News From Our Western and the State Office

Cyber Resilience in Action:

A Special Hands-on Experience for Small Businesses

(In-Person)

What would you do if your small business was

the victim of a cybersecurity attack?

LAST CALL! IN-PERSON CLASS STARTS TOMORROW!

Wednesday, October 14th

10 AM to 12 PM

Free

Please join us in person for a high-stakes cybersecurity exercise for small business owners. No tech background needed. No jargon. Just real talk.

If your business operates using a phone, email, a Facebook page, a website, or an app that accepts payments, you already possess everything a cybercriminal needs. You don’t have to be a tech company to be at risk; you simply need to be open for business.

In-person at:

The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence

Union Station

55 Frank B Murray Street

Springfield, MA

Click here to register

News From the State Office

The MSBDC has had an exciting start to the fall!

Here’s a look at what’s happening across the MSBDC:

The 2026 Massachusetts Manufacturing Mash-Up!

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 9 AM

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

The MSBDC and Massachusetts Export Center will be participating in one of Massachusetts’ biggest manufacturing events hosted by Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, bringing together manufacturers, startups, industry leaders, resource partners, and the next generation of talent from across the Commonwealth.

This year’s theme, “Celebrating 250 Years: Manufacturing What Matters,” honors Massachusetts’ rich manufacturing legacy while looking ahead to the innovation shaping its future.

Whether you’re a manufacturer, supplier, entrepreneur, or simply interested in connecting with Massachusetts’ manufacturing ecosystem, we hope to see you there!

Learn more

Meet Our New Advisory Board

Click here to meet our advisory council

On Friday, September 25, the MSBDC officially kicked off its new Advisory Council, bringing together an incredible group of leaders from across the Commonwealth to share perspectives, challenge ideas, and help shape what’s next for the MSBDC and the small businesses we serve.

The Council will provide strategic insight as we look toward the future of the network, helping us identify opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and ensure the MSBDC continues to evolve alongside the needs of Massachusetts entrepreneurs and small businesses. Please join us in welcoming the following to our Advisory Council.

State Star: Julia Dvorko

We’re proud to announce that Julia Dvorko has been named the MSBDC’s 2026 State Star!

Julia has been an integral part of the MSBDC network for more than 30 years and throughout her career, Julia has helped countless clients expand into global markets, generating meaningful economic impact for the businesses she serves, the MSBDC, and the Commonwealth. Her dedication to her clients, consistently outstanding feedback, creative approach to developing new tools and programming, and commitment to collaboration make her an invaluable member of our team.

Please join us in congratulating Julia on this incredibly well-deserved recognition!

Thank You to Our Contributors!

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Thanks for reading.

You can reach the Western Region Office at ppawlosk@umass.edu.