Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative

Through the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative’s Entrepreneur Mentoring Program, the Brooklyn-based crepe factory, Crepini, has increased their revenue by 39 percent since participating in the program. The initiative's program promotes economic growth in economically distressed and emerging communities by enlisting Americans with business expertise to help local entrepreneurs compete and succeed. Photo Credit: Adam Schultz / Clinton Foundation

Paula Rimer and Eric Shkolnik opened Crepini, a Brooklyn-based specialty food company in 2007. Four years later, the business had reached capacity in their small facility, and they sought out the Clinton Foundation’s Entrepreneur Mentoring Program to get help with the development of a strategy for continued growth. Volunteer mentor Bill Levine of Sarabeth’s Kitchen worked with Crepini to utilize tax credits that allowed them to open an expanded manufacturing space and introduced Paula and Eric to dozens of new industry connections and potential customers.

Paula Rimer and Eric Shkolnik opened Crepini, a Brooklyn-based specialty food company in 2007. Four years later, the business had reached capacity in their small facility, and they sought out the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative’s Entrepreneur Mentoring Program to get help with the development of a strategy for continued growth. Volunteer mentor Bill Levine of Sarabeth’s Kitchen worked with Crepini to utilize tax credits that allowed them to open an expanded manufacturing space and introduced Paula and Eric to dozens of new industry connections and potential customers.

Veteran U.S. Navy pilot Richard Gengler founded health care technology company Prevail Health Solutions to help address deployment-related mental health issues in veterans and military populations. In 2010, the company was ready to expand its customer base beyond the U.S. federal government to include the general consumer market, so the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative’s Entrepreneur Mentoring Program paired Richard with Rob Miller, Founder of Gaming Capital Group.

Amy Hilliard (left), founder of the Comfort Cake Company, worked with mentor Katrina Markoff, founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, to diversify her products and grow her business. Both women are part of the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative’s (CEO) Entrepreneur Mentoring Program (EMP), which pairs emerging entrepreneurs with experienced and established business leaders who have already undergone many of the difficulties facing a small business. Mentors help guide mentees through the transition from just getting off the ground to developing a sustainable long-term business plan.

Members of the Clinton Economic Opportunity's (CEO) Chicago Entrepreneur Mentoring Program (EMP) take part in an entrepreneurial mentoring session. In Chicago, the EMP is working to spur economic growth by enlisting highly successful Chicago-based entrepreneurs to mentor local small businesses.

Jimmy and Andrea Moyen of First Choice Mechanical meet with consultants from Booz & Company and students from New York University’s Stern School of Business in New York as part of the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative's Small Business Consulting Program. Since 2002, more than 73,500 hours of pro bono consulting services, worth more than $15 million, have been provided in New York City as part of this program.

Norm Brodsky (center) speaks at a seminar for the Entrepreneur Mentorship Program (EMP) in New York City. The EMP is part of the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative (CEO), and is designed to pair small business entrepreneurs with other business leaders who have endured hard times and found a successful path.

James and Kristen Smith, owners and founders of Smith Flooring Inc., in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wanted to grow their business. Thanks to strategic planning and advice from the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative’s Entrepreneur Mentoring Program, the Smiths were paired with a mentor with many years of experience in their field, and as a result their sales revenue increased by 27 percent from 2009 to 2010.

Karl Williams started the Society Café in Harlem. He was then later paired with a mentor through the Clinton Foundation's Entrepreneur Mentoring Program, and which helped him learn more about the restaurant industry and how to expand his business.

At a Clinton Foundation Entreprenuer Mentoring Program's Mentorship Session in New York, Lexi Funk, CEO and co-founder of Brooklyn Industries speaks to up and coming business owners about pitfalls and difficulties that she experienced as a business owner.

Through programs that provide entrepreneurs with support, ideas, and tools that can help them succeed in the marketplace, CEO aims to empower growing businesses, create jobs, generate wealth, and promote lasting economic development.

When the economic downturn forced Monique Greenwood, owner of Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns, to reevaluate her business plan, she turned to CEO's Entrepreneur Mentoring Program for advice on improving her operations and enabling maximum growth.