that are not practicing pay equity? While a handful of states have enacted pay transparency laws, other states will likely follow suit.
Join us and get critical insights and potential strategies you can use to meet your goal of pay transparency, including:

The purpose of pay transparency laws; the pros and the cons for different areas of your HR department
Impact to recruiting your workforce
Ways to prepare first-line managers and recruiters for difficult conversations

ADP remains at the forefront of helping employers understand the complex compliance, financial, and strategic issues surrounding workforce management. Tap into our expertise to ensure you’re in the best shape possible for future workplace changes that may come about along the way.
REGISTER

Examining the Future for Women-Owned Businesses -A Discussion with Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS)
2023-03-08 09:00 - 10:00 | VIRTUAL
There are nearly 13 million women-owned businesses in the United States as of early 2023, but financially and economically many women-owned businesses remain underserved by the traditional financing industry. Policymakers, private companies and advocacy organizations have continued to make efforts to provide expanded access to capital for women-owned businesses. The upcoming Biz2Credit 2023 Women-Owned Business Study shows some of the ways that these efforts are having an effect, and opens up numerous topics for discussion in relation to the future for women-owned companies. This Special Event will give business owners a chance to hear from U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS), a member of the House Small Business Committee, on how the Federal government and private industry are collaborating to support women business owners during the current period of economic uncertainty and high inflation. The Congresswoman and panelists from the sponsor companies will discuss the success of government initiatives to support small business owners and women entrepreneurs.
REGISTER AND LEARN MORE

The HR Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Setting Up Your Team in 2023 (Session 3: Retain)
2023-02-16 08:00 - 09:00
Small business owners are notorious for wearing many hats in the ever-changing modern business landscape. With new workplace trends challenging the status quo and redefining the employee experience in 2023, it is crucial to have a strong foundation for a successful team. Join us for this free training in partnership with ADP, and learn how to set up your business to hire and manage employees, effectively delegate day-to-day HR tasks, and overcome common challenges. Participants will gain access to detailed templates and materials related to the topics discussed.
This series if perfect for WBCs, Small Businesses, Educators and Advisors!
Session 3 – Retain
During this session, we will discuss:
•Retirement Planning
•Health Insurance
•Employee Assistance Program
•Employee Engagement
•Outsourced HR Models/ PEO
REGISTER

No pre-requisites are required to join Session 3.
To access session 1 and 2 on demand, please email Karina@awbc.org

The HR Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Setting Up Your Team in 2023 (session 2: Onboard & Maintain)
2023-02-02 08:00 - 09:00
Small business owners are notorious for wearing many hats in the ever-changing modern business landscape. With new workplace trends challenging the status quo and redefining the employee experience in 2023, it is crucial to have a strong foundation for a successful team. Join us for this free training in partnership with ADP, and learn how to set up your business to hire and manage employees, effectively delegate day-to-day HR tasks, and overcome common challenges. Participants will gain access to detailed templates and materials related to the topics discussed.
This series if perfect for WBCs, Small Businesses, Educators and Advisors!
During this session, we will discuss:
New Hire Paperwork and Reporting/ Onboarding
Employee Handbooks
Payroll/ Taxes
Worker’s Compensation
HR Support
REGISTER

No pre-requisites are required to join Session 2.

The HR Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Setting Up Your Team in 2023 (Part 1)
2023-01-19 08:00 - 09:00 | VIRTUAL
Small business owners are notorious for being jacks of all trades, often taking on several roles at once. With new workplace trends challenging the status quo and redefining the employee experience in 2023, it is crucial to have a strong foundation for a successful team. Join us for this free training in partnership with ADP, and learn how to set up your business to hire and manage employees, effectively delegate day-to-day HR tasks, and overcome common challenges. Participants will gain access to detailed templates and materials related to the topics discussed.
In this 3 part series, we will discuss:

How to set up your business to hire employees; from salary budget planning to labor law compliance
Navigating the on-boarding process
Payroll management
Strategies to build out a competitive benefits package

REGISTER
