SBA’s e200 Graduating Class Already Creating Jobs
12 local companies complete national acclaimed jobs curriculum
Fresno, CA - The U.S. Small Business Administration will honor twelve local companies who attended classes during the Summer under its e200 Emerging Leaders program in a graduation ceremony in Fresno on November 15.
The e200 companies are:
Avecinia Wellness Center Aamer Hayat
Eagles Management Consulting Ali Nekumanesh
Eagle Medical Services Inc. Kim Lamb
Falcon Builders & Developers Inc. John Falcon
Henderson Architectural Group, Inc. Dave Henderson
Marketing Plus Julie Lucido
MJ Avila Company, Inc. Mary Jo Avila
Oakhurst Feed and Pet Supply Colette Goga
Sterling and Smith Funeral Directors Inc. Ronald Smith
Summa Development Group William Dyck
Valley Network Solutions Daniel Duffy
Fox Property Management Terry Fox
E200 is an executive level MBA style development and training course based on the nationally acclaimed StreetWise Steps™ curriculum which was offered to local promising small business owners to grow their businesses. The e200 program was brought to Fresno by SBA due in part to the City being designated as a Strong Cities, Strong Communities earlier this year.
After a competitive selection process, participating small business entrepreneurs engaged in an intensive curriculum focusing on developing a winning, expansion strategy for their business, including options for capital access and contracting. In the fifth module, each participant developed a three year Strategic Growth Action Plan (SGAP) with benchmarks and performance targets. Participants also had the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders, and financial community. The management program was offered at no cost to participants and was offered by the Boston based non-profit Interise.
Fresno was one of 27 nationwide SBA e200 participating cities in 2011 (see www.sba.gov/e200 for a list of participating SBA Offices.) The Fresno program began in April and met bi-weekly for training sessions at the Fresno SBA Office.
Fresno SBA District Director, Carlos Mendoza said, “During the e200 selection process SBA was looking for businesses that had the potential for job creation and job growth. While no guarantees of job creation and success were promised, the jobs proven curriculum has already translated into 22 jobs being created which is simply superb! One small business expanded their operation by opening a new site in Tulare and hired three new employees. In a time when unemployment remains much too high, these success stories show the role that small businesses have in creating jobs.”
The program was a collaborative partnership with Cen Cal Business Finance Group, The Central Valley Business Incubator/SBDC, Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, SCORE and SBA.
Participating in the graduation ceremony will be Craig Scharton, Director, Downtown and Community Revitalization Department, City of Fresno. Graduation for the class will be held at 3:00 pm November 15 at the Fresno SBA Office, 801 R Street, 2nd Floor in Fresno.
###
