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DENTON – The Caroline County Commissioners congratulated the first class of graduates of an innovative entrepreneur training program Tuesday, June 10.
Caroline County Economic Development & Tourism Director Bob Zimberoff introduced the eight graduates of the Caroline County Economic Edge Business Academy. They are:
“We're very proud of our first cohort here,” Zimberoff said. Graduates learned from consultants, accountants, lawyers and human resources professionals during the 8-week course. They created cash flow projections and a final PowerPoint presentation.
“In addition to being business owners, entrepreneurs and risk takers, some of our participants are holding down full-time jobs and other jobs as well, (including) an elected official (Preston Mayor Savannah Winston),” he said. “We hope this class helps these hard-working ladies to be even more successful.”
Also attending the recognition were Scott Warner of the Mid-Shore Regional Council, which funded the academy, and instructor and business advisor Will Holmes, founder and CEO of WHC, a consulting firm based in Baltimore. In 2024, the U.S. Small Business Administration named WHC Maryland Business of the Year.
Holmes said the course gives participants “all the tools they need to be successful.” The first Caroline County cohort was “outstanding,” he said.
“These ladies were fantastic and focused on creating jobs,” Holmes said, adding that graduates typically see an 80% increase in revenue the first six months after completing the course.
Holmes said he didn’t realize participant Patrice Flamer was legally blind, but when he found out he enlisted the help of WHC’s Chief Operating Officer Dr. Imani Coles, who worked with the National Disability Institute to help Flamer use AI to create her presentation. “It was outstanding,” Holmes said. “No one had ever done that before.”
“Dr. Coles was by my side the whole time,” Flamer said. “She said, ‘We’re not going to leave you out.’ (Others in the group) never made me feel like I was an outcast. They made me feel welcome. I'm the first one that set the bar and used AI with my PowerPoint presentation.”
“I learned a lot,” she said. “When the next class comes next year, … we'll say we set the bar. We will be coming back to encourage the next group. It was an awesome experience. I loved it. I probably would do it again.”
“It's an amazing program,” Winston said. “I'm so happy to have been a part of cohort one, and I have been exposed to valuable … tools and resources that I need to actually be a better business owner and learn how to grow my business, from hiring employees to HR, management, accounting – all of it.”
“As a town commissioner, it’s always been a goal to support economic development in my town,” Winston said. “One thing that I love about being a business owner for 10 years is the fact that I do get to provide services in my own community. I'm at a pivotal point where I am wanting to scale and grow my business, so this opportunity with the Caroline County Economic Edge, came at the perfect time for me.”
Flamer said, “I got strong leadership out of this class. It really pushed me more to get out and do more networking…. It was truly a blessing as well that the class was free.”
The entrepreneurs met three hours virtually on Tuesday evenings for eight weeks and formed a tightknit group, Flamer said. “We have each other’s phone numbers, and we’re sticking together.”
The class’s last day was June 3, and their graduation ceremony was held Tuesday, June 3, at the Market Street Pub after attending the morning Commissioners’ meeting, where they each received a signed certificate of recognition, and an afternoon photo session.
Commissioner Frank Bartz sits on the Mid-Shore Regional Council. He said Scott Warner “is always talking about all these different programs, and I'm glad to see it coming back into Caroline County.”
Bartz said he is often asked by constituents where the county’s funding of Mid-Shore Regional Council comes back into the county. “I'm glad to see it's right here,” he told the graduates.
