On Thursday, Sept. 22, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce announced its congratulations for the eight minority business owners that graduated from the Scale to Excel program.

That initiative is meant to assist minority business owners by providing things like executive education, management know-how, and a support system that will help expand their businesses and take them to the next level.

The program is a joint project of Accelerate Greensboro, Launch Greensboro and Interise, a national organization that seeks to promote a more inclusive economy by supporting small businesses in low-income communities.

To qualify for Scale to Excel, companies must have at least $175,000 in annual revenue, have at least one other full-time employee besides the owner, and have been in business for at least three years.

This is the second class of a Scale to Excel program under the Accelerate Greensboro banner.

Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President of Member Engagement Tracy Myers said the group worked hard.

“These entrepreneurs have worked diligently over the last seven months to create scalable growth for their businesses,” Myers said.  “We’re proud to help them find the resources and connections they need to achieve their specific goals.”

The program – which is valued at more than $15,000 per participant – was provided at the much more attractive price of $0 thanks to community sponsors.

This year’s eight participants represent companies in a variety of industries, including arts, real estate, retail and technology.

Interise’s StreetWise MBA curriculum is used by more than 80 programs across the United States, and it delivers an average revenue growth rate of 36 percent for participating businesses – as well as four times the job-creation rate compared to the private sector as a whole.

The instructor for the program is Dr. Chanelle James, the president and executive director of Community Ventures Inc., a nonprofit startup established to promote social good in Greensboro.  James is also a faculty member at the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNC Greensboro.

The program’s 2022 graduates who hope to grow their present businesses are:

  • William Steven Allen, The Allen Real Estate Group
  • Winsome Erica Barnett, Helping Hands Cleaning Services of the Triad LLC
  • Monique Crutchfield, Piedmont Counseling and Development Services, PLLC
  • Dhanraj Emanuel, Dhanraj Emanuel Photography
  • Ashleigh Odom, Ashlen Staffing Solutions
  • FaLon Thomas, Onyx Ocean Technologies
  • Tara Tillman, Westchester Realty LLC
  • Jacqueline White, African American Art & More

If you want to learn more about Scale to Excel or to join the waitlist for next year’s group, email tmyers@greensboro.org. The 2023 class of Scale to Excel will be selected in January.