Workshops and Events

Are you thinking of starting your own business and don’t know where to start financially? Join SCORE Master Mentor John Galati for a workshop on everything you need to know about the financial side of a startup business from start to finish.

Please note: This program is being offered by SCORE and you will need to register with them and provide them with your email address in order to attend. You will have the option to opt out of their mailing list when you register. Upon registration with the Addison library, you will be sent the link to register with SCORE. The Zoom link for this program will come directly from SCORE. Upon registration with SCORE, every individual will receive a unique Zoom Link for the workshop. Please contact the Addison Library with any questions or concerns.

Finding sponsors takes more than sending requests and hoping for a positive response. Successful sponsorships are built by identifying the right prospects, demonstrating mutual value and developing relationships that benefit both parties.

In this webinar, you’ll learn a practical approach to finding, researching and approaching potential sponsors. We’ll explore what businesses look for in sponsorship opportunities, how to present your organization or project professionally and how to build relationships that can lead to continued support.

In this webinar, you will learn how to:

• Identify potential sponsors that align with your event, organization or project
• Research businesses and sponsorship prospects more effectively
• Recognize the signs of a strong sponsorship match
• Understand what sponsors look for before committing their support
• Approach prospective sponsors with confidence and professionalism
• Avoid common mistakes that cause sponsorship requests to be ignored
• Build long-term sponsor relationships that can provide ongoing support

If your business has relied on the same SEO playbook for years, it is time to face an uncomfortable truth: how buyers find businesses has changed more in the last 18 months than it did in the previous two decades. As a result, the tactics businesses have relied on to improve search rankings may not deliver the same results. The rules have changed, but most established businesses have not adapted.

This session is for businesses working to build an online presence, improve their search rankings, or trying to understand why their established visibility is slipping away. In this webinar, we’ll explain what has changed, which SEO fundamentals still matter and what you need to do differently in 2026 to remain visible online.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• Why your traditional SEO is quietly losing ground, and what’s replacing it
• How search behavior has fundamentally changed, and what that means for the way buyers discover companies like yours
• The specific signals that now determine whether you show up or get skipped
• The practical changes you can start making right away to protect your visibility

What SEO changes do you have questions about? Submit your question when you register, and we’ll try to address it during the webinar.

Whether launching a new website or sprucing up an old one, this workshop will help you create a search-friendly website that drives users to your business.

Many business owners think they are ready for funding until a lender evaluates areas of their business they didn’t expect, which can delay the process or cause them to miss funding opportunities. Understanding what lenders look for gives you time to address potential problems and strengthen your business before you apply.

In this webinar, experts from Experian will introduce a four-pillar framework for evaluating and strengthening your business’s funding readiness. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of how lenders view your business, where gaps in preparation can create risk and how to improve your lender profile.

In this webinar, you will learn how to:

• Separate your personal and business finances to build credibility
• Improve cash-flow consistency and present a clearer financial story
• Build, review and monitor your business credit profile
• Identify credit-report errors and other issues before applying
• Organize the financial records and documents lenders may request
• Avoid common mistakes that can weaken a funding application
• Create a practical 90-day plan to become more lender-ready

Building a successful business no longer requires a large team, expensive office space, or significant overhead. With access to freelancers, AI, automation, and flexible business models, you can build a profitable and successful business without taking on a large payroll or complex operation.

In this webinar, best-selling author and popular SCORE presenter Steve Strauss will show you how to launch an in-demand, lean business built for 2026. Whether you’re starting from scratch or reinventing your business, you’ll discover strategies and tools for building your own One Person Empire.

In this webinar, you’ll learn:

• How to build a growing, thriving business without hiring any employees at all
• How to choose the right business idea and business model
• The best ways to create multiple income streams, including coaching, memberships, digital products and sponsorships
• The simple tech stack that lets one person do the work of many
• The first 5 steps every successful solopreneur should take
• The biggest mistakes new solopreneurs make and how to avoid them

An MFG Pro Series Webinar

Organizations across all industries are facing unprecedented workforce challenges. This free, interactive webinar will provide participants with a practical framework for building an effective succession planning process. Attendees will learn how to identify critical positions, assess workforce risks, recognize high-potential employees, and create development strategies that prepare future leaders and technical experts.

Presenter: Amy Murphy
Technical Specialist, IMEC

Learn how to read and understand the key financial statements every business owner needs. Breaking down income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports in simple terms. You’ll gain the knowledge to track your business’ health and make smarter financial decisions.

Please note: This program is being offered by SCORE and you will need to register with them and provide them with your email address in order to attend. You will have the option to opt out of their mailing list when you register. Upon registration with the library, you will be sent the link to register with SCORE. The Zoom link for this program will come directly from SCORE. Upon registration with SCORE, every individual will receive a unique Zoom Link for the workshop. Please contact the Addison Library with any questions or concerns.

In today’s market, manufacturers face constant pressure from rising costs. To stay competitive, leaders need both a clear understanding of cost indices and the right strategies to respond effectively.

This webinar will explore how to use indices as a powerful tool to interpret cost trends, inform purchasing decisions, and guide supplier conversations. You’ll also gain practical approaches to balance cost control with maintaining strong supplier relationships.

Key Takeaways:
• How to read and apply key indices to your pricing strategy
• Ways to use data to anticipate cost changes and strengthen your position
• Techniques for supplier discussions that go beyond simple price negotiations
• Tools to protect margins while sustaining long-term partnerships

Whether you are making purchasing decisions or managing supplier relationships, this session will help you leverage indices and strategies to reduce risk and improve financial outcomes.

To ensure a secure experience for all participants, please log in using your own Zoom account with a username and password. Any Zoom account type is acceptable. When joining, make sure to use your registered first and last name so we can verify your attendance. Please note: Call-in access is not allowed for this session.

*Event details are subject to change.

*Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive it, please check your spam or junk folder*

Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring entrepreneurs from the Entertainment, Marketing, and Real Estate industries. Learn how they found their paths to entrepreneurship, the mistakes and surprises they encountered early on, and the insights they’ve gained through experience.