RESERVE — Eighteen business owners graduated Nov. 19 from the fall 2015 Kauffman Foundation FastTrac Entrepreneurial Train-ing Program.

The program is offered through the St. John Business Training Center and is housed at the South Central Louisiana Technical College, River Parishes Campus.

St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom and Council Member Lucien Gauff joined Torri Buckles, economic development director; Carmen Sunda, director of Louisiana Small Business Development Center; Wayne Aucoin, business continuity consultant and John Matthews, Louisiana Economic Development executive director of entrepreneurial services for the graduation ceremony.

Robottom provided opening remarks to congratulate graduates on their success, “St. John’s people have great ideas and talent, and we want you to be successful when opening a business. This program provides sound financial business practices and with it being located in Reserve, it is available and accessible for our community. Don’t let it end today. Resources are available here anytime.”

Two Kauffman FastTrac graduates, Robin Bailey and H. Paul Green, spoke on behalf of the 2015 graduating class.

Robin Bailey, owner of Bailey Ice Delights, described her experience in the program as “engaging, purposeful, and fun. It gave her the tools to implement a business and run it successfully.”

Paul Green’s goal was to bring aviation to St. John. With his experience in the Navy and at FedEx, he started Green’s Aircraft Maintenance. Following the presentation of certificates, graduates, family and friends networked and socialized over a meal provided by local caterer and 2014 FastTrac graduate, Avis’ Kitchen.

FastTrac is a nationally recognized and award winning entrepreneurial training program developed by the Kauffman Foundation, a recognized leader in entrepreneurship. The program includes ten sessions of approximately 40-50 hours of training over ten weeks.

Each session includes facilitated activities and group discussions on multiple business topics; a guest speaker related to each topic; networking; coaching sessions; and wrap up and action steps.

Sunda reminded the FastTrac graduates to celebrate their accomplishment, but that their journey to sustainable business growth was just beginning.

“The SBDC will be with you on that journey with the services and resources needed to assist you and your business to continue your success,” Sunda said.

Throughout the program, participants are provided assistance with business plans, business and financial skills and tools with strategies for immediate implementation.  Participants are eligible to apply for funding assistance.

Fall 2015 Graduates include Christie Anderson, Happy head and Hair; Lesa Anderson, L & S Catering, LLC; Robin Bailey, Bailey Ice Delights; Tishia Boldene, Falling Waters Trucking; Jessica Buchanan, Pizazz by Jessica B; Maria Burke, Pro Promotions Plus; Delano Burton, OTR Vision, Inc.; Dana Douglas, Adela, Academic Center for Educational Success; H. Paul Green, Green’s Aircraft Maintenance; Glenda B. Johnson, Eat and Live Vibrantly, LLC; Darrell Mathieu, Nu Flow Louisiana, LLC; Dawn Moton, A Taste of Heaven Catering & Bakery; Gaynelle Perrilloux, Simply Coding; Shirah Ray, David Lee’s Boutique, LLC; Christopher Rideaux, Advance City Pressure Washing, LLC; Lisa Rogers, Designed 2 Design, LLC; Rachel Stewart, Stewart’s School of Performing Arts, LLC; and LaRhonda Wilson, LaRhonda Gaines Wilson’s Music.