Local and state representatives were amazed at the creativity and hard work of 10 local entrepreneurs who were the main focus of a special ceremony inside the Trusler Business Center Wednesday afternoon.
The center played host to the graduation ceremony for the inaugural Mi Negocio Academy class. The academy was developed in partnership between the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center to teach Latino entrepreneurs essential skills to help develop and grow their various businesses.
Chamber Membership Director and Academy leader Rebeca Herrera says initial conversations for the academy began after she and others noticed many individuals passing through the chamber’s doors seeking the exact assistance the academy offers.
Herera adds the inaugural class featured a diverse collection of individuals and ideas.
Small Business Development Center Regional Director Lisa Brumbaugh says the ability to offer an academy of this variety to non-English speaking entrepreneurs is a great resource for the community.
During Wednesday’s graduation ceremony, several individuals offered special words of recognition including Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking who called it a “great day in Emporia.”
Other speakers Wednesday included Visit Emporia Director Lelan Dains, Director of Constituent Services for the Office of Congressman Jake LaTurner Niomi Burget, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeanine McKenna and Director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development Taylor Overton. Overton, whose parents were entrepreneurs themselves, says the skills the academy graduates have learned over the past few months are ones that they can and likely will pass down to future generations.
The list of graduates is as follows:
*Adriana Miranda Ruiz
*Alonso Hernandez Rea
*Cesar Galache
*Gilardo Sanchez Gonzalez
*Jose Chavez Posos
*Lady Vanessa Lindsey
*Lucia Contreras
*Luis Ana Gil Veliz
*Marisol Olazabal
*Rosa Robles
Herera says plans for future academy classes are “in the works” at this time.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
