The results are in for the first of several small business leadership and management programs launched by Chatham County Georgia as part of a local, small and minority business capacity building strategy. The conclusion: Outstanding!
Thirty small, minority and local business owners and managers recently completed the Phase I session of the Chatham County Small Business Leadership program. The six week curriculum, which was designed and implemented by Broadlands Financial Group in conjunction with the Chatham County M/WBE Coordinator’s office, provides small business owners and their employees the opportunity to learn critical leadership, management and sales strategies. A special track for construction contractors and subcontractors was integrated into the curriculum to provide critical strategies for obtaining contractor surety bonds, a statutory requirement for working on state and federal government funded construction projects.
Phase I of this innovative small business program, which began on March 31, 2011, included fifteen hours of core skills training in the areas of business leadership, motivational management, creative decision making, advanced sales strategies and creating powerful mission statements. Broadlands’ Executive Vice President, Bryan Fortay, said the program is designed make sophisticated business strategies simple enough for the small business owner to understand and implement immediately.
“Every small business owner is looking for an advantage, especially in today’s challenging economic environment. This program allows small businesses to establish key fundamentals in marketing, sales, operational efficiency, leadership, management and, for contractors, surety bond credit,” Mr. Fortay said. “The program has been implemented in a number of regions throughout the United States and continues to receive high compliments from participants,” Fortay added.
“High” may be an understatement. Thirty participants responded to a program assessment evaluation, ranking program components on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 – absolutely agree / 1 – absolutely disagree). Some of the questions asked and corresponding average scores include:
- This was one of the best training sessions I ever attended: Average response – 9.14
- The instructors were the best instructors I have ever heard: Average response – 9.15
- I learned something that will make me a better business person: Average response – 9.37
- I would recommend this program to another business: Average response – 9.4
“We don’t craft the program approval survey to skew the responses in our favor so we can post them on our website,” Fortay said. “We want to know where we stand in the eyes of the businesses we work with. We ask hard questions that challenge our program. We want to be the best so we ask program participants if our program is in fact the best, if our instructors are the best.”
Arneja Riley, Chatham County’s Coordinator for Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises said the first group of Chatham County participants answered with a resounding yes. “I knew this training would be a success after the first session. Bryan Fortay’s teaching style is insightful, strategic, engaging and empowering. Although it’s two months since we graduated our first class, the participating business owners are still thanking me today.”
Adrienne Edge, President of Cutting Edge Communications and Tummy Time Foods described the program. “Amazing! The content is so engaging and necessary! This program addresses all of my major needs in getting my business off the ground. This is an excellent program for those wanting to start a business, but do not have a background in business. I have learned how to think differently, relate differently, market differently and most of all to BE different as a company. The best leadership training I have experienced.”
Edge was not the only participant applauding the program. Carolyn Guilford, President of Health Restoration 101 reflected on the program’s impact on her businesses. “Wow, this program is fast paced and information packed. The program opened my thinking like no other class has.”
Fortay said he is not surprised that the program’s first graduating class of business leaders showed their appreciation unanimously.
“Our focus is first on the client, then the curriculum. We provide program participants with solutions to real problems that they face every day. We ask questions and modify the content. We take complicated business ideas and wrap them in simplicity. Then we show program participants how to implement business fundamentals immediately into their daily business lives. We don’t train, we solve problems.”
One after another, the program’s first graduating class came forward. “I think this program should be offered to every business owner. Chatham County has raised the bar,” said Santonio Bright of Silverstone Roofing and Painting.
Tidian Diaby of Diaby Electric Inc. said “This is one excellent program the County brought to Savannah. And we are looking for more of this kind of program. Thank you Chatham County, thank you Broadlands.”
Jane Rogers of Dean Forest Nursery added, “I think we need more programs like these to help more small businesses.”
The program is open to any Chatham County business. The County charges a small $25 commitment fee. “The Chatham County Board of Commissioners did something very special for their small business constituents,” Fortay said. “The program costs the small business owner roughly $4 per session. These companies will pay the County back ten-fold with long, profitable and tax generating business enterprises that employ local talent and can participate on locally funded projects.” Mrs. Riley added, “Those that participated say it’s the best $25 they will ever invest in their business.”
A new group of thirty small and local Chatham County businesses will begin the six week Phase I curriculum in September followed by a Phase II curriculum for Phase I graduates.
“I heard Carol Chen of Thrifty Supply Center say she would apply the curriculum to her business, school, church and any other social function,” Fortay commented. “Then Kenny Greene of Atlantic construction said the program was ‘business and life changing.’ These extraordinary responses demonstrate the impact we have on small businesses. It’s tremendous and an indication of what you can do when you have a County that is behind their small and local businesses,” Fortay added.
“The sessions reminded me of the awful mistakes I made when I first started in business,” said Deatiza Thornton-Winston of Titan’s Construction Cleaning. “Over the years I learned the hard way, with no training. This program was so powerful. I wish that it was available when I first started, when I needed it the most. But some say the best is saved for last. I experienced things and now I can correct them for future use and expand my business. Thank you soooo much!!!”
To learn more about the Chatham County Small Business Leadership Series and secure your place in the next program session, contact:
Arneja Riley, Chatham County M/WBE Coordinator: (912) 652-7860 or email alriley@chathamcounty.org.
*Broadlands Financial Group, LLC is a business solutions and loss controls company serving owners, real estate developers, financial institutions, contractors and government agencies throughout North America, India, Europe, The Middle East and the Caribbean. The company provides training, business mentorship, construction loan and portfolio controls, investment and project disbursement controls, default analysis, takeover and completion of failed construction projects and renewable energy program management. Broadlands is affiliated with First Sealord Surety, Inc., a Treasury Listed, A.M. Best Rated A- property and casualty insurance company licensed to issue contract surety bonds in 38 states and the District of Columbia.
