Mollis to offer small-business workshop series beginning Jan. 16

R.I. SECRETARY OF STATE A. Ralph Mollis will launch a series of small-business workshops on Jan. 16, designed to bring business owners and entrepreneurs together with industry experts to learn about licensing, permitting, financing and other business-related issues. The series is meant to be an extension of the annual
R.I. SECRETARY OF STATE A. Ralph Mollis will launch a series of small-business workshops on Jan. 16, designed to bring business owners and entrepreneurs together with industry experts to learn about licensing, permitting, financing and other business-related issues. The series is meant to be an extension of the annual "We Mean Business" expo, Mollis said. / COURTESY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE

PROVIDENCE – Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis will offer a series of workshops geared toward educating small business owners about licensing, permitting, financing and other business-related issues, beginning with the premier session on Jan. 16.

The new workshop series launching Thursday will serve as an extension of the secretary of state’s “We Mean Business” expo, which is held annually in collaboration with the R.I. Commerce Corporation to bring business owners, entrepreneurs and industry leaders together with local, state and federal agencies to discuss issues that affect their businesses.

“Feedback from business customers and expo attendees suggested they would benefit from access to similar informational workshops held throughout the year,” said Mollis in a release. “In response, our office organized these essential topic-specific workshops with the same government officials and industry leaders previously only available at the We Mean Business expo.”

All eight workshops will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the secretary of state’s Office of Business Services, located at 148 West River St. in Providence.

- Advertisement -

The workshop dates, topics and guest experts are as follows:

  • Thursday, Jan. 16 – Business Formation 101: Everett Petronio, Kalander & Shaw Ltd.; and Judith Hetherman, Judith Hetherman & Co.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 22 – Business Resources from the Federal Government: Mark S. Hayward, U.S. Small Business Administration Rhode Island District Office; Carmen Diaz Jusino, Center for Women & Enterprise; and George Hemond, Rhode Island SCORE.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 29 – Business Resources from State Government: Connie Parks, R.I. Department of Labor and Training’s Business Workforce Center; and Daniel Clemence, R.I. Division of Taxation.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 12 – Growing, Maintaining and Protecting Your Business: Bill Grossman, Cornerstone Group; and Mark Graham, Graham Insurance Inc.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 19 – Financing: Mark S. Hayward, SBA Rhode Island District Office; Matthew Raiche, Santander Bank; Denise Barge, R.I. Commerce Corp.; and Tamarah Bacon, South Eastern Economic Development Corp.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 26 – Getting Your Business Organized: Kristin MacRae, Organizing In RI LLC.
  • Wednesday, March 12 – Data-Driven Design for Marketing: Steve Cronin, Twobolt.
  • Wednesday, March 19 – First Steps for a Nonprofit: George Hemond, Rhode Island SCORE; and Richard Sirabo, Siravo Consulting.

All workshops are free and open to the public, but attendees must register by contacting Kelly Carello at the secretary of state’s Business Information Center by phone at (401) 222-3040 or by email at kcarello@sos.ri.gov.

For more information about the programs and services the secretary of state offers, visit www.sos.ri.gov.

No posts to display