The Bradford Area Alliance’s inaugural cohort of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Mission (ELM) business accelerator program graduated Aug. 15. Launched in December 2023, the accelerator’s comprehensive nine-month program was designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs achieve greater success and balance by addressing critical business challenges and opportunities.
Reflecting on the program’s impact, Christian Smith, economic development specialist at the Bradford Area Alliance stated, “It has been inspiring to see the commitment and growth of our ELM cohort. These business owners and entrepreneurs have demonstrated remarkable resilience, creativity, and adaptability. Each of them are strong leaders in their own right.
” The graduation ceremony took place at Pennhills Club, where the graduating business owners received plaques of completion. Alliance Board members, ELM mentors, reactors, and subject matter experts, as well as both Allen Hopkins, area specialist and Tom Wellington, area director with USDA Rural Development, attended to celebrate the graduating class. Through the program, the graduates participated in a multi-day business owner renewal retreat, underwent assessments, heard from guest speakers, were paired with mentors and had access to coaching sessions.
“The ELM Program has been an amazing nine-month journey for the participants, and we are immensely proud of their growth as business owners,” said Althea Luehrsen, ELM Accelerator program dire.