Conferences & Events

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all events being shared at this moment are webinars*

The Show Must Go On
Temple Small Business Development Center

November 24, 2020

Learn some of the does and don’ts in planning for the sale/transition out of a business. This webinar is intended for independent small to medium size business owners that are looking to either sell or transition out of their business.

Points Covered:

• Getting the Financials in order
• Making sure the business machine keeps moving
• Business Evaluation
• Considering Tax exposure and legal structuring of business
• Post-sale Participation and Payouts
• Personal/Family Financial Planning Post-Sale

This webinar is presented by The Kelley Financial Group in partnership with the Clarion, Penn State, Scranton, Temple, and Wilkes SBDC

Register Here

Intellectual Property & The Internet
Temple Small Business Development Center

December 1, 2020

Although everyone knows that their brand is the backbone of their business, few people fully understand the practical steps needed to protect their brand. This session explains what a trademark is (and what it is not).

The speaker will describe some of the mistakes she most commonly encountered in IOT-related applications during years of reviewing trademark applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. No prior knowledge of trademark law or the application process is necessary.

Register Here

Tri-State PTAC Mega-Matchmaker
Various PTAC’s

December 8 & 9, 2020

The Tri-State PTAC Mega-Matchmaker is an opportunity for small businesses to meet with federal, state and local government buyers.

For the first time, PTACs from New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio have joined together to provide the opportunity for government buyers and sellers to meet in one of the largest online procurement events in this tri-state region. This event is open to all businesses. There is no cost to attend.

The 2020 Tri-State PTAC Mega-Matchmaker allows businesses to pre-schedule appointments.

For more information, contact john@stonesrivereventmanagement.com

Register Here

MWVOB Virtual Marketplace Summit
State of NJ

December 9, 8:45 AM – 4 PM

Meeting with government and corporate purchasing officers can be difficult, especially for Minority, Women, Veteran and LGBTQ business owners and entrepreneurs looking to connect to the state’s billion-dollar procurement supply chain. To bridge this gap, the MWVOB Virtual Marketplace Summit has been designed to bring key purchasing representatives from federal, state, county, and local government agencies along with major corporate buyers directly to your desktop or device.

The MWVOB Virtual Marketplace Summit will offer a full day of Procurement Matchmaking opportunities. Attendees will be matched and pre-scheduled for a series of one-to-one meetings which occur throughout the event in a virtual meeting room. This portion of the event is limited in availability and is offered to business participants registered for the overall conference on a first-come, first-served basis; multiple participants from the same company can attend meetings together.

Registration Coming Soon!

Digital Strategy for Exporting: eCommerce Across Borders
Speaker: LeeAnne Haworth, U.S. Commercial Service
University of Pittsburgh

December 10, 2020

For many businesses, the decision to extend sales overseas is a logical choice, but where to start is not as clear. Our no-cost GO GLOBAL Export Series webinar will be filled with valuable information to help you learn how to export, develop an export plan, and key in on tips and tricks of the trade.

Start your overseas journey with us by exploring the U.S. Commercial Service’s Basic Guide to Exporting to help plot your course to exporting success!

This series to include speakers from: University of Pittsburgh SBDC, U.S. Commercial Service, Southwestern PA Commission, Huntington Bank, UPS, Wilke & Associates CPAs, RL Swearer, and Meyer, Unkovic & Scott.

Register Here

NextGen Connect
WBENC

December 11, 2-3 PM

NextGen Connect is exclusive programming for women millennial and gen Z entrepreneurs to engage with one another in intimate, peer to peer breakout sessions as well as hear from corporate professionals.

Join us for the next virtual NextGen Connect session to listen, share what’s on your mind, and collaborate with women business owners from across the country. Invite a fellow entrepreneur and enjoy good conversation and great company.

Among the topics to be discussed are leadership, essential marketing practices, adapting to the current climate, corporate must-haves, and more!

This program is open to both certified and non-certified women business owners.

Register Here

IBM SkillsBuild Reignite – Business Owners
IBM & UPMC

Various Dates

IBM SkillsBuild Reignite seminars are free live online events presented by national subject matter experts, with the opportunity for business owners to interact and ask questions of the experts.

There are 16 seminars scheduled for the remainder of 2020, with topics covering legal, financial and business education. You can find the full list & Register Here

Is It Just Me? Mental Health During the Time of COVID-19 and Civil Unrest
PIDC

October to March 2020 (3rd Tuesday of each month)

In recognition and acknowledgment of the toll these times have on people, PIDC is partnering with the Scattergood Foundation in hosting a 6-month webinar series, Is It Just Me? Mental Health During the Time of COVID-19 and Civil Unrest. Each month on the 3rd Tuesday, beginning October 20 at 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (with log-in beginning at 8:45 AM), we will offer a different title and presenter.

Each webinar is just one (1) hour, but will be an hour that provides insight and relief, as our subject matter experts provide statistical evidence of stress and trauma associated with this period, what it looks like, how one may feel, and best practices for monitoring and managing our mental, emotional and psychological wellbeing.

• • Stress of Distance/Virtual Learning and the Business Owner/Parent – Tuesday, December 15
    Presenter: Dr. Daniel Lee — N-Psy-T Psychological Services

 

• • Wellness Strategies for Your Employees – Tuesday, January 19, 2021
    Presenter: Anna Greenwald — On The Goga

 

• • Behavioral Health Care for You or Your Loved Ones – Tuesday, February 16, 2021
    Presenters: Dr. Aqiyla Muhammad and Hilary Reichlin, LCSW – Spectrum Health Services

 

• Finding Joy During Difficult Times – Tuesday, March 16, 2021
  Presenter: TBD

 

Register Here

Selling To the Federal Government – FREE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING SEMINAR
U.S. Small Business Administration

Various times/dates

Grants, Scholarships & Programs

WeThrive
WBENC

DEADLINE: December 7, 2020

Applications are now open for WeTHRIVE 2021! The program is designed to help businesses learn how to develop a flexible and nimble organization in times of uncertainty and crisis.

This summer, WBENC launched WeTHRIVE, a new virtual executive education program designed to help support WBEs through the uncertainty and unprecedented economic changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The feedback we received from the 200+ WBEs who participated in the inaugural program was so overwhelmingly positive, we are excited to announce that WeTHRIVE is back! Applications are now open for the second WeTHRIVE cohort, kicking off in January 2021. 

WeTHRIVE 2021 will take place virtually from Thursday, January 14, 2021 through Friday, March 19, 2021. The 250 accepted participants will be assigned one of three course tracks based on a personal and business assessment completed in their application.

The virtual program will include a series of learning and peer group opportunities:

• Weekly one-to-two hour webinars and Zoom room courses
• Semi-monthly Industry Peer Groups & Coaching Pods for discussion and shared learning
• Coffee Table Discussions featuring WBE success stories
• Town Halls with the opportunity to hear from WBENC and for WBENC to listen and learn from WBEs at the beginning and end of the course.

Register Here

Electrical Distribution Technology Program
Community College of Allegheny County and Duquesne Light Company

DEADLINE: May 21, 2021

The Electrical Distribution Technology (EDT) program is a joint partnership between the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) and Duquesne Light Company (DLC) to provide training in the basic skills, knowledge, and abilities applicants would need to apply for skilled craft positions in the electrical utility industry such as Line Workers, Underground Splicers, Sr. Operators, and Operations Center Dispatchers.

The EDT program begins in September, 2021. Applications are now being accepted until May 15, 2021.

For more information, please contact Jeffrey Peters (jpeters@duqlight.com), Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialist, at DLC

Apply Here – Requisition ID: 12897

 

Business Opportunities & RFPs

Executive Coaching
Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh

DEADLINE: November 24, 2020

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh is seeking to identify executive coaching suppliers. The Bank uses executive coaches throughout the year for direct 1:1 coaching typically with directors plus. We have a panel of coaches and offer the employee 2-3 coaches to meet with to determine the coach with the best chemistry.

Once selected, the coach typically conducts a 4-6 month engagement; goal setting; coaching on priorities; tools; etc. Typically the coach conducts stakeholder interviews.

Register Here

Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) New Online Bid System for Procurement Opportunities is Now Live.

Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) Brand New, Online Bid System PGW is now posting RFP’s (Professional Services) and RFQ’s (Non-professional Services) to one centralized location for all vendors to visit, register, and gain access to our procurement opportunities.

Register Here.

 

Contracting Opportunities with the City of Philadelphia

Several opportunities are available with the City of Philadelphia. Notable opportunities include Construction Management services for the renovation of the 15th Police District, consulting for the Sanitation Division’s Northeast Incinerator Building Rehabilitation Project and procurement and reproduction support for the Law Department.  All opportunities within the city’s eContract system are available here.

 

Posting Guidelines

Our business is to get you business – the right supplier for our Corporate Partners, access to bids and RFPs for our WBEs. 

We welcome Procurement Opportunity postings on this page in accordance with the following guidelines:

• Posts are accepted for procurement opportunities from Supplier Diversity Corporate/Council Members in good standing.
• Posts are accepted for procurement opportunities for WBE-to-WBE spend by WBEs in good standing.
• A brief three-line description of the opportunity; a link to the opportunity posted on line; an identified point-of-contact with name, e-mail and phone number; and dates of opportunity may be e-mailed to Affiong Inyang-ITIAT, Engagement Coordinator – ainyang-itiat@wbeceast.com
• The description and link will be added within four business days of receipt.
• Please note:  This is a public website and public page.  WBEC-East cannot guarantee that respondents are WBENC-certified WBEs.