The BUILD (Businesses United in Leadership Development) Academy is a 12-week business development initiative that supports Little Rock-based business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs through workshops on business essentials.
The initiative is focused on serving businesses based south of I-630 in Little Rock, a historically underserved and underrepresented region of Central Arkansas.
The organizers and inaugural cohort of the BUILD Academy share the impact of the program, talk lessons learned, and celebrate victories gained!
Thank you and congrats to the organizers and 2021 participants of LR BUILD Academy:
Derrick Rainey, Small Business Development Coordinator, City of Little Rock
Kendra Pruitt, Senior Advisor to Mayor Frank Scott Jr.,
James Owen, Policy Analyst, City of Little Rock
April Hearne, Instructor of Entrepreneurship for BUILD Academy and UAPTC
Andréa Newton of A-New Salon
Reginald Ballard of Ballson Group
Lori Andrews of Beyond Your Imaginations
Deborah Alexander of Clevert-Alexander
Arnetta Brandon of Essential Home Care Inc
Ronya Byrd of Fiber Junkie, LLC
Lajoy Person of Gifts of Joy & Beyond
Nicole Perkins of Nicole Perkins, The Insurance Lady
Dr. Jennifer Nelson of Residence 11.14
Sonja Thomas of SoSonja
Allicia Adams-Talbert of Talbert Lawn Services
Erica Scott of The Perfect Affair
Verkeytia Harris-Long of Xtreme
Clean
Thank you to our sponsors, Simmons Bank, Little Rock Regional Chamber, Frost PLLC, Wright Lindsey Jennings