You Learned How to Prompt. Now Build an Operating System.

If you read my last post, Talk With It, you walked away knowing that the key to better AI output is treating your chatbot like a brilliant intern: give it a clear assignment, add context, and refine through conversation. That was Prompt Engineering 1.0, and it is foundational.

But here’s what I’ve learned since then, working with hundreds of small business owners across the country: knowing how to write a good prompt isn’t the same as knowing how to use AI to help you run your business.

The distance between the two is in the application.

From “Check This Out” to “This Is How We Operate”

Think about where you were two years ago with AI. Most of us were in the “wow” phase, copying and pasting things into ChatGPT just to see what it could do. Maybe you drafted an email or asked it to create an image. Fun? Sure. Operational? Not so much.

Then, sometime between 2024 and 2025, something shifted. AI went from party trick to the potential to be an actual tool. You started delegating real tasks, drafting RFPs, analyzing customer feedback, building job posts. You started to see real use cases.

Now it’s 2026, and the operators who’ve pulled ahead aren’t just prompting better. They’re building systems. They’re turning one-off AI outputs into repeatable templates, then into SOPs, then into review loops that make their entire operation sharper. These operators are experiencing increased efficiency and overall workflow optimization that ultimately leads to higher performance.

That’s what the 12 Moves are about.

The 12 Power Moves: A Framework for AI That Works

I developed these 12 Moves through my own experience with AI, and from workshops, client sessions, and live facilitation with real business owners.

The Moves are organized into three groups, and each group represents a shift in how you relate to AI:

“AI won’t replace strategic operators. But operators who use AI will outperform those who don’t.”

GROUP 1: PRECISION — Make AI Know What Job It’s Doing

The most common mistake I see? People open ChatGPT and type something vague like “help me write a marketing plan for my HVAC business.” That’s not an assignment, that’s a wish. Precision is about giving AI enough to actually perform.

Move 1: Name the Job. Don’t ask for help, assign a role. Instead of “give me marketing ideas,” try: “Act as a growth marketer for a 20-person HVAC company in the Midwest.” When you name the job, AI stops guessing and starts working.

Move 2: Define “Done.” What does a good output look like? Tell it. “Create 3 options. Include cost, effort, risk, and the first 3 steps for each.” If you don’t define the finish line, AI will write you a novel when you needed a memo.

Move 3: Add Context. Industry. Company size. Constraints. Audience. Geography. Your website URL. Context is the difference between a generic answer and a useful one. When I add context to a prompt, the output quality improves dramatically, every time.

Move 4: Show Your Inputs. This is the unlock. Stop requiring AI to guess your business. Paste in your actual customer complaint logs, staff schedules, meeting notes, financial snapshots, job descriptions, inventory data, whatever’s relevant. AI gets 10x better when it has your real information to work with, not hypotheticals. This single move transforms output from “interesting” to “actionable.”

GROUP 2: THINKING — Make AI Think Like an Operator

Once AI knows the job, the next step is getting it to think the way you think, as an owner/operator weighing options, surfacing risks, and making decisions with tradeoffs in mind.

Move 5: Constrain the Format. “Return as a table.” “Keep it under 200 words.” “Give me bullets, not paragraphs.” Constraints are clarity. You need useful information, not more information.

Move 6: Surface Assumptions. This one is underrated. Add the line: “List the assumptions you made.” Even better, ask AI to act as your critical mentor: “Push back on my thinking, surface assumptions, flag risks, and tell me what I may be missing.” You’ll be surprised how often AI is operating on assumptions you’d never accept, or politely validating a direction that needs more scrutiny. This move helps prevent bad strategic decisions before they happen.

Move 7: Ask for Options, Not Answers. Never ask AI “What should I do?” Always ask: “Give me 3 approaches– conservative, balanced, and aggressive. Show tradeoffs for each.” You’re the decision-maker. AI is the analyst. Keep it that way (for now).

Move 8: Force Tradeoffs. For every option, require: cost, risk, difficulty, and ROI timeline. This is the move that turns a response from Claude or ChatGPT into something you’d actually present to your team or your board.

GROUP 3: OPERATIONALIZING — Make AI Part of Your Operating System

This is where the real leverage lives. Groups 1 and 2 will get you a great output. Group 3 turns that output into a system.

Move 9: First Draft → Improve. Never stop at version one. Say: “Make it 30% shorter.” “Show me 3 more drafts.” “Now rewrite this for a non-technical audience.” Iteration is where good becomes great.

Move 10: Turn Output into Template. If you use a prompt twice, template it. That follow-up email that worked? That job post that attracted great candidates? Save the prompt structure. Don’t “threepeat” work.

Move 11: Turn Template into SOP. Document who runs it, when they run it, what inputs are needed, and what good output looks like. Replicate it and propagate it. Don’t duplicate it.

Move 12: Build a Review Loop. Every AI output needs a human checkpoint. Is the price correct? Does it sound like us? Does it make a promise we can keep? Check for accuracy, bias, compliance, and tone.

The 12 Moves in Action: Three Scenarios

These are the kinds of problems real small business owners bring to my workshops. Notice how each scenario layers multiple Moves together.

Scenario 1: 40 Customer Complaints → 60-Day Action Plan

The old way: 3 hours reading through complaints, guessing at patterns, drafting a plan from scratch. The new way: 10 minutes.

“Act as an operations analyst for a quick-service restaurant with 4 locations in North Carolina. Goal: Reduce complaints 30% in 60 days. Here are 40 complaints: [paste actual files]. Categorize themes. Identify root causes. Recommend 3 fixes with effort, cost, and risk. Output as a 60-day action plan with weekly milestones.”

What you get: complaint themes identified, root causes surfaced, three operational fixes with tradeoffs, a 60-day action plan with milestones, and a meeting agenda for your team. That’s Moves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 all working together in one prompt.

Scenario 2: From Job Post to 90-Day Onboarding Plan — One Prompt

You need to hire. You don’t have an HR department. You’re busy running 4 locations.

“Act as an HR leader for a 25-person landscaping business. Create a complete hiring package for a crew lead: Job post (under 250 words), interview guide (10 questions), scoring rubric (1–5 scale), 30-60-90 day onboarding plan. Context: 4 crews, role manages 5–6 people, 3+ years required, bilingual preferred, clean driving record. Paying up to $30/hour. Here’s a link to our website.”

One prompt. Four deliverables. Rinse and repeat for every role you hire.

Scenario 3: Executive-Level Thinking on Demand

You’re facing a big decision– expand into new territory, hire, invest in equipment. You don’t have a CFO. But you can think like one.

“Act as a CFO for a $2M home services business. We’re considering expanding into neighboring counties. Current metrics: $2M revenue, 18% margin, 48 jobs/month, average job $3,500. Create a one-page decision memo: summary (3 sentences), 3 options (conservative/moderate/aggressive), risks for each, recommendation with reasoning and assumptions, next 5 actions. Format as a table.”

What you get is three strategic options, a risk assessment, a clear recommendation, and an action plan. AI as becoming a thinking partner, and not just a writing tool.

The Real Pro Tip: One Task at a Time

Here’s what I’ve said in every session: Don’t “implement AI.” Don’t build “an AI strategy”, unless you have a “Google”, “Hammer”, or “Screwdriver” strategy. AI is a tool, a means to an end, not the end itself.

Instead, do this:

Pick one task you repeat weekly. Build a prompt using just 2 of the 12 Moves. Test the output on real work. If it works, template it. Then rinse and repeat.

My recommendation? Start with Move 4 (Show Your Inputs) and Move 7 (Ask for Options). Those two moves alone will change your relationship with AI overnight.

Three Copy-Paste Prompts to Get You Started

Customer Complaints → Action Plan: “Act as an operations analyst. Here are [X] complaints: [Paste here]. Categorize themes. Identify root causes. Recommend 3 fixes with effort/cost/risk. Output as a 60-day action plan.”

Complete Hiring Package: “Act as an HR leader for a [SIZE]-person [INDUSTRY] business. Create a hiring package for [ROLE]: job post (<250 words), interview guide (10 Qs), scoring rubric (1–5), 30-60-90 plan. No biased language.”

Decision Memo: “Act as a CFO for a $[REVENUE] [INDUSTRY] business. We’re considering [DECISION]. Create a one-page decision memo: summary, 3 options with tradeoffs, risks, recommendation, and next 5 actions. Format as a table.”

What’s Next? Agents and Agentic AI

In the first post, I teased agentic AI. Now it’s arriving. We went from chatbots you prompt (Level 1), to workflows you design (Level 2), to agents that reason, act, and iterate on your behalf (Level 3).

Most businesses are still at Level 1. The biggest wins today are at Level 2, building repeatable workflows with AI embedded. However, Level 3 is where it’s all heading, and the operators who’ve built the habits in the 12 Moves will be best positioned to get there.

More on agents soon. For now, master the Moves. The foundation you build today is the infrastructure you’ll scale tomorrow.

My Challenge to You

Before you close this tab:

1. Pick one task you repeat weekly.
2. Build one prompt using 2 of the 12 Moves
3. Test it on real work
4. Report back to someone on your team

Dobbin Bookman is the Director of AI Initiatives at ICIC, where he leads efforts to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence to drive inclusive economic prosperity for small businesses and under-resourced communities. Experienced as an entrepreneur, facilitator, and global advisor, Dobbin brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to leveraging technology for transformative business practices.

Over the past 20 years, Dobbin has developed innovative learning paths for managers and senior leaders, focusing on optimizing human capital capacity and aligning talent with organizational objectives. His guiding principle, “Don’t manage your people, manage the backdrop against which they work,” reflects his commitment to creating environments that foster peak performance.

At ICIC, Dobbin has been instrumental in conducting focus groups and research in partnership with Intuit, aiming to revolutionize small business operations through cutting-edge AI solutions. These initiatives empower entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented communities, by equipping them with tools and education to thrive in an AI-driven economy.

Connect with Dobbin at www.dobbinbookman.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/dobbinbookman/

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By ICIC | May 27, 2026

For Liaisons Corporation, global entrepreneurship is not simply about doing business across borders. It is about building relationships across cultures, creating meaningful experiences, and connecting people, institutions, artists, companies, and communities in ways that open new opportunities — the kind of entrepreneurial impact ICIC celebrates through the Inner City 100 Awards (IC100 Awards).

That commitment is why Liaisons Corporation has been named the 2025 ICIC Inner City 100 FedEx Champion of Global Entrepreneurship Award winner.

Presented by FedEx, the award recognizes an IC100 company that embodies FedEx’s commitment to diversity, global trade, empowering entrepreneurs, and creating employment opportunities. Liaisons, a boutique agency based in Miami and Mexico City, reflects those values through its international reach, multicultural team, and work delivering corporate events, group travel, and curated experiences around the world.

Over the past 15 years, Liaisons has grown from an entrepreneurial idea into a global business with experience in more than 70 cities across 30 countries. The company works with museums, nonprofits, corporations, membership clubs, private groups, and global brands to design experiences that are not only beautifully executed, but deeply connected to place, culture, and community.

Built to Connect People and Possibility

Founded by Susanne Birbragher, Liaisons began as a side project and quickly grew as clients recognized the need for a company that could help them connect meaningfully with important markets, communities, and audiences.

Today, Liaisons operates across two primary areas: social and cultural experiences, and corporate events and travel. Across both, the company’s work is rooted in the same core idea — bringing people together in ways that feel authentic, personal, and purposeful.

Its team is international, multilingual, and deeply attuned to cultural context. That global perspective has become a major differentiator for the company, allowing Liaisons to serve clients across geographies while helping them build trust and connection in local markets.

“Our clients are global, and our team reflects that,” said Susanne Birbragher, founder of Liaisons Corporation. “We have team members from different cultures and nationalities, and that helps us understand how to connect people in ways that feel meaningful.”

Creating Experiences That Strengthen Communities

Liaisons’ work goes beyond logistics. The company creates experiences that support business growth, cultural exchange, and community visibility.

Whether coordinating a corporate gathering, designing a VIP travel experience, or connecting guests with local artists, cultural institutions, and community partners, Liaisons helps clients engage with places in a more thoughtful way. That approach creates value for travelers and organizations while also bringing visibility and opportunity to local communities.

Birbragher describes Liaisons’ work as a way to give exposure to local artists, institutions, and nonprofits while helping visitors understand the communities they are experiencing. In that sense, each event becomes more than a moment. It becomes a bridge.

That bridge-building was evident when ICIC worked with Liaisons on its 2023 Annual Conference in Miami. The Liaisons team helped ICIC not only plan and execute a successful event, but also connect more deeply with the local Miami ecosystem.

“Liaisons brought much more than event planning expertise,” said Steve Grossman, CEO of ICIC. “They helped us understand the local market, connect with the Miami community, and create an experience that felt authentic, welcoming, and aligned with ICIC’s mission.”

A Culture of Professionalism, Creativity, and Care

Liaisons’ success is also a reflection of its internal culture. Company leadership describes a progressive culture focused on supporting the team, building consistency, and creating an environment where people can succeed.

That culture shows up in the company’s work. Liaisons is known for combining flawless execution with warmth, creativity, and cultural fluency. Its events and experiences are highly polished, but they are also personal. Every detail is designed to help people feel welcomed, connected, and engaged.

“What stands out about Liaisons is their ability to combine professionalism with heart. They understand that successful events are not just about what happens in the room. They are about the relationships formed, the communities engaged, and the opportunities created.”
– Steve Grossman, CEO, ICIC

Entrepreneurship with Global Reach and Local Impact

Liaisons’ recognition as the FedEx Champion of Global Entrepreneurship comes as the company celebrates its 15th anniversary — a milestone that reflects its growth, resilience, and reputation.

The company’s story illustrates a central belief behind ICIC’s IC100 Award: businesses rooted in under-resourced communities can become engines of growth, innovation, and global connection. They create jobs, build wealth, strengthen local economies, and expand opportunity far beyond their immediate markets.

For Liaisons, that impact is visible in the way the company connects global clients to local communities, supports cultural institutions and artists, and creates opportunities for people and places to be seen, experienced, and valued.

As Birbragher describes it, the work is “almost like planting seeds.” Each relationship, each experience, and each connection can lead to something larger — new opportunities, new partnerships, and new ways for communities and businesses to grow.

Celebrating a Well-Deserved Recognition

Liaisons Corporation’s recognition as the 2025 FedEx Champion of Global Entrepreneurship honors not only what the company has built, but how it has built it: through diversity, global perspective, relationship-building, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful experiences.

“On behalf of ICIC, we congratulate Susanne Birbragher and the entire Liaisons team on this well-deserved recognition,” said Steve Grossman. “We are proud to celebrate their success, grateful for their partnership, and excited to see how Liaisons continues to build bridges across people, communities, cities, and countries in the years ahead.”

About the IC100 Awards

Since 1999, ICIC has identified and honored the 100 fastest-growing businesses located in under-resourced communities through the Inner City 100 Awards. These companies demonstrate the strength, innovation, and resilience of entrepreneurs who create jobs, build wealth, and contribute to the economic vitality of their communities.

The FedEx Champion of Global Entrepreneurship Award is presented annually to an IC100 company that reflects FedEx’s commitment to diversity, global trade, empowering entrepreneurs, and creating employment opportunities.

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By ICIC | December 23, 2025

Across the country, small business owners are looking for more than inspiration. They are looking for strategy, structure, and practical tools to help them grow in a fast-moving economy. The Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program, was built to meet that need.

ICCC New Jersey 2025 brings together growth-minded entrepreneurs who are innovating across industries while building businesses that create lasting community impact. Two current participants, Sarabjit Sawhney of South Amboy Kitchen and Lydia Barron of Lydia Barron Consulting Group, demonstrate how ingenuity takes shape when paired with intentional strategy and disciplined execution.

Their stories offer a clear view into what ICCC is designed to do and why entrepreneurs across the country are encouraged to apply to their own local cohorts.

The ICCC New Jersey 2025 Program at a Glance

ICCC New Jersey 2025 is a 40-hour executive education and coaching program designed for established small business owners who want to lead, grow, and innovate. Often described as a mini-MBA, the program combines executive education, one-on-one coaching, peer connections, and access to capital experts.

The program supports businesses located in under-resourced communities that have been operating for at least three years and generating $150,000 or more in annual revenue. Participants are owners ready to scale, strengthen financial readiness, and apply cutting-edge tools, including AI, to real business challenges.

The curriculum was designed in direct response to what small business owners said they need most and includes fully integrated AI training, a revamped digital learning platform with interactive tools and progress tracking, and expanded opportunities for peer and alumni networking. Participants also receive capital access coaching and research-based learning grounded in ICIC’s 30 years of nationwide small business impact.

ICCC New Jersey Participant Spotlight: South Amboy Kitchen

For Sarabjit Sawhney, founder of South Amboy Kitchen, innovation begins with access. The shared kitchen was created to support food entrepreneurs who face structural barriers to growth, from the cost of commercial kitchen space to the complexity of licensing and the isolation of building alone.

“When people are given access to tools, mentorship, and a collaborative environment, they don’t just succeed individually—they innovate, hire locally, and reinvest in the community.”

South Amboy Kitchen provides commercial kitchen space alongside co-packing, co-manufacturing, shared knowledge, and a thriving community built on collaboration. The focus is not only on infrastructure, but on economic mobility and long-term opportunity.

Participation in ICCC New Jersey 2025 has helped Sawhney translate momentum into strategy, particularly around financial readiness and sustainable scale.

“The most valuable insight I’ve gained from ICCC New Jersey is the importance of approaching growth with intentional structure rather than momentum alone.”

As the program continues, Sawhney is focused on expanding capacity, strengthening internal systems, and deepening support for entrepreneurs, with the goal of growing South Amboy Kitchen into a broader economic engine for the region.

ICCC New Jersey Participant Spotlight: Lydia Barron Consulting Group

Lydia Barron, founder of Lydia Barron Consulting Group, brings deep C-suite and executive leadership experience to the ICCC New Jersey 2025 cohort. Before launching her firm, Barron spent years operating inside large, complex organizations, working closely with senior leadership teams on strategy, governance, and transformation initiatives across regulated industries.

That executive vantage point informs her work today, helping organizations bridge the gap between strategy and execution across AI automation, cybersecurity, and technology modernization.

“Across financial services, healthcare, and other regulated industries, leadership teams often had clear strategy but struggled to translate it into execution across business, operations, and technology.”

Participation in ICCC New Jersey 2025 has given Barron space to apply that experience through a growth-stage founder lens, stepping back to assess focus, prioritization, and scale within her own firm.

“The kickoff session provided a strong framework for stepping back and assessing the firm with greater intentionality around focus, prioritization, and scaling.”

As the program continues, Barron is refining marketing strategy, client acquisition, and execution discipline to support the next phase of growth for Lydia Barron Consulting Group and strengthen how she advises clients navigating complex change.

A Record-Setting Cohort Focused on What Comes Next

ICCC New Jersey 2025 is managed by Caitlin Cowan, Senior Program Coordinator at ICIC, and attracted a record number of applications, reflecting strong demand from New Jersey business owners seeking practical, high-impact executive education. They say:

“The enthusiasm for ICCC New Jersey 2025 speaks to how valuable it is for business owners to be part of a connected ecosystem. The business owners in this cohort are engaging with peers, capital partners, and local resources across New Jersey to build businesses that are positioned for long-term growth and meaningful community impact.”

ICCC Program Director Diego Portillo Mazal added:

“A large part of the success of ICCC in New Jersey can be attributed to our partnership with Santander Bank and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Thanks to these partnerships, ICIC has been a trusted resource for business owners during turbulent times, from the Covid-19 pandemic onward. The program gives business owners the space to step back, think strategically, and set a clear direction for growth.”

Why Entrepreneurs Across the U.S. Apply to ICCC

The experiences of Sarabjit Sawhney and Lydia Barron highlight what makes ICCC a trusted resource for growth, job creation, and access to capital.

ICCC offers more than education. It provides structure, accountability, coaching, and real-world tools that help business owners move from ambition to execution.

Entrepreneurs ready to strengthen strategy, build financial readiness, and apply innovation to real growth challenges are encouraged to explore their local ICCC cohorts.

About the ICCC Program

ICCC is a 40-hour “mini-MBA” designed for established small business owners who want to lead, grow, and innovate in today’s fast-moving world. The ICCC program brings together executive education, networking, one-on-one coaching, and access to capital—empowering small businesses in under-resourced communities to break barriers, build stronger companies, and drive community impact. This expert-designed curriculum is offered at no cost to qualifying businesses, thanks to ICIC’s funding partners.

To learn more and apply, visit icic.org/iccc.

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ICIC, in partnership with Amazon and Arctaris Impact Investors, recently celebrated the completion of the 2025 Amazon Accelerate and Empower Program (Amazon A&E) with a Capstone event at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama. This year, 44 small businesses from across the Delta Region  – representing 14 industries and five states, with 89 percent located in Alabama and Tennessee –  completed the intensive 10-week program which is based on the core ICCC curriculum. Amazon A&E is designed to strengthen procurement readiness, expand capacity, and open doors to new opportunities for small and diverse owned suppliers and was also supported by Regions Bank, ICIC’s longtime sponsor and a Birmingham based institution.

During the program, entrepreneurs completed executive education, one-on-one coaching, financial modeling through LivePlan, Amazon facility tours, procurement readiness sessions, and pitch development support. At the Capstone, participants delivered four-minute pitches to Amazon, Arctaris Impact Investors, Regions Bank, and community partners, sharing their growth strategy and readiness for larger opportunities. For Tena Everett of Active Energy Services LLC, the program was both timely and transformative.

Active Energy Services, LLC has served Tennessee and Kentucky for more than 20 years with a fully integrated approach to electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and carpentry work. Based in Clarksville, TN, the company delivers turnkey solutions for Federal, institutional, and government clients. Of note, it is 100 percent service-disabled veteran-owned, 51 percent woman-owned, and both SBA and HUBZone certified. For co-owner Tena, the company’s trajectory is shaped by partnership, perseverance, and a commitment to growth.

Veteran-Owned Tennessee Construction Business Founded Through Shared Service Values

Tena and her husband Rich Everett met at an M60 machine gun range while serving in the United States Army. A freezing November range qualification introduced them to each other’s resilience. Tena recalls,

“I was determined to not be considered a sissy, so I stayed outside in the freezing cold alongside the male soldiers.”

Rich was drawn to Tena’s charm and determination, which led to their marriage and starting a family. Despite Rich’s extensive travel for military and private sector roles, and Tena’s corporate leadership advancements, they eventually wanted more time with their daughters’ sports and church activities, which led to the founding of Active Energy Services in Tennessee. Launching their own company not only achieved this balance but also enabled them to make a more significant impact on their local community and church. Tena states:

“Our faith, 40+ years of marriage, life experiences, and military service have allowed us to thrive in challenging environments. We identify possible risks and determine concrete solutions for moving forward.”

A Family-Owned Construction Company Grows from the Amazon A&E Program

When Active Energy Services received an invitation to the Amazon A&E Program, they entered with curiosity and were not quite sure what the Amazon A&E Program would mean for them. Tena recalls,

“It was not until the Opening Seminar that we became fully aware of the opportunities the program would offer. The realization encouraged us to dive in headfirst with excitement and determination.”

For two decades, the business owners had followed established patterns in their processes, marketing strategies, and customer approach. However, their involvement in the Amazon A&E program required them to adapt their practices from a small-window focus to embrace larger business opportunities, including partnering with other participants in the program and engaging with larger businesses like Amazon.

Expert-Led Business Education That Transformed Their Strategy

The depth of expertise from the Amazon A&E program faculty made a strong impression. Tena reflects:

“The fact that these world renowned professionals would invite us to participate in a program dedicated to help us to market and grow our business solely because they wanted us to succeed was mind boggling.”

Through the curriculum, Active Energy Services refined how they communicate with customers, identify opportunities, and evaluate their operations.

How Learning With Other Small Business Owners Strengthened Their Vision

The cohort experience was one of the most meaningful aspects of the program. Tena and Rich remarked on their willingness to share their vulnerabilities and success stories.

“Growing alongside one another and the sharing of ideas throughout the A&E program allowed us to see our peers transform as well as ourselves.”

Observing the cohort work on their pitches highlighted the power of clarity and underscored the necessity of learning from other business owners. Tena gained a profound understanding of entrepreneurial endeavors.

Tena describes the Capstone Event as a mix of nerves, pride, gratitude, and anticipation. She recalls the excitement she felt for every entrepreneur in the room and how they appeared ready for the next stage. By the end of the event, she felt proud of how much progress everyone had made.

Business Tools and Mindsets That Improved Their Operations

Tena acknowledges that the entrepreneurial path can come with uncertainty. Before the program, she and Rich would at times feel deep uncertainty about their path. She says,

“You’ll have moments where you think ‘was this the best decision?’… but that’s quickly overshadowed by the opportunity to work alongside someone you truly respect, trust and admire.”

Rich and Tena gained a renewed appreciation for their complementary strengths, reminding them to leverage what each person does best for the benefit of the company.

This led to the couple making extensive changes to their marketing positioning in order to ensure that outsiders had a unified view of the company. The organization refined its processes and enhanced the customer relationship experience, leading to a greater appreciation for the value of its services. With a clearer offering, employees immediately gained new confidence.

Why the Amazon A&E Program Matters for Small Business Growth in Tennessee

For Tena, the program fills important gaps for business owners seeking structured support and high-level expertise.

“Access to distinguished entrepreneurs and scholars is critical in our region. The tools and insights we received will bring our business to the next level.”

Future Growth for a Veteran-Owned Contractor in Tennessee

Active Energy Services now plans to increase its marketing capacity and explore partnerships both with larger companies and with peers from the A&E cohort.

Legacy remains their focus as they continue to take their business to the next level and build for their children and grandchildren. Tena says,

“Determine a path. Make a plan. Stick to the plan. Strive to continually improve.”

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

About the ICCC Program

ICCC is a 40-hour “mini-MBA” designed for established small business owners who want to lead, grow, and innovate in today’s fast-moving world. The ICCC program brings together executive education, networking, one-on-one coaching, and access to capital—empowering small businesses in under-resourced communities to break barriers, build stronger companies, and drive community impact. This expert-designed curriculum is offered at no cost to qualifying businesses, thanks to ICIC’s funding partners.

To learn more and apply, visit icic.org/iccc.

About the Amazon A&E Program

ICIC, through its ICCC program, proudly partnered with Amazon and Arctaris Impact Investors to launch Amazon Accelerate and Empower (Amazon A&E). This innovative program is designed to accelerate the growth and development of disadvantaged-owned and small businesses (DOSBs) in under-resourced communities.

Built on ICCC’s 20-year legacy of impact and a curriculum proven to support small business growth, the program integrates supplier-focused content from Amazon to deliver tailored education, procurement readiness coaching, capital resources, and direct access to Amazon’s Global Procurement team.

The post New Clarity and Opportunity Through the Amazon A&E Program appeared first on ICIC.

By ICIC | December 12, 2025

The Amazon Accelerate and Empower Program (Amazon A&E) is a national initiative that helps strengthen procurement readiness, build capacity, and expand opportunities for small and diverse-owned suppliers. For the Amazon A&E program, ICIC partners with Amazon and Actaris Impact Investors to combine world-class executive education, coaching, capital access training, exposure to Amazon operations, and direct engagement with procurement leaders. Built on ICCC’s core curriculum and a 20-year legacy of impact, as well as support from Regions Bank, the program empowers businesses to scale and grow. 

This year, 44 small businesses from across the Delta Region—representing 14 industries and five states—completed the intensive 10-week program. Among the cohort was civil engineer, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder Selena Rodgers Dickerson, President of SARCOR LLC, a multi-modal transportation and transit design firm in Alabama. For Selena, Amazon A&E was more than an education program. It became a catalyst that clarified her role as a CEO, deepened her commitment to community, and highlighted the power of bringing the next generation along for the journey.

Selena describes her work:

“I focus on building people, places, and possibilities.”

A Daughter on Stage and a Room Full of New Possibilities

Anyone who was at the Amazon A&E capstone pitch event at Miles College will remember Selena’s eleven year old daughter, Allison, joining her on stage. The moment did not just move the audience, it shifted the atmosphere in the room. Throughout the day, attendees remarked on what her presence signalled for the future of entrepreneurship and how it opened a conversation about inviting students and families into professional spaces. 

Allison has been involved in Selena’s business from a very young age, attending meetings at just three months old. This began early in Selena’s career as an entrepreneur, who recalls appearing before her first major client while heavily pregnant. Having absorbed business wisdom through constant exposure, Allison now frequently motivates her mother by reflecting on that advice. Selena now sees Allison as a thought leader in her own right.

When Selena was invited to bring Allison on stage, she knew it was an important moment.

“I didn’t plan to bring her up at first. But when they asked, I thought if I have the opportunity to let her talk about her business, we are going to do that. She’s been in entrepreneurship classes, she’s written her own pitch, and she was ready. She did not shy away from the opportunity.”

For Selena, that moment spoke to the heart of why programs like Amazon A&E matter.

“Every young person needs to see that ownership is possible. Ownership is powerful. I want my daughter to know that success, responsibility, purpose, and ambition can be a normal way to live, not just an idea.”

How Family Lessons Shaped the Start of Her Own Journey

Selena attributes a lot of her drive and focus to her parents who exposed her to college campuses, affluent neighborhoods and luxurious playgrounds. 

“They couldn’t afford college, but they made it a point to say, we want you to go. So you’re going to need scholarships, you’re going to need to be the best fit.”

Selena succeeded. She achieved a scholarship and finished with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Tennessee State University. Long before that, Selena was already testing her entrepreneurial muscles. When she was just a child, she had begun her first foray into business by selling freeze cups. 

“I collected cans at football games instead of cheerleading. My dad would take me to the recycling center, and I used that money to buy the supplies to make the freeze cups. That was my first venture”

Those experiences shaped a core belief that still drives her companies today: business is a tool to leave communities stronger than you found them, not just a way to collect a paycheck.

“I want to leave a stronger community. I want to be an advocate for people who do not even know they need to ask for things like drainage and stormwater. I feel like it is a responsibility not to just go into projects thinking about the check, but thinking about the end user.”

From 10,000 Small Businesses to Amazon A&E

Before joining Amazon A&E, Selena completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in 2019, program ICIC supports focused on helping entrepreneurs grow revenues and create jobs. This encounter entirely shifted her perspective on how to approach commerce. 10,000 Small Businesses gave her a clear view of how a company should function: roles, systems, and financial clarity.

“I knew how to work strategically as an engineer. I didn’t yet know how to work strategically as a business owner. 10,000 Small Businesses taught me that. It taught me how a company should function and the importance of being intentional about growth.”

By the time she entered Amazon A&E, she was ready to build on that foundation with a program tailored to diverse-owned suppliers who were ready for growth with large buyers.

“When I walked into A&E, I was ready to build on that foundation. Programs like this are essential for owners because they force you to stop and really work on the business, not just keep making the widget.”

Why Amazon A&E and Why Now

Selena felt ready to transition her company and the Amazon A&E Program, built on ICCC’s mini MBA model, felt like the right next step. Selena explains that her firm had been very aligned with state and municipal government work and hadn’t yet partnered with large entities. Amazon A&E gave her the tools to strengthen her executive team and provided a framework to scale.

One unique aspect of Selena’s Amazon A&E experience was how she involved her team.

“The cohort gave me the opportunity to engage my COO and a long tenured team member. They listened in on sessions. That meant it was not just me as the CEO learning about strategy and structure. I did not have to teach it second hand. The whole leadership group could hear where we needed to go directly from the experts.”

A Shift From Daily Tasks to Strategic Leadership

The shared learning experience paid off. One of the most significant shifts Selena experienced during the Amazon A&E Program came in the final weeks, as she prepared for the pitch competition. In the last two weeks of the program, she pulled away from the day to day operations and began to lean on her newly appointed COO. That experience showed her something powerful.

“It gave me real insight that I can actually work on my business. Nothing failed. The business kept going. I realized that staying in day to day operations was draining me and limiting our growth.”

She already knew she had hired a strong COO. Amazon A&E accelerated the trust and release process, which gave her clarity on what she needed to do as a CEO. 

Learning From a Diverse Cohort and Looking Beyond One Sector

Another powerful aspect of Amazon A&E was the diversity of the cohort. 

“I met people who helped me see pathways to work in Tennessee, even outside of the Amazon footprint. I reconnected with leaders like Sharon Reynolds, someone I have admired for years. It let me see that what I am doing is not in vain.”

Hearing from entrepreneurs across industries showed how growth challenges often overlap. Selena recognized that a lot of the participants had similar growing pains. She was able to see her business with a wider lens and identify patterns and systems which helped with growth.  

Looking ahead, Selena is clear about her next move.

“My word for next year is execution. We have hired for leadership and impact. Now it is about executing on what I have learned.”

Selena intends to revisit the program’s learning videos and set up regular Zoom coffee conversations with members of the cohort to keep the dialogue active and sustain the community that formed during the Amazon A&E program. The virtual format made this possible and became one of the elements she appreciated most.

“I hope they leave the class videos up for a while. I want to recycle that information, make a top ten list of things I need to do in the next three to five months, and then go back and pick up what I was not ready to implement the first time.”

For Selena, Amazon A&E was not only an education program but a turning point in how she leads, collaborates, and imagines scaling. It sharpened her systems, expanded her network, and confirmed that her work is part of something larger than any single project: a commitment to building stronger communities through stronger businesses.

“I know I have the dream. Now I know how to get there. A&E opened my horizon.”

About the Amazon A&E Program

ICIC, through its ICCC program, proudly partnered with Amazon and Arctaris Impact Investors to launch Amazon Accelerate and Empower (Amazon A&E). This innovative program is designed to accelerate the growth and development of disadvantaged-owned and small businesses (DOSBs) in under-resourced communities.

Built on ICCC’s 20-year legacy of impact and a curriculum proven to support small business growth, the program integrates supplier-focused content from Amazon to deliver tailored education, procurement readiness coaching, capital resources, and direct access to Amazon’s Global Procurement team.

To learn more and apply, visit icic.org/iccc.

About the ICCC Program

ICCC is a 40-hour “mini-MBA” designed for established small business owners who want to lead, grow, and innovate in today’s fast-moving world. The ICCC program brings together executive education, networking, one-on-one coaching, and access to capital—empowering small businesses in under-resourced communities to break barriers, build stronger companies, and drive community impact. This expert-designed curriculum is offered at no cost to qualifying businesses, thanks to ICIC’s funding partners.

Learn more here.

About Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses provides business education, support services, and pathways to capital for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Participants gain practical skills to take their business to the next level, with topics like financial statements, negotiations, and marketing. The program is offered tuition-free and delivered in partnership with academic institutions across the country.

Learn more about Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at icic.org/10ksb

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For more than 10 years, Regions Bank has been a key community partner supporting ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program—helping keep it tuition-free, expanding its reach, and helping growth-minded entrepreneurs convert ideas into jobs and investment.

A Decade-Plus of Collaboration—and a Broad Footprint

With Regions’ support, ICCC has reached entrepreneurs from South Florida to St. Louis, and from major Southern cities like Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham, then out west toward Houston, up to Indianapolis, and more.

In each of these markets, Regions has a community engagement strategy focused on helping more people and businesses succeed. And the ICCC program directly complements this goal through practical education, business coaching, and insights about the prudent use of capital – all designed to help boost the trajectory of individual firms and neighborhoods.

How We Work Together

To focus on real outcomes for business owners, ICIC and Regions Bank deliver a consistent set of supports across each cohort:

• Executive education, at no cost: A 40-hour, “mini-MBA” experience covering strategy, finance, marketing, and technology.
• Targeted coaching: One-on-one and small-group guidance from ICCC experts and Regions Bank associates help owners turn learning into action on pricing, cash flow, sales, and digital adoption.
• Access to capital and networks: Connections to lenders, mentors, and capital coaches that accelerate growth long after the seminar ends.
• Innovation emphasis: Recent programming highlights practical AI use cases that help small businesses compete—paired with the same community and capital focus ICCC is known for.

Voices from the Collaboration

“This collaboration works because it’s built on what small-business owners actually need: capital, coaching, and community. Regions Bank helps us bring ICCC to entrepreneurs where they are—and stay with them as they scale.”
— Diego Portillo Mazal, ICCC Program Director, ICIC

“Regions Bank and ICIC are working strategically to help open doors — so local businesses can grow, hire, and reinvest in their neighborhoods. We see real results for hard-working entrepreneurs, their employees, and their communities – and that’s what community impact is all about.”
— Brett Shaffer, Head of Community Relations, Regions Bank

Impact in Action

Stories from across the collaboration spotlight how ICCC helps business owners turn learning into action.

In Indianapolis, Tamika Catchings, owner of Tea’s Me Café and former WNBA player, shared how the experience strengthened her business connections:

“Being able to meet and see people in your own field was really beneficial… a chance to discuss the same things I’m going through. Having someone to bounce ideas off has been so valuable.”

In Miami, the latest cohort emphasized the intersection of AI, capital, and community. As Diego Portillo Mazal of ICIC noted, “We’re helping small-business owners access capital, market their companies, and apply AI in practical, accessible ways. With community partners like Regions Bank, we’re making those tools available to everyone.”

Regions Bank leaders also see the results firsthand. Tammi Calvo-Sanchez, Market Executive and Commercial Banking Executive for Regions Bank in Miami, shared,

And for ICCC alumni like Keisha Mabry Haymore, founder of heyFRIEND, the program delivers more than business fundamentals—it builds confidence: “I came away from my ICCC experience with the five Cs: community, creativity, clarity, courage, and confidence.”

Why it Matters

ICIC exists to help under-resourced small businesses thrive—because when they do, communities thrive, too. Our long-standing community partnership with Regions Bank removes cost barriers, delivers expert coaching, and builds durable ecosystems of capital and know-how across the Regions footprint. With five active cohorts this year and momentum building for 2026, capital, coaching, and community aren’t just themes—they’re the throughline of a community partnership that’s delivering results, year after year.

Read more stories about small-business success at Regions’ Doing More Today website.

The post Capital, Coaching, Community Partnership: ICIC & Regions Bank appeared first on ICIC.

ICIC’s Alumni Network (ICAN) continues to strengthen ecosystems and inspire small business growth

When ICIC launched the ICAN Philadelphia Alumni Chapter, the energy in the room said it all. Small business owners, resource partners, and community leaders gathered not just to celebrate, but to reconnect.

“What stood out most was seeing graduates who joined our network more than ten years ago come back to reconnect with newer alumni. They spoke about how impactful ICIC’s programs were and how they wanted to stay involved.”
— Marynee Pontes, Director of Alumnae Affairs, ICIC

Marynee Pontes has been with ICIC for seven years and oversees two core networks: the ICAN alumni community of more than 9,000 members, and the annual IC100 Awards. She is now leading the planning of ICIC’s 2026 Annual Conference in Atlanta, continuing to strengthen connections that span programs, industries, and years.

A City of Resilience and Collaboration

The new ICAN chapter aims to strengthen that ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs with peers, partners, and resources that help them grow. The launch featured a fireside chat on “The Power of Partnerships,” where speakers from across the region shared actionable insights on collaboration. Attendees showed an eagerness to learn more about new initiatives in the city, and many approached the speakers to learn more.

From ten-year ICIC alumni to new graduates, attendees were united by a shared mission: to grow their businesses and give back to their communities. Alumni in attendance included Amy and Leo Volshin from Printfresh, multi-program graduates who were honored with the IC100 Business Growth Award two years in a row in recognition of being the fastest-growing business on the 2022 and 2023 IC100 lists.

Powered by Alumni, for Alumni

What makes ICAN unique is that it’s a network by alumni, for alumni. Each chapter is supported by a steering committee of graduates who shape programming to meet the real needs of small business owners. A significant portion of funding comes from alumni donations, in the spirit of paying it forward.

Expanding Opportunities and Partnerships

Post-graduation, ICIC program participants gain lifelong access to the ICAN community, enabling entrepreneurs to collaborate and overcome isolation. Through ICAN, alumni gain access to exclusive events, partner referral systems, continuing education, procurement summits, and cross-regional collaborations.

ICAN works to connect businesses within and across industries. The annual virtual Procurement Summit helps entrepreneurs from across the country learn how to partner with each other to secure new contracts and opportunities. Local chapters benefit from a broad network of partners, including Santander Bank, which sponsored the Philadelphia event, and Ceiba and Finanta, which served as local resource partners and community recruiters.

Looking Ahead: New Chapters and a Call to Action

ICIC’s alumni network continues to grow, with new ICAN chapters launching in different cities. Each new chapter strengthens ICIC’s national footprint while honoring the unique character of its entrepreneurs.

“Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. Having a network of people who understand your challenges, who look like you, represent you, and can support you, makes a huge difference.”

— Marynee Pontes, Director of Alumnae Affairs, ICIC

In 2026, the ICAN community will come together again, April 27-28, in Atlanta for the Annual Conference, celebrating collective impact and continued collaboration.

ICIC is also actively fundraising for its “Investing in Innovation” campaign, supporting alumni programming and future events. Alumni are encouraged to get involved by joining steering committees, speaking at events, or subscribing to ICIC’s monthly newsletter, Insights, to stay informed.

Because when one alum thrives, an entire community grows stronger.

Make a donation to Investing in Innovation

Sign up for updates about ICAN via monthly Insights

The post Connections That Last: The Launch of ICAN Philadelphia appeared first on ICIC.

When Jack Smith left the Air Force, he carried more than the discipline and precision that defined his service—he carried a mission to create something lasting for his community. Today, as founder and CEO of California-based Fortuna Business Management Consulting, Jack has turned his military experience into a purpose-driven company that prioritizes hiring and supporting veterans and their families. From serving as a computer programmer in the Air Force to leading a rapidly growing, nationally recognized consulting firm, Jack’s story exemplifies resilience, vision, and community-focused entrepreneurship.

His journey from service to entrepreneurship mirrors that of many veterans who turn their military experience into business success. And now, a new opportunity is opening for more of them to do the same.

Building Businesses Together: ICIC and Kaiser Launch the Veterans’ Cohort

This winter, ICIC will launch its first-ever Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) Veterans’ Cohort—sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and kicking off in San Diego in late January 2026. The 40-hour hybrid cohort is based on the ICCC program’s standard curriculum with specialized content and resources for veteran and military-connected entrepreneurs, providing executive education, one-on-one coaching, and access to capital—all at no cost to participants.

For Jack, building his company came from a desire to create quality jobs for veterans and military families while meeting high standards of service. However, he lacked the business knowledge to scale effectively. That changed when he joined the ICCC program. Jack explains,

“ICCC gave me knowledge and access to a community of entrepreneurs facing similar challenges. It’s lonely as an entrepreneur, so having a support network is invaluable.”

Through ICCC, Jack gained practical insights that helped him navigate rapid expansion and build a resilient, purpose-driven company.

Why the ICCC Veterans’ Cohort Matters

Across the country, veterans like Jack are translating leadership, discipline, and resilience into thriving businesses that strengthen local economies. Yet even with these strengths, the path from service to entrepreneurship is rarely straightforward. Accessing capital, navigating government contracts, and building networks outside the military all pose challenges.

The 2023 Annual Business Survey found that veterans own about 4.7% of all employer firms nationwide, contributing more than $800 billion in annual revenue and employing 3.2 million people. In California, roughly 7% of small businesses are veteran-owned, highlighting strong entrepreneurial drive. Yet gaps between potential and opportunity remain, particularly for those aiming to grow beyond early-stage survival.

Data underscores these challenges. In the Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ (IVMF) 2022 survey, 37% of veteran entrepreneurs cited lack of access to capital as a major barrier, and 34% pointed to lack of financing. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) notes that veterans seeking business loans often face stricter requirements, as many lenders are unfamiliar with their business models or don’t view military service as equivalent business experience. Networking and mentorship can also be difficult, as veterans relocating after service may struggle to build social capital in new communities (Federal Reserve Bank).

The ICCC Veterans’ Cohort is designed to break these barriers and build veteran businesses by equipping owners to grow profitably, create quality jobs, and drive inclusive economic prosperity in their communities.

“Veterans are some of the most mission-driven entrepreneurs we meet,” says Diego Portillo Mazal, Program Director of ICIC’s ICCC program.

“They bring resilience, discipline, and creativity to every challenge. They deserve access to the same resources and opportunities as any other small business owner. This cohort is about leveling that playing field.”

By pairing executive education with personalized coaching and access to capital networks, the ICCC Veterans’ Cohort helps veteran and military-connected entrepreneurs chart a new course for growth.

“Veterans already know how to lead,” says Portillo Mazal. “They just need the right network and the right information to unlock their next chapter.”

Veterans Turning Vision Into Victory

Through ICIC’s ICCC program, veterans are turning the skills honed in service into real-world business success.

Liseth Velez, a U.S. Army veteran and founder of LJV Development, transformed her military precision into an award-winning business. Through ICCC, she sharpened her growth strategy and built strong relationships with peers. Her accolades include 2023 Massachusetts Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year, 2024 IC100 Award winner, and 2024 Inc. 5000 awardee with a 3-year growth rate of more than 2,900%. Liseth shares, 

“Being part of ICIC has immersed me in a vibrant community of entrepreneurs. This network has not only given me access to new opportunities but also a sense of belonging and shared purpose. We’re not just building businesses; we’re collectively enhancing economic growth and job creation in our communities.”

Angel Johnson, founder of activewear brand ICONI and ICCC graduate, demonstrates that purpose and profit can coexist. Through the program, she gained guidance from expert mentors on her inclusive clothing that fueled her business expansion.

“Everything was a challenge when I first launched ICONI. My degrees didn’t prepare me for the realities of entrepreneurship, but my Air Force training taught me to always be ready to answer questions five layers deep. That mindset led me to ICCC. The program gave me exactly what I needed: CEO-level training, guidance from experienced coaches, and a clear path forward. Before ICCC, I was a veteran navigating business on my own. After ICCC, I became a confident business owner with the tools to lead and grow.”
– Angel Johnson, Founder, ICONI

From Service to Strategy: Turning Experience Into Growth

The ICCC Veterans’ Cohort helps veteran and military-connected entrepreneurs turn experience into strategy and purpose into measurable growth. Participants receive:

• Executive Education led by instructors with military experience
• Capital Access Coaching for traditional and alternative funding
• Procurement Readiness to compete for government and corporate contracts
• AI Tools for Growth to streamline operations, reach customers, and make smarter business decisions
• Specialized Mentoring & Networking with peers and coaches who understand the transition from service to entrepreneurship

Each entrepreneur is paired with experienced coaches who guide them through business growth challenges—from pricing and financial management to marketing and scaling sustainably. The result is a stronger foundation for long-term success, backed by a national network of alumni and mentors who share both military and entrepreneurial experiences.

Joining the Cohort

Applications are now open for the ICCC Veterans’ Cohort, starting in San Diego in late January 2026. Participants will join a supportive community of veterans and military-connected entrepreneurs, gain access to national business leaders, university faculty, and a powerful alumni network that continues to support growth long after graduation.

Learn more and apply here.

For veterans and military-connected entrepreneurs, the journey continues—this time through business, community, and lasting impact.

The post Optimizing Service, Scaling Business: Veteran and Military-Connected Entrepreneurs Chart a New Course Through ICIC’s ICCC Program appeared first on ICIC.

By ICIC | November 12, 2025

When military veteran Leon Davis looks back on 2020, he calls it his “black swan moment.” His commercial and industrial electric services provider company, CheckMate Communications & Electric, had been thriving for years, serving major clients across the Tri-Sate Area. Then his largest account shut down work without warning.

“Business was abysmal that year,” Leon recalls. “We went from having 47 employees to eleven”. Rather than walking away, Leon made a choice that would redefine his leadership and his company’s future. “I could have just given up and got a job, right,” he says, “but I chose the unpaved path of entrepreneurship to continue on with the company, which under normal circumstances would have been considered a failure.”

That choice led him to the Building for Growth (BFG) program, a national executive education program designed to help construction contractors build capacity and develop sustainable growth strategies. His enrollment coincided with a transformative year for the program, which debuted its first New Jersey-specific cohort and introduced a hybrid curriculum format. These developments were made possible through a partnership between ICIC, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and Kean University.

A Career Built on Connection and Leadership

Rebuilding After Crisis

Through ICIC’s Building for Growth program, Leon found the structured support he needed. The program connected him with seasoned mentors and a network of contractors navigating similar challenges. “The program gave me mentorship and perspective,” Leon says. “It helped me realize that even though I had a large business, I still had a lot to learn. Programs like this are invaluable to small businesses”. One concept from BFG immediately changed how he managed his company: the vision statement. 

“Every week I ask how each project aligns with the vision statement.”

He traces this discipline back to the program’s early exercises. 

“It all started with writing the founder’s belief and doing a SWOT analysis,” Leon explains. “The program taught me how to exceed stakeholders’ expectations and turn every threat into an opportunity.”

Innovation Through Humility and Teamwork

As CheckMate recovered, Leon began re-examining what truly set his firm apart. “There are many companies offering similar services with great craftsmanship,” he says. “I had to break down what made us different in communications engineering.”

The answer was clear: “Our team differentiates us from the rest.”

That mindset reshaped the company’s culture. “I learned to sit back, listen, and let other team members spearhead projects,” he explains. “This instilled more confidence and trust.”

Leon began encouraging his eleven remaining employees to take ownership of their roles. 

“I always say, ‘I want you to be the CEO of your position.’”

The results were significant, Leon says. 

“We’ve now become one of only seven companies certified by the Port Authority to do communications engineering.” 

The certification means CheckMate can receive direct referrals without the need to bid—a milestone Leon attributes directly to the systems and confidence developed through Building for Growth.

From Subcontractor to Prime

Leon’s proudest moment came when his company finally stepped into the role of prime contractor. “We’ve always been a subcontractor,” he says. 

“I was afraid to be a prime contractor until I did the program. I would never have ventured out before.”

Through Building for Growth’s structured lessons on documentation, positioning, and strategic planning, Leon learned how to present his firm’s qualifications more effectively. 

“The program taught me how to document properly and exercise all our capabilities”.

In 2025, CheckMate achieved its highest year of revenue yet, with contracts in place that project a pipeline three times larger in 2026.

A Story of Resilience and Inclusive Growth

For Leon Davis, the Building for Growth program was more than an educational experience—it was a lifeline. It helped him rebuild not just a business, but a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, and shared purpose.

Today, CheckMate Communications & Electric stands as a testament to what is possible when determination meets opportunity. Through ICIC’s Building for Growth in New Jersey cohort, Leon transformed a moment of crisis into a blueprint for long-term success.

Ready to Build for Growth in New Jersey?

Join a dynamic cohort of construction contractors committed to scaling their businesses and driving impact. Through a hybrid curriculum and expert-led sessions, you’ll gain the tools, strategies, and connections needed to grow sustainably.

Apply now to be part of the 2026 New Jersey cohort—where innovation meets opportunity.

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When Kenya Brooks-Jones and Kevin Jones founded Jones Software Corporation, they knew they wanted to change the way people learn. What they didn’t anticipate was how their journey would weave together technology, community, and innovation into a story that would earn them the inaugural Intuit Innovation Award.

From Idea to Impact

Jones Software Corporation is a Chicago-based EdTech company that builds an AI-powered, cloud-based learning management ecosystem and virtual classroom for K-12, higher education, and workforce development. Kevin, the company’s CEO, reflects on the early days:  “When we began this journey, I had a notion that we were going to build a widget and everyone would purchase it. Not even close. What we discovered along our journey is that you need a community and ecosystem.”

That ecosystem became ICIC. Introduced to ICIC in 2019 by Kenya Merritt, then Deputy Mayor of Chicago, Jones Software joined the Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program to strengthen their growth strategies and expand their reach in under-resourced communities.

ICCC, ICIC’s executive education program focused on capital readiness and business capacity building, provided Jones Software with mentorship, strategic networking, and financial education. Kevin explains: 

“The ICCC program equipped us with the tools, insights, and connections needed to further our mission of delivering AI-powered learning solutions and driving economic development through workforce training.”

Building a Learning Revolution

At the core of Jones Software is the Velocity Learning Management Ecosystem, a personalized AI-powered learning platform. Velocity integrates predictive analytics and AI-driven copilots to create adaptive learning experiences that scale across industries. The platform’s “3Ps”—predict outcomes, profile each learner, and personalize performance—form the foundation of its AI framework, integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Fabric and Azure AI Services.

“Innovation for us isn’t just about new products—it’s about reimagining the way people learn, work, and grow.”
– Kevin Jones, CEO, Jones Software Corporation

The company’s focus spans four key areas: AI governance, cybersecurity, big data, and workforce development curriculum. By targeting these areas, Jones Software ensures that its solutions are secure, data-informed, and scalable. Kenya, the company’s CIO, adds, “Our mission is understanding inertia—knowing there’s a problem and solving it. That drives everything we do.

A Milestone in Innovation

Jones Software’s innovative approach recently earned them the inaugural Intuit Innovation Award, presented at ICIC’s Innovation Summit. The award honors small businesses that demonstrate exceptional innovation, adaptability, and measurable impact.

During the presentation, Anoop Sreenivasan, VP of Go-To-Market Technologies at Intuit, said:

“This award recognizes a small business that is innovative in its own right, has pushed the boundaries of innovation, and is really leading the thinking in how to drive business in a technology-led way.”

Kenya reflected on the moment:

“We’re honored not just to receive the Innovation Award from Intuit, but to ICIC. It’s a reflection of what’s possible when purpose meets persistence.”

The award underscores Jones Software’s leadership in AI-driven learning solutions and their impact on education and workforce training. A key accomplishment that contributed to this recognition was their development of algorithms for the Microsoft Copilot launch, which powered next-generation productivity tools.

Their contributions also advanced AI literacy initiatives through Microsoft’s #Buildfor2030 campaign and partnerships with Code.org and Minecraft Education, extending access to emerging technologies for underserved communities. These milestones reminded the team that innovation thrives when vision and perseverance come together.

Overcoming Challenges Through Collaboration

Innovation rarely comes without hurdles. For Jones Software, challenges included securing high-impact partnerships and assembling a team capable of building complex, AI-driven solutions across multiple cloud platforms. “Finding talent with the expertise to build on Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services was a significant challenge,” Kevin admits. They overcame it by investing in continuous learning, cultivating strong industry relationships, and staying relentlessly adaptable. “Each challenge became a classroom,” Kenya reflects. “Every obstacle strengthened our resolve to innovate responsibly and build technology that uplifts communities.”

Impact That Resonates

The results speak for themselves. Since 2020, Jones Software has impacted more than 30,000 learners through its Velocity Learning Ecosystem, with programs deployed across schools, corporations, and workforce training initiatives. Through the platform, Jones Software has achieved:

• 85% improvement in learner engagement

• 92% corporate user satisfaction

• 22% increase in student assessment scores

• 40% faster onboarding with adaptive AI

Beyond metrics, the real impact is on people: students and workers gaining skills to succeed in rapidly evolving industries. The JSC Cares Program provides access to high-quality education for underserved communities, reflecting their dedication to expanding opportunities and skills for learners.

“Technology becomes transformational when it meets people where they are.”
– Kenya Brooks-Jones, CIO, Jones Software Corporation

Looking Ahead

Over the next five years, Jones Software aims to train one million learners globally, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing skills. With continued collaboration through ICIC and Intuit networks, and with the support of skilling partners like Microsoft, Jones Software is on track to bridge the gap between innovation and inclusion, ensuring that every learner, regardless of their zip code, can access the tools of tomorrow. Ingenuity remains central to this mission, enabling the company to scale solutions that are accessible, personalized, and impactful.

“Innovation doesn’t come from having everything—it comes from believing something better is possible.”
– Kenya Brooks-Jones, CIO, Jones Software Corporation

Advice for Fellow Entrepreneurs

For small business owners looking to harness innovation, Kevin offers this guidance: “Embrace uncertainty, be adaptable, and focus on collaboration. Use innovation to stay ahead of trends, but also listen deeply to your customers’ needs. And don’t forget—we’re in the business of people. Building genuine, meaningful relationships is key to long-term success.”

Join the Journey

Jones Software’s story is a powerful reminder that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, persistence, and purpose. ICIC’s executive education programs, like the ICCC program, are designed to help entrepreneurs like Kenya and Kevin navigate challenges, scale their impact, and achieve lasting growth.

Explore how ICIC can help your small business break barriers and thrive. Innovation starts here.

The post Learning Without Limits: How Jones Software Corporation is Revolutionizing AI-Powered Education and Workforce Training appeared first on ICIC.