L-R: Wendy Mackenzie, Everlasting Herb Farm; THRIVE Coach Christine Miller; Nicholas Thibeault Stokes, System Integrators; Nichole Loati, Great Big Graphics; Ryan Donnelly, Hostel Tevere; Michelle Boyden, Simpson Sales Unlimited; Tobin Porter-Brown, Front Seat Coffee; Laura Mack, lu.lu ice cream, Nathaniel Keefe, Hero's Welcome; Heidi Auclair-Morway, Pro Moving and Storage; SBA Deputy District Director Kevin Morehouse.
SBA Deputy District Director Kevin Morehouse expresses gratitude to the THRIVE participants for their commitment to the cohort.
Event photos attached. Photos courtesy of Vermont SBA. Photos by Holly Aker, SBA Outreach & Marketing Specialist
VermontBiz Magazine Looking toward the future, a group of 11 Vermont business owners completed the SBA’s T.H.R.I.V.E. program and celebrated their six-month journey with a graduation at SBA Vermont’s district office in Williston. T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined provides entrepreneurship education and training for executives of small, poised-for-growth companies. During the six-month program, participants acquire MBA-equivalent knowledge, amplify their leadership skills, and build relationships with a community of business peers, advisors, and experts.
“So happy I applied this year because I cannot say enough good things about THRIVE” said Wendy MacKenzie, Everlasting Herb Farm. “We had guest speakers at every class who were very knowledgeable in their respective subjects. The other CEOs in the class were inspirational and honest. I learned so much through our in-person classes just by listening. I cannot say enough about this AMAZING, free opportunity. You and your business will thrive."
The T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined program, an acronym for Train, Hope, Rise, Innovate, Venture, Elevate, is designed to equip existing small business owners looking toward growth and resiliency with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully scale their business. This intensive executive-level six-month program, CEO's have been able to enhance their leadership abilities, acquire MBA-equivalent knowledge, benefit from personalized business guidance, and establish connections with a group of Vermont entrepreneurs and small business leaders.
“Through THRIVE, I gained invaluable insights, learning a ton and growing as a business owner, as well as meeting and getting to know a bunch of really great people” said Nichole Loati, Great Big Graphics. “While keeping up with the curriculum and time commitment wasn’t always easy, the challenge was worth it. I have a renewed energy for achieving success.”
T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined continues the success of SBA’s executive-level training to small businesses and has expanded its reach to include many additional locations to assist high-potential growing entrepreneurs nationwide. Since its inception as E-200 in 2008, SBA’s Emerging Leaders has trained more than 8,000 small business owners, creating over 11,000 jobs, generating nearly $1 billion in new financing, and securing over $4 billion in government contracts.
For more information about the T.H.R.I.V.E. program and the new 2025 cohort, please visit www.sbathrive.com or contact [email protected]
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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