June 22nd Graduation Celebrates With Student Presentations and Thought Leadership Forum on Socially Responsible Business Practices: Governor Bill Ritter to Present
DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - June 15, 2010) - The Progress Group, a Denver based consulting firm, will hold a public 'Showcase' on June 22nd from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Mi Casa Resource Center (360 Acoma Street, Denver) to honor graduates of the 8-week Greater Good Academy who will present their triple-bottom-line (TBL) business plans. The Showcase is the culmination of a business development-training program for early stage entrepreneurs from Denver's underserved communities. Please visit Greater Good Academy Celebration for more information and to register.
Governor Bill Ritter will speak on the 'Importance of Civic-minded Businesses.' The program will also feature a discussion among Namaste Solar, Downing Street Garage and Snooze Restaurant about the competitive advantages of making environmental and social factors key to how a business is run.
The Spring 2010 Greater Good Academy provided hands-on training for fourteen early stage entrepreneurial businesses from underserved communities throughout Denver in how to use sustainable and triple bottom line business practices to become more profitable. A series of Mentors work with the students over a three-month period, to help scale their businesses.
Businesses in the class include: Urban Agriculture, Ethnic Foods, Environmental Workplace Improvements; Green Auto Repair, Trauma Relief for Veterans; Arts Education for Children; Graffiti Inspired Clothing and Social Media.
The curriculum centered on applying TBL principles to real life challenges and opportunities facing small businesses. The goal is to enable businesses who lack capital and information with the training and financial support necessary to scale their ventures. The GGA helps to strengthen local communities, incubate green businesses and increase self-sufficiency. Participants learned to develop mission-driven initiatives that incorporate an integrated financial, environmental and social perspective into their overall business strategy.
"Students in the Academy learned a range of socially responsible business practices," said Richard Eidlin, CEO of The Progress Group. "Most importantly, they learned how to incorporate Triple Bottom Line strategies that benefit their revenues and the planet. Graduates will be better equipped to secure new clients, distinguish themselves from competitors, and act as civic-minded business leaders in their communities."
The Denver Office of Economic Development is providing a grant to support the Academy through Mi Casa Resource Center. White Wave Foods Corporation also supported the Academy, while Colorado Enterprise Fund sponsored the Academy's Mentoring program, and Cantaloupe Systems and Waveland provided additional support. Mad Greens provided dinner during the Program.
The Greater Good Academy is a project of The Progress Group, LLC. The Academy is conducted in partnership with many of metro Denver's leading business development organizations, including Mi Casa Resource Center, Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute, Denver Metro Small Business Development Center, Mile High Business Alliance, Youth Biz and Metro State College.
For more information about the Greater Good Academy and to register, visit, http://proggroup.com/greater-good-project/spring-2010-class.html or call (303) 478-0131.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Richard Eidlin
(303) 478-0131