Pittsburgh-area entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their small business will get useful international trade strategies, tips on obtaining certifications and best practices from successful local business leaders on June 20 at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week event.
The informational sessions and workshops will be held at the Pittsburgh Technical Institute in Oakdale, Pa.
SBA Administrator Karen Mills will lead an armchair discussion with leaders from Pittsburgh’s nationally-acclaimed startup accelerator, AlphaLab. Mills, Jim Jen, executive director of AlphaLab and Ilana Diamond, managing director of AlphaLab Gear will discuss early stage business development for small companies and give advice on what small businesses need to succeed and grow.
“This event is a great opportunity for small business owners, or those who want to start and grow a business, to learn from those who have gone before them and succeeded,” remarked SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Natalia Olson-Urtecho. “AlphaLab and accelerators like it are instrumental in teaming with the SBA to kick-start small businesses into engines for our economy.”
Breakout sessions on certifications for small businesses, crowdfunding and speed mentoring sessions will also be featured. Other highlights include an economic overview address by the chief economist for PNC Bank, a luncheon address by Chesapeake Energy’s vice president and executives from 84 Lumber, Innovation 21 and staff from local universities will also be on hand to dispense advice.
A discussion on the “Pittsburgh Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” will be led by local business leaders and moderated by Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify Director Jayne Huston, an SBA Women’s Business Center.
The June 20 Pittsburgh-area National Small Business Week event will be live streamed at
www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek. The live streaming of all National Small Business Week events is provided by Microsoft.
Every year since 1963, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight through National Small Business Week the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. This year’s events will be held June 17-21, in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. offering tips, tools and trainings for small businesses to start, succeed and grow. In addition to in-person events, small business owners can participate in online-only panel discussions on hot topics like social media and business financing starting daily at 4pm ET. All events, in-person and online, will be streamed live on www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek. Also visit this site for a full schedule of events and additional information.
The event hashtag is #SBW2013.
Small Business Week 2013 sponsors include: Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Microsoft, National Association of the Self Employed (NASE), Arlington Texas Chamber of Commerce, AT&T, ADP, Western Pennsylvania Small Business Network, Staples, Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp., Visa, Women Impacting Public Policy, Lockheed Martin, National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, Business Forward and Office Depot.
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor’s, donor’s, grantee’s, contractor’s or participant’s opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting smallbusinessweek@sba.gov. Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2013.
