Randolph Community College Wraps Up First
Entrepreneur's Boot Camp for Prospective Small Business Owners

ARCHDALE (August 18, 2008)

Graduating from the first Entrepreneur's Boot Camp at Randolph Community College's Archdale Center were (front row, left to right) Debra Savvas, Ann Jackson, Denise Tolani, Patti Williams, (back row, left to right) Adam Wiley, Timothy Mainhart, Mike Wood, and Dilip Tolani.

Eight budding entrepreneurs graduated from Entrepreneur's Boot Camp on Thursday, Aug. 14, at Randolph Community College's Archdale Center. The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center and RCC sponsored this unique five-week course aimed at mid-life workers in transition.

Thomas May, assistant to the dean for economic development initiatives for the Bryan School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, was the guest speaker at the graduation. "This has not ended," he told the graduates. "You will network with each other, listen to each other. And don't worry if you fail. There are so many success stories about people who have failed, failed, failed, and then succeeded."

Graduate Denise Tolani told the crowd that "everyone in the class came with a dream to own their own business. Our business models may have changed since we came in the door, but the dream is still in our hearts." Tolani said that prior to taking the class, she didn't know about the resources available through RCC and the Small Business Center. "The program has exceeded every expectation that I had."

The students, who were awarded continuing education certificates of completion, their hometowns and their area of business interest are as follows:

Ann Jackson, Archdale, rental properties and affordable housing
Tim Mainhart, Greensboro, sustainable agriculture - organic
Debra A. Savvas, Asheboro, Christian bookstore and coffee shop
Denise Tolani, Archdale, commercial property development
Dilip V. Tolani, Archdale, energy transfer equipment & alternative fuels distribution
Adam Wiley, Seagrove, Seagrove potter
Patti Williams, Asheboro, animal rescue and dog kennel
Mike Wood, Thomasville, custom home building & development

The Entrepreneur's Boot Camp covered a wide variety of topics including business plans, legal considerations, marketing research, pricing models, bookkeeping and accounting, cash flow management, promotion, branding, personnel training, customer service, and e-commerce. As a class project, the group concentrated on marketing a local product, Brewer's Sauce, and developed an informational Web site for the sauce, created a blog, did taste-testing and surveys, and completed a marketing plan, which they presented to the owner, Bob Brewer, at the graduation ceremony.

Adam Wiley was chosen the Most Outstanding Camper by his fellow classmates.