The Road to Success: Tri-C Graduates New Class From Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program

Alumni look to build on exceptional track record of previous classes

Twenty-six entrepreneurs from Northeast Ohio recently took a step toward greater business success by completing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®).

Previous graduates have seen their businesses outperform the broader economy while exceeding national and local averages in revenue growth and job creation. The 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) alumni list at Tri-C is nearly 500 since the program debuted at the College in 2012.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a $500 million initiative to unlock the growth and job creation potential of small businesses across the United States by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital and business support services.

Graduates of Tri-C’s 10KSB program represent a variety of industries and businesses. Each spent 13 weeks studying a business and management curriculum designed by Babson College, a top-ranked school for entrepreneurial education.

The most recent class included:
• Brian Becker of Becker Signs in Boston Heights
• Cristina Bertero of EmbroidMe in North Olmsted
• Irwin Caraballo of Steel Valley Federal Credit Union in Cleveland
• Doug Crouch of Impel Creative in Lakewood
• Kelly Dimacchia of Erie Bone Broth in Cleveland
• Nikola Dzodzo of Woolino in Westlake
• Christine Fahey of Kernels By Chrissie in Cleveland
• Ryan Florio of Inca Tea in Cleveland
• John Grigoli of Epic Signs & Graphics in Parma
• Robert Gross of Summit Painting in Eastlake
• Solomon Heifetz of Presque Isle Medical Technologies in South Euclid
• Craig Koteles of DeVore Technologies in Beachwood
• Steve Lucek of Ver-A-Fast in Rocky River
• Andrea Margida of TechGrit in Akron
• Dawn Patterson of Headlines Salon & Spa in Upper Sandusky
• Maureen Petrasko of NZ Manufacturing in Tallmadge
• Felice Pierce of Revolve Fashion in Lyndhurst
• Clark Pope of Pope’s Kitchen in Shaker Heights
• Mital Rathod of Sylvan Learning Center in Strongsville
• Todd Resnick of One Seven in Beachwood
• Matthew Roeser of eNGines-LPG in Munroe Falls
• Joseph Savoy of Savoy Insurance Group in Elyria
• Brandon Shaw of Encompass Group in Cleveland
• Nancy Sheeler of Transitional Design in Broadview Heights
• Tracy Smuts of Capstone Media in Brecksville
• Richard Stark of South Shore Controls in Perry

For information on 10,000 Small Businesses, visit www.tri-c.edu/10ksb or call 216-987-3220. The next session begins in January, with applications due by Oct. 16.

August 18, 2017

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu