10,000 Small Businesses Alumni Meet With Top Leaders

Alumni from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia program gathered March 13 with City officials and a top Goldman Sachs executive for a roundtable discussion and networking event.

More than 70 business owners met at the Kensington design studio of Printfresh, LLC, owned by program alumna Amy Voloshin. They discussed the challenges and opportunities facing business owners in the area and how the program has helped them.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses – Greater Philadelphiais an initiative to help small businesses create jobs and economic growth by providing entrepreneurs with a practical business education, access to capital and business support services.

The program began in 2013 and two cohorts have completed the curriculum which covers accounting, human resources, negotiation and marketing, among other topics. More program information and an application are available online.

During the event, John F. W. Rogers, Executive Vice President of Goldman Sachs addressed the program alumni at the event. Mayor Michael A. Nutter also spoke and Interim President Judith Gay, Ph.D., led a roundtable discussion with 13 program alumni. Other VIPs in attendance: Nicole Pullen Ross, Goldman Sachs Mid-Atlantic Region Head; Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; and Mark Pinsky, President and CEO of the Opportunity Finance Network and a member of the 10,000 Small Businesses Advisory Council.

"It was a wonderful celebration with almost every one of our alums having a chance to interact with each other, Goldman Sachs officials and key partners of the program. The energy was palpable," said Margaret Berger Bradley, executive director of 10,000 Small Businesses– Greater Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Inquirer published a business feature story on March 12 hailing the benefits of the program, headlined "Back to School: Goldman Sachs-CCP Program Benefits Small Businesses".