Join us for The Edge Connection's 2014 Champions for Change Breakfast!
The Edge Connection is pleased to announce our upcoming Champions for Change Fundraising Breakfast on Wednesday, June 25 from 7:30 am to 9:30 am at the KSU Center in Kennesaw! We hope you will join us in celebration and support of alleviating poverty, creating jobs, and changing lives through microbusiness development.
Click here to register to attend the 2014 Edge Connections Champions for Change Breakfast
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Accelerated Learning Services
Accelerated Learning Educational Services (now Accelerated Learning Services) started in 2009. It is a community based for-profit organization created to assist youth, college students, adult learners, and teachers with comprehensive educational and support services. Accelerated Learning Services (ASL) tutoring services are offered both in-home and online to provide a personalized learning setting in an environment that is most comfortable to the student. ASL provides services to all 29 counties within the Atlanta Metropolitan Area and the Central Savannah River Area.
Contact Accelerated Learning Services Today!
Online: www.alstutoring.com
Phone: (404) 933-2235
Email: [email protected]
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 Steps to Starting a Small Business
Starting a new business means more than just ownership. Launching your own startup entails dealing with various amounts of paperwork and compliance at the state, federal, and local levels, as well. Additionally, there will come a day when you hope to expand your small business into something much greater.
Below are several helpful resources designed to arm entrepreneurs with a wealth of information on building a new business. Tick off items on a small business or startup checklist, browse industry best-practices on forming your own business, or determine for yourself what business structure best benefits your enterprise.
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Dollar$ and $ense
Business owners intertmingle business and personal finances all too often. After all, you are your business, but muddling up the two will mean a mess at tax time. Even if you're just starting out, it's essential to split up these two parts of your money life. Treat your business, big or small, like a viable entity. That starts with tracking your business expenses separately from your personal, even though initially it may feel like they are one in the same especially if you are a one-person shop. Start by opening a business checking account, applying for a business credit card and establishing a limited liability company (LLC) or an S Corp for your business. These business entities will also give your personal finances a new level of liability protection.
Now through June 30th, if you open a business checking account with Wells Fargo and accumulate $500 within the first 60 days, you will receive $50 credited to your account.
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How to Make Time Work for You When Pitching for Funds
Timing is everything for a new venture. Hitting an emerging market just as it's gaining traction can make a nascent idea soar (being too early can also spell failure), while runner ups stall out or sink to the bottom of the swiftly-flowing startup stream.
When you consider that only 0.91 percent of startups are funded by angel investors, and a miniscule 0.05 percent are funded by VCs, timing becomes mission critical for an entrepreneur pounding the pavement in search of capital. In the way that a few seconds can kill a comedic riff or squash the loftiest souffle, striking while the investor iron is hot can mean the difference between snapping up seed funding or shutting down the business.
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Successful Entrepreneurs Do These 5 Things Daily
There is a saying that there are only three types of people in the world: those who watch what happened, those who wonder what happened and those who make things happen.
Entrepreneurs fall into the last category, of course. They are change agents, people who don't see the world as it is but as it could be. Entrepreneurs don't sit on the sidelines and wish for a better world. Rather they go out and create it. They don't wait for things to be different. They are the difference.
Being forward thinkers, entrepreneurs continually push themselves to become better and do better. They are game changers. They ooze confidence and inspire greatness.
Today is a great day to become an entrepreneur because the price of admission into this elite club is free and yours for the taking.
Do you really want to succeed as an entrepreneur? Follow these five steps and you'll be well on your way to developing the leadership qualities it takes:
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The Edge Connection is hosting it's annual
Business Plan Competition!
Entries will be accepted from June 2 at 9:00 am through July 2 at 5pm.
Prizes:
1st place winner $3000
2nd place winner $1500
3rd place winner $500
Requirements to participate:
- Completion of the Plan for Profit Course (if you completed it more than 3 years ago, you will need to retake our Operations and Refinement Module, offered in a compressed 4-hour class on July 28th from 5-9pm)
- Completion of a Pitch Perfect Workshop (next available workshop will be on June 11 from 6-9pm)
- A completed business plan for a profitable business
Those qualifying to move on to the second round of judging will be notified and will pitch their businesses on July 30. Winners will be announced at The Edge Connection's Family Picnic on Saturday, August 9. For more information contact Jaime Fulsang at [email protected]
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 Mothers of Invention: Meet 5 Inspiring Mompreneurs
There aren't specific statistics on the number of mom-owned businesses, but there's no question the number of female-owned businesses is soaring. Women are now launching more than 1,200 new businesses per day, double the rate from only three years ago, according to the 2014 "State of Women-Owned Businesses Report," commissioned by American Express OPEN. The report estimates there are a record 9.1 million women-owned businesses in the United States - up 6 percent from a year ago - generating more than $1.4 trillion in revenues. And there's no doubt that mothers are driving a lot of that growth. Why?
Click Here to Learn More
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Women Business Owners - How to Expand Your Sources of Capital and Get Outside Financing
Back in 2010, SBA guest blogger Susan Solovic shared some statistics about the self-perpetuating challenges that female business owners have when it comes to growing their businesses and accessing capital:
- Less than three percent of women-owned businesses cross over the million dollar threshold in revenue.
- Access to growth capital (a critical factor in growing a successful, sustainable business) is a challenge for women business owners. However, research by the former Center for Women's Business Research - now the Global Initiative for Women's Entrepreneurship Research (GIWER) at Babson College - shows that historically, women have not had equal access to financial markets - much of it due to the systemic bias against women business owners.
- Another important reason women don't obtain the funding they need for their businesses is because they may not understand the process, which frequently means they often don't ask. In 2009, the Center for Women's Business Research found that nearly half of women business owners don't seek outside sources of money for their businesses!
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The Edge Kitchen Recipe of the Month
With Father's Day quickly approaching on Sunday, June 15th, it is wise to get a head start on your shopping list for the big Father Day Feast! We've made it easy by putting together a very healthy but delicious menu that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Rib-Eye, T-Bone, and Strip Steaks Cut Over One Inch 
Ingredients
Four-six bone-in or boneless rib-eye, T-bone, and/or strip steaks cut over 1"
Sea salt or kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Canola oil or vegetable oil
Baste:
1/4 cup olive oil
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
10 crushed garlic cloves
1/4 cup finely chopped savory herbs such as rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, and/or sage
Click here to learn more
 Grilled Corn on the Cob
Ingredients
8 ears of unhusked corn
Cilantro pesto
1/2 cup cilantro leaves, large stems removed
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 garlic clove, peeled, and grated on a Microplane grater
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely ground fresh black pepper
Click here to learn more
Chopped Salad 
Ingredients
1/2 cup finely chopped red onions
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional as needed
2 teaspoons coarsely ground fresh black pepper, plus additional as needed
1/2 to 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 large head iceburg lettuce, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, 6 to 8 cups
1 cup Roasted Marinated Peppers, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Click here to learn more
 Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Pie with Mocha Fudge Sauce
Ingredients
Crust
1/3 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup vanilla wafer cookie crumbs (from about 32 cookies)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
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We would like to extend great appreciation to Lockheed Martin Aero Club Members for their generous support of The Edge Connection's mission. Together we WILL create jobs, alleviate poverty, and changes lives!
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Many thanks to Melissa Evans for her continued support and sponsorship of The Edge Connection. Melissa recently made a significant personal monetary donation, but even more than that, she dedicates her time and is committed to helping our entrepreneurs create successful and sustainable businesses.
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Sending a huge thank you out to all of our sponsors for the Champions for Change Fundraiser Breakfast:
Acknowledgements
The Edge Connection would like extend our appreciation to those who have made the Champions for Change event possible through their considerable contributions of products and/or services.
Connor Strickland Voice Over Talent
Marketing and Venue Design Gwen Edwards
Video Production Total Linen Pros
Tim Samuel Linens
Exhibits South Atlanta Tribune
Printing, Event Signage Advertising
SoVerse Elite Level Cuisine
Web Design Catering-Edge Connection Entrepreneur
Artisan Foods Bakery & Cafe Jack Nadel International (Ryan Chappell)
Baked Goods Promotional and Marketing Products
Kennesaw State University
Volunteers
Butta Soft Shea (TiAunnie Calhoun) Spiked Jellies (Allison Barnett)
Event Bag Giveaway Event Bag Giveaway
Edge Connection Entrepreneur Edge Connection Entrepreneur
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UPCOMING CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS
Mark Your Calendar For Innovative, Relevant,
and Inspiring Classes and Workshops!!
One on One Exploring Entrepreneurship with Jaime Fulsang
Our program manger Jaime Fulsang will be teaching one on one Exploring Entrepreneurship course during the month of June. Call 770-499-3228 to schedule an appointment!
Course Fee: $35
Workshop on Women Owned Business Certification
Charlotte Johnson of the Small Business Administration (SBA) will be joining us to guide participants through the process of self-certifying as a Woman-Owned Small Business.
Join us and ask all your questions about the process of self-certifying and pick up some tips and tricks from someone who knows the system well!
Join us on June 19th from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Workshop Fee $15
Breakfast for Champions
Charlotte Johnson of the Small Business Administration (SBA) will be joining us to guide participants through the process of self-certifying as a Woman-Owned Small Business.
Join us and ask all your questions about the process of self-certifying and pick up some tips and tricks from someone who knows the system well!
Join us on June 25th from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
The Edge Kitchen Program:
Kitchen Baking Essentials 101
In this class, you will learn the basics in catering. You will learn formulas, time efficiency, how to increase as well as convert recipes. You will learn the importance of standard recipes and consistency with the final product.
Kitchen Baking Essentials 201
This class is a prerequisite of Catering 101; you will learn the proper plate presentation and portion control. You will also learn, banquet service, seated service, and off -premise catering. You will also learn the proper etiquette to serving a customer and setting a table.
Join Us on June 17th from 6pm-9pm
Class rates:
Active Kitchen User (under contract): FREE!
Edge Connection Member: $15
Community Member: $20
Email Melissa To Register
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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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