Katrina Entrepreneurs in Atlanta and Louisiana Move Forward with Help From Atlanta
Marietta, GA, February 28, 2006 --(PR.com)-- New Orleans and Gulf Coast entrepreneurs who are still in the Gulf Coast or who have relocated to the Atlanta area are finally getting some much-needed assistance in the form of a free business workshop and business coaching. Fast Forward Restart, a non-profit organization based in Atlanta is choosing 500 entrepreneurs whose businesses were destroyed or severely affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to participate free of charge in several upcoming workshops and coaching opportunities. Workshops are scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday March 31st and April 1st from 8:30AM - 6:30PM in Marietta, Ga. at 4994 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 11 Marietta, GA 30068.
Workshops are also scheduled to take place in the Gulf Region on March 15 and 16 in Metairie, LA; March 28 and 29 in Baton Rouge, LA; March 31 and April 1 in Lafayette, LA and April 13 and 14, and April 25 and 26 in Metairie, LA.
The Fast Forward Restart process addresses the need to restore hope, create a new business foundation and vision, and establish achievable business-critical goals. It does so through a disciplined business process and a supportive and productive environment. The process enables goals to be formulated and achieved in 90-day increments, creating a rapid business restart and measurable accomplishments.
“Entrepreneurs are imbued with a ‘can do’ spirit and the willingness to work hard for their future,” said Emile Paradis, Fast Forward Restart’s Executive Director. “For most people who are restarting there is a need to rekindle optimism and to regain a sense of structure and accomplishment from goals that are achieved. Restarting is as much about hope and vision as it is about replacing equipment.”
Fast Forward Restart is a nonprofit, business-to-business program supported entirely by private funding from corporations, foundations and non-profit organizations. These organizations sponsor the redevelopment of businesses located in the New Orleans and the Gulf Coast area that were destroyed or affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Sponsor companies may partner with businesses and receive quarterly reports regarding rebuilding progress.
This program has already enrolled more than 90 entrepreneurs and trained over 30 entrepreneurs by capitalizing on connections with Business Network International. Subsequent participant recruitment will be in conjunction with various business organizations, such as the Chambers of Commerce and local business associations. Fast Forward Restart is governed by a nonprofit board and guided by an advisory panel of local and national leaders.
Three groups of participants have already participated in the two-day Fast Forward Workshop in New Orleans, LA and Marietta, GA. Those entrepreneurs are now participating in the business coaching program and are signed up for Business Plan and Word-of-Mouth Marketing seminars.
“When we presented our first workshop in November, we hoped that we would be offering a process that people would be able to use to restart their businesses” said Linda Zuk, one of the facilitators of Fast Forward Restart. “What we didn’t realize was that we were giving them hope and a plan to begin to return to normalcy in a world where nothing is normal.”
Certified facilitators of the Fast Forward Restart Workshop include Emile Paradis, owner and managing partner for The Referral Company of Northwest Georgia and North Carolina; Linda Zuk, President of Fast Forward Process, Inc. a business consulting group based in Atlanta; Gordon Rude, an executive consultant specializing in strategic planning and organizational development; Ellen Malow, LLD, president of Malow Mediation & Arbitration, Inc.; Robert B. Isaacs, a business consultant and Registered Corporate Coach with an MS in Clinical Psychology from Purdue and an MBA from the Wharton Graduate School; Soyini Coke, founder of Annona Enterprises, who graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Economics; Harry Rodenhi, a graduate of Coach University and certified by the International Coach Federation; John A. Midkiff, a business consultant, coach, and President of Biz Creations,Inc.; Arline N. Berman, an organizational effectiveness consultant and business coach with more than twenty-two years experience; Patty Farinola, a business coach specializing in leadership, communication, and career development; Jeff Jarosinski PhD., who received his Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of New Orleans; Ivie B. Graiser, who has 30 years experience as a consultant and coach; Richard Kirby, co-founder of Executive Impact, an executive recruiting, placement and consulting service; and Harlan Graiser, a coach and consultant focused on supporting small business owners to re-examine their business models in order to adapt to new conditions.
These highly experienced consultants and coaches are dedicating a significant amount of time and expertise this year to assist small businesses severely affected by the hurricanes. They will donate their time and talents each month throughout the next year to assist entrepreneurs in rebuilding their destroyed New Orleans and Gulf Coast based businesses. Fast Forward Restart will teach effective tools, help create a strong renewed passion, and help entrepreneurs develop a focused plan for the future. They are committed to help restore the entrepreneurial spirit of the world-famous Louisiana city and the gulf coast.
The Board of Directors of Fast Forward Restart includes Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and CEO of BNI (Business Networking International); and Jonathan Sims, PhD, CEO of Onyx Commercial Real Estate and Consulting, LLC. The staff includes Executive Director Emile E. Paradis of The Referral Company; Director of Operations, Harry Rodenhi of All About Enterprises; and Director of Development Paul Allen, AUKOL Board Advisor in the UK.
Fast Forward Restart is currently seeking significant corporate sponsorship. Fast Forward Restart provides a unique opportunity for corporations to make a tangible difference in rebuilding the economic community and spirit of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Fast Forward Restart is seeking entrepreneurs whose businesses were destroyed by the hurricanes, and encourages them to apply for the free one-year coaching program. To apply for participation in Fast Forward Restart, entrepreneurs affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may visit www.FastForwardRestart.org for more information and to complete an online application, or call Linda Zuk @770.645.2009.
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Workshops are also scheduled to take place in the Gulf Region on March 15 and 16 in Metairie, LA; March 28 and 29 in Baton Rouge, LA; March 31 and April 1 in Lafayette, LA and April 13 and 14, and April 25 and 26 in Metairie, LA.
The Fast Forward Restart process addresses the need to restore hope, create a new business foundation and vision, and establish achievable business-critical goals. It does so through a disciplined business process and a supportive and productive environment. The process enables goals to be formulated and achieved in 90-day increments, creating a rapid business restart and measurable accomplishments.
“Entrepreneurs are imbued with a ‘can do’ spirit and the willingness to work hard for their future,” said Emile Paradis, Fast Forward Restart’s Executive Director. “For most people who are restarting there is a need to rekindle optimism and to regain a sense of structure and accomplishment from goals that are achieved. Restarting is as much about hope and vision as it is about replacing equipment.”
Fast Forward Restart is a nonprofit, business-to-business program supported entirely by private funding from corporations, foundations and non-profit organizations. These organizations sponsor the redevelopment of businesses located in the New Orleans and the Gulf Coast area that were destroyed or affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Sponsor companies may partner with businesses and receive quarterly reports regarding rebuilding progress.
This program has already enrolled more than 90 entrepreneurs and trained over 30 entrepreneurs by capitalizing on connections with Business Network International. Subsequent participant recruitment will be in conjunction with various business organizations, such as the Chambers of Commerce and local business associations. Fast Forward Restart is governed by a nonprofit board and guided by an advisory panel of local and national leaders.
Three groups of participants have already participated in the two-day Fast Forward Workshop in New Orleans, LA and Marietta, GA. Those entrepreneurs are now participating in the business coaching program and are signed up for Business Plan and Word-of-Mouth Marketing seminars.
“When we presented our first workshop in November, we hoped that we would be offering a process that people would be able to use to restart their businesses” said Linda Zuk, one of the facilitators of Fast Forward Restart. “What we didn’t realize was that we were giving them hope and a plan to begin to return to normalcy in a world where nothing is normal.”
Certified facilitators of the Fast Forward Restart Workshop include Emile Paradis, owner and managing partner for The Referral Company of Northwest Georgia and North Carolina; Linda Zuk, President of Fast Forward Process, Inc. a business consulting group based in Atlanta; Gordon Rude, an executive consultant specializing in strategic planning and organizational development; Ellen Malow, LLD, president of Malow Mediation & Arbitration, Inc.; Robert B. Isaacs, a business consultant and Registered Corporate Coach with an MS in Clinical Psychology from Purdue and an MBA from the Wharton Graduate School; Soyini Coke, founder of Annona Enterprises, who graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Economics; Harry Rodenhi, a graduate of Coach University and certified by the International Coach Federation; John A. Midkiff, a business consultant, coach, and President of Biz Creations,Inc.; Arline N. Berman, an organizational effectiveness consultant and business coach with more than twenty-two years experience; Patty Farinola, a business coach specializing in leadership, communication, and career development; Jeff Jarosinski PhD., who received his Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of New Orleans; Ivie B. Graiser, who has 30 years experience as a consultant and coach; Richard Kirby, co-founder of Executive Impact, an executive recruiting, placement and consulting service; and Harlan Graiser, a coach and consultant focused on supporting small business owners to re-examine their business models in order to adapt to new conditions.
These highly experienced consultants and coaches are dedicating a significant amount of time and expertise this year to assist small businesses severely affected by the hurricanes. They will donate their time and talents each month throughout the next year to assist entrepreneurs in rebuilding their destroyed New Orleans and Gulf Coast based businesses. Fast Forward Restart will teach effective tools, help create a strong renewed passion, and help entrepreneurs develop a focused plan for the future. They are committed to help restore the entrepreneurial spirit of the world-famous Louisiana city and the gulf coast.
The Board of Directors of Fast Forward Restart includes Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and CEO of BNI (Business Networking International); and Jonathan Sims, PhD, CEO of Onyx Commercial Real Estate and Consulting, LLC. The staff includes Executive Director Emile E. Paradis of The Referral Company; Director of Operations, Harry Rodenhi of All About Enterprises; and Director of Development Paul Allen, AUKOL Board Advisor in the UK.
Fast Forward Restart is currently seeking significant corporate sponsorship. Fast Forward Restart provides a unique opportunity for corporations to make a tangible difference in rebuilding the economic community and spirit of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Fast Forward Restart is seeking entrepreneurs whose businesses were destroyed by the hurricanes, and encourages them to apply for the free one-year coaching program. To apply for participation in Fast Forward Restart, entrepreneurs affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may visit www.FastForwardRestart.org for more information and to complete an online application, or call Linda Zuk @770.645.2009.
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Contact
Fast Forward Restart, Inc.
Linda Zuk
770.645.2009
www.fastforwardrestart.org
Linda Zuk
770.645.2009
www.fastforwardrestart.org
Contact