WORKSHOPS OFFERED: To Help Small Businesses Grow!

Office of RI Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis offering workshops to small businesses

Workshops designed to help local small businesses flourish

PROVIDENCE, RI  --  Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis’ office will once again offer a variety of workshops throughout the year beginning in January, designed to give local small business owners the unique opportunity to have direct access to and learn from industry experts.

Each year, the office of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis hosts the successful We Mean Business expo, where business owners and potential entrepreneurs are given the unique opportunity to sit down face-to-face with government officials and a variety of industry leaders.  The sessions offer free advice and guidance on licensing, permitting, financing, and other business related matters during this one-of-a-kind opportunity for businesses.

“Feedback from business customers and expo attendees, suggested they would benefit from access to similar informational workshops held throughout the year,” said Secretary Mollis.  “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.  It is my hope that our workshops will continue to provide critical information to emerging businesses.”  

All workshops will be held at Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis’ Office of Business Services, 148 West River Street, Providence from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Dates and workshops are as follows: 

January 16th               Business Formation 101

                                      Everett Petronio, Esq. and Judith Hetherman, CPA  

January 22nd              Business Resources from the Federal Government

                                     Mark Hayward, SBA, Carmen Diaz Jusino, CWE, and

                                     George Hemond, Score

January 29th              Business Resources from State Government

                                    Connie Parks, Department of Labor and Training and Daniel  

                                    Clemence, Division of Taxation

February 12th            Growing, Maintaining, and Protecting your Business

                                    Bill Grossman, Cornerstone Group and Mark Graham,

                                    Graham Insurance, Inc. 

February 19th           Financing

                                   Mark Hayward, SBA  Matthew Raiche, Santander Bank. 

                                   Denise Barge, Commerce RI, & Tamarah Bacon, Seed Corp.

February 26th           Getting Your Business Organized.

                                   Kristen MacRae  Organizing RI LLC –  

March 12th                Data Driven Design for Marketing

                                   Present by the Providence Chamber of Commerce member  

                                   Stephen Cronin, President of  TWOBOLT     

March 19th                 First Steps for a Non Profit

                                    George Hemond, SCORE & Richard Siravo, Siravo Consulting  

            You must register for the workshops at kcarello@sos.ri.gov or by calling (401) 222-3040.  For additional information regarding these workshops, call Kelly Carello at the office of Secretary of State’s Business Information Center at (401) 222-3040.

             Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, making it easier to do business in Rhode Island and making government more open and accessible.  For more information about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit www.sos.ri.gov