An Award-Winning

Business & Leadership Development Program

A unique, award winning development program for small, minority owned businesses in Middlesex County and beyond. 

The program is sponsored by the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, funded by a generous grant from the Aetna, Inc. and is facilitated by professionals from THE ESSEX GROUP.

August, 2010: Hartford Business Journal News Release

Picture from the Middletown Press 

SIDE STREET TO MAIN STREET Graduation Ceremony held in

Middletown Chamber of Commerce

Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010

In attendance were Assistant Controller of the Aetna, Inc. Christopher Montross, Graduate Gee Williams,

and Master of Ceremonies and Facilitator from The Essex Group for the

Side Street to Main Street program, Jim Jackson.

A successful entrepreneur combines the vision and curiosity of a dreamer with the practical engineering of a builder.  A successful entrepreneur is goal directed. A successful entrepreneur is a leader in the community.

Developing an entrepreneur's leadership ability is significantly different from leadership training. 

In training, knowledge is transferred from one person to another.  Development occurs when knowledge is internalized to create behavioral changes, expressed as positive, results-oriented attitudes

 that generate desired actions and results.

The SIDE STREET TO MAIN STREET BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

 is a pragmatic, structured, yet open-ended approach to development. 

It is designed to help people who haven't had formal business training to develop the attitudes,

skills and qualities necessary for effective business success.

It is a process designed to engage people with similar interests in a program that finds their

core competencies and builds on them to expand the scope and profitability of their business.

The program builds success by focusing simultaneously on business planning, personal leadership attributes, management & time mastery skills and excellence in sales & customer service.

Individually, each person reflects the behavior and attitude of a goal-directed leader. 

Collectively, they form a powerful force that reinforces the achievement of their personal and business goals.

A sampling of skills and topics covered in the program are:

                                                Interpersonal and Business Skills

·      Know and Understand Yourself

-        Behavioral Style

-        Attitudes & Values

·      The Role of Behavioral Style in Business

·      Selling Skills

·      Time Management

·      Goal Setting for Success

·      Financial Planning for Business

·      Employment Regulations

 

Attitude Development

·      Positive Attitude Development

·      Developing Personal & Business Goals

·      Self Affirmation

·      Making Choices and Setting Priorities

 

Action Oriented Business Plan

·      Executive Summary

·      Industry Analysis

·      Target Markets and Competition

·      Strategies & Risk Assessment

·      Operations & Technology Plans

·      Management & Organization Structure

·      Milestones

·      The Financials

·      Your Exit Plan

 

On Thursday, September 9th, 2010, Orientation for the 2010-2011 Side Street to Main Street Program was held.  Twenty-five applicants came out to compete for the 16 openings for this year's program.  All had great ideas on starting, continuing or improving a business here in the state of Connecticut.

The Side Street to Main Street Class 14 program began on Tuesday October 5, 2010 with the winning 16 really great qualified participants ready to go to work. The group is working together and determined to make their ideas and business plans a success.

Pictures from  2009-2010 GRADUATING CLASS 13:

 Graduating students of the Side Street to Main Street Program 13 are as follows: (names do not correspond to picture)

Gee Williams, Artha Slade,  Margaret Rose Moore, Roberta Nyomo, Kaitlen McGriff, Al Mayo, Zoila Blanco,

 Loida John-Nicholson, Josette Hill-White, Angela Griffin-Wimberly, Ishmail Gaunichaux, Joseph Bennett III

and the two named the highest achieving, Reggie Holley and Will Ezell. 

Students attended the classes once a week for six months straight.
 

To date, 159 graduates of the program have used what they learned to build success and reduce the risk of failure in both the business and personal aspects of their lives. 

If you are interested in being a participate and graduate of the Award-Winning

SIDE STREET TO MAIN STREET BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

apply today by calling the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce at (860) 347-6924

and ask for Jennifer De Kine or email: jennifer@middlesexchamber.com