MCCC Program Helps Women Entrepenuers Level the Playing Field

According to the U.S. Small Business Association, women owned 6.5 million out of 23 million nonfarm businesses in 2002, generating $940.8 billion in revenues, employing 7.1 million workers and paying $173.7 billion in payroll.

With more than 50 percent of the U.S. population owning fewer than 30 percent of its businesses, it seems that the playing field is still not level.

Enter Kimberle Levin and (MCCC).

To help women entrepreneurs gain the business skills they need to establish their businesses and help them thrive, MCCC is offering a new program—Growing Your Woman-Owned Business.

The program aims to provide women with practical marketing, business development, and financial solutions and strategies, as well as vital networking opportunities, beginning June 7.

The new program is an outgrowth of the Starting A Successful Woman-Owned Business Program, Levin said in an email interview.

The Starting A Successful Woman-Owned Business Program began in 2005 and has since taken on a life of its own at Montgomery County Community College.

“Interest in the program over the six years of its existence has been exceptional,” Levin said.

More than 300 women have participated in the Starting a Successful Woman-Owned Business Program. The Montgomery County Woman-Owned Business Network was created in the spring semester of 2007 to provide support to women who have participated in the Starting a Successful Woman-Owned Business Certificate Series.

“A membership program, it serves both aspiring entrepreneurs as well as existing women business owners, providing practical information,” Levin said.

The following year, a three-hour workshop was introduced to help women understand what would be required of them personally as business owners, Levin said.

The most recent program, Growing Your Woman-Owned Business, covers marketing, including the use of social media, an overview of accounting software and business development strategies. Levin will also coach participants in a one-on-one coaching session, she said. 

Levin is a successful entrepreneur who recently launched her seventh company. She founded and leads Teknuko, which provides information technology infrastructure services. She also leads Kimberle Levin Events and KidzTri3. The other companies she has established are JVC Technologies, Innovative Staffing Solutions, Telcom Assistance Center and Integrated Services Digital Networks.

Levin expects Starting A Successful Woman-Owned Business Program alumnae who both have and have not yet established businesses to enroll in the newest program, as well as women from the community who own enterprises. She hopes to keep the class small to facilitate personalized attention—about 12 students.

“The program will provide the participants with the ability to address two areas that we have found are of greatest challenge to small business owners: marketing and financial management,” she said. “It will allow them to comprehensively examine their marketing and develop a strategic marketing approach to develop or expand their markets. They will also be exposed to the techniques of successful personal selling.”

Networking is an important component of the program.

“As with all of the programs for women business owners, the participants will benefit from the support and ideas of classmates,” Levin said. “There is a strong sense of connection and community that develops among the students that provide motivation and encouragement to the women. These bonds are so strong that the students often continue to meet on an informal basis after the program has been completed.”