JAX Chamber Press Release

CONTACT: Jackie Artybridge, (904) 280-7960, jackie@clockworkmarketing.com JAX Chambers Entrepreneurial Growth Division Celebrates Get Smart!, Advanced Financial Matters, Financial Matters Graduations JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2013) The JAX Chambers Entrepreneurial Growth Division celebrated 37 new graduates of the Get Smart, Financial Matters and Advanced Financial matters programs during a ceremony held Tuesday at Jacksonville Country Day School. The lead sponsors for the entrepreneurial programs were Ennis and Pellum (Financial Matters), Fifth Third Bank (Get Smart!), and SunTrust Bank (Advanced Financial Matters). The graduates included Eric Jaffe, CEO of Integrity Consulting Group, a technology company Jaffe founded in January 2007. Before enrolling in the Get Smart! Program in the summer of 2012, Integrity Consulting Groups projected annual sales were under $1 million. Jaffes participation in the Get Smart! program yielded positive results. By the end of 2012, the companys sales increased to more than $1.25 million. During the fourth quarter of 2012, Integrity Consulting Group experienced its largest single sale to date and increased its profit margins an additional five percent. The Get Smart! program offers an invaluable experience to business leaders, Jaffe said. The program provides business owners with a sound foundation along with the understanding and knowledge to make better and more strategic business decisions. This experience resulted in greater profitability and immediate success for my company. The Get Smart! program challenges business owners to think critically about their business, practice decision-making skills, and endure all aspects of business alignment for long-term sustainability and growth. The six-month FastTrac Growth Venture program is a national curriculum developed by the Kauffman Foundation and combines hands-on mentoring with a series of training workshops. The Financial Matters program, offered through the Jacksonville Womens Business Center (JWBC) since 2005, links a woman business owner with a hand-selected pair of local, professional, volunteer mentors from the banking, accounting or financial industries. Business owners learn how to use financial reports and information as management tools. Beginning April 1, JWBC will accept applications for the 2013 Financial Matters class. The annual program launches in July and is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The graduate program of Financial Matters, Advanced Financial Matters, launched its first class in August 2012. The Chambers Entrepreneurial Growth Division provides mentoring, entrepreneurial education, consulting and networking opportunities to advance the success of entrepreneurs at every stage of business development. The Divisions Small Business Center, JWBC and GrowJAX departments serve the region and each offer unique services to drive business growth. Our programs are supporting the local economy with business growth and job creation, providing vital insight to assist business owners in meeting their business goals and objectives, said Entrepreneurial Growth Division Senior Director Carlton Robinson. There are many critical issues facing todays business owners, and our programs are playing a key role in their success and also helping to strengthen our local economy.
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For more information on the programs and services of the Entrepreneurial Growth Division, visit myjaxchamber.com and select the Start or Grow a Business tab. About JAX Chamber The JAX Chamber is the business membership organization dedicated to driving quality economic growth in Northeast Florida to make this region the best place to work, live and play. Membership provides the opportunity to connect with and buy from other Chamber members. The connections result in business growth and a more prosperous economy. About the Jacksonville Womens Business Center The Jacksonville Womens Business Center (JWBC) is a department of the JAX Chamber Foundation. It provides mentoring, training, consulting and networking opportunities to advance the success of women entrepreneurs at every stage of business development. JWBC primarily serves aspiring and existing women business owners in the seven-county area while also serving all entrepreneurs through programs such as LaunchPad. The JWBC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. ###

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