Your Business, Growth and Wealth
The Presidents’ Council Foundation Emerging Entrepreneurs Program assists African-American entrepreneurs whose companies enjoy high growth potential to move way beyond the emerging phases and become vibrant, growing businesses. The program takes selected participants through a rigorous 10-month business development curriculum and gives them the tools, access to resources, and networks that can advance their businesses. The goals of the program is to enhance economic growth in Northeast Ohio by strengthening the business success of participating companies and by addressing the unique challenges faced by African-American entrepreneurs.
The program, which began in 2001, is an initiative of the Presidents’ Council Foundation, whose mission is to provide research and educational programming as well as to develop funds, relationships and resources that will lead to the economic growth of African-American businesses in Northeast Ohio. The Foundation, a nonprofit entity, is closely aligned with its parent, The Presidents' Council, an organization of some of the largest African-American-owned companies in Northeast Ohio. Both the Council and the Foundation are devoted to economic development.
Baldwin-Wallace College is the program’s education partner and continues to enhance the curriculum.
Curriculum Moves Entrepreneurs Beyond Fundamentals
The 10-month Emerging Entrepreneurs curriculum combines classroom lectures with team and individual activities. The curriculum exposes participants to the breadth of issues they face when analyzing business strategy. Among the expanding program offerings, participants can:
- Conduct an assessment of the business and determine the stages of its life cycle.
- Create a vision statement that gives direction.
- Interact with the region’s top CEOs and other civic and professional leaders.
- Forge new business alliances and build capacity.
- Gain valuable advice from leading business executives.
- Form an advisory board and avoid going it alone.
- Learn how to overcome obstacles that challenge minority entrepreneurs.
- Attend business receptions and develop relationships with Presidents’ Council members.
Classes meet once a month from September to June on the campus of Baldwin-Wallace College.
Core Classroom Curriculum
- Strategic Thinking
- Organizational Structure
- Human Resources
- Sales and Marketing
- Leadership and Community Involvement
- Entrepreneurial Finance and Taxes
Extended Programs and Opportunities
Business Resource Pool – Northeast Ohio CEOs and other executives provide help and advice regarding marketing, finance, legal or other business challenges and issues.
Alumni Network – A growing network of Emerging Entrepreneurs alumni share ideas and concepts for a lifetime.
Business-to-Business Matchmaker Events – One-on-one sessions pair Presidents’ Council members as buyers with Emerging Entrepreneurs as sellers to discuss contract and business opportunities.
Boardroom-to-Boardroom Presentation Opportunity – Focused initiative brings select, successful minority entrepreneurs together with small groups of majority-owned-company CEOs in an interactive dialogue centered on a case study of the minority-owned enterprise.
Collaborative Business Resources
Baldwin-Wallace Entrepreneurship Center and Lecture Series
Baldwin-Wallace Business Plan Clinic
COSE Business Plan Challenge
JumpStart
Who Should Participate
If your company is on the threshold of moving to new levels of growth, the Presidents' Council Emerging Entrepreneurs Program may be for you. Entrepreneurs must be:
- African American.
- Established in business at least three years.
- In a business with high potential for growth.
- Two-year college graduates or have equivalent business experience.
- Confident high achievers.
- Proven leaders within the community.
- Committed to attending the monthly Saturday-morning classroom sessions.
- Willing to fully participate in alumni business networking activities.
The Difference Is Way Beyond
No other entrepreneurial program in Northeast Ohio offers the kind of lifelong commitment to business development provided by the Emerging Entrepreneurs Program. The involvement of the Presidents' Council and its members attests to their commitment to excellence and advocacy for African-American inclusion in the mainstream.
So let one of the region’s leading business development organizations spur you and your company to move on. Way beyond.
How to Apply
Entrepreneurs who fit the student criteria should fill out an application and submit it to be considered for the fall class. Upon completion of the 10-month program, entrepreneurs continue to participate in forums and workshops.
Call the offices of the Presidents' Council Foundation at 216.771.8702 for an application.
Contact
The Presidents' Council Foundation
1120 Chester Avenue, Suite 100
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
216.771.8702
www.thepresidentscouncil.com/foundation |
