Upcoming Events
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Jan
01January Membership Promotion!
06:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Join the Center as a Member during the month of January and enjoy 25% off the cost for first-time Members, a savings of $43.75! Use the promo code "CWEHoliday24"To sign-up for Membership CLICK HERE!
Discover some of the benefits of Membership HERE and be sure to attend our Open House to learn more! -
Jan
06The Business of Child Care Start-Up - Application
08:00 AM -
The Business of Child Care Start-Up The Business of Child Care is a free application-based entrepreneurial training program for start-up child care providers located within the Greater Pittsburgh region, facilitated by the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) in partnership with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) and Invest PGH.
Financial support provided by the Hillman Foundation.
Additional funding provided through the SBA Congressional Community Project.
Through an application process, up to 20 start-up child care providers will receive admission to The Business of Child Care, an intensive eight-week training program designed to prepare entrepreneurs to launch child care businesses.
The Business of Child Care Program Timeline:
- January 6 , 2025: Application Open
- January 13 , 2025: Information Session.Click Here
- February 3, 2025: Application Close
- February 10, 2025: The Business of Child Care Start-Up Cohort Finalized & Notified
- February 20, 2025: First Session for The Business of Child Care Start-up Fall Program.
The Business of Child Care Start-Up Spring Program will run on Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00 PM from February 20 to April 10, 2025. The program will consist of three in-person sessions and five online sessions via Zoom. In-person sessions will be on February 20, March 20 and April 10 will be held at Chatham University Eastside Building. Applicants are expected to attend all the sessions. Required: Zoom capable device and internet access to participate.
To view the syllabus for the Business of Child Care Start-up Program: CLICK HERE!
More Information and Application, Click Here!
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Jan
21Webinar: Doing Business with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Are you interested in doing business with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?
Join WBEC-East for an informative webinar to learn about the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's supplier diversity and procurement initiatives. There are several business opportunities, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania wants to engage with WBEs like you to discuss potential procurement opportunities.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's goal is to "provide accurate, courteous, and timely service for all Pennsylvanians."
To celebrate the new year, WBEC-East “Doing Business With the Commonwealth” webinar is FREE! Don't miss this opportunity, register today to learn the business requirements to be a supplier for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania!
To register for the Webinar, Click Here! -
Feb
05Webinar: Selling Your Business is Hard! How to Ensure Your Business is Ready When You Are Ready
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Three out of four business sales don't close. One of the primary reasons is because owners don't take the time to prepare for their exit. Owners who have run a successful business assume that the buyer only cares about how profitable it is, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. This webinar will help you think about your business like a buyer will be thinking about it during the sale process so that when the time comes, you will be prepared. This webinar is part of CWE's new "How to Grow" series, focusing on support for existing businesses who are looking to scale and expand their offerings.
Speaker:
Matthew Caiazza, Managing Director, Matthew Thomas Advisors
To register for the Webinar, CLICK HERE! -
Feb
18Webinar: Unlock the Power of SEO: A Beginner’s Guide to Optimizing Your Website
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Ready to grow your online presence and attract more customers? Join Sarah Mayer, partner and owner at Shift Collaborative for a crash course on the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This talk is designed specifically for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how to make your website visible to search engines, improve your local rankings, and leverage the latest SEO trends for 2025. With actionable tips and beginner-friendly tools, this session will empower you to boost your online visibility.
Speaker:
Sarah Mayer, Owner and Partner, Shift Collaborative
To register for the Webinar, CLICK HERE! -
Feb
19Concept to Launch - Online
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
"Concept to Launch" is a 6-week entrepreneurial training program for entrepreneurs in the early stages of starting a business.
Dates: Six Wednesday evenings from 6-8 PM starting on February 19th and ending on March 26th.
The Spring program will be offered Online Only and offered at a reduced rate of $65. The program is capped at 30 participants.
Current CWE Members can take the class for the further reduced price of $20. Email womens-entrepreneurship@chatham.edu for the coupon code.
Required: Zoom capable device and internet access to participate for all classes.
Certificate of Completion will be awarded to participants who complete four or more classes live.
Classes focus on:
- Developing the business concept
- Identifying target customers and markets
- Marketing strategies
- Foundational operations of your business
- Basic financials
- Legal business entities
- Developing and delivering your “pitch”
Facilitator: Lillian Rafson, Founder and CEO of Pack Up + Go
To view the syllabus for the Concept to Launch program: Click here
To register for Concept to Launch, CLICK HERE!
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Mar
04Digital Service Training Series: Websites that Work - Turning Visits into Value - HYBRID
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
This five-part training series is designed for small business owners interested in understanding the essence of creating effective websites. The series not only covers the foundational aspects of website strategy but also dives deep into advanced strategies that make websites stand out. Through a blend of lectures, collaborative discussions, and real-world applications, business owners will gain comprehensive insights into website creation, ensuring their digital presence aligns with their business goals. The goal of this series is for business owners to leave with a website they’ve built that brings value to their business.
The training series will run on Tuesdays from 12:00PM-2:00PM on March 4, March 11, March 18, April 1 and April 8 (No Class on March 25). The program will consist of TWO in-person sessions and THREE online sessions via Zoom. In-person sessions will be held on March 4 and April 8 at Chatham University Eastside Building. This is a hands-on, interactive training series and participants are expected to attend all five sessions. After each training session participants will be asked to complete an assignment before the next session.
To participate in this training series, you must have access to a laptop and have a website domain established. The training series is limited to 20 participants. Any size business is welcome and is beneficial for new and existing websites.
- Session 1 - March 4: Introduction to Visual Design and Goal Setting (Basics of Visual Design, Platform Analysis, and Establishing Goals)
- Session 2 - March 11: Website Structure (Information Architecture, User Flows, and Navigation)
- Session 3 - March 18: Website Experience Design (Content Strategy, User Experience (UX) Best Practices, and Helpful Tools)
- Session 4 - April 1: Website Tools and Beyond (Cybersecurity, SEO, and Analytics)
- Session 5 - April 8: Website Review & Feedback (Present and Review each participant's website and provide feedback on improving website strategy, website design and optimization).
Facilitator:
Auldyn Matthews-McGee, Founder, Auldyn Matthews Consulting, LLC
To Register for Training Series, CLICK HERE!