Entrepreneurship Institute Competition Selects Best Business Plan 2014

The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) and Entrepreneurship Institute of San Bernardino (EIOSB) have announced the winners of the awards for Best Business Plan 2014. Those competing had previously completed the Entrepreneurship Institute of San Bernardino six-course program which awarded them a certificate endorsed by the San Bernardino Community College District. The first place winner receives a $3,000 grant from the Economic Development and Corporate Training (EDCT) Division, which oversees the EIOSB; the second place winner receives $2,000. In addition to the Business Plan submission, the competitors, on behalf of their respective businesses, must submit a detailed grant application and then provide a post-grant accounting of how the funds were spent. Chancellor Bruce Baron said, “Our congratulations to the winners! The San Bernardino Community College District supports the activities of the EIOSB which brings new businesses into the marketplace. The Inland Empire benefits when new businesses succeed. The Entrepreneurship Institute helps those businesses grow by providing the aspiring business owner with the nuts and bolts of business ownership, creation and operation.” First place winner Karen Holritz and her business partner Breanna Strauss, a current student in the EIOSB program, own Custom Frames 4 U, a boutique frame shop that customizes frames using family heirlooms. Providing a complete package, including consultation, design, framing, display and delivery, they specialize in art preservation. Holritz said, “We provide personalized service – going to our clients’ home or business saves the client money and time, and has been the corner stone of our success.” The second place winner, Taffette Boykins, is the founder of RestRelaxRestore, a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to provide outreach services, educational training, guidance and support to the whole person through community outreach services. The Institute is led by EDCT CEO Matthew Isaac, Ph.D.; Bruce Underwood, MBA, CFO/Partner of B2B Staffing Services, Inc. and San Bernardino Valley College business instructor; and Professor Michael Assumma, MBA, chair of the Business Department at San Bernardino Valley College. Dr. Isaac noted, “Entrepreneurs are major drivers of economic growth locally and across the United States. However, to be a successful business owner, an entrepreneur needs training, mentoring and guidance. One of the vital basics for successful business ownership is a well-constructed, reasonable business plan. The competition allows a serious entrepreneur to have his or her business plan evaluated by experts. These two business plans were created by dedicated business owners who are ready to move forward to the next step of achievement. The EIOSB remains ready to support their efforts through our mentoring process.” The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) is one of 72 community college districts within the California Community College system, the largest educational system in the world, which encompasses 112 community colleges. The SBCCD has an 87 year history of providing its community and students with quality and affordable vocational certificates, associate’s degrees, and preparation for transfer to a four year college or university through San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) and Crafton Hills College (CHC). In addition, the Economic Development and Corporate Training Division (PDC) and KVCR TV-FM provide professional development and cultural and educational information to the community at large. The Economic Development and Corporate Training (EDCT) division is comprised of the Professional Development Center (PDC), the Donald F. Averill Applied Technology Training Center (ATTC), the Center for the Advancement of Nanotechnology (NanoCenter), Logistics Technology Program, Office of the ICT/Digital Media Deputy Sector Navigator, the Entrepreneurship Institute of San Bernardino, and the On-line Education Center (Ed2Go). EDCT provides a wide variety of customized and off-the-shelf training programs and consulting services aimed at assisting the advancement of businesses in the Inland Empire. The division is innovative and responsive in assisting employers with employee development, retention and job creation.