Third LEAP Class Begins Orientation

The Business School's LEAP Program is holding an orientation for a new class of 10 women entrepreneurs and their panels on August 7--the third LEAP class since it began operation in June 2001.

A special day-long training program, designed by the school's Small Business Development Center, helps LEAP entrepreneurs and their panels make the most efficient use of their time together.

LEAP is a program designed to assist women entrepreneurs grow their businesses to the next level by providing volunteer advisory panels for them. It was begun in June of 2001 with the help of the school's Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship, the Women in Business Council and a Coleman Foundation grant.

LEAP training includes guidelines on how to structure effective meetings, a list of information that entrepreneurs provide should their panel members, as well as a special session on journaling as a way for entrepreneurs and advisors to chart growth and progress.

With the addition of this latest class, the LEAP program is now serving a total of 25 entrepreneurial businesses in the Dane County area. Marian Walluks leads the program.

A Coleman Foundation grant funded much of the program for its first year and helped establish this unique program at the School of Business.

For more information, call the LEAP office 262-3828.