Local Calendar of Events

Upcoming Event

Growth by Design: Managing Stress & Preventing Burnout

Small business ownership comes with constant demands, and without clear systems for managing stress and setting boundaries, it can lead to burnout. This session equips entrepreneurs with practical tools to recognize early signs of chronic stress, implement effective daily and weekly stress management practices, and set healthy boundaries to protect their time and focus. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to sustain their well-being while leading their business with greater clarity, resilience, and control.

This is the fourth presentation in a webinar series called Growth by Design: A Personal Development Series for Entrepreneurs. This 8-part webinar series is designed to support small business owners through a structured self-improvement journey. Our goal is to equip small business owners with a structured, progressive framework for personal and professional growth. Each session will be accompanied by a practical resource, allowing attendees to quickly and easily implement what they have learned.

Upcoming Event

Follow Up Strategies That Will Get More Clients and Close More Sales

If follow up is a hard heavy “to do” then the Follow Up Sales Strategies presentation is for you. You’ll learn that follow up is merely a matter of having effective habits and good systems in place. If you struggle getting your follow up work done, it’s not because you don’t have time, you’re not organized or you’re not good at sales…it’s because you haven’t learned the right systems and skill set. Understanding this will help put you in the flow of ease of getting this all important work done on a daily basis.

Upcoming Event

Marketing Part 1: Developing Your Marketing Plan

Many entrepreneurs struggle to sell their products or services effectively, but it doesn’t have to be this way. This dynamic webinar will guide you through building a marketing roadmap that sets your business up for success. Learn how to identify your ideal clients, create a compelling value proposition, conduct competitor analysis, and implement strategic pricing that drives profits. This session, provides actionable insights to help you confidently begin drafting your marketing plan.

Upcoming Event

Project Management Peer Learning Group (VIRTUAL)

Build your professional network and learn from peers with experience and / or interest in project management. This is an opportunity to connect, learn and innovate with others throughout Central PA. Come prepared to pose project management-related issues, questions, problems and/or opportunities to the group and leave with a wealth of insights based on the experience of the others in attendance.

Upcoming Event

First Steps: Concept to Plan

Do you have a business concept in mind but aren’t sure of the next steps? This presentation is all about turning that concept into a concrete plan, and we’ll discuss details around revenue streams, market research, industry research, competitive analysis, and more. This is a great follow up to our Business 101 class, but you can also jump right in.

Upcoming Event

Orientation & Business Assessment

If you’re just starting your business journey or always dreamt of owning your own business, this workshop is for you! We’ll introduce you to all WBEC-East has to offer to help you on the entrepreneurial journey.

Upcoming Event

Starting a Successful Food Business

Whether you want to launch a food truck, open a restaurant, be a personal chef or caterer, manufacture food products or start a ghost kitchen, there are many factors to consider when starting out.

In this webinar, our expert presenter will take you through the essential steps and things to consider when starting a food business.

Upcoming Event

Marketing Part 2: Promoting Your Business

Promoting your business is key to reaching your targeted customers and driving sales. This webinar will introduce you to essential promotional methods, including networking, referrals, social media, content marketing, email marketing, and SEO. You’ll learn how to identify the most effective techniques for your business and craft a promotional plan that aligns with your goals and customer behaviors. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your strategies, this session offers valuable insights to elevate your marketing efforts.

Upcoming Event

Growth by Design: Decision Making, Clarity, & Avoiding Fatigue

In the demanding environment of small business ownership, every decision carries weight. This session helps small business owners recognize the difference between reactive decisions and strategic choices that align with long-term goals. Participants will learn simple, repeatable strategies to reduce decision fatigue, such as creating decision filters, setting boundaries around low-value choices, and building routines that automate common decisions. By learning how to streamline the decision-making process and focus energy where it matters most, attendees will leave better equipped to lead with intention and confidence.

Upcoming Event

Social Media Success Made Simple – Build Your Brand, Grow Your Business

Social media is a powerful tool that influences how people connect, support causes, and make purchasing decisions. In this session, you’ll learn how to use social media to drive awareness, grow your following, and turn engagement into action.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to fine-tune your approach, our expert presenter will share the core elements you’ll need to create a successful social media strategy. You’ll discover how to create a simple but effective social media plan that will help you get your audience’s attention, build audience connections and maximize your business reach.

Upcoming Event

The First Step Express: Starting Your Business (Webinar)

Have you always dreamt of starting your own business, but aren’t sure where to begin? Attend our First Step Express: Starting Your Business webinar!

This one-hour webinar will help aspiring entrepreneurs begin the process of successful business ownership including a quick look at:

• Personal considerations for starting a business
• Business plan basics
• Different types of business structures (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.)
• Applications and licenses needed to start a business
• Small business financing options
• SBDC services that are available as you start your business

Upcoming Event

Selling to the Federal Government Seminar

The Federal Government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. Learn how your small business can market services or goods to the Federal Government!

SBA helps ensure small businesses get fair opportunities to share federal government prime contracts.

Upcoming Event

Developing Financial Projections for Your New Small Business

You’re starting or have started your new small business. Great!! But . . . you’re worried about what your sales will be, or if you can make a profit and how you will manage your cash flow. If you need help in any of these areas, this webinar is for you! We’ll review calculating your startup costs, projecting sales, creating a projected profit and loss statement and cashflow statement.

Upcoming Event

How to Use SBA Export Finance Solutions to Grow International Sales

The SBA’s export finance programs provide lenders with up to a 90% guaranty on export loans. That makes it easier for exporters to get loans for day-to-day operations, advance orders with suppliers and other funding needs. In this webinar, you will learn about the SBA loan programs and other resources for small businesses to develop the export side of their business

Upcoming Event

Sales & Marketing Peer Learning Group (VIRTUAL)

Build your professional network and learn from peers with experience and / or interest in Sales & Marketing. This is an opportunity to connect, learn and innovate with others throughout Central PA. Come prepared to pose Sales or Marketing-related issues, questions, problems and/or opportunities to the group and leave with a wealth of insights based on the experience of the others in attendance.

Upcoming Event

Smart Fundraising for Nonprofits: Using AI to Understand, Engage, and Inspire Donors

What if you could quickly discover what motivates your donors, write compelling messages in minutes, and develop campaign ideas that feel fresh, not formulaic? What if you could do it all without hiring more staff or extending your planning timeline? That’s the promise of today’s most accessible AI tools.

In this SCORE session, you’ll learn how nonprofit professionals are using platforms like ChatGPT to tackle real fundraising challenges. From shaping donor messaging to reimagining campaign formats and drafting grant content, you’ll see how AI can become a practical, creative partner in your development work.

We’ll introduce a simple framework focused on three essential moves: understanding your donors; crafting messages that resonate; and identifying bold, energizing fundraising strategies. Along the way, you’ll see how AI can help save time, reduce guesswork, and spark new ideas, with no technical background or experience with AI required.

Upcoming Event

Finding Your Funding

This two-hour workshop will provide valuable information on how to access capital to help your business grow.

Upcoming Event

3 Tech Tools to Supercharge Sales (VIRTUAL)

During this session, Deb Ellenberg, VP of Business Development with Sandler, will explore how to: use ChatGPT to identify challenges of ‘ideal clients’ and craft compelling messages in seconds; leverage AI notetakers like Fathom and Plaud to capture, summarize, and share key insights from sales calls—without lifting a pen; and integrate Surfe to sync LinkedIn prospecting directly into your CRM and reduce manual data entry. You’ll leave with plug-and-play tactics you can implement the same day—no tech background required. Whether you’re a startup founder, business developer, or sales leader, this session will show you how to sell smarter with the right tools at your fingertips.