INCREASE Community Development Corporation (INCREASE CDC) hosted the 8th Annual Micro Entrepreneur Awards on Thursday, April 19, 2012.  The event, sponsored in part by Commerce National Bank, highlighted successful entrepreneurs in the Central Ohio community and also recognized graduates of INCREASE CDC’s business planning program. 

Over forty (40) entrepreneurs were nominated, and after a rigorous judging process, seven (7) business owners were selected as Micro Entrepreneurs of the Year.  These hard-working individuals were nominated by their peers or clients, and their companies were judged for longevity, marketability, and community involvement.  The recipient of the Community Choice award was determined by an on-line judging process where the Central Ohio community voted for their favorite entrepreneur.

Following are the 2012 Micro Entrepreneur Award recipients and the categories in which they excelled:

Tina & Tanya Carmichael – Clinton Consultants – Professional Services

Amy Clark – Amy Clark Studios – Consumer Services

Arthlene LeGair – LeGair Brand – Retail & Community Choice

Michael Tavares – Tavtel Media – Media & Entertainment

Aryana Walton-Thompson – Rehab Exclusive, LLC – Health & Fitness

Mataryun “Mo” Wright – RAMA Consulting – Professional Services

Tykiah Wright – WrightChoice Intern Program – Non-Profit

In addition to local entrepreneurs being recognized, twenty-eight (28) graduates of the Developing the Business Plan course were commended for successfully completing the course and their business plans.  Sandra Brogdon, a business planning alum and founder/publisher of Role Model Magazine, was chosen Alumnus of the Year.

The highlight of the evening was a leadership award presentation to William J. Carter, Executive Director for INCREASE CDC.  Carter was honored for his commitment to excellence in leading, growing, and sustaining the organization, which has served over 1,100 Central Ohio entrepreneurs since 1999.  The leadership award, while honoring Carter, also helped introduce the organization’s newest market, the professional and managerial client.  The INCREASE CDC Leadership award will now become a regular part of the organization’s signature event, the Micro Entrepreneur Awards. 

For more information, contact Carmen D. Dandridge, Community Outreach Coordinator for INCREASE CDC at 614 476-1758 or by email cdandridge@increasecdc.org.

Last month, Central Ohio residents nominated forty-eight (48) micro entrepreneurs for the Eighth Annual Micro Entrepreneur Awards.  This premiere event recognizes micro entrepreneurs, business owners of five or fewer employees, for bringing innovative products and services to the public and stimulating the economy.  For these reasons, INCREASE CDC is honored to recognize this outstanding group of visionaries.

Nominees provide information about their companies to a panel of distinguished judges who then select seven award recipients.  This year’s judges are Kimberly Gayle of Executive Intervention, Jerry King of ABBA Enterprises Unlimited, Inc., Megan McAlister of Commerce National Bank, and Anthony Redic of A Redic Consulting.

In addition to the seven awards selected by the judges, the Community Choice award will be given to the nominee who receives the most votes through an online voting process.  Graduates of the INCREASE CDC business planning program will also be recognized at the event for demonstrating success.

Central Ohio can show its support by casting their online votes between March 26^th and April 6^th at www.increasecdc.org/awards.  The community can also attend the Micro Entrepreneur Awards on Thursday, April 19^th at Columbus Christian Center Church, 2300 N. Cassady Avenue.  The awards ceremony is open to the public and is free to attend.  Tickets for the networking reception are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.  Visit www.increasecdc.org/awards to register for the reception and take advantage of early bird pricing. 

For more information on the Micro Entrepreneur Awards or to leverage sponsorship and marketing opportunities, please contact INCREASE CDC at (614) 476-1758.

On February 22, 2012, INCREASE CDC effectively partnered with the Columbus Urban League (CUL) to deliver a business program to CUL clients.

Curtland Caffey, Associate Director of INCREASE CDC, says "This [partnership] is value-added for both organizations. We are a community development company that is very passionate about helping entrepreneurs start and sustain businesses.  The Columbus Urban League has a customer base, which very well may be open to our message of  entrepreneurship."

Kesha Garrett, of the CUL, says "It's a good fit for us. We have the clients, and they [INCREASE CDC] have a message we want our clients to hear.

INCREASE CDC has delivered two information sessions in February and March with immediate plans to deliver more.   Aspiring entrepreneurs who are not clients of CUL can attend a How to Start a Business information session at local libraries. 

More information on library locations/dates/times is available at www.increasecdc.org.

This month at the INCREASE Community Business Network (ICBN) luncheon, Anthony Trotman, Director of Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services (FCDJFS) highlighted two programs that allow businesses to add employees without adding salary costs. 

The Ohio Work Force (OWF) and the Work Experience Program (WEP) are state-funded initiatives aimed at putting Central Ohioans back to work.  Business owners who sponsor OWF or WEP can utilize the programs’ participants as employees without having to pay their wages.  These participants are paid by the state through cash assistance or other government funded programs.  If business owners eventually hire a program participant, they can receive up to $9,000 in tax credits.  Director Trotman says, “Both programs are good for everyone.  Entrepreneurs win, program participants win, and ultimately the state wins.”

For more information on how to partner with the FCDJFS and utilize either program, visit www.ohioworksfirstfc.org.

Mr. Anthony Roberts founded his company, Roberts Executive Services, LLC in the fall of 2010 shortly after completing our Developing the Business Plan course.  His enterprise is a service-based company that has three separate divisions: Snow Removal, Power Washing, and Security.  His company is located on the far east side of Columbus, and Anthony is quick to point out that he’s willing to travel to any part of Central Ohio to provide quality service with a smile.  He currently employs two people and hopes to increase that number by 2013.

Even as a young adult, Anthony always wanted to own and operate his own business.  He spent his early adult years in the military, which didn’t make entrepreneurship a viable choice.  In addition, he was actively involved with parenting and realized his role as provider trumped his aspirations of starting a business.  As time passed and his children grew up and left home, Anthony realized he could finally be a little more daring and afford to take more risks.  Two other motivators he cites for turning his dream into reality were the rising unemployment rate and the increasing number of misplaced workers losing jobs due to outsourcing.

Having been in business for just over a year, Anthony has achieved significant results for such a young start up.  He made over $13K in 3.5 months during the 2010-2011 snow season.  He saw his company’s power washing division grow as a result of doing a job pro bono.  This writer calls that type of growth an excellent example of reaping a good harvest for good seeds sown.  Additionally, he incorporated his commission and experience as a police officer with the State of Ohio into his business resulting in his company’s security division.  Now he protects and serves private entities as well as our community at large.

On a personal level, I asked Anthony for his favorite quote and he came back with one of my favorites, “When life deals you lemons, then make some lemonade.”  This writer agrees with his philosophy and as our graduate in this month’s spotlight, we wish him much increase in 2012 and beyond.  For more information on Roberts Executive Services, LLC or to arrange for the company’s services, please call (614) 638-0798.

The innovative founder and CEO of Sophisticated Systems, Inc., Dwight Smith, spoke at the INCREASE Community Business Network (ICBN) February luncheon at TechColumbus.  Smith led an interactive discussion on leadership, the impact of human engagement in achieving organizational success, and the importance of finances.  For those who were not able to attend, here’s a recap on what was shared.

"Don’t expect to be an expert at everything," said Smith.  As the Greek philosopher Socrates proved and Smith maintained, trying to be an expert at everything is not only unrealistic but impossible.  Smith said, “Business owners should surround themselves with experts and can engage their workforce by trusting those experts to execute the tasks delegated.”  In short, organization leaders should engage their employees by listening, learning, and then letting go. 

Entrepreneurs should never overlook the importance of the organization’s financial health.   Business owners need to set goals and then measure their performance in reaching those goals.  It is also important for entrepreneurs to know their company’s gross margin, especially when seeking funding.   
Smith closed with a 5-point plan that can be applied to everyday life as well as to any entrepreneurial venture:

1.      Think It Through
2.      Create a Plan
3.      Execute the Plan
4.      Invest in Others
5.      Invest in Yourself

For more business tips and advice, be sure to attend the INCREASE CDC Community Business Network luncheons.  Visit www.increasecdc.org for times and locations.

Ms. Carla Daniels, a 2009 graduate of our Developing the Business Plan course is the owner of HMG (His Mercy and Grace) Consultants, LLC.  Her company assists adults with making wise parental and relationship choices.  She also works with grades K thru 12 to develop leadership abilities that last a lifetime. 

Ms. Daniels feels uniquely qualified to offer this type of assistance.  She began her early adult years on state-assistance, and during these lean years, she became actively interested in welfare-reform.  Her desire to make better choices and to offer hope to those who wished for the same opened the door for her to motivate others through speaking engagements.  The empowering presentations she gave, in turn, led her to enter the world of academia to pursue a higher level of education earning both Bachelors and Masters Degrees. 

She started HMG Consultants in 2000 and credits it as the reason she has become more involved with the central Ohio community.  Through her informational and transformational workshops, her positive message has resonated with many who have turned their lives around by making better choices and creating positive legacies for future generations. 

Her relationship with INCREASE CDC is a strong one.  She has received two micro loans from us and is currently taking advantage of our Individual Development Account (IDA) program, which matches $2,000 when the participant saves $1,000.  This past November, she was a guest presenter at our Passion to Profit Seminar.  Click here to see her video from the event.

On a personal level, I asked Ms. Daniels to recommend a good book, one she had read recently.  She quickly replied, “The Servant Leadership of Jesus Christ,” a book which has helped her in leading and serving others.  When asked for her favorite quote, Ms. Daniels wowed me with, “Sometimes, you have to close your eyes to see clearly.”  She explains that often our sight gets in the way of our vision.  “To keep this from happening,” she says, “We must turn our visions from outward to inward.”  We agree and will remember her words of wisdom (WOW). 

As a graduate in this month’s spotlight, we wish Ms. Carla Daniels much increase in 2012 and beyond.  For more information on Ms. Daniels and her company, HMG Consultants, LLC, please visit, Carla@hmgconsultants.com.

Now that we have kicked off 2012, it's vital to look back at the goals INCREASE CDC has reached in 2011 and to review our goals set for the New Year. Helping micro business owners grow their businesses by creating opportunities, finding new customers, providing new resources, and introducing new business concepts are a few of the accomplishments of which we are most proud.

Looking back, our signature event for 2011 was our first annual Entrepreneurs Conference & Expo held in October.  This event drew over 125 business owners, funders, and sponsors who rated the event 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The conference brought together business owners who were interested in growing and promoting their companies.  Along with these business owners, several funding organizations also showed their support.  In the end, all found we are interconnected to one another and to the communities we serve.  Click here to see video footage from the conference.  This year's conference is set for October.  Stay tuned for details.

Secondly, we helped our customers by hosting our monthly INCREASE Community Business Network (ICBN) luncheons.  In addition to solid networking and good food, the ICBN also provided informational presentations by motivational speakers who helped our clients adopt new growth strategies.  These highly successful events represent our high level of excellence in helping our customers sustain and grow their businesses.  We truly thank all of our supporters who helped make 2011 great.

As we gaze towards 2012, the possibility of achieving many new goals stares back at us.  Relocating from our present address to a new facility tops our “To Do” list and will allow us to deliver our educational programs on-site.  In addition to relocating, we plan to implement on-line webinars with timely information, so our customers may gain knowledge whenever and wherever they choose.  We are committed to remaining customer-focused while increasing clients served, increasing awareness of our market, and increasing our partnerships.  We believe 2012 will be a year of great increase, and we are pleased you will be sharing this journey with us.  Fasten your seatbelts.  It’s going to be an exciting ride.