Events
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January 2026
Spark Session - Gather the right 2025 tax documents
Make tax season less stressful and more strategic. In this session, a certified public accountant will walk you through what to prepare, what to watch for, and how to avoid common mistakes. You’ll learn what records to keep, how to organize your expenses, and what counts as deductible. We’ll also touch on how to prepare for an audit and understand depreciation. This session will also guide you on the right business structure for your long-term goals.
- Jan. 28, 2026
- 1 - 2:30 p.m.
- MnDOT SBRC, 1461 94th Ln NE, Blaine, MN (inside Rock Leaf Water Environmental)
- Register for Jan. 28 Gather the right 2025 tax documents
February 2026
Business elevation workshop - From compliance to confidence: Mastering safety and health plans
This workshop is for small construction businesses. Learn how to create effective safety and health plans. You will leave with a clear understanding of the rules and the risks of not having a safety plan, and you will get practical tools to build a safer, stronger business. This session includes a presentation, interactive breakouts, and networking with other business owners. Presenter: Keith Juliar, MnDOT Emergency Management, Safety and Workers’ Compensation Manager. Learn how to build a safety plan for your whole company and for specific projects. Learn how to prepare for OSHA visits and know what to expect. Learn to use templates and examples to create your own safety paperwork. Learn from common mistakes by looking at real-life examples. Learn how to create a weekly safety message and plan for responding to accidents. Understand why a strong safety plan gives you a competitive advantage.
- Feb. 4, 2026
- Noon - 2:30 p.m.
- MnDOT SBRC, 1461 94th Ln NE, Blaine (inside Rock Leaf Water Environmental)
- Register for Feb. 4 Mastering safety and health plans
Social circle - Finding your niche: When to specialize, stay broad, or pivot
Social Circle is a monthly roundtable for business owners and entrepreneurs. Come with ideas. Leave with inspiration. Facilitated by Shelly Binsfeld, president, Rock Leaf Water Environmental.
- Feb. 9, 2026
- Noon - 1 p.m.
- MnDOT SBRC, 1461 94th Ln NE, Blaine, MN (inside Rock Leaf Water Environmental)
- Register for Feb. 9 Finding your niche
Spark session - Stay one step ahead: Spot, block and defend against cyber threats
Every day, scammers try new ways to fool you and steal your company’s money or information. Learn how to protect yourself from these threats. Learn about social engineering, tricky emails and phone calls, strong passwords, multifactor authentication, and safe data-handling practices on public networks. Sponsored by the MnDOT Small Business Resource Center.
- Feb. 11, 2026
- 9 - 11 a.m.
- Metropolitan State University, 700 East 7th St, St. Paul
- Register for the Feb. 11 Spark session
DBE and Workforce Collaborative meeting
The DBE and Workforce Collaborative is an advisory group to MnDOT. The group's mission is to increase the diversity of firms and people working on MnDOT highway projects.
- Feb. 11, 2026
- 10 a.m. - Noon
- Register for the Feb. 11 DBE and Workforce Collaborative meeting
- Contact: Marissa Galen
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- Feb. 11, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
Worksite cooperation committee meeting
The Worksite cooperation committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This committee identifies worksite issues related to workforce diversity and develops recommendations to ensure highway construction worksites are respectful and welcoming to all.
- Feb. 17, 2026
- 9 - 10:30 a.m.
- Register for the Feb. 17 Worksite cooperation committee meeting
- Contact: Marissa Galen or Isela Xitlali Gómez
Spark session - Don't be the breach: Everyday habits that protect data
Most security disasters do not happen because of a master hacker. They happen because of small, everyday mistakes. Focus on simple, practical habits to keep your and your employees’ data safe. Build a security mindset without slowing down your workday. Discover how to store and share data securely. Learn how to safely dispose of sensitive information. Avoid common unintentional exposures, such as sending an email to the wrong person. Adopt daily routines that reinforce a security-conscious culture. Sponsored by the MnDOT Small Business Resource Center.
- Feb. 25, 2026
- 9 - 11 a.m.
- Metropolitan State University, 700 East 7th St, St. Paul
- Register for the Feb. 25 Spark session
March 2026
No events scheduled yet for this month
April 2026
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- April 8, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
Worksite cooperation committee meeting
The Worksite cooperation committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This committee identifies worksite issues related to workforce diversity and develops recommendations to ensure highway construction worksites are respectful and welcoming to all.
- April 21, 2026
- 9 - 10:30 a.m.
- Registration link coming soon for the April 21 Worksite cooperation committee meeting
- Contact: Marissa Galen or Isela Xitlali Gómez
May 2026
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- May 20, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
June 2026
Worksite cooperation committee meeting
The Worksite cooperation committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This committee identifies worksite issues related to workforce diversity and develops recommendations to ensure highway construction worksites are respectful and welcoming to all.
- June 16, 2026
- 9 - 10:30 a.m.
- Registration link coming soon for the June 16 Worksite cooperation committee meeting
- Contact: Marissa Galen or Isela Xitlali Gómez
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- June 17, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
July 2026
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- July 22, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
August 2026
Worksite cooperation committee meeting
The Worksite cooperation committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This committee identifies worksite issues related to workforce diversity and develops recommendations to ensure highway construction worksites are respectful and welcoming to all.
- Aug. 18, 2026
- 9 - 10:30 a.m.
- Registration link coming soon for the Aug. 18 Worksite cooperation committee meeting
- Contact: Marissa Galen or Isela Xitlali Gómez
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- Aug. 26, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
September 2026
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- Sept. 16, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
October 2026
Worksite cooperation committee meeting
The Worksite cooperation committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This committee identifies worksite issues related to workforce diversity and develops recommendations to ensure highway construction worksites are respectful and welcoming to all.
- Oct. 20, 2026
- 9 - 10:30 a.m.
- Registration link coming soon for the Oct. 20 Worksite cooperation committee meeting
- Contact: Marissa Galen or Isela Xitlali Gómez
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- Oct. 21, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
November 2026
No events scheduled yet for this month
December 2026
Results and transparency committee meeting
The Results and transparency committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This subcommittee reviews projects, workforce goals, and hiring practices on highway construction projects.
- Dec. 9, 2026
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Link will be provided closer to the meeting date
- Contact: Isela Xitlali Gómez
Worksite cooperation committee meeting
The Worksite cooperation committee is a subcommittee of the Minnesota DBE and Workforce Collaborative. This committee identifies worksite issues related to workforce diversity and develops recommendations to ensure highway construction worksites are respectful and welcoming to all.
- Dec. 15, 2026
- 9 - 10:30 a.m.
- Registration link coming soon for the Dec. 15 Worksite cooperation committee meeting
- Contact: Marissa Galen or Isela Xitlali Gómez