SBA photo of Emerging Leaders at VTC in Williston.
Vermont Business Magazine Twenty Vermont small business owners concluded a seven-month executive education course October 12 at Vermont Technical College in Williston. Emerging Leaders is a free program sponsored by the Small Business Administration. The program includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time, connects small business owners with a network of industry experts and peers, and supports the creation of a three-year strategic growth action plan.
To qualify small business owners must have annual revenues of $400,000 or more, been in business for at least three years, and have employees. The majority of the small business owners in the Vermont class had annual sales in excess of $800,000.
A variety of companies were represented in the class including a brewery, excavating company, textile manufacturer and a pharmacy.
“Emerging Leaders program has been a godsend in terms of aligning our aspirations for the business with our thoughts, plans and actions,” said Steve Gagner, 14th Star Brewing Company located in St. Albans. “It is because of this program that we had the thoughts to think beyond what we initially believed possible for the brand and are poised to capitalize on them.”
Vermont Technical College is the educational partner of the SBA’s Emerging Leaders program and TD Bank has been the lead sponsor for the past three years. The course was taught by Cairn Cross, Co-Founder and Managing Director of FreshTracks Capital.
“Our instructor was amazing, really helping the seminar come alive and providing lots of practical insight which was invaluable. He was so super engaging, he made the class fun,” said Vicky Allard, Blake Hill Preserves in Windsor.
Since its inception in 2008, Emerging Leaders has trained more than 5,000 small business owners throughout the U.S., creating more than 6,500 jobs, generating more than $300 million in new financing, and securing more than $3.16 billion in government contracts.
The 2018 Vermont Emerging Leaders:
• Nicole Carey, Birdfolk Collective, Winooski
• Christine Burdick, Christine Burdick Design, Burlington
• Leigh Lamphere, Part 2, Jericho
• Calley Hastings, Fat Toad Farm, Brookfield
• Roth Perry, Courtland Construction, Milton
• David Long, Staticworx, Waterbury
• Sarah DeGray, REV Indoor, South Burlington
• Stephanie Shiman, Frabjous Fibers, Brattleboro
• Vicky Allard, Blake Hill Preserves, Windsor
• Lillian St. Hilaire, St Hilaire Trucking, Essex Junction
• Corey Duteau, Freedom Pharmacy, Winooski
• Steve Gagner, 14th Star Brewing Co., St. Albans
• Wendy Mehaffey, Epic Wellness, South Burlington
• Darren Drevik, Phineas Swann Inn, Montgomery Center
• Aaron Tinsman, Pro Axis Building & Restoration, Florence
• Adam Howard, Height of Land Publications, Jeffersonville
• Nathan Beaman, Urban Rhino, Burlington
• David Jaacks, Konrad Prefab, Springfield
• Sas Stewart, Stonecutter Spirits, Middlebury
• Jessica Dennison, VT Manufacturing Services, Rutland
Source: WILLISTON, Vt. -- SBA 10.19.2018