February
Non-profit Workshop
Tuesday, February 7, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
 You need to raise funds. Fast. Quick fixes sound tempting, but there’s a right way to raise money if you’re in it for the long haul. Developing and adhering to best practices is the most effective, yet overlooked way to improve your organization’s fundraising performance and your donors’ experience. Diane will share valuable practical steps you can take to hone your fundraising skills and position your organization for sustainable success.
Speaker: Diane DeMarco, CFRE, Consultant, Executive Service Corps, and Principal, Consultants for Institutional Advancement
THE BUSINESS OF THE ARTS— A collaboration of The Enterprise Center and Montserrat College of Art
Wednesday, February 8, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
 Get the low-down from a successful working artist and teacher who’s “been there, done that.” Learn how to build your resume and your website, and how to get your work out there and create visibility. This includes reaching out to galleries, public libraries and other creative venues; getting into juried art shows; and showing your art online. She’ll tell you what you need to know…that no one has told you.
Speaker: Robin Samiljan, Artist and Teacher, Montserrat College of Art
Co-sponsor: MA Small Business Development Center
Thursday, February 9, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
 Learn from a banker and a consultant how a lender looks at your loan request. Credit quality, cash flow and collateral are key. This presentation will focus on preparing your existing business or start-up venture for financing. Sources of capital, including SBA guaranteed bank loans, will be discussed.
Speakers: Jane M. Johnson, CPA, CMA, Certified Business Exit Consultant™, Partner, B2B CFO®, Inc.; Banker to be announced
Sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center
Tuesday, February 14, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
 When sales suffer, so does your entire business. Learn the top five ways to boost revenues in this fast-paced session on the foundational elements for growing sales. Presenter Lori Richardson has worked with more than 1,500 entrepreneurs and small business owners on the sales process, tools, and inspiration that can add dollars to the bottom line.
Speaker: Lori Richardson, CEO, Score More Sales
Co-sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center
128 Venture North Breakfast Series
Thursday, February 16, 7:30 to 10:00 am
You've heard of the Shark Tank…Welcome to the Piranha Pond! Entrepreneurs seeking funding will have a five-minute opportunity to convince a panel of investors to invest in their company.* Investors can ask questions to see if the company is a viable investment opportunity for them…and presenters have a rare opportunity to get real investor feedback on the spot. If you’d like to apply to present, go to www.piranhapond.com *Does not constitute a commitment to provide funding.
Panelists: To be announced and posted at www.piranhapond.com
Applicants to present, interested entrepreneurs and management candidates: $25
Investors and service providers: $35
Sponsored by: North Shore Bank
Offered in partnership with the 128 Innovation Capital Group
Tuesday, February 28, 8:30 to 10:30 am
 Executive coach and author Gordon Curtis will share secrets from his new book, Well Connected, An Unconventional Approach to Building Genuine Effective Business Relationships. The focus is on quality, not quantity, and achieving your goals by selectively engaging the right people and connecting with them in the right way. This is an interactive presentation that will give you insights and tools to create your personal networking strategy.
Speaker: Gordon Curtis, Author of Well Connected and President, Curtis Consulting
Co-sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center FREE
March
Tech Month is here!
March brings a month-long focus on technology and how it can help your business. We’ll talk about what you already have and use, plus provide thought-provoking explorations of opportunities you may not have considered.
Thursday, March 1, 8:30 to 10:30 am $10
 You’re using social media, but are you getting any business as a result? Jay Campbell is an expert in working social media to generate leads and convert them to sales. From receiving a weekly LinkedIn prospect list to positioning yourself as a thought leader, you’ll get tips for turning LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube into more powerful sales tools.
Speaker: Jay Campbell, CEO, Strategic Social Consulting
Co-sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center
Thursday, March 8, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
 Does it seem like everyone’s blogging but you? Do you wonder if there’s a right and a wrong way to blog? Does the commitment to keep on blogging seem overwhelming? Don’t be intimidated! An effective blog can help you reach customers and boost business, and it can be easier than you think. Veteran blogger and communication strategist Jennifer Powell can show you the way. Whether you want to get started or blog better, this is the workshop for you.
Speaker: Jennifer Heldt Powell, Founder, The Excellent Writers Group and author of the “Small Business Matters” column in the Sunday Boston Herald
Co-sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center
Tuesday, March 13, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
Today, more than ever, marketing is about building relationships and sharing value with people online. Come find out how easy it is to engage your audience, build trust and authority, and encourage repeat business and referrals through easy and cost-effective email marketing. In this seminar, you will learn the best practices for creating an effective email marketing program, including: List-building ideas and techniques, creating valuable content and varying your offerings, reading metrics and creating targeted follow up campaigns, integrating with social media marketing efforts, and creating new business, sales and success!
Speakers: Corissa St. Laurent, Regional Development Director, Constant Contact—New England
Gregg Hanson, Client Success Manager, Net Atlantic, Inc.
Sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center
Thursday, March 15, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
 All the big names in the technology industry are talking about and promoting cloud computing…but for a lot of people, it’s still just a buzzword. What exactly is “the cloud?” What are its advantages and disadvantages? Who are the providers? Will it really let you do more with less? Get a first-hand look inside “the cloud” and answers to the questions being raised about the next big IT trend.
Speaker: Lowell Gray, CEO, Shore.Net
Co-sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center
Tuesday, March 20, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
 There’s more to a website than looking good. Answering a few key questions up front can drive the entire design process and result in a site that’s easy for your customers to find and use. Properly done, your brand messaging, target audience, and calls to action can define the website design or be used for a quick fix if a full redesign isn’t possible. This talk will include case studies and, time permitting, a few design audits of audience members’ sites.
Speaker: Michael Flint, Owner & Principal, Metropolis Creative
Co-sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center
Tuesday, March 27, 8:30 to 10:30 am FREE
 Tablets, smart phones and laptops. Apple vs. Android. New platforms and technologies are emerging all the time, and learning how to leverage them can give you new tools to reach customers and run your business. Find out if you need a different website for smart phones (and some of you do), how all of these appliances and social media connect you to your clients as never before and how smart phones and tablets can lower your operating costs.
Speaker: Jane Bright, CEO Brightwork
Co-sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center
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