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2 University of Hartford's Entrepreneurial Center | Women's Business Center You've heard the saying "It takes a village to raise a child." From our perspective, it takes a team to grow a business, and our best clients realize that behind every successful entrepreneur is a solid support system. Clearly, the women and men who founded the Entrepreneurial Center in 1985 and added the Women's Business Center in 1999 had the vision and passion of entrepreneurs. Today, as we proudly continue the legacy of Hartford College for Women, we have become part of the University of Hartford's Barney School of Business. What an honor it is to be part of an organization that has had such a positive impact on the community and economic development of Connecticut. I joined the staff in 1999 at an important milestone in the center's history —the award of a Women's Business Center project grant by the U.S. Small Business Association's Office of Women's Business Ownership. Since then, the center has evolved significantly—from assisting a few hundred start-up and newly self- employed individuals to mentoring more than 1,000 entrepreneurs each year. We assist businesses at every stage and in every industry using an integrated range of services—education, advising, and technical assistance—customized to the needs and goals of each client. Every day we are empowering entrepreneurs to make their vision a reality and become competent, confident, and connected business leaders. I hope you will be inspired, as I am, by the entrepreneurial journeys and quotes to follow. These successes are made possible through the generous public and private support of the center's programs as well as the commitment and persistence of our clients and staff. We look forward to another 30 years. —Sandra Cahill Director, Entrepreneurial Center 2 Welcome 4 Women's Business Center (WBC) 6 Hartford Small Business Technical Assistance Program (HSBTAP) 7 Small Business Technical Assistance Program (SBTAP) 8 Training Resources 9 Advising 10 Women's Business Roundtable (WBR) 11 Small-Contractor Development Program 12 Connecticut Business Matchmaker 13 Financial Fitness Power and Progress Business Women's Symposium 14 Barney School of Business 15 Center Impact CONTENTS (Left to right, starting in front) Sandra Cahill, Director; Shelli McMillen, Marketing Manager; Milena Erwin, Women's Business Center Manager; Pamela Kellom, Client Services Administrator; Elaine Thomas Williams, Business Advisor; Jim Lofink, Database & Technology Coordinator; Lacey Banks McGill, Business Advisor Project Manager Shelli McMillen Marketing Manager Entrepreneurial Center Editor Susan Shalhoub Plum Editorial LLC Contributing Writer Cheryl Harris Forbes Harris Forbes Assoc. Art Direction Lynn Mika Hartford Business Journal Photographers Shana Sureck Shana Sureck Photography Rob Kavaler Graff Public Solutions LLC John Garaventa Garaventa Photography © 2015 All rights reserved. Produced by the Hartford Business Journal Custom Publishing Division. WELCOME Contributing Staff