Pat Bradley

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SOMERSET – Entrepreneurs come in all types, sizes and stages of success. That’s what SKED Small Business Training Specialist Pat Bradley has learned from working with 86 of the region’s small business owners and entrepreneurs over the past six months, as part of Entrepreneurial SMARTS. And, that’s why she trained to be a facilitator for the newest entrepreneurial training program: “Be Strategic: Grow Your Business” in June.

Bradley is one of only four Kentuckians to receive training to become a facilitator for “Be Strategic - Grow Your Business” at a two-day seminar in Lexington. She trained alongside TOURSEKY staff members Michelle King and Sandy Roseberry and Bill Schutters of Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation.

“Be Strategic: Grow Your Business” is a series designed for established entrepreneurs and existing business owners that are ready to take their business to the next level of growth by improving the effectiveness of their business through strategically planning for growing sales, improving profitability and realizing employee growth.

Only 17 individuals have been trained as program facilitators. Facilitator training has been completed in three states, including Kentucky, to date.

Bradley says it’s what she’s learned as part of the SKED’s very successful small business training program Entrepreneurial SMARTS that led her to see the need to develop a more advanced training program for the region’s current small business owners.

“In our quest to support small business development, SKED realizes that, while a substantial investment must be made in supporting and training our entrepreneurs and new small business owners, we must also address the unique needs of existing, established small businesses in our area,” Bradley explained. “Through our Entrepreneurial SMARTS - Simple Methods And Reality-based Training for Success - trainings, we are providing entrepreneurs and new small business owners with essential skills for planning, starting and operating a successful small business.”

Entrepreneurial SMARTS has been very successful in the first six months of its existence. The flagship program boasts an 89 percent completion rate among participants.

“We also realize though that there are a number of small businesses in Southeast Kentucky that have successfully operated for a few years but have reached a point where their growth has leveled off or may actually be going through somewhat of a decline,” she added. “These more established businesses need support in determining how to most effectively reach their potential in today’s market, how to successfully and strategically grow their business. This “Be Strategic - Grow Your Business” training model will be of a tremendous benefit in the development of a complete training program that will enable SKED to serve these businesses and assist them in their goals of continued and expanded success.”

For more information on this new training program for established businesses, watch the SKED website or contact Pat Bradley at pat.sked@nwcable.net.

SKED continues to offer Entrepreneurial SMARTS classes this summer. The program has already been beneficial to nearly 100 hundred residents across the region over the past six months.

The next round of classes will begin in Stanford in August.

Classes will be offered August 6; August 13; August 20 and August 27 at the historic L&N Depot, 1866 North Depot St., Stanford, Ky. Cost is only $25 per person.

At these training sessions, entrepreneurs and small business owners are instructed in basic knowledge about starting, financing and operating a business and planning for success. Class participants are also given the tools needed to determine if business ownership is for them. If these entrepreneurs go on to start their own business, this training will give them a tremendous advantage by giving them access to the skill sets needed to properly get their business off the ground and running smoothly. Existing small business owners will get the support they need to advance the growth of their business and operate a solid, reliable investment. Upon successful completion of this training, participants receive a certificate recognizing their achievements

For more specifics, future training locations, and to register, visit SKED’s website at www.southeastkentucky.com or contact Bradley by phone at (606) 335-1488 or by email at pat.sked@nwcable.net. You may visit: www.southeastkentucky.com for more information about SKED’s services and about Entrepreneurial SMARTS.