Attention Business Owners!
The UB School of Management's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, in conjunction with the UB School of Urban Studies, is preparing for the Allstate Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs Program Open House, being held on September 19th. You can go to the Jacob's Executive Development Center at 672 Delaware Avenue, from 8AM to 11PM, to meet with graduates of the program and the program administrators.
The program, under new director, Thomas R. Ulbrich, is geared towards minorities and women in the beginning stages of owning a business. It is funded by Allstate and a $500 fee from each student.
"Most of these owners are looking to network but not just with sales and marketing people but other business owners," said Janine Tramont, the program coordinator for the School of Management's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. "They want to be trained by trainers who have been business owners that are giving them practical information, not so much book learning. But they want to know how to solve problems that arise in their business on a daily basis."
"The program is a combination of two things, business development seminars and we assign them two business owner mentors to work with through out the year," said Tramont.
Business Development Seminars are on one Wednesday a month, from 8:30-11:30AM. "What we do is bring in a trainer on a variety of topics once a month," said Tramont.
Business plan writing, strategic planning, marketing, human resources, information technology, how to access capital and presentation skills are all examples of development seminars. "When they tell us what their goals are, we are able to design the program based on those topics," added Tramont.
It is encouraged that each student works with their mentor once a month, but is only required four times throughout the year. "It is sort of self designed, we give them the access and opportunity to be mentored and set the criteria around it," continued Tramont. "We match them up with mentors that have expertise in the areas that they are lacking."
The program also offers a chance at winning some money for their business. "In November they get up in front of a panel of judges and they present their business. They get to compete for dollars for their business."
Allstate awards that Protege of the Year award, first, second and third place. First place receives $1,500, second place receives $1,000 and third place receives $500.
The event is usually covered in the media, and the winner often appears in Business First. "We take advantage of those opportunities to push them out in the community," Tramont said.
This is one of four key programs The UB School of Management's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership administers. The others are the CEL Core Program, for established business owners, Strategic Entrepreneurship, designed to build upon the success of the CEL Core program and a Student Competition (Panasci Competition,) where the top team wins a cash award of $25,000.
"One thing that is really unique about all of our programs here is that mentoring is a part of all of them in some way shape of form," continued Tramont. "Our other uniqueness is that we are really the only place in western New York that you can come for business owner to business owner networking, to sit in classes with and learn from each other."
Above: Graduating class of 2007
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Comment Options
whynot
Sounds like an exclusionary program to me:
To participate in the program, an applicant must be either a woman or a member of a recognized minority and own a business in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
Are white men more capable of running a business without the help of others? Why should a public institution like UB disriminate based on gender and race?
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Keith
Exclusionary is a nice way of saying racist and sexist. The worst thing is this is tax-supported; you are paying for it!
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mjman4
This picture speaks a thousand words.... NO Minorities, and all the Women are all up front like a Prom Photo....!!
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Colin
Taking modest steps to address inequality is not the same thing as racism, except in the minds of stupid people.
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Quijibo
Yes Colin, exactly! We need to do more to address the inequalities and injustices that are pervasive in our society.
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NewBuffalo
The real MINORITY TODAY is "THE WHITE MALE"
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Colin
White men are still the most powerful group in the country. They remain overrepresented in the most powerful positions. Take the Senate -- 84 out of 100 are men, and 93 out of 100 are white. Or look at Fortune 500 companies -- only 12 of those companies has a female CEO.
The idea that white men are an oppressed group is laughable.
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gaustad
Colin, I thought you were white! Why do you always go back to the same race card if you are white? You need to move on.
I didn't get in to law school becuase they gave my slot to a black man,...more than once I might add, but I still persevered and you will too when you stop making up excuses for your laziness.
Its not my fault and I will not take the blame that Allen Town is filled with black pan handlers.
P.S. Have you heard of Barrack Obama? He is going to be our next president, and will be giving free sh!t to black people all across the country. Your day has almost come...
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Colin
1. Again, race (or gender) are not "cards." They are important social facts.
2. Having said that, it wasn't me who played the "card." It was those who claimed that this innocuous program was racist or sexist because it sought to provide help for underrepresented groups of people.
3. I love the fact that you think I'm black! But no, I'm of the Caucasian persuasion.
4. It's odd that you would assume that a white person wouldn't be concerned with matters of racial justice. That says something, I think.
5. I thought your slot went to a black woman? And if you didn't get in, how was it ever your slot?
6. Nope, never heard of him.
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heathersmiles
I like the program but don't believe that it should be exclusionary.
In my experience attending many 'women in business' seminars and general business seminars, I find that the general seminars offer a much great experience. The women in business programs tend to cater to general stereotypes about "how difficult it is for women to compete at the same level and how much we need to stick together to prove a point that we are just as good as men". I refuse to believe that the cards are stacked against me any more then they are stacked against men or minorities. I find that these seminars do more to hold women back then any form of blatant of passive sexism.
The photo above looks like the line-up for a charity. The rich powerful white men take a few hours from their busy days to help out the poor and incompetent women and minorities who need their alms and advice in order to succeed. I think that this perpetuates the victim cycle that many women and minorities are stuck in.
We all have equal and open opportunities, it is a matter of our work ethic, intelligence, and risk threshold. I hope that UB will rethink their strategy for this seminar and start focusing on making Buffalo a better climate for businesses instead of wasting time trying to get Betty's beauty parlor to use Quickbooks.
Maybe it is a great program for women to learn from successful white guys, who knows. I would rather attend the co-ed Harvard Series or even the general series at UB instead of this type of blatant pandering just to enable UB to say "look what we are doing for women and minorities, see we do care".
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buffaloweiner
Colin should trade in his genitals for a vagina. He is s traitor to his gender.
There are more learning difficulties, truancies, behavior problems, reading, writing, speaking problems, dropouts, juvie detention, jail, prison, etc than women. There are also less male graduates in grammer school, high school, associates, bachelors, masters and doctorates than women.
Only the most ardent socialist/communist manages an economy by statistical apportionment based on approved minority groups rather than qualifications. For there is no evidence of statical special (minority) rights of men in female dominated schools, industries, jobs, etc or in such places filled with anti-male bias as family court.
LASTLY ONE HAS TO ASK WHERE ARE THE SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATORS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS AT SAY BUFFALO STATE (HOWARD) AND CANISIUS (SUPPOSED LEADERS).
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gaustad
Colin, thanks again for your "list." Do you go through life with a list too?
As discussed, I find it interesting that as a "white man" you are so adamant on defending blacks, at all costs. But you don't really seem to care about another other minority, Senecas( Natives), Latinos, Asians, whomever....just real pro black....and your icon is also black, so I think it we shall start calling you Vanilla Ice Ice Ice baby!
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heathersmiles
Weinerbuff69 - What do you have against the vagina? How can one be a traitor to their gender, that remark negates the entire equality argument that you are making.
I can tell you that the scale is tipped in the favor or out of favor depending on the specific situation. There are times that the penis has the upper hand and times that the vagina takes the lead. If we look beyond the basics of 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours' mentality, you might see that most successful women and minorities are successful because of who they are, not how they are classified.
It is ignorant of you to assume that a woman or minority is in a position based solely on affirmative action or equal opportunity appointments. This is as ignorant as assuming that all white men are successful because of the old boys network.
People are typically successful because of the manner in which they work to differentiate themselves from others, usually by work ethic, intelligence, etc. Sometimes race and gender factor in, but I would hate to think that we are basing all decisions related to women and minorities on skin color or genital / chromosomal configuration instead of worth and work.
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ncoli
Programs like this foster the assumption that women and minorities need help, and are not capable (sigh, here we go again) of doing what it takes to run a business or be successful in the business world, like studying in school, working hard at your job every day, going above and beyond your job description,etc. My colleagues are all where they are because of their efforts, nothing else.
Gaustad, being "pro-black" is cool now, with Obama running for President, don't you know? All the cool celebrities, like Lindsay Lohan, are backing him, so it must be the hip thing to do. Not so much hype with the other minorities you mentioned.
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blackrocklifer
White men are the biggest WHINERS playing victim while holding all the cards. Helping ANYONE that has been excluded for generations is a noble and reasonable pursuit. As for Obama, I hope this nation can see past race and elect an intelligent and decent man who can lead us out of the mess that has resulted from 8 years of Republican incompetence.
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blackrocklifer
Colin- I have been accused of "hating white people" because I had a dark icon (I thought he was just tan) but I am white, as least far as I know.
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heathersmiles
Blackrocklifer - I resent your contention that only white men hold the cards, there are many very successful women and minorities who hold quite a few of the cards. Is it your contention that, as a white man, you need to help me to succeed? That sounds like a very conceited and arrogant point of view.
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blackrocklifer
heather- I should have said MOST of the cards. White men do tend to dominate not by being smarter or more capable but due to generations of unfair advantage.
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heathersmiles
Where did the generations of unfair advantages originate?
In your opinion, is it ok if a minority or woman creates this type of legacy for their children or is that not acceptable because there will always be someone who is just starting out?
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blackrocklifer
heather- where did unfair advantage originate? the Bible? Cavemen? it can be kind of a gray area but as a "white man" I am an insider in that world and have heard things said about women, black people, gays, etc that leave no doubt of the prejudice that still exists and continues to undermine efforts of true equal rights.
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crisa
Take a really close look at the above picture. What do you see? All white faces? Hmmmm
By the year 2044, the majority in the USA population will be Hispanic.
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crisa
heathersmiles: Do you ever comprehend when you are not merely rude?
sardonicusgrins
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Quijibo
Heather - The unfair advantage starts with greed and guns. We have lived through centuries of government endorsed oppression at the hands of the greedy white men who have maintained their unjust status at the barrel of a gun. You can substitute gun with noose or apron or whatever took you wish. The few elitists have grown rich by exploiting workers, stealing from the poor through unfair tax advantages and insider politics that have enacted policies that increases the divide.
The greedy rich feel vindicated by throwing a few crumbs of charity to the poor in the hopes that they will be seen as generous and enlightened, but this contrived act does not address the root of the inequalities.
Blackrocklifer has it right that we have suffered from an increasing divide in wealth at the hands of the Republican adminstration. We need a strong democrat to push more enlightened policies that will protect the interests of our weakest and least fortunate citizens.
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Colin
gaustad --
1. I do use lists in my life. They're pretty useful. I use them here to make my points stand out in a way they wouldn't in the middle of a paragraph.
2. I only discuss race in this forum when someone else introduces the topic. They usually do so in the contect of black/white relations, so that's where the bulk of my comments are made. But that doesn't reflect the breadth of my interest in the subject.
3. I love you -- let's never fight again!
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Niju9
"( NewBuffalo Sep 17th, 18:46
The real MINORITY TODAY is "THE WHITE MALE")"
That's right ....800+ in a new direction. lol!
"( whynot Sep 17th, 08:48
Sounds like an exclusionary program to me:
To participate in the program, an applicant must be either a woman or a member of a recognized minority and own a business in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
Are white men more capable of running a business without the help of others? Why should a public institution like UB disriminate based on gender and race? )"
If a white man hasn't figured how to take advantage of his millenia-old advantage, he doesn't deserve to be in business. Might I recommend the Greeter position at Walmart.
It's simply a new era and the funny thing is; now Obama is running...everyone's true colors are coming out. Last night i was eating at the Bijou and a table of 5 white women obviously from Amherst or something were sort of arguing politics...I say sort of...because they were so {deleted} stupid and out of touch it was laughable. AND THAT is the problem. Ignorance isn't bliss, it's running this Theocracy called democracy....lol
Women are better managers. Period. They know how to balance organizing, nurturing, and control much better than men.
Minorities are do...that's all. White men have been hiding behind Jesus, money, and the red, white and blue for so fucking long they can't even keep up. Just take a look around...they're getting nervous...because they know it's finally coming around full circle. Just look at how the Indian has slowly gotten their swagger back. Basically turning the whole "rez" concept into their own force field of 'it's our money and land...stupid...do something about it.
The U.S. is trillions in debt and is bailing companies out...? hmmmmm? The Constitution is imploding on itself....and now a Black man os about to run shit.....LOL. No matter how it goes...The U.S. is gonna face it self because if he loses...Rodney King is gonna seem like a {deleted} oil wrestling performance.
It's about the self...not aboyt who gets what...so if everyone stops whining and crying about the small shit then something can get done. So yes...gender, race minority and majority programs are essential as we move into a new reality...
Obama {deleted}
just surrender to it and enjoy the movement
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crisa
Clarifying what I typed in my above 22:17 comment. Those people all look "white" but I can't tell if they are all caucasoids. Hispanic people, who are also business owners, are not caucasians. Of couse, I can't tell for sure, but no one in the above picture looks like any of the other races of humankind, BUT, inorder to clarify which race is whom...
I just looked up the different races of humankind online at M-W. All came up as a simple explanation of where those names originated--NOTHING ELSE.
BUT, when I typed in what I know is the actual name, (not a racial slur), of one particular race's name, and just that the 5 letters of that name, my goodness, it is listed as 'sometimes considered offensive"!!! That race is NOT listed offensively in my old, hand-held dictionaries!
How nasty is that?! GOODLORD, that M-W online would even list it that way would be an indication of how difficult it must be to BE in that race!
And gosh, if naming that race is sometimes considered offensive, than, golly, I am not even going to type it--I do not wish to be offending anyone, for goodness sakes!
But, it's interesting that for all the other races of humanity that are listed at M-W online, there isn't any inclusive reference whatsoever to any offensive and derogatory words either at M-W online or in my old dictionaries that are listed right along with the spelling and definition of the other races of people! How strange is that?!
What the heck are any kids of any races suppose to automatically think about one particular race when kids are looking up the spellings and meaning of races?! How racy is that?!
My personal dictionaries are old. M-W online is "young". Shouldn't a dictionary simply list the meaning of words without planting yet another seed of, of, of what? Why is that done?
I read it at M-W online so it must be true, Virginia.
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blackrocklifer
Niju9- Its scares me that there are still people in this country who are afraid to vote for a black man.
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