Construction 2.0 Workshop
2026-07-08 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Innevation Center, 450 Sinclair Street, Reno, NV, 89501, United States
Session #1
2026-07-08
5:00 PM
– 6:30 PM (PDT)

Session #2
2026-07-15
5:00 PM
– 6:30 PM (PDT)

Session #3
2026-07-22
5:00 PM
– 6:30 PM (PDT)

Session #4
2026-07-29
5:00 PM
– 6:30 PM (PDT)

Session #5
2026-08-05
5:00 PM
– 6:30 PM (PDT)

Session #6
2026-08-12
5:00 PM
– 6:30 PM (PDT)

Join the Nevada SBDC, in collaboration with UNLV’s Office of Economic Development, and the Nevada State Contractors Board, for an empowering 6-week, in-person course dedicated to construction marketing! This program covers essential strategies for winning contracts, establishing a strong marketing foundation, and creating impactful capability statements. Learn directly from seasoned professionals, connect with experienced contractors, and benefit from expert guidance from business advisors. Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your network, and gain the tools to elevate your contracting business!
With over 25 years of experience in finance and banking, I have spent several years supporting entrepreneurs, particularly in the construction industry, as they establish and expand their businesses. My deep industry knowledge, combined with proficiency in Spanish and strong communication skills, allows me to provide expert guidance on business formation and operations. Passionate about addressing the misinformation often faced by small businesses, I am committed to educating entrepreneurs on effective strategies for success.

From Busy to Profitable: The Math Behind a Sustainable Medical Practice
2026-07-14 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE, STATEWIDE, NV, United States
Know your numbers: visits, pricing, and profit targets that drive decisions

This webinar will focus on helping providers understand exactly what it takes to breakeven, generate income, and make informed decisions around pricing and patient volume.

Dereck Barrett is a business advisor and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in business planning, financing, and growth strategy. After graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, he began his career in banking sales, earning national recognition as a top performer.
In 2004, he co-founded and financed his first physical therapy clinic in Southern California. Later he and his wife returned to Reno, purchased a commercial building and started another physical therapy clinic. Dereck expanded the practice to multiple clinics locations and was the market leader before selling his majority interest.
While expanding the practice, Dereck became a commercial real estate broker and has worked in that capacity for the last 7yrs.
He attributes his life’s professional success to entrepreneurship and sincerely loves helping guide entrepreneurs through the challenges of launching, financing, and scaling their companies.

AI Day: Practical Tools for Small Business
2026-07-16 10:30 - 16:30 | Tulloch Business Building, College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, 89557, United States
Wednesday, July 16 | 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Tulloch Business Building at the University of Nevada, Reno, Room 211
Cost: Free

Join Nevada SBDC for a full day of learning, networking, and hands-on exploration of the artificial intelligence tools that are helping small businesses work smarter, move faster, and turn ideas into action.This event is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, students, advisors, and community partners who want practical, real-world ways to use AI. Whether you are looking to improve your marketing, automate repetitive tasks, build a simple website, organize customer information, generate new ideas, or better understand what AI means for your business, AI Day will give you takeaways you can start using right away.
The day begins with the national America’s SBDC AI Day Livestream, featuring expert conversations, small business success stories, student project highlights, and a featured speaker on the future of AI and small business.
In the afternoon, attendees will shift from learning to building during a beginner-friendly Lovable Vibe-Coding Hackathon. No coding experience is required. Participants will use plain-English prompts to create simple AI-powered business tools, websites, landing pages, forms, dashboards, and prototypes.
Come for the ideas. Stay for the community. Leave with something you actually built.
What to Expect
Attendees will have the opportunity to:

Network with entrepreneurs, business owners, students, advisors, and innovation partners from across Nevada
Watch live sessions from the America’s SBDC AI Day Summit
Learn how AI is changing small business marketing, operations, customer service, and product development
Enjoy lunch while connecting with Nevada’s entrepreneurial community
Participate in a hands-on Lovable vibe-coding hackathon
Build a simple prototype, landing page, intake form, workflow, or AI-powered business tool
Learn how Nevada SBDC can support your next steps after the event

Who Should Attend
This event is a great fit for:

Small business owners curious about AI
Entrepreneurs looking for practical tools to save time or grow
Students interested in AI, entrepreneurship, and innovation
Non-technical founders who want to prototype ideas quickly
Community partners supporting Nevada’s business ecosystem
Anyone who wants to better understand how AI can be used in real businesses

You do not need coding experience or a technical background to participate.
Event Schedule

10:30 – 11:00 AM | Check-In, Coffee & Networking
Guests arrive, check in, grab coffee, and meet fellow entrepreneurs, small business owners, students, advisors, and community partners.
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | America’s SBDC AI Day Livestream
Attendees will watch the national America’s SBDC AI Day Livestream featuring:

Opening remarks
AI Transforming Main Street: Small Business Panel
Student Project Highlights
Featured Speaker: AI & the Future of Small Business — An Outside Perspective
Closing remarks

1:00 – 1:45 PM | Lunch & Networking
Lunch is provided. Attendees will have time to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, advisors, students, and local innovation partners.
1:45 – 2:00 PM | Local Welcome Back: What Can You Build Today?
Nevada SBDC will frame the afternoon around practical AI use cases for small businesses, including marketing, automation, customer intake, websites, internal workflows, and simple business tools.
This short session will help attendees think about what they want to build during the hackathon.
2:00 – 2:15 PM | Lovable Hackathon Orientation
Participants will be introduced to the beginner-friendly Lovable vibe-coding hackathon.
No coding experience is required. Attendees will use plain-English prompts to turn a business idea into a working prototype.
2:15 – 4:15 PM | Lovable Vibe-Coding Hackathon
Participants will roll up their sleeves and build an AI-powered business tool using simple prompts instead of traditional coding.
Attendees may work individually or in small teams, with support available throughout the session.
Example projects could include:

A landing page for a new product or service
A customer intake form
A lead capture page
A quote, booking, or FAQ tool
An internal workflow or dashboard
A prototype for a new business idea
A simple website for a business, event, or campaign

4:15 – 4:30 PM | Show & Tell, Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Volunteers will share what they created during the hackathon.
The day will close with next steps, Nevada SBDC advising resources, and practical ways attendees can continue using AI in their businesses.
What You’ll Leave With
By the end of AI Day, attendees will leave with:

A better understanding of how AI is being used by small businesses
Practical ideas for applying AI to marketing, operations, customer service, and product development
Hands-on experience using Lovable to create a working prototype
New connections across Nevada’s entrepreneurial community
Clear next steps for continuing to build with support from Nevada SBDC

About the Lovable Vibe-Coding Hackathon
Vibe coding is a new way to build digital tools using natural language prompts instead of traditional code.
During the hackathon, participants will use Lovable to create simple prototypes, websites, workflows, and business tools. The goal is not to build something perfect. The goal is to learn what is possible, experiment with new tools, and leave with something tangible that can be improved after the event.
This session is designed for beginners, non-technical founders, and anyone who wants to explore how AI can help turn business ideas into working prototypes.
Cost
This event is free to attend.
Space may be limited, and registration is encouraged.
Register Today
Join Nevada SBDC on Wednesday, July 16, at the Tulloch Business Building at the University of Nevada, Reno for a full day of AI learning, networking, and hands-on building.
Explore what AI can do for your business — and leave with something you built yourself.

Rising Leaders: Amplifying Your Communication Skills for Business Growth
2026-07-23 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE, STATEWIDE, NV, United States
Just starting out or ready to level up? This webinar is built for entrepreneurs like you — whether you’re a team of one or leading your first few hires.
Growing your business takes more than a great idea. It takes the right skills — both the hard skills that keep your operation running and the soft skills that build trust, inspire people, and help you lead with confidence. This session is designed to help you develop both, so you can step into leadership with clarity and purpose.
You’ll walk away with practical tools you can use right away to strengthen how you communicate, solve problems, and build the kind of credibility that helps your business grow.
What You’ll Learn:

Communication that drives results — Master communication, one of the most valuable soft skills for any entrepreneur. Learn to adapt your message for clients, team members— and build alignment even without formal authority.
Developing the people around you — Whether you manage employees, contractors, or collaborators, discover how to build accountability, encourage ownership, and earn trust through everyday interactions.
Building your visibility and credibility — Your reputation is your brand. Learn to demonstrate value through outcomes and build the professional relationships that fuel growing your business long-term.

Jamie Morlock, Client Development Director at The Omnia Group, is usually out on the front lines — attending events and meeting new faces. She works with organizations to tackle hiring, retention, and team development, and build cultures, using Omnia’s behavioral and cognitive assessments as the foundation.

Business Licensing Info Session
2026-07-30 11:00 - 12:00 | 2250 N Las Vegas Blvd, 2250 N Las Vegas Blvd, North Las Vegas, 89030, United States
Starting a business in Nevada? Join our free info-sessions to learn the step by step process to get your business licensed and legally operating. You will learn how to choose the right business structure, required local and state licenses, where to apply and how, common fees and timelines, and tools and resources for your business journey.

Sesiones Informativas: Licencias De Negocios
2026-07-30 12:00 - 13:00 | 2250 N Las Vegas Blvd, 2250 N Las Vegas Blvd, North Las Vegas, 89030, United States
¿Estás por empezar tu negocio en Nevada?
Únete a nuestra sesión informativa gratuita para conocer el proceso paso a paso para obtener tus licencias y operar legalmente.
Aprenderás sobre:

Cómo elegir la estructura correcta (LLC, propietario único, etc.)
Licencias locales y estatales requeridas
Dónde y cómo aplicar
Costos comunes y tiempos de espera
Herramientas y recursos para ayudarte a crecer

Run the Practice, Don’t Let It Run You: Building Your Operating System from Day One
2026-08-18 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE, STATEWIDE, NV, United States
How to build policies, hire the right staff, create culture, and turn it into a competitive advantage.

This webinar will center on building the internal structure of the practice via the policy and procedures, hiring, onboarding, and creating a culture that drives consistency, retention, and ultimately growth.

Dereck Barrett is a business advisor and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in business planning, financing, and growth strategy. After graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, he began his career in banking sales, earning national recognition as a top performer.
In 2004, he co-founded and financed his first physical therapy clinic in Southern California. Later he and his wife returned to Reno, purchased a commercial building and started another physical therapy clinic. Dereck expanded the practice to multiple clinics locations and was the market leader before selling his majority interest.
While expanding the practice, Dereck became a commercial real estate broker and has worked in that capacity for the last 7yrs.
He attributes his life’s professional success to entrepreneurship and sincerely loves helping guide entrepreneurs through the challenges of launching, financing, and scaling their companies.

Navigating Food Business Insurance
2026-09-23 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE, STATEWIDE, NV, United States
This webinar will cover key elements of navigating insurance for your food industry business. Topics will include:

Essential Insurance Policies

Product Liability
Property
Business Interruption

Risk Scenarios and Real-World Examples

B. David Cisneros, ARM

Director, Risk & Insurance Professional Studies, University of Nevada, Reno | College of Business
Director of Risk Management, IGT
Director of Risk Management, Oracle Corporation
Food Service Risk Manager, Guckenheimer Enterprises, Inc
Insurance Claims Professional | Workers’ Compensation and Casualty
