The Talbot County Council recognized Talbot Works Business Academy Cohort III graduates at a recent meeting. Pictured front row, from left: Cassandra Vanhooser, Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism; Councilwoman Keasha Haythe; Maria Bowser, In Vein Phlebotomy; Dr. Kristen Lysett, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center; Ann Casamento, Easton Advanced Aesthetics; Nolan Laguna, Laguna Floor Care; Olamide Adejumo, Motivar Consulting. Back Row: Lamont Powell, The Powell’s Trash Removal; Johanna Duke, Jo’s Southern Kitchen & Bar; Jen Wagner, Jen Wagner Mosaics; Pam Limberry, Care Partner Perfection; Jeffrey Mathias, Mathias Marine Services; Michelle Haynes, Care Partner Perfection; Jair Devereaux, JustJai2; Demar Mundy, DM Trucking; Amanda Cook, Tilghman Island Baking Company; and Monika Mraz, Doehrn Tea Co.
The Talbot County Council awarded graduation certificates to 14 participants of the Talbot Works Business Academy on Tuesday, April 8, at their regular meeting. The business owners recently completed an 8-week entrepreneurship course sponsored by the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism.
Business Academy Cohort III graduates include Olamide O. Adejumo, Motivar Consulting; Maria R. Bowser, In Vein Phlebotomy, LLC; Ann M. Casamento, Easton Advanced Aesthetics, LLC; Amanda J. Cook, Tilghman Island Baking Company, LLC; Jair A. Devereaux, JusJai2, LLC; Johanna G. Duke, Southern Jo’s Kitchen and Bar; Nolan D. Laguna, Laguna Floor Care, LLC; Pamela N. Limberry, Care Partner Perfection, LLC; Kristen A. Lycett, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, Inc.; Jeffrey Mathias, Mathias Marine Services, LLC; Monika Mraz, Doehrn Tea Company, LLC; Demar L. Mundy, DM Trucking, LLC; Lamont T. Powell, The Powell’s Trash Removal Service, LLC; and Jen E. Wagner, Jen Wagner Mosaics.
The program was made possible through funding from the Mid-Shore Regional Council and the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund. The course was developed and conducted by WHC, a Baltimore-based consulting firm that offers business capital, coaching, and operational solutions to emerging companies.
“This has been important in helping me examine some aspects of the business and establish a better foundation for it,” says Mathias Marine owner Jeffrey Mathias. “I look forward to seeing what we can do going forward now.”
Each cohort member was required to meet the program’s guidelines for inclusion in the class, including demonstrating the ability to scale their operations, hire people, and have a positive impact on their community.
“This program has helped me prepare for my business’s future by reassessing outdated practices and embracing smarter strategies,” Jen Wagner adds. “It shifted my mindset on using loans and working capital. It really gave me clarity on my next 12 months, allowing me to actively seek new jobs and opportunities, increase my revenue, and drive my growth.”
Class members were also required to attend and participate in each class, meet with senior advisors specializing in law, accounting, human resources, and marketing, create cash flow projections, and give a final 15-minute presentation detailing their plans for business growth.
“The program absolutely helped us to refocus our attention on not letting our business be just a hobby, but an actual functioning business,” says Pamela Limberry, who remarked that the cash flow projection tools were especially beneficial for her business.
Amanda Cook, owner of Tilghman Island Baking Co., agrees. “For me, this class was a great perspective to take a step back and really look at my business and focus on the parts that need to be focused on,” Cook notes. “It gives you a different thought process on how to creatively solve problems.”
At the graduation, Cassandra Vanhooser, director of Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism, reflected on the program’s impact on all three cohorts of graduates. She noted the successes of several of the business owners, including those who have expanded and hired new employees.
“This is what your investment is doing in this community,” Vanhooser told the Council in her closing remarks. “And this is why we asked you to support this program.”
Vanhooser says each graduate receives a certificate and a $2,000 grant to reinvest in their business. All cohorts are required to report on their business growth over the coming years, including increased revenue and the number of jobs they’ve added.
Program facilitator Will Holmes joined the graduates at Scossa Restaurant for a reception and thanked the Talbot County Council and the Economic Development team for their support in bringing the program to the County.
“The program is eight weeks long,” says Holmes. “We focus heavily on cash flow projections as a foundation of the program to ensure that people understand their numbers, so they can plan ahead on when to hire people, when to expand, and how much it will cost. It helps them understand how to access capital and how to build the team that they need so they can really grow and be successful.”
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
Business owners and managers are encouraged to receive the department’s Talbot Works newsletter and breaking business news by subscribing at www.talbotworks.org. The department can also be reached at 410-770-8058 or by visiting their office at 215 Bay Street, Easton, Md.
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