Emerging Leaders program helps business owners grow

Sixteen small business owners from the Chicago metropolitan area graduated from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Emerging Leaders program, a "mini-MBA" training initiative for local businesses on the brink of growth.

It is the 10th year the SBA Illinois District Office has hosted the seven-month executive education series.

The program includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time, connects small business owners with a network of industry experts and peers, and supports the creation of a three-year strategic growth action plan.

Since the SBA started offering the Emerging Leaders program in various locations across the country, graduates have created more than 2,400 new full-time jobs, accessed more than $73 million in new financing, and secured federal, state, local and tribal contracts worth more than $1 billion.

The 2017 graduates from the Chicago class represent diverse industries including construction, food distribution, model and artist management, information technology, and more.

The Emerging Leaders class is made possible with support and sponsorship from SCORE, the nonprofit association of thousands of volunteer business counselors, and Wintrust Bank. Tom Huffman, senior vice president for Wintrust's SBA Lending, spoke to graduates at the event.

"We often hear that small business owners feel isolated and too caught up in day-to-day operations to plan for the future, and the Emerging Leaders program addresses both of those issues," SBA Illinois District Director Robert "Bo" Steiner said. "These graduates are leaving the program ready to implement a customized three-year growth plan, and they have a supportive network of peers to hold them accountable and offer ongoing advice. We're excited to see what the future brings."