Urban League of Louisiana

QuickBooks Online – Session 2: Everyday Transactions and Financial Reports
2023-02-28 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. Now is a great time to get your accounting system and processes set up the right way! Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Women’s Business Resource Center to learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. This 3-part series is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
QuickBooks Online – Session 2: Everyday Transactions and Financial Reports
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 | 5:30pm-7:30pm
During this session, participants will learn how to process transactions QuickBooks Online. As a business owner, this is imperative in understanding your sales and expenses, and managing your cash flow. Participants will learn how to customize invoices, create sales receipts, receive and pay money. For those that sell products, this session will also cover how to use QuickBooks Online to track inventory and sales taxes.
Course Facilitator: Lori Jackson, MSC Coaching
There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered for the webinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6413821189706183255. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

QuickBooks Online – Session 3: Ongoing Accounting Tasks and Maintenance
2023-03-01 17:30 - 19:30
As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. Now is a great time to get your accounting system and processes set up the right way! Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Women’s Business Resource Center to learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. This 3-part series is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
QuickBooks Online – Session 3: Ongoing Accounting Concepts and Maintenance Tasks You Must Know
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 5:30pm-7:30pm
During this session, participants will be guided through a deeper understanding of the reporting process in QuickBooks Online and how to set up your Chart of Accounts for optimal clarity into your business financials. Participants will learn how to run the three primary financial reports (income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows), how to read these reports, how to reconcile accounts and how to create custom fields to track income/expenses. Attendees will also learn how to run other reports that are specific to your business that will help with optimizing operations.
Course Facilitator: Lori Jackson, MSC Coaching
There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered for the webinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6392090441894847584. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

CRC Training Day: Back Office Administration for Construction Contractors
2023-03-02 09:00 - 13:00 | Urban League of Louisiana HQ, 4640 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70119, United States
One of the most significant challenges for small construction contractors who grow is the ability to effectively manage the back-office administration of their firm. Now, more than ever, construction companies must focus on modernizing their back-office processes to operate as efficiently as possible. If you are using administrative processes that are outdated and rely on a ruler, Excel spreadsheets, and paper-based procedures, you probably adding time, cost, and frustration to all of your projects. If this is the case, it’s time for an administrative overhaul!
Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Contractor’s Resource Center on Thursday, March 2, 9:00am-1:00pm, for “CRC Training Day: Back-Office Administration for Construction Contractors”. This workshop will take place at the Urban League of Louisiana, 4640 S. Carrollton Avenue, Suite 110, New Orleans, LA 70119.
During this session, construction contractors will be introduced to best practices in back-office administration with a focus on:

Utilizing Planswift Estimating software to calculate quantities and values needed to create detailed line-item estimates
Developing a winning bid and creating a scope sheet that itemizes inclusions/exclusions
Utilizing UDA ConstructionSuite Software to develop a schedule and schedule of values (sov), estimate project costs, and manage your statement of cash flows
Understanding business financials such as the balance sheet, profit and loss, cash flow, and work-in-progress statements to identify potential red flags, accurately forecast budgets, and maximize long-term profitability
Learn QuickBooks and Costing methods to help you manage Cost of Goods Sold and invoicing processes such as the G702/03 Pay Apps

Seating is limited to 15 participants. There is no cost to register, however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your seat!

Becoming Bankable - Session 1: Understanding Your Financial Position
2023-03-07 12:30 - 14:30
Join the Urban League of Louisiana for its signature “Becoming Bankable Series: Preparing to Access Capital”, March 7-9, 12:30pm-2:30pm! This series is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
For small businesses, there are certain indicators that are very telling as to whether or not obtaining a traditional business loan will be possible. These include the personal credit score of the owner, time in business, profitability, debt service coverage, and collateral. In considering these factors and others, it is imperative that entrepreneurs understand how to best position themselves to access capital and what they can be doing today to advance their business closer to becoming bankable.
Session 1: Understanding and Improving Your Personal Financial Position | Tuesday, March 7 | 12:30p-2:30p
During this session, participants will learn what it means to become bankable and how the personal finances of the entrepreneur are connected to the business. This session also includes a deep dive into the components of a personal financial statement and why it is such a critical part of the funding package for small businesses.
Attendees will examine the debt to income ratio versus the debt service coverage, as well as, one’s personal credit score versus the business’ credit score. This interactive session will also allow participants to begin the process of developing their own personal and business budgets to form the foundation of their financial statements.
Facilitator: Lori Jackson, Financial Literacy Coach, MSC Coaching
There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered for the webinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5768369381448397655. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Becoming Bankable - Session 2: Financial State and Needs for Growth
2023-03-08 12:30 - 14:30
oin the Urban League of Louisiana for its signature “Becoming Bankable Series: Preparing to Access Capital”, March 7-9, 12:30pm-2:30pm! This series is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
For small businesses, there are certain indicators that are very telling as to whether or not obtaining a traditional business loan will be possible. These include the personal credit score of the owner, time in business, profitability, debt service coverage, and collateral. In considering these factors and others, it is imperative that entrepreneurs understand how to best position themselves to access capital and what they can be doing today to advance their business closer to becoming bankable.
Session 2: Examining Your Business’ Financial State and Needs for Growth |Wednesday, March 8 | 12:30p-2:30p
During this session, participants gain insights into how to get their business finances in order including ensuring that your balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows are accurate.
Attendees will receive tips on accounting systems, banking, equity needs and other important aspects of becoming bankable. Participants will also learn how to examine the financial needs of their business, how to convey funding needs through a business plan, and how to make the case for the estimated repayment plan.
Facilitator: Lori Jackson, Financial Literacy Coach, MSC Coaching
There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered for the webinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/174120190021902426. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Becoming Bankable - Session 3: Action Planning for the Funding Package
2023-03-09 12:30 - 14:30
Join the Urban League of Louisiana for its signature “Becoming Bankable Series: Preparing to Access Capital”, March 7-9, 12:30pm-2:30pm! This series is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
For small businesses, there are certain indicators that are very telling as to whether or not obtaining a traditional business loan will be possible. These include the personal credit score of the owner, time in business, profitability, debt service coverage, and collateral. In considering these factors and others, it is imperative that entrepreneurs understand how to best position themselves to access capital and what they can be doing today to advance their business closer to becoming bankable.
Session 3: Action Planning for Becoming Bankable and the Funding Package | Thursday, March 9 | 12:30p-2:30p
The final session of the series will focus on assisting participants in developing a plan of action for improving their financial position over the next 6-12 months. This session also provides participants with final guidance on developing a funding package.
This session will cover best practices in finalizing a loan package, obtaining support, and how to prepare for follow up questions. Common mistakes and items overlooked will be revealed so that participants know what to avoid.
Facilitator: Lori Jackson, Financial Literacy Coach, MSC Coaching
There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered for the webinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3899256788834754140. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

NOEW: A Recipe for Success - Grow Your Food Service Business!
2023-03-27 13:00 - 15:00
A Recipe for Success: Leveraging Best-in-Class Accelerator Programs to Grow Your Food Service Business
Monday, March 27, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: Southern Food & Beverage Museum, 1405 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70113
Accelerator programs can be a game-changer for start-ups and growth stage businesses in the food service industry. During the New Orleans Entrepreneur Week’s NOEW In Your Neighborhood series, the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and its partners will share how food service accelerators are helping diverse entrepreneurs to grow and scale their operations through guidance on food costing, operational efficiency, branding and marketing, site selection, expanding to consumer packaged goods, and more!
The event will take place on Monday, March 27th, 1:00pm-3:00pm, at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, 1405 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70113; and will highlight the PepsiCo Foundation’s Black Restaurant Accelerator Program, and feature Louisiana-based, Black-owned food service entrepreneurs who have leveraged the programs benefits to recover, grow, and sustain their operations.
This session will also feature insights from PROOF, an accelerator, incubator, and food service consulting firm based in Chattanooga, TN. Founded and led by food and beverage industry veterans, the mission of Proof is to support owners and operators in the industry through programs, resources, and community. PROOF is the Urban League of Louisiana’s partner in administering the PepsiCo Black Restaurant Accelerator Program in Louisiana.
Space is limited. Register today to reserve your seat!
NOEW 2023 Registration Requirement
In addition to signing up for this event, you must ALSO register directly for NOEW 2023 at www.noew.org. By registering for a free NOEW 2023 Access Pass – or any of the other NOEW 2023 Passes – you will be considered officially registered for this NOEW in Your Neighborhood event, and you will receive all other NOEW benefits and activities that are available through your Pass for the entire week. Register here: www.noew.org

2023 Women in Construction Convening: Pathways to Profits
2023-04-27 08:30 - 16:00 | New Orleans Jaz Market, 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA, 70113, United States
Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Women’s Business Resource Center for the 2023 Women In Construction Convening: Pathways to Profits: Leveraging Innovation for Recovery, Growth, and Sustainability. The event takes place on Thursday, April 27, 2023, 8:30am-4:00pm, at the New Orleans Jazz Market, 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA.
We are excited to offer this dynamic event in support of women in construction across Louisiana and invite your to join us!
During the past three years, construction firms across Louisiana have been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Hurricanes Ida and Laura, localized flooding and tornados, and the economic downturn. These events caused delays in projects, labor shortages, supply chain delays, increased material costs, and tightened insurance coverage.
Today, many of these issues are still being felt across the region. For construction owners, the need for deliberate strategies for recovery, growth, and sustainability are imperative.
During the 2023 Women in Construction Convening, participants will learn about innovative pathways to profitability that can change the trajectory of their business with a focus on risk management, technology enhancements, opportunities in sustainable buildings and green infrastructure, and much more!
This day will be packed with insights and best practices from industry experts, guest speakers, and women leaders who are excelling in the industry!
There is no cost to attend. Register today to reserve your seat!

Bid to Win + Construction Management at Risk
2025-08-20 10:00 - 11:30
Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Wednesday, August 20, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Bid to Win + Construction Management at Risk”. This virtual session is a part of a series of monthly events in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program.
Construction firms understand that hard work has to happen before a single shovel ever hits the ground during the continuous construction-bid-proposal process. Submitting effective proposals and winning bids is at the heart of what contractors do and developing this as a core competency is critical to building a profitable and sustainable business.
For general contractors, a bid-to-win rate of one out of six is standard, and many see less of a conversion rate. During this session, contractors will learn best practices for developing a competitive proposal, including: positioning the firm to move quickly on submitting bid proposals, creating a winning scope sheet, developing and offering a value proposition, and putting your plans into action.
In addition, participants, will gain an understanding of the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method which entails a commitment by the Construction Manager (CM) to deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) which is based on the construction documents and specifications at the time of the GMP.
Facilitator: Frank Johnson, Director, Contractor’s Resource Center, Urban League of Louisiana
There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your spot!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Email us at WBRC@urbanleaguela.org for any issues receiving it.

WIN with NOENMCC Workshop: The Procurement Playbook
2025-08-22 09:30 - 12:00 | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA, 70130, United States
You must register here in order to attend.
Register today for the “WIN with NOENMCC Workshop: The Procurement Playbook”, hosted by the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) Small and Emerging Business Program and the Urban League of Louisiana, on Friday, August 22, 2025, 9:30am-12:00pm, at NOENMCC, 900 Convention Center Blvd., Meeting Room 267, New Orleans, LA 70130.
Some of the biggest obstacles for small businesses seeking to win public and private procurement opportunities are mistakes related to estimating project costs, and challenges in submitting an accurate and complete bid package on time. During Volume 1 of this interactive workshop series, Small and Emerging Businesses that provide general contracting or specialized construction services including HVAC, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, landscaping, or janitorial services will learn:

how to do business with NOENMCC,
essential skills in electronic estimating,
best practices in bid preparation, and
step-by-step guidance and tips on how to successfully bid on NOENMCC projects.

After completion of this workshop, participants will leave with the foundational skills and the confidence to start bidding to WIN! Participants should come prepared with a capabilities statement and a laptop fully-charged and ready for use during the session.
This interactive workshop will be facilitated by Frank Johnson, Director, Contractor’s Resource Center, Urban League of Louisiana, and Courtney Elzey, Principal, MCDS, LLC.
There is no cost to attend, however, you must register here in order to attend.
Click here for Complimentary Parking in Lot F.

QuickBooks for Beginners - S3: Accounting Concepts & Maintenance Tasks
2025-08-25 17:30 - 19:30
As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. Now is the time to get the education and support that you need to set up your accounting system and processes the right way.
Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation department on August 11, 18, and 25, from 5:30pm-7:30pm CST, for its 3-part “QuickBooks Online for Beginners” series. During this series, participants will learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. Registration is required for each session.
The series includes the following workshops:

Session 1: Foundations – Get Started and Setup the Right Way
Session 2: Everyday Transactions and Financial Reports
Session 3: Ongoing Accounting Concepts & Maintenance Tasks

QuickBooks Online – Session 3: Ongoing Accounting Concepts and Maintenance Tasks You Must Know
Monday, August 25 | 5:30pm-7:30pm
During this session, participants will be guided through a deeper understanding of the reporting process in QuickBooks Online and how to set up your Chart of Accounts for optimal clarity into your business financials. Participants will learn how to run the three primary financial reports (income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows), how to read these reports, how to reconcile accounts and how to create custom fields to track income/expenses. Attendees will also learn how to run other reports that are specific to your business that will help with optimizing operations.
Facilitator: Bridget Kaigler, CPA, CGMA, Principal, Bringing Leadership Back, LLC and Board Chair, Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (LCPA)
This series is funded [in part] through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and sponsored by Mastercard and Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program. To participate, attendees must be or become certified through the LED Small and Emerging Business Development Program.
Visit https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/small-and-emerging-business-development-program to get certified today!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the training.

Magnetic Marketing: Session 1: Brand Foundation & Strategic Direction
2025-09-05 10:00 - 12:00
Join the Urban League of Louisiana this September and October for the 6-part marketing series, “Magnetic Marketing: Leveraging the Power of AI to Grow Your Small Business,” sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and Mastercard.
This series is designed to guide small business owners and marketing leaders through a structured, hands-on process of building a strategic, actionable marketing plan that aligns with your business goals – with a focus on brand development, digital marketing, customer engagement, and AI tools – using Orhan McMillan’s Strategic Marketing Workbook as a foundation.
Session 1: Brand Foundation & Strategic Direction
Friday, September 5, 2025 I 10:00am-12:00pm
During this session, participants will learn how to define who they are, what they offer, and why it matters.
This session will cover:

Your Story, Mission, and Vision
Core Values and Brand Voice
Company Messaging
Defining Your Target Audience
The Strategic Marketing Plan

This session will be facilitated by Orhan McMillan, Founder, dezinsINTERACTIVE and Orhan McMillan, LLC.
This series is sponsored by Mastercard and Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program, and funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. To participate, attendees must be or become certified by the LED Small and Emerging Business Development Program.
Visit https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/small-and-emerging-business-development-program to get certified today!
If you’re planning to strengthen your brand presence and grow your small business, this series is for you. Register today for each session individually to reserve your spot! There is no cost to attend this series. All classes will be held online via the GoToWebinar online platform.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Email us at WBRC@urbanleaguela.org for any issues receiving it.

Magnetic Marketing: Session 2: Crafting Your Unique Message & Market Fit
2025-09-12 10:00 - 12:00
Join the Urban League of Louisiana this September and October for the 6-part marketing series, “Magnetic Marketing: Leveraging the Power of AI to Grow Your Small Business,” sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and Mastercard.
This series is designed to guide small business owners and marketing leaders through a structured, hands-on process of building a strategic, actionable marketing plan that aligns with your business goals – with a focus on brand development, digital marketing, customer engagement, and AI tools – using Orhan McMillan’s Strategic Marketing Workbook as a foundation.
Session 2: Crafting Your Unique Message & Market Fit
Friday, Sept 12, 2025 I 10:00am-12:00pm
During this session, participants will learn how to develop a strong Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and clear customer targeting.
This session will cover:

Market problems → Solution Benefits
Defining Your Unique Selling Proposition
Crafting a compelling elevator pitch
Introduction to the Customer Decision Journey
Ideal Customer and Target Market

This session will be facilitated by Orhan McMillan, Founder, dezinsINTERACTIVE and Orhan McMillan, LLC.
This series is sponsored by Mastercard and Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program, and funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. To participate, attendees must be or become certified by the LED Small and Emerging Business Development Program.
Visit https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/small-and-emerging-business-development-program to get certified today!
If you’re planning to strengthen your brand presence and grow your small business, this series is for you. Register today for each session individually to reserve your spot! There is no cost to attend this series. All classes will be held online via the GoToWebinar online platform.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Email us at WBRC@urbanleaguela.org for any issues receiving it.

Magnetic Marketing: Session 3: Website Strategy & SEO Essentials
2025-09-19 10:00 - 12:00
Join the Urban League of Louisiana this September and October for the 6-part marketing series, “Magnetic Marketing: Leveraging the Power of AI to Grow Your Small Business,” sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and Mastercard.
This series is designed to guide small business owners and marketing leaders through a structured, hands-on process of building a strategic, actionable marketing plan that aligns with your business goals – with a focus on brand development, digital marketing, customer engagement, and AI tools – using Orhan McMillan’s Strategic Marketing Workbook as a foundation.
Session 3: Website Strategy & SEO Essentials
Friday, September 19, 2025 I 10:00am-12:00pm
During this session, participants will learn how to evaluate and strengthen their website presence and performance.
This session will cover:

Website must-haves
Calls to Action (CTAs) that convert
SEO 101
Outlining a website improvement plan

This session will be facilitated by Orhan McMillan, Founder, dezinsINTERACTIVE and Orhan McMillan, LLC.
This series is sponsored by Mastercard and Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program, and funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. To participate, attendees must be or become certified by the LED Small and Emerging Business Development Program.
Visit https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/small-and-emerging-business-development-program to get certified today!
If you’re planning to strengthen your brand presence and grow your small business, this series is for you. Register today for each session individually to reserve your spot! There is no cost to attend this series. All classes will be held online via the GoToWebinar online platform.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Email us at WBRC@urbanleaguela.org for any issues receiving it.

Creating a Business Development Plan for Your Construction Business
2025-09-25 10:00 - 12:00
Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Thursday, September 25, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Opportunity and Preparation: Creating a Business Development Plan for Your Construction Business.” This virtual session is a part of a series of monthly workshops hosted in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program.
Business development in construction management refers to a strategic and actionable plan for pursuing new business and fostering relationships with your most preferred clients. Your business development plan outlines how you identify prospects, share your capabilities, and nurture business relationships so that prospects become clients when the time is right.
During this session, contractors will learn how to increase profitability and scalability, by creating and managing a business development strategy – one that maximizes its strengths and experience and one that targets and converts its most preferred client types. The goal is to convert prospects to clients and to turn bids into awards!
This session will be facilitated by Courtney Elzey, Principal, MCDS, LLC.
There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your spot!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the training.

Magnetic Marketing: Session 4: Social Media & Content Strategy
2025-09-26 10:00 - 12:00
oin the Urban League of Louisiana this September and October for the 6-part marketing series, “Magnetic Marketing: Leveraging the Power of AI to Grow Your Small Business,” sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and Mastercard.
This series is designed to guide small business owners and marketing leaders through a structured, hands-on process of building a strategic, actionable marketing plan that aligns with your business goals – with a focus on brand development, digital marketing, customer engagement, and AI tools – using Orhan McMillan’s Strategic Marketing Workbook as a foundation.
Session 4: Social Media & Content Strategy
Friday, September 26, 2025 I 10:00am-12:00pm
During this session, participants will learn how to plan and align content with brand and customer journey.
This session will cover:

How to choose the right social media platforms
Defining content pillars and voice consistency
Content calendars & batching content
Tracking engagement

This session will be facilitated by Orhan McMillan, Founder, dezinsINTERACTIVE and Orhan McMillan, LLC.
This series is sponsored by Mastercard and Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program, and funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. To participate, attendees must be or become certified by the LED Small and Emerging Business Development Program.
Visit https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/small-and-emerging-business-development-program to get certified today!
If you’re planning to strengthen your brand presence and grow your small business, this series is for you. Register today for each session individually to reserve your spot! There is no cost to attend this series. All classes will be held online via the GoToWebinar online platform.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Email us at WBRC@urbanleaguela.org for any issues receiving it.

Magnetic Marketing: Session 5: Email, Ads, & Budget Planning
2025-10-03 10:00 - 12:00
Join the Urban League of Louisiana this September and October for the 6-part marketing series, “Magnetic Marketing: Leveraging the Power of AI to Grow Your Small Business,” sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and Mastercard.
This series is designed to guide small business owners and marketing leaders through a structured, hands-on process of building a strategic, actionable marketing plan that aligns with your business goals – with a focus on brand development, digital marketing, customer engagement, and AI tools – using Orhan McMillan’s Strategic Marketing Workbook as a foundation.
Session 5: Email, Ads, & Budget Planning
Friday, October 3, 2025 I 10:00am-12:00pm
During this session, participants will learn how to build connection and conversion through outreach strategies.
This session will cover:

Lead magnets, list-building, and email funnels
Paid Ads: where to start, boosting vs. strategy
Marketing Budget planning
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Mailchimp & Meta Ad Manager basics

This session will be facilitated by Orhan McMillan, Founder, dezinsINTERACTIVE and Orhan McMillan, LLC.
This series is sponsored by Mastercard and Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program, and funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. To participate, attendees must be or become certified by the LED Small and Emerging Business Development Program.
Visit https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/small-and-emerging-business-development-program to get certified today!
If you’re planning to strengthen your brand presence and grow your small business, this series is for you. Register today for each session individually to reserve your spot! There is no cost to attend this series. All classes will be held online via the GoToWebinar online platform.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Email us at WBRC@urbanleaguela.org for any issues receiving it.

Magnetic Marketing: Session 6: Analytics, KPIs & Action Plan
2025-10-10 10:00 - 12:00
Join the Urban League of Louisiana this September and October for the 6-part marketing series, “Magnetic Marketing: Leveraging the Power of AI to Grow Your Small Business,” sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and Mastercard.
This series is designed to guide small business owners and marketing leaders through a structured, hands-on process of building a strategic, actionable marketing plan that aligns with your business goals – with a focus on brand development, digital marketing, customer engagement, and AI tools – using Orhan McMillan’s Strategic Marketing Workbook as a foundation.
Session 6: Pulling It All Together: Analytics, KPIs & Action Plan
Friday, October 10, 2025 I 10:00am-12:00pm
During this session, participants will finalize their marketing strategy and set up a 30-day plan
This session will cover:

Workshop Review
Campaign mapping: What to launch, how to measure
Finalizing your strategic marketing plan
30-day Action Plan

This session will be facilitated by Orhan McMillan, Founder, dezinsINTERACTIVE and Orhan McMillan, LLC.
This series is sponsored by Mastercard and Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program, and funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. To participate, attendees must be or become certified by the LED Small and Emerging Business Development Program.
Visit https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/small-and-emerging-business-development-program to get certified today!
If you’re planning to strengthen your brand presence and grow your small business, this series is for you. Register today for each session individually to reserve your spot! There is no cost to attend this series. All classes will be held online via the GoToWebinar online platform.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Email us at WBRC@urbanleaguela.org for any issues receiving it.

Visibility Matters: Crafting a Winning Capability Statement
2026-02-04 10:00 - 11:30
Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Wednesday, February 4, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Visibility Matters: Crafting a Winning Capability Statement.” This virtual session is hosted in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program. During this interactive workshop, participants will learn the key components of a capabilities statement and will be given guidance on crafting these elements to fit their business model and offerings.
With an increase in the number of viable contractors available to support public and private projects, contracting across the region is now more competitive than ever. However, the critical factors are the same. Procurement leads need to understand your capabilities, your value proposition, cost competitiveness, and how well you have performed on previous projects. But, with a sea of contenders, these elements need to be even more clearly and effectively conveyed than ever before.
As a contractor, whether you are providing labor, materials, or professional services, your capability statement serves as your business card and should set your apart from your competitors. It is a tool that will show potential clients how your achievements, core competencies, accreditations, financial health, and experience will create value for their projects. Writing a capability statement is not easy. However, it is worth the time and effort, and will produce positive outcomes if done right.
This session will be facilitated by Courtney Elzey, Principal, MCDS, LLC. There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your spot!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the training.
Link

Creating a Business Development Plan for Your Business
2026-03-04 10:00 - 11:30
Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Wednesday, March 4, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Opportunity and Preparation: Creating a Business Development Plan for Your Business.” This virtual session is hosted in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program.
Business development in construction management refers to a strategic and actionable plan for pursuing new business and fostering relationships with your most preferred clients. Your business development plan outlines how you identify prospects, share your capabilities, and nurture business relationships so that prospects become clients when the time is right.
Business development is strategic integration of marketing, sales and customer service efforts. It also is most successful when everyone in the business understands and works towards a common goal for bringing on new business.
During this session, contractors will learn how to increase profitability and scalability by creating and managing a business development strategy – one that maximizes its strengths and experience and one that targets and converts its most preferred client types. The goal is to convert prospects to clients and to turn bids into awards!
This session will be facilitated by Courtney Elzey, Principal, MCDS, LLC. There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your spot!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the training.
Link

Utilizing Bid Platforms to Identify Contracting Opportunities
2026-04-08 10:00 - 11:30
Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Wednesday, April 8, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Utilizing Bid Platforms to Identify Contracting Opportunities”. This virtual session is a part of a series of monthly workshops hosted in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program.
This session will equip construction professionals, subcontractors, and small contractor business owners with the skills needed to effectively navigate and leverage online construction bid platforms. Attendees will learn how to identify and evaluate contracting opportunities, as well as , how to strategically position their firm for competitive bidding. By the end of this course, participants will be able to confidently use platforms to discover high-potential projects to bid and expand their contracting pipeline.
This session will be facilitated by Frank Johnson, Director, Contractor’s Resource Center, Urban League of Louisiana.
There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your spot!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the training.
Link
