Greenville Chamber announces 2024 Minority Business Accelerator graduates
December 16, 2024
The Greenville Chamber’s Minority Business Accelerator Upstate initiative held its graduation ceremony on Thursday, December 5th, celebrating the completion of the annual program.
The Minority Business Accelerator supports and scales high-potential minority-owned firms by providing targeted training, access to business coaches, and connections with large corporations. Participants undergo intensive training for the first six months, following the internationally-recognized Interise StreetWise ‘MBA’ curriculum led by instructor Wendell Jones. During the final six months, participants work closely with financial experts, coaches, and MBA peers on their three-year Strategic Growth Action Plans and implementation of learnings.
Graduating from the 2024 program were eight local, small business owners:
- Guillermo Avila, 365 Digital Technologies Ltd Co
- Rebecca Coates, PointSource Environmental, LLC
- Rachel Epps, Arts in Motion
- Emilio Garcia, Boundify
- Francisco “Kiko” Salazar, Tangible
- Nekita Sullivan, Yoga Therapy Bar, LLC
- Dorothy “Lynn” Walker, New Trendz Barbering Academy
- Mac Wilkes, Legacy Transport Services
At the graduation ceremony, the Greenville Chamber presented three awards to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of key partners and participants. Guillermo Avila and Rachel Epps received MBA Excellence Awards for their outstanding dedication and growth throughout the program. Greenville Technical College received the MBA Partner award in recognition of the organization’s longtime commitment to growing and supporting the MBA program.
To qualify for the year-long program, businesses must be based in the Upstate, socially or economically disadvantaged (minority, veteran, or woman-owned, as well as those serving lower-income communities), and a member of the Greenville Chamber.
Since its inception, the South Carolina Minority Business Accelerator has graduated more than 120 participants, created 280 new full-time jobs, and participants have seen a combined $28 million in new revenue. Graduates have a proven track record of success, with 90% of the businesses still operating in our community.
Learn more at www.greenvillechamber.org/mba.
