The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Eastern Pennsylvania District congratulates their 2021 cohort of entrepreneurs who have completed the virtual SBA Emerging Leaders Program - an executive-level series designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses in America’s underserved cities.

Developed by SBA and drawing on the experiences of advisors and business leaders in urban communities across the country, this comprehensive curriculum provides the tools to catapult one’s company to the next level and help it emerge as a force in the local community. The program includes 100 + hours of professional specialized training and peer-to-peer counseling delivered over the course of seven months. Specialized areas of training include Growth Strategies Plans, Financing and Access to Capital, Government Contracting, and CEO Mentoring.

“Small businesses are vital to the U.S. economy, and here in the 40 counties of Eastern Pennsylvania we rely on small businesses to create jobs and strengthen our neighborhoods,” states Steve Dixel, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Director. “Our 2021 graduates are prepared and ready to move to the next level on their growth trajectory. We are proud to have played a role to help them emerge as self-sustaining businesses that create jobs and build communities.”

The Emerging Leaders Program is a catalyst for expanding opportunities in underserved communities, and the Eastern Pennsylvania District is one of 60 locations throughout the US to offer the program. Since its inception in 2008, the SBA’s Emerging Leaders Initiative has trained over 5,000 small business owners, creating over 6,500 jobs, generating over $300 million in new financing, and securing over $3.16 billion in government contracts.

“Emerging Leaders graduates are the hardest working small business owners in our communities. SBA’s Emerging Leaders program provides the know-how they need to help the businesses they’ve started grow and stay viable,” adds Kim Stout, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Emerging Leaders Program Manager.

The 2021 Eastern Pennsylvania Emerging Leaders graduates are:

- Kristen Baiocco, American Energy Supply
- Vicki Brown, Harmony Clean Inc.
- Thomas Buck, Trinity Information Technology, LLC
- Jill Burnley, Roofing & Building by Bruce, Inc
- Barbara Chavous-Pennock, Somerset Academy Early Learning Center
- William Diamondstone, Paoli Envelope and Paper, LLC
- Joseph Franchetti, JAF Consulting, Inc
- Anthony Higman, ADSQUIRE
- Khawar Kalim, K2 Environmental Consulting LLC
- Leslie Kalimootoo, Kalimootoo Insulation Co., Inc
- Teresa Lanza, BI Solutions, Inc
- Ravi Mayreddy, Ideal Consult LLC
- Ambarish Patel, BAPTAGS, INC
- Mikaele Racine, Champion Dentistry
- Rene Romero, G&R Contractors Group, LLC
- Christopher Strausbaugh, C.S. Interiors Inc
- Ahmed Tausif, BELA Printing & Packaging Corp
- Lauren Tracy, Flannel & Hammer
- Christina Vagnozzi, Style Masters Salon
- Sirlena Watson, Excelsior School of Philadelphia

More information about SBA’s Emerging Leaders Program and other SBA initiatives is available at Emerging Leaders Initiative: https://www.sba.gov/sba-learning-platform/emerging-leaders-initiative

For questions or additional information on applying for the 2022 cohort, contact Kim Stout, SBA Emerging Leader Program Manager at Kimberly.Stout@sba.gov.