business
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
November 24-30, 2010
Page C-4
small T A L K with Mark S. Lee Small business owners are
always grappling with growth. The Small Business Admin- istration (SBA) offers e200, a national program focused on providing educational op- portunities to entrepreneurs in urban areas. There are 21 participating cities across the country, including Detroit.
The goal of the SBA Emerg-
ing 200 initiative is to iden- tify 200 businesses across the country that show a high
potential for growth and to provide them the network, resources and motivation re- quired to build a sustainable business of size and scale. SBA is increasing outreach to areas historically challenged by high levels of unemploy- ment and poverty. Bolstering entrepreneurial success in these areas will generate new jobs, attract investment, and provide a more sustainable economic base in distressed areas.
The initiative will enable
the participating small busi- nesses to engage in an inten- sive curriculum focused on developing a winning, expan- sion strategy for their busi- ness, including options for capital access and contract- ing. Participants also will have the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop con- nections with their peers, city leaders and financial commu- nity.
Since its inception, e200
has identified business owners who show a high potential for growth in underserved mar- kets and provided them with the training, networking, re- sources and motivation re- quired to expand operations and create jobs.
Moving Up
The curriculum is Street-
Wise Steps, which was devel- oped by Boston-based Inter- ise.
To date, more than half of
the businesses that partici- pated in e200 have seen an in- crease in revenue, and nearly two-thirds have created new jobs. Entrepreneurs who have completed the training have secured over $9 million in new financing for their businesses. Increased confidence in apply- ing for government contracts among trainees has resulted in over $1.3 million awarded to participating small busi- nesses.
The six-month training
includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time per participant and provides the opportunity for small busi- ness owners to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop con- nections with their peers, city leaders and financial commu- nity.
Detroit is one of several
cities to have e200. Meeting every two weeks at TechTown, from April through October, Detroit-based businesses came together in a classroom environment and became en- trenched in a rigorous MBA- style program. The goal was
to develop a three-year growth plan. Additionally, entrepre- neurs were to identify strat- egies focused on long-term sustainability and, ultimately, success. Not only is the goal to invest and grow their busi- ness, these entrepreneurs were encouraged to invest in their community by hiring local talent.
Entrepreneurs were en-
couraged to “work on the business” by analyzing cur- rent practices, understanding “gaps” and developing plans which were consistent with their business objectives. They were also encouraged to work in small groups. The mentoring group is where the entrepreneurs would chal-
lenge each other, provide sup- port and brainstorm ideas fo- cused on growth. In essence, an advisory board was creat- ed.
The Detroit office of the
SBA recently recognized the following businesses at a spe- cial program at TechTown:
• Jasmine Holt, Abbeville Treats, LLC
• Jason Dixon, Dixon Medical Supply
• Mike Chaudhary, DMC Con- struction
• Diana Geier, Eastern Michi- gan Distributors Co.
• Ronald Jones, II Empire Equipment & Supply Co.
• Balaji Satyavarapu Igrid
Technologies, Inc.
• Rob McCall, McCall Educa- tional Services
• Edna Bell, SERCH Services, Inc.
• Lane Coleman, Strike Group, LLC
• Tarik Lester, Transcend Technology
• Vickie J. Lewis, VMX Inter- national
well done!
Congratulations on a job If you’re interested
in learning more about e200, please go to
www.sba.gov/ e200.
You can reach Mark S. Lee
at mark@leegroupinnovation. com or go to www.leegroupin-
novation.com.
John Harris (center), assistant general counsel for Ford Motor Company, ac- cepts the Kelvin W. Scott Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Award for Excellence in Corporate Involvement on behalf of Ford’s Corporate Counsel Staff at the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Ceremony. With him are Deierdre L. Weir (third from left), LAD president and CEO; W. Anthony Jenkins (fourth from right), Dickinson Wright PLLC and president of the State Bar of Michigan; Linda Parker (second from right), judge of Wayne County Circuit Court; and relatives and friends of Kelvin W. Scott, late chair of LAD’s board of directors for whom the award is named. (Photos by John Meiu)
Jennifer Powell of Butzel Long P.C. (center) accepts the Law Firm of the Year Pro Bono Award on behalf of the firm at the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Ceremony. With her are (from left) Deierdre L. Weir, LAD president and CEO; Joan Glan- ton Howard, chief counsel of LAD’s Civil Law Group; W. Anthony Jenkins, Dickinson Wright PLLC and presi- dent of the State Bar of Michigan; and Brian M. Leg- ghio, Law Offices of Brian M. Legghio and president of the LAD Civil Law Group Legal Services Corporation Policy Board.
Eric M. Mathis of Butzel Long, P.C. (center) receives the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award at the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Ceremony. With him are (from left) Deierdre L. Weir, LAD president and CEO; Joan Glanton Howard, chief counsel of LAD’s Civil Law Group; W. Anthony Jenkins, Dickinson Wright PLLC and president of the State Bar of Michigan; and Brian M. Legghio, Law Offices of Brian M. Legghio and president of the LAD Civil Law Group Legal Services Corporation Policy Board.
Karen Brocklehurst (center), a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, receives the Pro Bono Law Stu- dent of the Year Award at the Legal Aid and Defender Associa- tion (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Ceremony. With her are (from left) Deierdre L. Weir, LAD president and CEO; Joan Glanton Howard, chief counsel of LAD’s Civil Law Group; W. Anthony Jenkins, Dickinson Wright PLLC and president of the State Bar of Michigan; and Brian M. Legghio, Law Offices of Brian M. Legghio and president of the LAD Civil Law Group Legal Ser- vices Corporation Policy Board.
Christopher J. Nesi of Christopher J. Nesi and Associates P.C. (center) receives the Impact on Domestic Violence Award at the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Ceremony. With him are (from left) Deierdre L. Weir, LAD president and CEO; Joan Glanton Howard, chief coun- sel of LAD’s Civil Law Group; W. Anthony Jenkins, Dickinson Wright PLLC and president of the State Bar of Michigan; and Brian M. Legghio, Law Offices of Brian M. Legghio and presi- dent of the LAD Civil Law Group Legal Services Corporation Policy Board.
Talia M. Goetting of Goetting & Vink, PLLC (center) receives the Pro Bono Spirit, Oakland County Award at the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Ceremony. With her are (from left) Deierdre L. Weir, LAD president and CEO; Joan Glanton Howard, chief counsel of LAD’s Civil Law Group; W. Anthony Jenkins, Dickinson Wright PLLC and presi- dent of the State Bar of Michigan; and Brian M. Legghio, Law Offices of Brian M. Legghio and president of the LAD Civil Law Group Legal Services Corporation Policy Board.
Mary Beth Leija (center), an attorney in solo practice, receives the Pro Bono Spirit, Macomb County Award at the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Ceremony. With her are (from left) Deierdre L. Weir, LAD president and CEO; Joan Glanton Howard, chief counsel of LAD’s Civil Law Group; W. Anthony Jenkins, Dickinson Wright PLLC and presi- dent of the State Bar of Michigan; and Brian M. Legghio, Law Offices of Brian M. Legghio and president of the LAD Civil Law Group Legal Services Corporation Policy Board.
Patrick M. O’Reilly of Patrick M. O’Reilly PLLC (center) re- ceives the Pro Bono Spirit, Wayne County Award at the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Cere- mony. With him are (from left) Deierdre L. Weir, LAD president and CEO; Joan Glanton Howard, chief counsel of LAD’s Civil Law Group; W. Anthony Jenkins, Dickinson Wright PLLC and president of the State Bar of Michigan; and Brian M. Legghio, Law Offices of Brian M. Legghio and president of the LAD Civil Law Group Legal Services Corporation Policy Board.
Helene Cohen (third from left), a legal assistant at General Motors Company, and Steven J. Cernak (fourth from left), Pro Bono Coordinator and Assistant General Counsel for General Motors, sponsor of the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) Pro Bono Awards Ceremony, attend the event with (from left) Joan Glanton Howard, chief counsel of LAD’s Civil Law Group; Brian M. Legghio, Law Offices of Brian M. Leg- ghio and president of the LAD Civil Law Group Legal Services Corporation Policy Board; Deierdre L. Weir, LAD president and CEO; and W. Anthony Jenkins, Dickinson Wright PLLC and president of the State Bar of Michigan.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32