Chamber kicks off 2019 Minority Business Accelerator program

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The Greenville Chamber of Commerce has kicked off its 2019 Minority Business Accelerator program with 17 new and sustaining participants, representing minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses, as well as businesses that operate in low to moderate income communities throughout the Upstate.

The year-long accelerator program includes sessions on business and strategic assessment, balancing cash flow and bottom line, marketing and sales, and resources for growth, according to a news release. Participants ultimately will deliver three-year strategic growth action plan presentations to business experts and peers.

Since its inception in 2013, the Greenville Chamber’s Minority Business Accelerator program has seen more than $22.4 million in contracts awarded and revenue increases, and has created approximately 214 jobs, the release said.

Seventeen participants have been selected for the 2019 class following an application and interview process.

• Drayton Auston, HD Auston Moving Systems
• Erica Berg, Collective Music Solutions, LLC
• Tiffney Davidson-Parker, Universal Therapeutic Services LLC
• Raygan France, Memoirs Events & Catering
• Stacey Gardin, Smit’N Photography LLC
• Michael Goldsmith, G-Force Carpet Cleaning
• Andre Harrison, Heart of the Carolinas Medical Supply
• Chris Hendrix, Window Genie of Greenville
• Kendra McKinney, Little Learners Academy
• Angela Pyles, B Major Piano Studio LLC
• Patrick Ratliff, Up and Up Coaching
• Jill Rose, Perceptive Recruiting
• Jackie Saunders, Memoirs Events & Catering
• Michelle Smith, The Parent Pal
• Shan Smith, Good Sense Automation LLC
• Mindy Tobin, Secondary Solutions
• Vanessa Young, CleanizerPro