Biz Builders students show off plans
Excitement and passion were the buzz words at City Hall as students enrolled in the 2015 Cedartown Biz Builders program presented their business plans to a panel of judges Oct. 30.
Students Elizabeth Erwin, Cindy Roberson and Colleetoe Sanders condensed five months worth of hard work and determination into polished 10-minute presentations that highlighted the bulk of their business plans during the presentations. These three students have been enrolled in the Biz Builder program since May.
During these five months, students attended two intensive college- level business classes per month, along with one networking session. Students spent the bulk of their time focused on building a solid business plan with instruction provided by Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
Elizabeth Erwin, the program’s youngest participant, is a senior at Cedartown High School. She dreams of using her talent for sewing and fashion design to open a business that caters to women who want customized and unique clothing. Her business plan included analysis of her target market, marketing and promotion plans, employment needs and physical shop set-up.
Erwin plans to first attend design school and earn a degree before opening her business. However, she already has a pool of clients to whom she provides services. Those services include hemming, sewing, and creating fashion pieces from vintage clothing.
Cindy Roberson has worked with the developmental disability component of Highland Rivers Health for 15
years. Her goal with being part of the Biz Builder program is not to create a new business, but rather to bring more exposure to the current services that the developmental disability work force can provide to the area.
Currently, they provide commercial and residential cleaning services. Her plan included market analysis, a human resources plan and marketing strategy.
Colleetoe Sanders has a dream of opening a private cosmetology school that will serve Polk County and surrounding counties. Her business plan included a detailed financial plan, advertising strategy and student retention, as well as extensive research into federal student loan assistance. Sanders’ main goal with the private school is to provide top-notch training and produce students that will be sought after by salons. Sanders currently owns and operates Colleetoe’s Salon.
Students presented their business plans before a panel of judges which included Georgia Northwestern Technical College instructors Beverly Padgett and Mark Upton, City Manager Bill Fann, City Commission Chair Dale Tuck, GNTC Director of Business and Industry Services Jim Powell and Cedartown Biz Builder organizer Britt Madden Jr.
“These students have dedicated time from their busy schedules Their passion is evident and I was blessed to see it every time they met as they struggled to make time for the class. It is quite a commitment not only to the program, but a commitment to their own dreams to be better for themselves and others,” Madden said.
Both Fann and Tuck echoed Maddens sentiments.
“The City of Cedartown is happy to offer this type of program for folks as dedicated as you. The enthusiasm displayed here tonight speaks to your dedication and drive. You all make me very proud,” Fann said. “The information tonight has been so well presented,” Tuck said. “Listening to these presentations is so exciting and I wish you all the best as you continue after your dreams.”
Students were evaluated on a series of indicators and will receive their scores, as well as personal feedback from each judge, later this week.
All three students expressed appreciation for being allowed into the program and had nothing but positive things to say about their experience.
“I have learned so much from being in the Biz Builders Program,” Sanders said. “It has not only educated me, but inspired and encouraged me to be even better. It has given me the tools to be successful.”
Two of the program’s students – Sanders and Erwin -- are taking part in the People’s Choice online voting competition this year. These students are promoting their ideas in the form of a video presentation so that you can vote for your favorite.
Videos receiving the most votes will win a $1,000 prize. Students address several topics in the video, including why they feel their business is needed, who their customer base will be and how they plan to provide excellent customer service.
Residents can go to www.cedartowngeorgia.gov to watch the videos and vote.
Voting ends on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.
The Cedartown Biz Builder Program, born out of the Downtown Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning Workshop in 2014, strives to match current business owners and budding entrepreneurs with top-notch education — the premise being that educated business owners with a solid business plan increase their chance of survival in today’s market.
The City of Cedartown partnered with Georgia Northwestern Technical College in order to provide Biz Builder students with college-level instruction.