After working over 25 years in corporate America, I, like millions of other Americans decided to take the entrepreneurial leap. Drawing on many years of professional experience, having earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and studying human behavior at the graduate level, I put all my skills, knowledge and abilities to work as an author, speaker and business development consultant.
My journey began with attending any and every low-cost or no-cost seminar or workshop throughout Southern California. While I didn’t find the information being disseminated difficult to comprehend, I did, however, find it vague and not very helpful. And more often than not, walked away not knowing any more than what I knew when I walked in.
It seemed that for every question asked, the only response given by the speaker was, “well if you’d like to schedule an appointment with my office, we can. . .” Needless to say, not only did I feel cheated in having spent the time attending these sessions, I also felt as though I was simply a part of an audience for basically unknown consultants to peddle their wares.
This was the impetus to the first edition of the 1997 first edition of “The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan.” It was created to give the business novice clear and easy-to-understand direction in the business start-up and planning process. Also, provide the experienced entrepreneur with the necessary tools to grow, expand and sustain their existing businesses.
As a result of publishing and the national distribution of “The Start of Something BIG: . . .” I had the pleasure of being featured in an 8-part series on business planning in Black Enterprise magazine. In addition, I’ve had the opportunity to share the stage in conferences, workshops and seminars with Fortune 100 companies such as ExxonMobil, Walt Disney Company, Texaco, Bank of America, and federal government agencies to include U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Small Business Administration just to name a few.
In 2010, I earned a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Communications. Prior to that accomplishment was my successful completion and certification in the Working Ahead: The National Workforce and Career Development Instructor Training Program, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Prudential Foundation, the Fund for New Jersey and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
Currently I serve as the Executive Director of the Southwest Suburban Chicago Business Innovation Center (SSCBIC) located in Bolingbrook, Illinois. The SSCBIC is a start-up entrepreneurial/ professional development organization in partnership with the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Bolingbrook Office of the Mayor to provide entrepreneurial training and professional development to start-ups and existing businesses primarily in southwest Chicagoland. My past experience in small business development and business incubation spans over 28 years.
Today, I reside in Bolingbrook, Illinois with my sons Marcus, Daniel and James. My goal is to continue to promote entrepreneurship by providing the most helpful, innovative and contemporary instruction available.
My journey began with attending any and every low-cost or no-cost seminar or workshop throughout Southern California. While I didn’t find the information being disseminated difficult to comprehend, I did, however, find it vague and not very helpful. And more often than not, walked away not knowing any more than what I knew when I walked in.
It seemed that for every question asked, the only response given by the speaker was, “well if you’d like to schedule an appointment with my office, we can. . .” Needless to say, not only did I feel cheated in having spent the time attending these sessions, I also felt as though I was simply a part of an audience for basically unknown consultants to peddle their wares.
This was the impetus to the first edition of the 1997 first edition of “The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan.” It was created to give the business novice clear and easy-to-understand direction in the business start-up and planning process. Also, provide the experienced entrepreneur with the necessary tools to grow, expand and sustain their existing businesses.
As a result of publishing and the national distribution of “The Start of Something BIG: . . .” I had the pleasure of being featured in an 8-part series on business planning in Black Enterprise magazine. In addition, I’ve had the opportunity to share the stage in conferences, workshops and seminars with Fortune 100 companies such as ExxonMobil, Walt Disney Company, Texaco, Bank of America, and federal government agencies to include U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Small Business Administration just to name a few.
In 2010, I earned a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Communications. Prior to that accomplishment was my successful completion and certification in the Working Ahead: The National Workforce and Career Development Instructor Training Program, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Prudential Foundation, the Fund for New Jersey and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
Currently I serve as the Executive Director of the Southwest Suburban Chicago Business Innovation Center (SSCBIC) located in Bolingbrook, Illinois. The SSCBIC is a start-up entrepreneurial/ professional development organization in partnership with the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Bolingbrook Office of the Mayor to provide entrepreneurial training and professional development to start-ups and existing businesses primarily in southwest Chicagoland. My past experience in small business development and business incubation spans over 28 years.
Today, I reside in Bolingbrook, Illinois with my sons Marcus, Daniel and James. My goal is to continue to promote entrepreneurship by providing the most helpful, innovative and contemporary instruction available.