LAPLACE — Eighteen participants graduated from the spring 2018 Kauffman Foundation FastTrac Entrepreneurial Training Program, an award-winning program offered through the St. John Business Training Center at River Parishes Community College.   

President Natalie Robottom and Chief Administrative Officer Laverne Toombs joined Councilman Larry Sorapuru, Economic Development Director Jerry Jones, Business Development Officer Tatiana Bruce, Louisiana Small Business Development Center’s Wayne Aucoin and Penelope Freeman, campus dean for the graduation ceremony.

Following the presentation of certificates, graduates, family and friends networked and socialized with FastTrac graduates, families, officials and staff. The FastTrac program includes ten sessions of training over ten weeks that lead to activities and group discussions on business topics.

A guest speaker shares about each topic, leading to networking, coaching sessions, wrap up and action steps. Throughout the program, participants are provided business plans, business and financial skills and an online toolkit for life.

Wayne Aucoin led the sessions with assistance from Yasamine Magee. The program is funded in part through a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with St. John the Baptist Parish Economic Development, Louisiana Economic Development-Small and Emerging Business Development Program, LSBDC and RPCC.

Class participants were only responsible for $100 of the program fee.   

For more information or to apply for the Fall session, contact the St. John Parish Business Training Center at 985-479-1247 or stjohnbtc@lsbdc.org.

— Contributed  by St. John Parish communications.

Spring 2018 Graduates:

• Adrienne Williams – Fashion Lady Creation

• Aeisha Fobb – Aeisha

• Georgia Keller-Verret – John 3:16 Trucking & Logistics, LLC

• Jamie Ziglar – 2nd Line Marketing

• Jizette Scott – Life Tools Counseling Center, LLC

• JoAnn Pierre – Momma Jo’s Family Creole & Cajun Kitchen, LLC

• Kiana Washington-Gauff – Dynamic Counseling and Consulting Services

• Lemek N. Yisrael – LNY Enterprises

• Leonard Sanders – Full Armor Security Guard Services, LLC

• Lucretia Scott – Del’s Angels Learning Center

• Patricia Cunningham – Patricia D. Cunningham Corporation

• Paula Ketchens – Ketchens Kleaning Service

• Phaedra Grover – PHE’

• Reneedia Johnson – Conti Hair Lounge, LLC

• Rhonda Clark – Gi’s Creative Little Minds Child Care

• Ross Johnson – Pro Audio Video & Security, LLC

• Therry Edouard – Chez Hilda

• Yishmene Edwards – Baby Blues Gumbo