21 Arkansas Female Entrepreneurs Join The Venture Center’s 2023 VCWoman Achieve Program
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Feb. 14, 2023) – Twenty-one female entrepreneurs from across Arkansas are participating in the 2023 VCWoman Achieve program, an innovative statewide mentorship opportunity hosted by The Venture Center in Little Rock.
With support from Woman Run by Wright Lindsey Jennings and other community partners, The Venture Center pairs up-and-coming women entrepreneurs with experienced professionals to help build their businesses and provide them with examples of success to follow. More than 120 applications were submitted from across the state and the finalists were selected based on their diversity in location and background. This year’s participants include:
- Wendy Schay + Jill McDonald – The Croissanterie
- Miya Blackmon – Little Rock Lightening Basketball Team
- Kanesha Adams – Bearapy Bookshelf
- Sarah Heer – Arkie Travels
- Sara Hurst – Bella’s Kitchen & Wellness
- Crystal Haner – Enova Cosmetics Health & Beauty
- Vernice Nazare King – KingCare Painting/Commercial Construction Contractors of Arkansas
- Shana Owens – GammaMed
- Marisa Cahill – Cahill Exterior Design
- Samantha Stewart – Certified Pies
- Kristin Knox – Opportunity Knox Media
- Kristi Jones – Synolo Wellness
- Jennifer Sammons – Alpha InJenuity, LLC
- Amanda Ware – Hello Holidays
- Mandy French – StillPoint Accounting
- Tina Gilbert – Next Level Training Solutions Group, LLC
- Megan Heim – Big Charlie’s Fireworks
- Mary Beth Breshears – Photographer Mary Beth
- Victoria Sierra – Sierra Group Roofing & Solar
- Essie Burton – Nutrish by NQ
“Learning directly from like-minded, successful women is the key to what makes a program like VCWoman Achieve so critical for uplifting Arkansas entrepreneurs,” said Mimi San Pedro, chief strategy officer of The Venture Center. “Our mentors offer these participants essential tools, support and encouragement they need to be dynamic professionals as they work hard to foster and grow their businesses in our communities.”
Miya Blackmon, a 2023 mentee, looks forward to what she’ll learn during her time as a program participant: “After hearing the impactful testimonials from the 2022 class, I know I’m in the best possible position to grow as a young female entrepreneur and transform my business. My classmates and I have already been matched with a mentor, and the next 10 months hold great promise for learning new skills, expanding our networks, and sharpening our skills to ultimately take our businesses to the next level.”
Female Arkansas residents from all industries are encouraged to visit www.venturecenter.co for more information on how to apply for the 2024 class as a mentor or mentee.
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About The Venture Center
The Venture Center is a globally recognized Arkansas-based Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO) that helps entrepreneurs turn their start-ups into viable, high-growth businesses. By leveraging the expertise of a world-class team of mentors, intensive programming, and introductions to the investor community, The Venture Center serves as an engine for economic growth in Arkansas and beyond.