Vermont Business Magazine Nineteen entrepreneurs throughout Vermont completed a seven-month executive education series October 20 at Vermont Technical College in Williston. Emerging Leaders is the only federal training specifically tailored for small business executives poised for growth. The free 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.
“Emerging Leaders is about the nuts and bolts of operating a business and the big vision of leading a company forward. All of our Emerging Leaders achieved tremendous progress and it has been a real honor to know them,” said Darcy Carter, SBA Vermont District Director. Emerging Leaders is funded by the Small Business Administration.
To be considered, each entrepreneur’s business must have annual revenues of $400,000 or more, been in business for at least three years, and have employees. The majority of Vermont's class had annual sales in excess of $1 million.
The members of the class come from nearly every corner of the state and represent various industries including renewable energy, media, retail, spirits, manufacturing and consulting.
“The things I have learned in this class have been amazing. Creating a big vision for the company and then finding managers to make it happen and how to analyze my company’s financials and then take action to make them more favorable has been the biggest lesson learned,” said Bill Laberge, Grassroots Solar Inc.
Vermont’s graduates will be assessed annually for three years upon completing the program. The 2015 national assessment showed graduates of the program increased their businesses revenue on average by $362,000 and experienced a 39 percent growth rate after one year of completing the program.
“This program has been incredibly helpful to me in emphasizing that developing a growth strategy is necessary and will most definitely work if strategically developed and executed methodically,” said Mark Elvidge, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates.
Vermont Technical College is the educational partner of the SBA’s Emerging Leaders program and the program is taught by Prof. Allan Rodgers, VTC Professor of Business. TD Bank has sponsored Emerging Leaders in Vermont for the past two years.
Source: SBA October 2017