The Grow Prince George's Program is a comprehensive training series designed to support Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color (BIPOC), women and Latino entrepreneurs in Prince George's County. Participants will gain valuable knowledge and skills to enhance their entrepreneurial journey and achieve business success.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

The Entrepreneurs and Experts in Residence Program is the latest program of the Grow Prince George's campaign by the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (PGCEDC). It is designed to provide Innovation Station Business Incubator (ISBI) member companies and local business owners with diverse coaching and subject matter expertise, to foster growth, expansion and success.

This comprehensive program offers coaching with a diverse range of expertise, ensuring that local businesses in Prince George's County have access to specialized guidance and support for their individual needs and goals.

This is how we Grow Prince George’s!

Innovate and Automate: Unlocking New Horizons for Small Businesses

Objective: Empower small businesses with cutting-edge insights designed to spark creativity, streamline product ideation, and launch processes. Innovate and dive into the dynamic world of AI and automation to transform your operations, enhance productivity, and secure a competitive edge in the market.

Availability: Mutually agreed upon times and designated hours withing Innovation Station Business Incubator for one-on-one coaching and mentoring.

Meet Your Coach: With almost three decades of technology experience, Vennard Wright brings a wealth of executive level technology experience in the commercial, government, and utility sectors. He is currently the Founder & CEO of PerVista, a company focused on AI-weapons detection, and previously served as President & CEO for Wave Welcome, CIO & VP of Operations for Iron Bow Technologies, CIO for WSSC Water, CIO for Prince George's County, Director of Technology for Hillary Clinton, and CTO for EDS. Vennard is successful graduate of ISBI and places an emphasis on the diversification of the AI career pipeline and wealth creation for underrepresented demographics.

Wellness and Communications Coaching

Objective: To offer accountability coaching around leadership, communications, business challenges, wrangling saboteurs, and promoting wellness.

Availability: Wednesday afternoons and other mutually agreed-upon times virtually and within Innovation Station Business Incubator for one-on-one coaching.

Meet Your Coach: LaTanya Eggleston, MA is an International Federation Coaching (ICF) Associate Certified Coach with extensive experience in leadership development, effective communication strategies, and overcoming business challenges. Known for her ability to navigate obstacles and enhance overall wellness, LaTanya is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in their journey to success. She provides expertise in interpersonal communications skills, public speaking, workforce development, and professional development.

SBIR, STTR Proposal Writing, Commercialization Pathways Coaching

Objective: To provide expertise in SBIR and STTR proposal writing and submissions, as well as insights into commercialization pathways for proprietary technology.

Availability: Mutually agreed-upon times and designate hours within Innovation Station Business Incubator for one-on-one coaching and mentoring

Meet Your Coach: Ron Kaese brings a wealth of technology development, federal agency and laboratory knowledge to the program and will focus on SBIR and STTR proposal development, writing and submissions. Additionally, his expertise lends itself to guiding businesses through effective commercialization pathways for proprietary technology. Ron is committed to assisting entrepreneurs in achieving their business goals.

Group Leadership Coaching

Objective: Specialized group leadership coaching, streamlining and optimizing operations, efficient business management, innovative approaches to marketing, and customer service.

Availability: The group coaching program will be from January 2024 to June 2024 with both group sessions and monthly one-on-one coaching hours.

Companies must apply to be part of this group by December 31, 2023 to be considered to participate in this group coaching program.

Meet Your Coach: Bola Audena is the CEO and Managing Partner of MBA Growth Partners, a business management consultancy offering business coaching, strategic planning, business operations, and performance management support for small businesses.

Bola works with her clients to help them develop their Operations Playbooks - identifying the prioritized list of activities to work on, at the right time, leveraging the right people, systems, processes, and technology to consistently deliver on their brand promise. With over 20 years of experience developing playbooks for marketing, sales, fulfillment, and administration, Bola’s passion is to help small businesses create their roadmaps for success.

Government Contracting Coaching

Objective: Coaching designed to inform the PGCEDC client population with government contracting training, business development techniques, and growth strategies.

Availability: January 2024 – June 30, 2024 for one-on-one coaching and specific office hours at Innovation Station

Short Bio: QC Jones, a serial entrepreneur and founder of NolanMackenzie, is poised to offer specialized services tailored for PGCEDC. With a focus on government contracting training and business development, QC brings unique insights and growth strategies to the program. His services are intricately designed to benefit the PGCEDC client population. QC brings insights into single award contracts, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQs) and Government Wide Acquisitions Contracts (GWACs). Having led three (3) successful government contracting companies and being a graduate of PGCECC’s Technology Assistance Center, he has mentored and assisted CEOs to develop and execute their growth strategies.

Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership Office Hours

Small Business and Entrepreneurial Support for Prince George’s County Manufacturers

Objective: Maryland MEP will hold office hours to meet with Prince George’s County entrepreneurs, startups and small manufacturing businesses to provide coaching, advice and guidance to help navigate the manufacturing ecosystem in Maryland, connect with other manufacturers and suppliers and access resources available to support manufacturing growth. Company officials will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with an MEP advisor to develop a customized strategy for growth.

Services may include:

• Strategy – Developing or advising on short-term and long-term strategic goals.

• Organizational Assessment – Understanding the current organizational layout and structure and developing a roadmap for growth.

• Supplier Scouting / Connections – Identifying and connecting with manufacturers capable of supporting production / supplier needs and capabilities.

• Market Identification – Assisting in the identification of new market opportunities.

• Coaching / Mentoring – Coaching and mentoring support as needed to ensure accountability and results.

• ConnexMaryland/DC – Access to the Maryland Manufacturing Marketplace

Meet Your Experts

Short Bio: Michael Kelleher is the Executive Director of the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP), a non-profit committed to growing and strengthening Maryland’s manufacturers and building the manufacturing ecosystem. Mr. Kelleher works with companies and leaders to develop and execute strategies that enable growth, align resources and deliver results.

Short Bio: Sara Keith, Director of Operations, Maryland MEP, integrates best practices, lessons learned and operational programs specific for Maryland’s manufacturers. Sara specializes in working with companies and small businesses to identify resources to support growth.