SBA Offers Training on International Best Practices For Small Business Ecosystems

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and co-host International Council for Small Business (ICSB) are offering training for policy makers, economic development practitioners, educators, and resource stakeholders at George Washington University on Monday, October 22, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (EST).

The SBA has built a robust platform of resource partners, trainers, and innovative programs to help Small/Medium Enterprises (SME) seeking to start or grow their businesses, particularly in communities where resources do not exist. During the training, "Putting Together a SME Ecosystem," participants will receive best practices from one of the leading international government models for small business ecosystem design and support.

SBA officials and guests will provide targeted tutorials on "five pillars" of dynamic small business ecosystems: networks of counselors and trainers; access to public procurement opportunities; capital access programs; contingency planning; and a small business friendly regulatory environment.

Agenda

9:00 a.m. Registration

9:30 a.m. Welcome & Vision - Speakers: Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy, International Council for Small Business' (ICSB) Executive Director; Peter Cazamias, SBA's Associate Administrator for International Trade; Brett Hamsik, U.S. Department of State's Western Hemisphere Affairs Economic Policy Advisor

9:45 a.m. How to Use Public Funding and Procurement to Promote Small Business Development - Speakers: Barbara E. Carson, SBA's Office of Government Contracting & Business Development Deputy Associate Administrator; Antonio Doss, SBA's Washington Metropolitan Area District Director; Eugene Cornelius Jr., ICSB's Director of International Relations and Strategic Alliances (Moderator)

11:05 a.m. Building a Network of Technical Counselors and Trainers -Speakers: Aaron Miller, Virginia Small Business Development Center's Manager of International Trade; Samira Cook Gaines and Candice Miles, Co-Founders, Global Empowerment Solutions; Eugene Cornelius Jr., ICSB's Director of International Relations and Strategic Alliances (Moderator)

12:00 p.m. Luncheon Keynote
Keynote Speaker: Jeff Finkle, CEcD, International Economic Development Council's President and CEO

1:00 p.m. How to Establish a Capital Access Program - Speakers: John Miller, SBA's Office of Capital Access Deputy Associate Administrator; Victor Parker, SBA's Office of International Trade Acting Deputy Associate Administrator; Eugene Cornelius  Jr., ICSB's Director of International Relations and Strategic Alliances (Moderator)

2:00 p.m. Key Provisions of a Continuity Plan - Speakers: Joseph Loddo, SBA's Office of Continuous Operations & Management (OCORM) Director; John Valliere, SBA's OCORM Supervisory Management and Program Analyst; Eugene Cornelius Jr., ICSB's Director of International Relations and Strategic Alliances (Moderator)

2:45 p.m. Networking Coffee Break

3:00 p.m. Creating the Right Regulatory Environment for SME Development and Internationalization - Speakers: Bryan O'Byrne, Chief, SBA's International Affairs and Trade Policy Division; Eugene Cornelius, Jr., ICSB's Director of International Relations and Strategic Alliances (Moderator)

3:50 p.m. SME Ecosystems Best Practices - Speaker: Dr. Ming-Ji Wu, Small and Medium Enterprise Administration's Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Taiwan Authorities

4:10 p.m. The Importance of Leveraging the Ecosystem of SME Support - Speaker:
Dr. Sharon Freeman, Gems of Wisdom Consulting, Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer

4:30 p.m. Closing - Speaker: Peter Cazamias, SBA's Associate Administrator for International Trade

For more information, contact [email protected] and 202-205-7421.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Contact: [email protected] (202) 205-6697 
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs & Instagram

Release Number: MA 18-19 

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

http://www.sba.gov