May is Small Business Month and we’re celebrating all month long with programming designed to reach both businesses and consumers.

We've kicked off the month a day early on Saturday, April 30 with a community shopping event in Needham and have also scheduled a full slate of large and small networking events at unique venues throughout Newton and Needham, culminating with a special celebration at the Crowne Plaza in Newton Corner.

Also in May is our annual Green Business Breakfast, honoring some amazing local businesses that have made significant environmental strides. Set on the banks of the Charles River, the May 19 breakfast, is one of our annual marquee offerings and always a sell-out.

Finally, we’re particularly excited to present workshops and special programming designed to help small business owners succeed and to highlight new trends and innovation taking root in our communities. These offerings include a program at TripAdvisor exploring trends in office design; opportunities to meet with a future generation of engineers and entrepreneurs at Olin College; and an event celebrating the region’s Asian business community.

Our small business month programing concludes with an employment law seminar aimed to assist employers who are too small to have their own HR departments.

We’re still putting the finishing touches on the complete lineup of programming. Included below is a summary of events so far.

Tuesday, May 3: New Trends in Workspace (8:30-10 a.m. at TripAdvisor): Get an inside look at how workspaces are changing from architect and interior designer Stephen Baker, at one of his best-known projects; the new TripAdvisor headquarters in the N2 Corridor. We’ll also hear from Matt Gabree, director of office experience at TripAdvisor, about the ways design solutions fit into the company philosophy. Register here.

Monday, May 9: Olin College Expo (9 a.m.-11 a.m. at Olin College): Our visit with the student entrepreneurs at last year’s Olin Expo was so inspiring we’ve asked to make this an annual event. We’ll start with a networking breakfast and then explore the best devices, inventions and projects dreamed up by Olin's creative student body. Register here.

Tuesday, May 10: Charles River Mill District Coffee Connect (8-9 a.m. at Champ Internet): Meet up for an hour of coffee and conversations in the sleek offices of Champ Internet, the website developers who partnered with the chamber on our new website. Register here.

Monday, May 16: Breakfast Celebrating the Asian Small Business Communities of Massachusetts (7:30 a.m., Newton Marriott): Program TBA. Presented by Eastern Bank.

Tuesday, May 17: Shop & Schmooze (4-6p.m. at Ku De Ta at the Street): Our ongoing monthly series of informal networking eventscontinues at this independently owned boutique at The Street in Chestnut Hill. If the weather’s nice we’ll spill out on the plaza too. Register here.

Thursday, May 19: Green Business Breakfast (7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Newton Marriott): This annual event has become one of our most anticipated. Enjoy breakfast outdoors along the banks of the Charles River, network with businesses and non-profits working in green tech and other environmental endeavors and join us as we honor some amazing environmentally-friendly local business. Register here.

Tuesday, May 24: Small Business Month Networking Night (5:30 -7 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Newton): The must-attend networking event of Small Business Month featuring local business and civic leaders and maybe even a few special guests. Register here.

Thurs. May 26: Small business legal seminar (8:30 a.m. Needham Bank): If you manage even one employee then you need to attend this employment law workshop. The hour you spend here could save you many the thousand in fine or legal bills you may pay if you don’t. Register here.