Professional Development

COVID-19 Training Videos & Resources Arts Sector COVID-19 Impact & PrioritiesFact Sheet: How the Arts Impact the NC Economy Recommendations for Arts Education as NC Reopens Schools Slides for Recommendations for Arts Education as NC Reopens Schools From

Watch & learn with webinars, convention sessions, and Digital Classrooms.

Are you ready to make your dream a reality, or to take your venture to the next level? For 30 years Mountain BizWorks has helped thousands of entrepreneurs start, improve, or expand their businesses. Our business coaches a

We offer webinars, workshops, trainings, and our annual conference to connect you to the professional development you need. We collaborate with state and national partners to bring timely and relevant content to nonprofit staff and board of all positions and experience levels.

June 9 at 10 am | This session will discuss how to slowly begin to earn revenue in your business while being safe and responsible.

June 5 at 2 pm | Creative mindset coaches Jen Aly and Johanna Hagarty will address their perspectives on mindset and how important it can be as we move through

June 4 at 10 am | This session will outline the nuts and bolts of what each phase of the NC reopening means for your business and break it down into simple and easy to understand terms.

May 29 at 2 pm | Dr. Katherine de Vos Devine will discuss a variety of legal topics, to include real property, intellectual property, contracts and estate planning. Dr. Devine

May 28 at 3 pm | The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced arts organizations across the globe to rethink and reshape the way they operate and present their programs. When analyzed, a vast majority of these changes are not temporary, but permanent organizational changes we to make regardless of the ability to present…

May 27 at 1 pm | Americans for the Arts is organizing free peer dialogues to facilitate member exchange around COVID-19 challenges and recovery strategies. These facilitated peer exchanges are a benefit exclusively for Americans for Arts members.

May 22 at 2 pm | This roundtable discussion will include presenters from Americans for the Arts (AFTA), Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+), and Mountain BizWorks to discuss the results

May 22 at 1 pm | Owners and managers of entertainment venues as well as indoor and outdoor attractions in Buncombe County are invited to tune in for a conversation about preparing for Phase II of North Carolina’s reopening, hosted by Explore Asheville and public health officials with Buncombe County. The event is f…

May 20 at 3 pm | During this free one-hour interactive webinar, Mountain BizWorks Coach Mike Ames will provide an overview of the rules surrounding the Small Business Administration’s PPP

May 20 at 1:30 pm | his webinar offers guidance as you craft your organizations’s plan to reopen to the public. Broad topics include: Patron Education, Worker Health, Sanitizing the Venue, Bringing the Public into our Buildings, and Examples of Strategies.

May 20 at 10 am | As we navigate the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, engaging in a dialogue with our elect leaders has never been more important. Arts North Carolina Executive Director, Nate McGaha will provide updates on arts and arts education related issues at the state and federal level as well as rev…

May 19 at 11 am | The City of Asheville has partnered with Amplified Media to host this free webinar on virtual content creation.

May 13 at 3 pm | “Is it appropriate to fundraise in this time?” “What is the strategy and message?” Join us for the “Spring Appeal and Fundraising in COVID-19” webinar on May 13th at 3PM where presenters from Capacity Partners will answer these questions and share best practices and different approaches arts organi…

May 13 at 3pm | During this free one-hour interactive webinar, Mountain BizWorks Coach Mike Ames will provide an overview of the rules surrounding the Small Business Administration\’s PPP

May 13 at 11:15 am | Many nonprofit teams are not equipped to handle unexpected, chaotic, or emotionally-charged situations. The best way to remedy that gap is to take steps that will help your team apply critical thinking skills to the situation at hand.

May 12 at 3 pm | We are in historic times. The social and human impacts of COVID-19 are significant. So, too, are the economic impacts. As businesses navigate through these changing months, it is ever-important to stay updated with pertinent legal and financial guidelines to best manage your business. On Tuesd…

May 8 at 11 am | You are invited to join a webinar: Retail Town Hall. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

With single ticket revenue instantly drying up and subscription money for next season slowing, the only reliable stream of revenue became fundraising. What are fundraising best-practices during a time of crisis, and how can you apply those to your fundraising program?

May 6 at 11:15 am | Do you cringe when you hear the word meeting? Afraid it will be a waste of time? What if meetings were truly valuable and productive? They can be. Learn how to organize and run effective and successful meetings to produce valuable outcomes. Class topics will include communication tools and strateg…

Apr 28 at 8:30 am | Joining us on the webinar to discuss where we are in this crisis now and how we might plan for the future will be: Stephanie Brown, CEO and President, Explore Asheville; Kit Cramer, President and CEO, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce; Jim Fox, Senior Resilience Associate, NEMAC+ FernLeaf; and Lib…

Apr 27 at 2pm | This webinar focuses on both the challenges facing the event and arts industry during this difficult period and provides advice on planning for the future. The session will also provide both guidance and resources that are available to you as venues, individuals and organizations, which includes tra…

Individuals on a nonprofit team are likely to cope and react differently to a crisis. For some, a crisis is a challenge to be conquered; they enjoy being tested, working under pressure, and the opportunity to experiment and innovate.

Apr 21 at 12 pm | It's a free masterclass with Angie Flynn McIver from Ignite CSP. If you have an idea for a podcast but haven't taken the leap, or you have but you'd like a new perspective, please join me!

Apr 16 at 3 pm | In the unexpected situation we have found ourselves in, businesses here in the Asheville Metro Region have found innovative ways to pivot their operations to meet crucial needs in our community. Join us to hear what Survival Innovation, Kitsbow, Sylvan Sport, Southeastern Container and Moog Music ar…

Apr 16 at 9 am | Nonprofits have an obligation to follow federal and state employment and labor laws. This course is designed to provide a practical overview of the main employment law issues that arise in nonprofit organizations. You will learn about state and federal laws that govern employment policies and pract…

Apr 15 at 12 pm | This free webinar featuring nonprofit financial experts from Fiscal Management Associates will review some of the key areas nonprofits should consider focusing on and provide tools they can use in navigating COVID-19.

Apr 9 at 3 pm | Things are changing rapidly. We’re juggling new responsibilities and dealing with stressors we’ve never experienced before. In this webinar, we turn to local businesses for tips for self-care so you (and your business) can weather this storm. Our panelists will share coping techniques, ways to maint…

Apr 4 at 3 pm | Americans for the Arts Government Affairs staff and guests will lay out the various pieces of the CARES Act legislation and how it pertains to the arts sector. With $2.6 trillion of funds, there are about six sections of the legislation that can directly, and indirectly support artists, arts organi…

Apr 8 at 1 pm | New resources and priorities will be discussed as well as the impact of the pandemic on the arts in North Carolina and how federal legislation will inform our conversations at the state and local levels.

Apr 8 at 11:15 am | Many nonprofit teams are not equipped to handle unexpected, chaotic, or emotionally-charged situations. The best way to remedy that gap is to take steps that will help your team apply critical thinking skills to the situation at hand.

Apr 8 at 11 am | Learn about new disaster relief options for small businesses from the SBA.

Apr 8 at 11 am | In this quickly evolving environment, it can be difficult to keep up with the changes and updates to available resources. Thomas A. Stith III, District Director of NC District Office U.S. SBA and Sharon Harvey, SBA Senior Area Manager for SBA Asheville and Western North Carolina Office – Asheville join us to discuss what you need to know about the Small Business Association's current initiatives in response to COVID-19 and answer your questions about the resources available to small businesses.

Apr 7 at 10am | Join us for a discussion of what companies can be looking at financially during situations like these as well as strategy that businesses can be thinking about moving forward. Ken Kaplan of Kaplan CFO Solutions and Ursula Jorch of Work Alchemy share their expertise to help you plan for business cont…

Apr 7 at 9:30 am | Incidents have just as much impact on your workers as they do your clientele. It’s critical to ensure they have the ability to fulfill their duties while protected. Setting expectations and clearly communicating requirements to them will be critical to success.

Apr 4 at 9:30 am | It’s easy to get caught up in panic and crisis mode and abandon marketing and sales in your business, but that is a huge mistake. Sales will automatically start to slow in most businesses just because of the global pandemic, so it’s more important than ever to proactively promote your business and remain on everyone’s radar.

Apr 2 at 3 pm | How should you be approaching marketing during this time? Join marketing pros from Kudzu Brands to discuss the pros and cons of marketing during this time, how you can quickly pivot your marketing strategy, whether you should shift your market position and strategies that might resonate to cut throu…

Apr 2 at 2 pm | Join Pisgah Legal Managing Attorney and Chair of the North Carolina Housing Coalition, Robin Merrell, for an overview of rental policies during Covid-19, followed by a Q&A. Submit questions...

Apr 2 at 2 pm | Join this webinar to learn how to maintain your fundraising while social distancing. Participants will be entered to win 3 hours of free consulting and free event planning for 1 event for your nonprofit.

Apr 2 at 10 am | This webinar will include online discussions about the needs nonprofits have right now – both operationally and as service providers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also include a briefing on the state of North Carolina’s nonprofit sector and current (and future) public policy issues …

Apr 2 at 9:30 am | A lot of companies haven’t planned for a crisis on this scale, but many are finding out they need to. This session will show you how to draft a disaster preparedness policy outlining how people should work from home, how to handle travel, what to do about meetings and more.

Apr 1 at 2 pm | Join tax expert and artist Hannah Cole and Dr. Katherine de Vos Devine, a legal expert and art historian dedicated to empowering artists, for a discussion of what you need to know about legal & tax issues facing creatives as we brace for the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apr 1 at 1 pm | Covering CARES, PPP, EIDL Grants, NC Rapid Recovery Loans, One Buncombe Fund, and more. Need Help? Got Questions? Join us on this interactive webinar