A Workshop Series for Small Businesses
SBDC Lunchbreak
Bite-Sized tips, tricks and useful tools for Small Business Success. No Powerpoint presentations, just hands-on demos to give you the tools and insights you need, followed by Q&A to answer YOUR questions for the topic of the day. Join us every week over the course of this series and level up your skills to transform your business operations!
Are you a small business owner curious about how you can leverage AI and other technology tools to transform your daily operations? Join us once a week on Wednesday during your lunch break (12:00-1:00pm).
We’ll showcase the technology and tools that are helping Small Business owners level the playing field in marketing, business operations and customer service. We’ll demystify AI by explaining key concepts in simple terms and showcasing real-world examples of how small businesses can use AI tools today to improve efficiency, increase the quality of your results, and expand your abilities!
By the end of each session, you’ll have useful knowledge you can integrate directly into your business processes and the steps you can take to get started.
Your registration includes a series of trainings, access to real-world examples of how small businesses are using technology to boost efficiency, improve results, and free up time for what matters most. Your registration also includes exclusive access to workshop recordings and any handouts provided!
- Series 1:
- Working Smart with AI
- 4 Weeks starting January 7, 2026
- Series 2:
- Marketing Smarter with AI
- 4 Weeks starting February 4, 2026
- Series 3::
- CANVA for Business, Design Like a Pro
- 4 Weeks starting March 4, 2026
- Series 4:
- TBD, check back soon
Brought to you by Solano-Napa SBDC and Sonoma SBDC!
Featuring SBDC Advisor Cathy Balach
Cathy Balach is an online marketing strategist, specializing in strategic marketing, website design, content development, email communications, and media for business growth.
She’s a Google certified AI Specialist, working throughout Northern California and, as a recognized leader in AI applications, Cathy is known for her innovative approach to using artificial intelligence to drive business growth.
With nearly 15 years of consulting and mentoring, she has guided countless North Bay startups businesses by leveraging her expertise in both traditional and digital marketing landscapes.
AI Lunchbreak: Week By Week
Series 1: Working Smart with AI
Looking to get hands-on with AI tools that can streamline your business operations? In this quick, power-packed series, you’ll explore some of the most user-friendly AI platforms designed to help small business owners like you save time and boost productivity.
This 4-week series will introduce a handful of key AI tools for content creation, enhanced workflows, research and problem-solving. I’ll focus on AI tools that I use the most — many with free versions and a few paid tools with the best bang-for-the-buck.
Key takeaways:
- Tips on choosing the right AI platform based on your business needs.
- A live demonstration of each tool in action.
- Best practices for integrating these tools into your daily business operations.
- How to continue learning and exploring AI beyond this session.
This series is ideal if you’re just getting started and want to test-drive real tools with real business uses.
Series 2: Marketing Smarter with AI
Presented by Nick Lightner
