BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Transcription

1 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

2 Business Development & Entrepreneurship Greater Cincinnati Urban League Our Mission is to help established entrepreneurs increase their capacity to take advantage of new business opportunities and qualify for financing that will lead to higher levels of business growth. We also support those efforts by providing access to a state of the art customer contact center and a qualified, pre-screened workforce. Our Programs Greater Cincinnati Urban League Economic Empowerment Center Helping Tomorrow s Entrepreneurs Today Customer Contact Center Our Partners

3 Small Business Development Center The Small Business Development Centers Network of Ohio is the premier technical assistance program for Ohio s small businesses. The network is provided through a partnership between the Ohio Development Services Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and selected Ohio Chambers of Commerce, Colleges and Universities, and economic development agencies. Today, these federal, state, and local partnerships contribute more than $10 million in cash and resources to the support of small business development in Ohio. Our Mission is to accelerate Ohio s economy by helping people start, sustain and grow their business. The program is designed to assist high-potential entrepreneurs with intensive, one-onone coaching and educational opportunities designed to help that entrepreneur meet the goals set. With this initiative we are looking to assist all categories of entrepreneurs and businesses, from micro to medium-size organizations; focusing on those small and medium-sized companies that are in the growth stage. Union Institute & University 440 E. McMillan Street Cincinnati, Ohio (513) Success Story Program Benefits We will identify firms that have the highest growth potential and are likely to have the greatest impact in terms of job creation and urban economic development. The coaching process will prepare those firms for expanding financing and procurement opportunities. It will help them develop business relationships with major corporations and assist them through planning process for desired growth. Areas of assistance Business assessment valuation Cash flow analysis Financial projections development Free one-on-one business counseling Identifying sources of capital Inventory control assessment Market feasibility and research Marketing strategy development Strategic business planning Workshops and training programs for Startup Information, Business Planning, Human Relations, Marketing, Finance, Technology and more. In Jobs Created/Retained 31 Businesses Started $3,207,800 Capital Infused 1,513 Hours Counseled 345 Clients Counseled K & J Web Designs is a small web design firm located in Cincinnati. The firm builds attractive, engaging websites for local small businesses and nonprofits, and offers consulting on Search Engine Optimization and social media management. Founder Kris Jones learned web design while working on a separate project that helps recent graduates as they enter into the workplace, but as he became a more competent web designer people began requesting his services. He continued designing and partnered with a friend to start K & J Web Designs. They reached out to the Small Business Development Center in Cincinnati and met with SBDC advisor Karla Boldery. She helped them create a business plan and set measurable goals for various aspects of the business. They worked with me from the beginning to where I am now. I still look forward to my monthly meetings, said Jones. Jones attributes the success of K & J Web Designs partly to the help he received from Boldery and continues to use their monthly meetings to keep him focused and explore new opportunities for the business. Though his partner took a full-time position at another company, Jones and his team of web designers and interns continue to provide high-quality, affordable web designing to the Cincinnati area. The opportunities and the knowledge I have gained from working with the SBDC has been invaluable and has been the key to my success, Jones said.

4 Economic Empowerment Center The Economic Empowerment Center (EEC) of the Greater Cincinnati Urban League helps established minority entrepreneurs obtain the necessary management skills that will enable them to take advantage of new business opportunities and qualify for financing that will lead to higher levels of business growth. EEC works with private, public and nonprofit resources to build strong, sustainable and successful minority businesses. The core training program of the EEC is the African American Business Development Program (AABDP). AABDP is a comprehensive 6-month program designed for African American business owners who want to build sustainable companies that help create employment opportunities for the community. The mission of the AABDP is to identify, prepare, involve, empower and sustain African Americans who are committed and positioned to address community challenges in Greater Cincinnati. The goal of AABDP is to create an environment where experienced owners are challenged to explore new leadership concepts and opportunities that will create sustainable companies that benefit the community through economic growth and job creation. Through this environment, the program will attract and support the growth of firms capable of providing job and career opportunities for residents of the Greater Cincinnati community. Program Benefits To enhance the skills business owners need to manage and grow sustainable businesses. To increase the number of African American owned mid-sized firms. To foster an environment that is focused on growing the number of local African American firms that have more than one employee. Participate in thought-provoking leadership training activities. In Jobs Created / 134 Retained $7,492, of Capital Infused 350 New Contracts Generating $66,768, in Revenue Gain a broader perspective of community issues and their impact upon the quality of life for African Americans in Greater Cincinnati. Have an opportunity to participate in solving problems which affect the African American community. Expand professional networks and enhance personal relationships. Receive deserved recognition and prestige as a community leader making substantial contributions to the quality of life in Greater Cincinnati. Success Story OCG Telecom sells IT and Telecom Equipment and Software like Cisco, HP, Dell, and Microsoft to Federal, State and Local government customers. In November 2009, OCG Telecom entered the Urban League s African American Business Development Program (AABDP) as a start-up with less than one (1) year in business and annual revenues of less than $5,000. Since participation in the Program, annual sales have increased to $141,000 in 2010, $441,000 in 2011 and $920,000 in The Urban League has been critical to our success. I started the business with 12 years management experience at a Fortune 100 company but no experience managing a startup. The AABDP program provided me with very practical training on every aspect of running a small business from, marketing and operations to accounting and finance. After graduating from the AABDP, we worked with our SBDC business coach Sheila Mixon to develop a Strategic Plan, a Business Plan, and to refine the marketing materials for our business. Moreover, we meet with Ms. Mixon monthly to ensure that we are on track to meet our goals. Ms. Mixon has also given me the opportunity to present my company to the Minority Business Accelerator (MBA) with hopes of becoming part of the MBA Portfolio. As we grew and identified the need for an additional employee, Ms. Mixon suggested we interview a graduate of the Urban League s ACE program. We hired the Urban League ACE program graduate and she has been a great addition to our staff, generating significant new business for the company within months of being hired. When we hire again, the Urban League will be the first place we look. Ms. Mixon has helped promote our company by nominating us for posting on the Ohio Secretary of State Business profile web site and nomination for the African American Chamber Small Business Award. This promotion has helped with our rapid growth. Finally, we attend a monthly AABDP alumni meeting where we continue to learn from experienced successful businessmen like Steve Hightower and Greg Battle to name a few. In addition we share ideas, give advice and provide moral support to our fellow AABDP Alumni.

5 Greater Cincinnati Urban League Economic Empowerment Center Helping Tomorrow s Entrepreneurs Today Urban League of Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH (513) The Economic Empowerment Center as well as the OHSBDC has created a joint effort with the Hispanic Chamber of Cincinnati to reach the Hispanic Market of the Cincinnati Metro Area. We promote business development in the Hispanic Market providing three basic services: business consulting, educational programs, business information and resources to enable businesses to compete in the international market. Thanks to this partnership the Business Development & Entrepreneurship program has been able to serve the needs of the Hispanic business community. Para mas Información llama al (513) In 2012 Client Base Growth of 133 Hispanic Clients Since Business Starts, 30 Jobs Created $200,000 of Capital Infused 1088 Hours Counseled 4 Workshop Sessions Offered in Spanish

6 ORV~WBC The Ohio River Valley Women s Business Council is an organization for women business owners interested in promoting, developing and maintaining business relationships with other women business owners, major corporations and governmental agencies. ORV~WBC is one of 14 regional partner organizations authorized by the Women s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) to certify businesses that are 51% owned operated and controlled by a woman or group of women. ORV~WBC was established in March 2009 to certify businesses in the states of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Cincinnati, Ohio (513) orvwbcsupport@orvwbc.org Photo credit --Shellee Fisher Photography ORV~WBC operates under the Greater Cincinnati Urban League Business Development & Entrepreneurship department under the authority of WBENC. The collaboration between WBENC and the GCUL allows for the leveraging of two strong organizations, one dedicated to building businesses in our community, the other dedicated to the economic empowerment of women owned businesses not only in Cincinnati but throughout the ORV~WBC region. Why is it important for women owned businesses to be certified? By 2018, female owned businesses are projected to create 33 percent of new jobs in the United States. Today more corporations are interested in doing business with women owned entities through their supplier diversity programs. The certification process is rigorous and ensures corporate members who are interested in partnering with women owned suppliers and vendors that the business is certified as woman owned, controlled and operated. ORV~WBC s CORE values match those of WBENC: Certifications: National recognition by thousands of major U.S. corporations and several public agencies as a certified WBE. Opportunity: B2B opportunities with other WBEs via networking and database access. Procurement inquiries by governmental and private entities that utilize WBE database to access potential vendors. Resources: Advocacy for women owned businesses to major corporations, government agencies and other buying organizations. Engagement: Networking opportunities both internal and external. Economic Impact of Certified Businesses in Region (as of 2012) Over $5 Billion Total Sales Approximately 47,000 Total Employees 847 Certified WBE s as of July 2013 Success Story Whether she s helping design Cincinnati s newest front door on the riverfront or transforming corporate headquarters around the globe by blending graphic and industrial design with architecture, Kelly Kolar revels in integrating her passions to create what she likes to call massive change. As a businesswoman, you start out thinking you have to do business the way other people do business, she says. It took me a long time to figure out that each business is unique. Your core philosophy is the part that people really want to buy from you. We are in our 6th year as a WBE certified company due in large part to our work with Procter & Gamble as well as Cincinnati Children s Hospital. In our 22 year history we ve enjoyed 3 stages of growth - from solo-preneur to legacy firm. Critical to our current stage of growth has been our work with PG globally. At times, I travel globally for business weekly and I notice when I come back to Cincinnati that I wish I could bring my travels with me to share with everyone. I am choosing this Lobby redesign because it captures the consumer in the phases of their day, phases of their life, all around the world. This lobby is an important symbol of who we are as a company. I want to change perceptions here in Cincinnati, and this work will help bring the world to Cincinnati. This philosophy has stuck with me as a major influence of who we are as a company. We worked on the global workplace Guidelines as well as on 8 global P&G headquarters. Moving from a Tier 2 to a Tier 1 global supplier has helped us expand not only here in Cincinnati, but globally. Currently, we have two international partnerships, one with a local WBE / MBE firm and the other with an international partner that is fueling our efforts to also bring the world to Cincinnati! Our Global work creates a unified visual voice for the company, with regional solutions that have helped advance brand awareness. P&G s influence and support of us a WBE member continues to be instrumental in our growth.

7 Customer Contact Center Operating in Cincinnati, Ohio, Greater Cincinnati Urban League s Customer Contact Center provides full-service call center services, customized to the needs of our clients. We have the knowledge and capability to provide optimal structure for your organization s success. We will be your complete call center provider or merely an extension of your current model it is your choice. Specific services offered Inbound / Outbound Communications Contact Center Support Services Strategic Instructional Training Curriculum & Script Development Order Entry / Order Processing / Order Fulfillment Data Entry / Surveys Management / Answering Online Appointment Scheduling Services Multi-lingual Support Services Value Added Benefit Our center is an extension of the Greater Cincinnati Urban League s Accelerated Call Center Education Program (ACE). Known for its proven ability to recruit, train and match talented call center employees to organizations in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, ACE is the area s premiere call center training program. Not only do we have the capacity to handle your calls, we can provide you a trained workforce. What sets us apart Our channel partners have helped build a center current with industry standards and considered a center of excellence. We will be your complete call center provider or merely an extension of your current model it s your choice. We are prepared to serve your organization by providing: Enterprise network features to extend our technology to yours! (Avaya G450 Media Gateway) Technology ready to handle 150 agents spanning 24/7 320 voice channel capacity Reduced agent attrition Quicker issue resolution/problem solving Ultimately higher customer retention GD takes service calls from Kroger customers at the new Customer Contact Center at the Voices sensitive to your customers needs. Avondale Headquarters of Cincinnati s Urban League. In 2012 The 50 Seats Will Have a $750,000 Impact on the Community. Customer Contact Center Cincinnati, Ohio (513) Success Story I was told that the Urban League helps people in various situations, from different walks of life. There I was a 25 year old college graduate and out of work for the past 8 months. I found myself in search of employment, under the impression that I embodied everything that the ideal employee should have; I just couldn t find an employer that agreed with me. Frustrated with my lack of progress, I was ready to do whatever it took to change my life. In April 2012, I made the best decision I ve ever made. I began the Accelerated Call Center Education program (A.C.E) with the Urban League. I ll admit, it was a bit trying to wake up four days a week to attend a class structured to imitate a full-time job and not get paid for it. My resume was ripped apart and rebuilt and I participated in multiple mock interviews, all to help me gain the skills I d need to undoubtedly amaze my next interviewer. Four months later and freshly equipped with a revamped resume and interviewing skills, it all proved to be well worth it. I landed a job with Total Outsourced Systems working on a pilot project with their client, Kroger. After seven months I was promoted to my current position as department supervisor. I came to the Urban League with the goal of finding a job, but I have gained so much more. The Urban League has a way of helping people find hope, even when they feel they ve already searched high and low. The Urban League has been my foundation for growth and I will forever be indebted to the people that make the place everything that it is. KL, Supervisor Total Outsourced Systems Give $60 and Support the Urban League. (513)

8 Cincinnati, OH Phone: Exp Date: / CVC Code: City: State: Zip: Card #: Address: Discover AMEX Company Name (optional): Check Cash Visa MasterCard Name: Other Amount $ Payment: $60 $120 $180 $240 $500 $1000 Yes! I want to Give $60 and Support the Urban League. Agency Partner Greater Cincinnati Urban League Otto Armleder Memorial Building Cincinnati OH Main (513) Fax (513) facebook.com/ohiosbdcgcul