North Central College launches eight-week business accelerator training program for entrepreneurs and business owners

Do you need to jump start your business? If so, ConVerge, North Central College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, may be able to help you. This week, ConVerge announced the opening of the application process for their new eight-week “Business Accelerate Entrepreneur” training program to help business owners grow their businesses. The once-a-week workshops, starting in October, will be led by industry experts and will provide resources to help business owners re-invigorate their company, make the growth process easier and achieve the next level in business success.

Entrepreneur Martha Carney and ConVerge executive director said, “It takes more than capital to grow a business. Our new ‘Business Accelerate Entrepreneur’ training program shows how a community comes together to help teach business owners how to identify and implement on growth. This is evident by the generous support of both Wintrust Community Bank and law firm Ice Miller LLP who are underwriting the majority of the cost for the program and participating in the training.”

“We are excited to be involved with this unique new training program ConVerge is coordinating for business owners,” said Ice Miller Partner Dean Leffelman. “We work with many business owners throughout DuPage County, Chicago and nationally, and we look forward to sharing some of our best practices at the workshops.”

“At Wintrust we focused on being involved with activities such as the ‘Business Accelerator Entrepreneur’ training program that offer resources to business owners,” said Naperville Bank and Trust Market President Tom Miers. “The better prepared businesses are, the stronger they will become. This is an exciting program that the college is offering the business community.”

The Naperville-based business accelerator ConVerge was created to address the skills gaps for any business owners who have customers and are generating revenue. Many times business owners lack time, focus, access to key employees and the internal processes necessary to grow quickly.

Business Accelerate Entrepreneur participants will engage in eight, Thursday workshops that will focus on both soft and hard skills, delivered in a small group with a maximum of ten attendees. Participants will learn how to identify and map growth opportunities; discover how to analyze their business; find out how to build strong teams of employees; gain knowledge on how to outline a unique implementation plan and present it to the group for feedback, and then implement it in their business. Participants will be held accountable with homework and can also use the free coaching and mentoring offered at ConVerge.

The eight Business Accelerate Entrepreneur training workshops will cover:

• Identifying Growth Opportunities
• Become a Master of Profits
• People as Your Best Asset
• Building a Sales and Marketing Team
• Implement Process Improvement
• Learn To Become Bankable
• How to Execute on a Growth Plan

Carney said, “the ‘Business Accelerate Entrepreneur’ training program is unique because each group is limited to eight to 10 attendees, so it’s very hands-on and practical. Our environment at ConVerge encourages business owners to learn from industry experts and each other, make connections, and receive mentoring and ongoing support.”

Each workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the campus of North Central College at the Edward Everett Rall House, 329 S. for a cost of $588; the bulk of the cost of the program is covered by our sponsors. Participants are asked to apply to the eight-week leadership program before October 12, 2017 by using the following link: https://www.convergenaperville.org/accelerate-entrepreneur-program.

This series and all programs at ConVerge are free and open to North Central College students.

“ConVerge on campus gives the college students one more way to round out their leadership skills by connecting to fast-growing businesses using the services of ConVerge as they transition into the workforce,” said Carney.