October News & Events from the BRC
Welcome to your October news from the Eastern Sierra BRC! Below, you’ll find details about our upcoming events and other
269 N Main St., Bishop, CA
269 N Main St., Bishop, CA
Welcome to your December updates from the Eastern Sierra Business Resource Center.
It’s hard to believe a full year has passed since the BRC first opened its doors to a packed house of local officials, Eastern Sierra business owners, and engaged community members for the ribbon cutting. What began as a room of hopeful individuals—each with their own ambitions and visions for what the BRC could become—has grown into a genuine community of stakeholders and friends.
This community is the reason the BRC has been able to evolve toward becoming the embodiment of those varied aspirations, and it isn’t empty rhetoric to say we truly couldn’t do it without you.
In this newsletter, you’ll find our first-year impact report, showing the measurable outcomes in charts and numbers. But I truly believe it’s the human stories behind those metrics that matter most. I’d love to hear your story of how the BRC has supported you this past year. Please reach out to me directly or share your story in the comments of our Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram anniversary post.
You’ll also find a slew of events coming up at the BRC as we set to close out 2025 and usher in 2026, including three upcoming Empower Hours in the month of January, and an event hosted by our friends at Cero Cosso Community College for people interested in careers in Recreation, Fire, or Forestry.
Thank you again for your contributions to making our first year a success, and here’s to many more!
– Meryl Picard, Director, Eastern Sierra Business Resource Center (BRC)
The Eastern Sierra BRC officially opened its doors to the community on December 10, 2024, and has quickly grown to serve regional businesses with a slate of training, networking events, and other vital services.
If you’d like to hear more about our thrilling first year by-the-numbers, click the image below or here to view the 2025 Impact Report.
We are pleased to announce that our first graduating class of 27 business leaders will be completing the Fve-Month BRC Leadership Program training on January 6.
Many thanks to the facilitator of our inaugural class, JaRae Birkiland of Maitri Leadership, for her dedication and inspiration in helping the participants grow the leadership capacity of the Eastern Sierra!
Stay tuned for opportunities to apply for future leadership trainings.
Cerro Coso Community College, in partnership with the BRC, invites community members, employers, and prospective students to attend an upcoming Recreation, Fire, and Forestry Careers Info Session designed to connect education, workforce, and opportunity.
Join us on December 17 at 6:00 PM (a virtual option for this session will also be available) and again on January 15 at 3:00 PM.
The info sessions will feature career speakers, small business support resources, and program information on courses that align with industry-recognized certifications, as well as spring enrollment opportunities.
Register for the December 17 virtual option here
RSVP to attend in person here– or, just show up!
Here’s a sneak peek at what we have planned for the BRC in early 2026. Stay connected to this newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, as details are finalized, and for information on how to RSVP.
We’re excited to revive our popular Empower Hour, with revolving topics helpful to every stage of business and entrepreneurship. These lunchtime sessions will give you a chance to learn new, valuable skills, tune up existing skills, and connect with other local business owners and professionals.
January 8th, 12-1 p.m.: How to Create an Effective Online Presence with Jeff Simpson, SBDC Advisor – RSVP here
January 22nd @ 12-1 p.m.: Acquiring an Existing Business with James Thomsen, SBDC Advisor – RSVP here
January 29th @ 12-1 p.m.: Mindfulness for Busy Entrepreneurs with Joselin Carranza, M.A., APCC Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, Center for Transformational Therapy – RSVP here
Lunch will be served – RSVP for any of the January events here.
We’re pleased to bring this seminar, which was voted as one of the top two seminars in the world in 2011, to the Eastern Sierra in mid-February. It truly is an award winner! All employees, regardless of their duties should attend this very fun and enlightening 90-minute session, which will be provided multiple times a day on the 18th and 19th to allow all your staff to attend.
Express your interest and get further details when released here.
Tentatively scheduled for March 30 -April 3 to align with local high school Spring break, this pitch camp will help Eastern Sierra’s youngest entrepreneurs craft a compelling business proposition and hone presentation skills under the guidance of skilled coaches.
Express your interest and get further details when released here.
Watch the recording of a recent webinar held by the Bakersfield SBDC to learn about the growing importance of young workers needed in the marketplace, strategies small businesses can use to recruit them, and public policies to increase the pool of capable young workers 16 to 22 years of age when economist Dr. Mark Evans, emeritus professor from CSU Bakersfield joins host and SBDC director, Kelly Bearden on this free webinar recording.
Don’t forget to give the BRC a follow on our Facebook, Instagram, and our new LinkedIn page!
Also, a reminder that the BRC is available for one-on-one business guidance by appointment, and our space is available to rent for your next workshop, training, or company event. Please drop us a message to inquire about the space by reaching out to mpicard@sierrabusiness.org.
Welcome to your October news from the Eastern Sierra BRC! Below, you’ll find details about our upcoming events and other
10th Annual Eastern Sierra Capital Summit Sept. 17 Local entrepreneurs looking for money to grow or start their business will have