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 director and president and CEO of August Moon Consulting LLC. “The enthusiasm of this cohort has been something to witness.” The inaugural 2024 graduating cohort included: Tonya Bisker with Copy Connection, Danielle Brinsky with Alleghany Industrial Insulation Company, Greg Gleason with Pizza Napoli’s Brick Oven Pizza Trailer and Catering Services, Sue Gleason with Pizza Napoli & Restaurant, Devon Kloss with State Farm, Jim Minard with Team Minard Productions, Jody Murphey with Julie’s Ever After, Mauri Shembeda with Bloom Organic Beauty Bar, and Petra Stana with Allegheny Store Fixtures.
Mentors in the program included: Bill Andrews, a partner at Pace Management; Sarah Boser, former owner of a jewelry business featuring hand-crafted glass beads; Lisa Duke, retired owner of Lisa’s Hairport; Jeff Gabel, facilities manager at Zippo Manufacturing; Julie Marasco, retired as regional president of the Northwest PA Region Northwest Bank; Lisa Miller, senior product manager at W. R. Case and Sons Cutlery; Tom Weible, field representative at NWIRC; and Craig Womeldorf with Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA.
The ELM Business Accelerator is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program.
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