Vermont Business Magazine Twenty entrepreneurs throughout Vermont have been selected to participate in a free executive-level training course that started April 20 at Vermont Technical College in Williston. Emerging Leaders is a Small Business Administration training program for entrepreneurs wanting to expand their small businesses. During the seven-month course the 20 students will work with their instructor and a network of industry experts to create a three-year strategic growth action plan.
The class is taught by Cairn Cross, co-founder of FreshTracks Capital, a venture capital firm focused on investing in under-served Vermont markets. Cross is also a lecturer at University of Vermont and Champlain College teaching business, entrepreneurship and funding.
“I’m really excited about working with all these exciting companies over the next seven months,” said Cross.
The SBA established the Emerging Leaders program in 2008 to assist entrepreneurs in urban communities, but in 2016 the SBA determined the program could benefit rural states such as New Hampshire and Vermont. This is the program’s third year in Vermont.
“One of the primary reasons we are able to keep offering this class is because of the support from our mission partners and SBA lenders,” said Darcy Carter, SBA Vermont District Director. “Each year Vermont Tech has volunteered to provide us a classroom and four SBA lenders has provided both funding and guest lecturers. Their commitment has been vital to Emerging Leader’s success.”
The Vermont Emerging Leaders program is financially supported by TD Bank, KeyBank, Community National Bank and the Vermont Economic Development Authority.
Vermont’s graduates are assessed annually for three years upon completing the program. Randy Elles of First Stop Board Barn in Killington, Vt. and a 2017 graduate of the program recently told the SBA since he completed Emerging Leaders his company’s online sales are up by more than 25 percent and in-store sales are up by more than 10 percent.
Emerging Leaders is for established business owners and is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business. To be considered, firms must be for-profit enterprises, been in business for at least three years, have at least one full time employee other than self, and have annual revenues between $400,000 and $10 million. There are no restrictions on the types of businesses that can participate.
The 2018 Vermont Emerging Leaders class is as follows:
· Steve Gagner, 14th Star Brewing Company in St. Albans
· Nicole Carey, Birdfolk Collective in Winooski
· Vicky Allard, Blake Hill Preserves in Windsor
· Christine Burdick, Christine Burdick Design in Burlington
· Roth Perry Courtland, Construction in Milton
· Wendy Mehaffey, Epic Wellness in South Burlington
· Calley Hastings, Fat Toad Farm in Brookfield
· Stephanie Shiman, Frabjous Fibers in Brattleboro
· Corey Duteau, Freedom Pharmacy in Winooski
· Adam Howard, Height of Land Publications in Jeffersonville
· David Jaacks, Konrad Prefab in Springfield
· Leigh Lamphere, Part 2 in Jericho
· Darren Drevik, Phineas Swann Bed & Breakfast Inn in Montgomery Center
· Aaron Tinsman, Pro Axis Building & Restoration in Florence
· Sarah DeGray, REV Indoor in South Burlington
· Lillian St. Hilaire, St Hilaire Trucking in Essex Junction
· David Long, Staticworx in Waterbury
· Sas Stewart, Stonecutter Spirits in Middlebury
· Nathan Beaman, Urban Rhino in Burlington
· Jessica Dennison, VT Manufacturing Services in Rutland
The Vermont Emerging Leaders’ sponsors include Vermont Small Business Development Center, Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, Vermont Business Magazine, and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility.
Source: SBA 802-828-4422 or visit www.sba.gov/vt.