THE INTERISE 2011 IMPACT REPORT Building Communities Creating Jobs Growing Businesses Daniel Cordon, Haley House Bakery Café, Boston 11 Grow Partner Invest www.interise.org INTERISE where small business goes to grow
WHO WE ARE Interise is a non-profit organization with one niche and one big impact. We work with existing small businesses who have survived the start-up stage and are ready to achieve second stage growth. Through our award-winning StreetWise MBA curriculum, Interise gives underserved business owners the new knowledge, know-how and connections to help them grow their businesses, create jobs, and become community leaders. OUR PEOPLE Participants There is no typical StreetWise MBA participant. We serve established business owners in any industry: from a valve manufacturer, to a local restaurant, to an accounting firm. What unites them is a passion for their businesses, as well as a commitment to growth. That s where we come in. We help participants get to the next level of success so they can grow their businesses and their communities. A small group discussion during the New York City Strategic Steps for Growth program. "This program was a game changer for my company, as well as those of my peers in the class. Each of us gained a wealth of knowledge and information to help us better manage our companies and plan for future growth." George N Koulouris Atlanta 11, Grecian Gyro Instructors We start with engaging, committed instructors from around the country who have relevant business expertise, as well as coaching experience or experience instructing adult learners. Then we train them on our curriculum and our facilitative, peer-based learning model. Throughout the program itself, we provide them with regular participant feedback and support coaching from veteran instructors and Interise staff. And it works. Relationships with participants are built. Aha! moments are experienced. Lasting impact is made. And jobs are created. Steve Pitcairn Memphis Instructor since 2008 CEO and Certified Business Coach There is nothing like success in business to spark energy in a local community. The graduates have shown me that committed business owners with a solid growth plan can and will succeed, despite the many distractions and challenges. Cynthia Franklin New York City Instructor since 2010 Senior Associate Director and Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, Cofounder of a Marketing and Media Company Since we launched, our 41 grads have won $24 million in government contracts, made 160 new hires, secured $1.6 million in financing and increased revenues by 41%. I know first-hand the power of these entrepreneurs to transform communities. PARTICIPANT PROFILE 10 YEARS Average length of time as business owner $1,600,000 Average annual revenue 13 Average number of employees 92% of participants are female, minorities, Native Americans, immigrants, or operating a business in a lower income community
OUR NETWORK By the end of 2012, nearly 1,800 small business owners in over 35 communities will have utilized the StreetWise MBA curriculum to help them grow their businesses. C.Denise Griffith Detroit 11 GS Group LLC The program elements provided us with the necessary metrics and critical thinking to take us from a survival stage to a growth stage. We've grown our environmental business by 25%, landed two significant contracts, and increased our staffing by 50%. Tony Hill Baltimore 11 Edwards & Hill Office Furniture The tools that I now have helped me immediately turn things around from the inside out. We increased revenue $1.5M and made 3 additional hires. We are ahead of schedule of the 3 year growth plan that was the culmination of this amazing program. Spokane Portland New Bedford Rapid City Manny Ortega Albuquerque 10 Ortega's Appliance Service Today The program not only gave me confidence in myself and enhanced my business knowledge; it improved my management skills and helped me to become even more efficient. Since completing the program, our business revenue is up 40% so far in 2012. Additionally, we were named the recipient of the 2012 New Mexico Ethics in Business Award. Sandra Senegal Purdom New Orleans 10 QMS Inc The program encouraged me and challenged me to think about innovative ways to approach problems and look at industry and economic trends in a way that was new. Had I not taken the course, I probably would have given up my business ownership dream in this economic time of crisis.
GROWING PARTNERSHIPS Since our inception, we knew strong partners would be essential to achieving our mission and maximizing our impact. So, after delivering the StreetWise MBA locally for three years, Interise expanded nationally with our innovative partnership model. Our partner organizations deliver our StreetWise MBA curriculum as part of their own programming in order to build upon the local network of resources and connections already in place. INTERISE PROVIDES PARTNER PROVIDES COMMUNITY GAINS Interise Curriculum The StreetWise MBA TM Local Instructor New, sustainable, local jobs Economic growth Training and Support Program Manager Stronger community leaders Quiality Assurance and Impact Evaluation Venue Revenue from participant tution Ability to scale program and impact quickly The Interise program has returned real and measurable outcomes for New York City s entrepreneurs that has helped strengthen the City s economy. Participants graduate the program feeling confident, proud, connected, and supported. They leave ready to make changes and prepared for success." Colleen Galvin, Assistant Commissioner, New York City Small Business Services In the past five years, Interise has helped our partners successfully bring the Interise curriculum to their communities across the country. Our impact data and quality assurance measures only confirm that our partners are achieving high-impact results. Here are some examples of our partner s programs: U.S. Small Business Administration Name: Emerging Leaders (e200) Initiative Start Date: 2008 New York City Department of Small Business Services and the NYU Stern School of Business Name: Strategic Steps for Growth Start Date: 2010 New Addition: A premier program specifically for media and entertainment-related businesses University of Pittsburgh s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence Name: Urban Power to Prosper Start Date: January 2012 Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Name: Executive Entrepreneur Program powered by Citi Start Date: October 2012
PROVEN IMPACT How do we know we re making a difference? Since our inception we have methodically evaluated ourselves, our instructors, and our partners. We also utilize a set of social and economic impact indicators to understand the progress participants make after completing our curriculum. 684 participants from the past three years responded to our annual survey asking how business was in calendar year 2011 (a 73% response rate). Below you can find the impact they ve had on their local communities despite these challenging economic times. Creating and Preserving Local Jobs Net New Preserved 1,015 516 147 2,657 4,126 7,423 2009 2010 2011 In 2011, private sector job growth increased by an average of 2%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. During this same time period, our participants reported 14% job growth. Creating Jobs Growing Businesses Building Communities 1,015 net new jobs created 73% added or preserved all jobs 60% offer health insurance to employees $41,865 average starting salary of new employees 64% increased their revenue $29,582,044 in new financing secured $389,170,054 awarded in new government contracts $13,815,585 in new business generated from connections made through the program 80% are actively involved in their local communities 81% encourage their employees to be active in their local communities 76% of employees hired from local communities 92% would highly recommend the Interise curriculum to a fellow business owner Data was collected in May 2012 and reflects information from calendar year 2011. RESEARCH The recession of 2007-2009 had a dramatic impact on our economy and no one was harder hit than the small business sector. Yet while most of those around them struggled, some small businesses continued to grow and thrive. Interise s practitioner -based study, Navigating Uncertainty and Growing Jobs: Considering Small Employer Firm Resilience During Challenging Economic Times, examines the relationship between resiliency and particular aspects of strategy to better understand the skills and capabilities that are critical for small firm success during periods of economic flux. To learn more, go to: www.interise.org/resiliency
ABOUT INTERISE Interise stimulates economic revitalization in lower income communities. We provide a diverse group of small business owners with entrepreneurial education, new networks, and access to markets. Our small business community creates jobs, grows businesses, and develops community leaders. Located at the intersection of street smarts and executive education, our StreetWise MBA curriculum is the foundation of Interise s national programs and membership network. The StreetWise MBA curriculum helps participants identify not only what to do to grow their businesses, but how to make those key changes. The final output is an actionable, customized Strategic Growth Action Plan for each participant. To keep learnings relevant and tangible throughout the program, we utilize a live case method to analyze participant businesses. Locally, Interise directly delivers our curriculum across Massachusetts as part of our signature StreetWise MBA program. Our flagship program combines our interactive curriculum with exclusive workshops, networking events, and mentoring. After completing the curriculum, participants have access to a growing national network designed to provide continued support and accountability as they implement their growth plans. Together, We Rise BOARD OF DIRECTORS Josh Tolkoff Chair Stephen Kraus Treasurer Susan Labandibar Secretary Lorryane "Dina" Yen Chu Joseph Ganley Jean Horstman CEO Chris Moy Tanya Pope Manjari Raman Christopher Richmond Joseph Wadlinger George Gendron Founding Board Member Emeritus Georgia Murray Founding Board Member Emeritus Andrew Wolk Founding Board Member Emeritus OUR SPONSORS Interise would like to thank our past and present sponsors for helping make our programs possible. Growth Partners Partners Investors Educational and Community Partners Citizens Bank Deshpande Foundation Chris Gabrieli Mass Growth Capital Corporation Massachusetts Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Smith Family Foundation Surdna Foundation Josh Tolkoff The Boston Foundation Citi Curry Printing Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation Ernst & Young Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce People s United Community Foundation Proskauer Staples Foundation for Learning TD Charitable Foundation Theodore Edson Parker Foundation United States Department of Agriculture City of Boston Boston Private Bank & Trust Company Bob's Discount Furniture Enterprise Bank Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology Boston University Institute of Technology, Entrepreneurship & Commercialization College of the Holy Cross Clark University Graduate School of Management Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) Lowell Office of Economic Development Lowell Small Business Assistance Center Northern Essex Community College The Quest Center University of Massachusetts - Lowell Northeastern University First non-profit winner www.interise.org (617) 350 6300