Seven years ago, Brittany Halbsgut was a hairstylist on welfare, having to take shifts at the salon’s front desk just to make ends meet.

Her career was not where she expected it to be, prompting her to enroll at Community College of Philadelphia. “I Initially felt like college was not for me. But as I was thinking about where I was in life and what I wanted for myself, I decided it was time to go to college," she said. "I couldn’t move on with my life, couldn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve. I was exhausted and I was drained. I will always be passionate about cutting hair but it was not an industry where I could truly thrive and be my best self. ”

After refreshing her skills by taking remedial math, Brittany discovered⁠—much to her surprise⁠—that she, in fact, was college material. Enrolling at CCP “is absolutely the best decision I made for my education, my career and my life,” said Brittany, who graduated with an associate degree in Communication Studies from CCP in 2017 and was accepted at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy  League school. “If anyone, or even your children, would like to talk more about how to get started at #communitycollege from nothing, please reach out,” she recently wrote in a post on LinkedIn.

With so many college plans turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, Brittany, who is an HR Manager for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, decided to share her CCP experience with others on LinkedIn who might⁠—for the first time⁠—be facing life-changing decisions, as she did, and looking at community college as an option.

Brittany said she selected CCP largely due to its affordability, and its evening and weekend classes. 

After taking a few courses on campus, she discovered the convenience of online learning. "That made a huge difference," she said. "I felt less stress. I was able to balance my life. The online classes really changed my perspective. I felt CCP was giving me options that worked for my life.”

Her CCP course credits transferred over to the University of Pennsylvania, even though they were about a third of the cost of credits there, Brittany said, “As the future of traditional universities is changing, I encourage high school students to consider attending their community college at least for the first year, 

Brittany, like many others, is facing uncertainty in her life right now. That is why she recently took time to reflect upon her transformation, and why she feels that experience will continue to guide her. 

Since attending CCP, Brittany has changed careers, bought a house, traveled to Europe and received promotions at work. She credits CCP for everything she has. “I would not be where I am today if CCP hadn’t given me the opportunity to prove what I can do. It was exactly what I needed to build the life I wanted.”

Come December, she hopes to add one more credential to her resume: bachelor's degree in Organizational Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

Every year the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC) recognizes students across the state who display academic excellence and are active in their own campus community. Two of the 47 outstanding community college transfer scholarships were awarded to Community College of Philadelphia sophomores Andreas Copes and Kendall Stephens, with Copes being named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team and Stephens to the All-USA Community College Academic Team. Stephens was also distinguished as a Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Scholar, which is awarded to students who receive the highest All-USA Community College Team application scores in each state. Both All-Pennsylvania and All-USA Academic Team members receive a two-year tuition waiver for any school in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PSSHE).  

Dan Greenstein, the State System Chancellor, commented on the need for scholarships that encourage community college students to  achieve a bachelor's degree, saying “Workforce needs in Pennsylvania remain high and will likely be even higher in the months and years ahead. These students with their knowledge, skills, diligence, and humanity can help propel Pennsylvania toward a brighter future, and we’re grateful they chose the State System to be such a critical part of their journey.” 

Andreas Copes was born in Germany and immigrated to the US in 2017. On top of a 4.0 GPA, he is an active and engaged member of the campus community. As the Public Relations officer of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society chapter, he organized an initiative to register Philadelphians to vote while providing them with information about candidates to enable informed decisions on election day. He has also collaborated with Planned Parenthood, throwing an event to raise money to protect a woman’s right to choose. Andreas is the host and writer of the CCP TV show "Focal Point" and he is also the station's social media manager. He is a member of the CCP Street Team, a group of students who regularly contribute to the College’s social media channels, and he will be attending Temple University in the fall to study Mass Media and Broadcast Journalism. 

For Kendall Stephens, 2020 has been a year full accolades, awards and recognition. Majoring in Behavioral Health/Human Services, Stephens is renowned for her community service, academic excellence, and the vision of inclusion and tolerance which she fights tirelessly to make reality. A transgender woman herself, Stephens has pushed past many of her own adversities and become an advocate for her peers in the LGBTQ+ community. An intern at Morris Home, a recovery center for trans and gender-nonconforming folks with addictions, she facilitates support groups and assists with yoga classes. She also works with William Way Community Center to co-facilitate a weekly support group for trans and gender-non-conforming people and was given the New Emerging Leader Award for her services last October. She serves on advisory boards for the Marc David LGBTQ Center at CCP, William Way Community Center and Mazzoni Center.  

 “Having that firsthand connection, it kind of gives me a unique perspective on how to combat some of the issues and challenges happening in the community,” she explained in a recent interview with the Philadelphia Sunday Sun. “Somebody right next to a problem may be the one that is able to find the solution.”  

Receiving the prestigious Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Scholarship from the PACCC, she will receive a $2,250 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Educational Foundation in addition to a two-year tuition waiver for the PSSHE school of her choosing. She has also received a full scholarship to Temple University, was recently named the 2020 Person of the Year by Philadelphia Gay News and was named one of eight 2020 DREAM Scholars by Achieving the Dream.  

By combining their own passions with the goal of improving their communities, Kendall Stephens and Andreas Copes are helping to make both the College and Philadelphia a better place to be. The College is honored to have two such driven and talented students in its student body, and believes them to be a perfect representation of how diversity can and should be a force which strengthens us as a whole. Just by lifting up their peers and fellow Philadelphians, Kendall and Andreas have garnered recognition on a national and state-wide level. These two CCP Lions show us that by practicing focus, compassion and dedication, individuals can always make a difference.   

Three health care programs at Community College of Philadelphia have donated life-saving equipment to local hospitals to support health care facilities and their colleagues working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Respiratory Care Technology program, the Biomedical Equipment Technology (BMET)  program and the Nursing program at CCP have donated either ventilators or personal protective gear, both of which are in short supply and used to treat patients with the novel coronavirus.

The Respiratory Care Technology program has donated four ventilators and one BiPAP, which is a less invasive type of ventilator that helps patients keep breathing. The program uses the equipment to help students prepare for their upcoming respiratory therapy clinicals in hospitals. The BMET program donated its ventilator as well. Students in that program learn how to test and repair the medical equipment used in hospitals. The technicians  play a vital role by taking care of the medical devices that nurses, doctors and respiratory therapists use in caring for patients.

All five ventilators and the BiPaP are currently on loan to the Temple University Health System. Respiratory Care Program Director Lisa Fielding said that CCP respiratory care graduate Hernan Alvarado Jr. , currently an administrative director of respiratory care at Temple, contacted the College to see if it had equipment it could spare. Dr. Catherine Blaine, CCP’s director of clinical education, played a pivotal role in the donation. 

The Nursing program donated personal protective equipment packets, each including a hospital mask, gown and gloves to Jeanes Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center. 

"I was clearing out the lab and I said, “Hey, we could donate this,” said Michelle Nixon-Alicea, a Nursing instructor at CCP  who also teaches clinicals at Jeanes Hospital. A conversation led to the decision to donate 75 personal protective equipment packets each to Jeanes and Fox Chase. Nursing faculty use the protective gear to show students how to properly use and remove the garments, Nixon-Alicea said. 

Both Fielding and Nixon-Alicea said their programs enjoy close relationships with staff at area hospitals who help prepare students for the workplace by providing hands-on experience.

“We have a lot of friends out there on the frontlines,” Nixon-Alicea said. 

Fielding added, “Everything is on the line right now. The machines would be sitting there, not being used, so why not use them to help?”

Community College of Philadelphia 's Class of 2020 includes approximately 96 nursing students, 21 students in respiratory therapy and 15 students in the BMET program. 

Graduates strengthen Philadelphia's local economy and workforce—89 percent of recent graduates who were working at a job eight months after graduating from the College were employed in the Philadelphia metro area.

Over the years, Nursing has graduated more than 5,000 Nurses and Respiratory Care, formerly the Respiratory Technician and Therapist program, has graduated more than 1,000 students. 

In February, Kendall Stephens was one of eight community college students from Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network colleges chosen as 2020 DREAM Scholars, giving her and seven others the opportunity to participate in ATD’s 2020 DREAM Scholars program to enhance their leadership, critical thinking and networking skills. 

Each participating community college nominates a DREAM scholar. Nominees submit applications that ask them to reflect on their college journeys, and from there a rigorous selection process begins. It is no surprise that Community College of Philadelphia nominated Kendall, and that she was selected as one of eight 2020 DREAM Scholars in the entire nation. After all, the program is all about student leaders looking to make a difference on their campus and in their communities.

During DREAM, the students meet with community college leaders, share their educational experiences, and attend sessions on improving student success, institutional governance, teaching and learning, administration and more. The program culminated in a presentation by the DREAM Scholars to more than 2,000 community college leaders at ATD’s annual conference, DREAM, in National Harbor, Maryland from February 18-21, 2020. 

Early in March, Kendall was honored yet again when she was selected as a member of the 2020 All-USA Academic Team. Recognized as the top-scoring student from Pennsylvania in the program, she was also selected as New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar for Pennsylvania. Only 20 students from more than 2,000 nominations are named to the prestigious All-USA Academic Team. The Team is sponsored by Follett Higher Education Group, with additional support provided by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. 

Kendall embodies excellence as both an academic and a community advocate. She serves on several advisory boards, including the College’s LGBTQ Center, the Mazzoni LGBTQ Health Center and the William Way LGBTQ Recreational Center. Recently, Kendall was given William Way’s New Emerging Leader Award and she was named Person of the Year by Philadelphia Gay News. Her goal is to drive social justice and cultural awareness in the College community by spreading the message of inclusivity to students, faculty, board members and beyond. One day she hopes to become a social worker to help increase the visibility, inclusivity and acceptance of the trans community in mainstream society.

Some associate degree and certificate programs provide a less expensive and faster on-ramp to the middle class than a bachelor's degree, according to the findings in a new report from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW).

According to the report, "The Overlooked Value of Certificates and Associate’s Degrees: What Students Need to Know Before They Go to College," the field of study a student selects greatly influences future earnings, as many of these programs are linked with specific occupations.

“Field of study matters most when it comes to certificates and associate degrees,” said Dr. Anthony P. Carnevale, lead author of the report and CEW director. “A worker with an associate’s degree can earn more than a worker with a bachelor’s degree, and shorter-term credentials like certificates and certifications can out-earn associate’s degrees.”

The combined number of certificates and associate degrees awarded by colleges is similar to the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded—around 2 million per year, the study found. Moreover, associate degree holders who studied engineering have median earnings between $50,001 and $60,000 per year, compared to workers with a bachelor’s degree in education, who have median earnings between $30,001 and $40,000 per year. Workers with certificates in construction trades and other blue-collar fields have median earnings that are as high as those of bachelor’s degree recipients in liberal arts and humanities (between $40,001 and $50,000).

Community College of Philadelphia offers more than 100 associate degree, academic and proficiency certificate programs. The College offers proficiency certificates in a number of occupations, including accounting paraprofessional, advanced automotive repair, architectural visualization, biomedical equipment, automotive service, culinary arts, computer programming and cybersecurity. Associate degrees also are offered for in-demand careers such as engineering science, computer science, dental hygiene and digital forensics.

Certificate and associate degree programs are linked strongly to careers—about 94 percent of certificates and 57 percent of associate degrees are awarded in career-oriented fields.

Other findings:

● Workers who report being employed in a job related to their certificate program have higher median earnings (between $40,001 and $50,000) than those who are not working in a related job (between $20,001 and $30,000)

● About 8 percent of workers have a certificate as their highest level of educational attainment, and 9 percent have an associate degree. An additional 15 percent of workers have some college but no credential

Building student pathways from certificate programs to associates and bachelor’s degree programs will help students better progress in their careers, the report concluded. But without an improved understanding of the educational and economic value of the full range of credentials on the middle-skills pathway, policymakers and higher education leaders risk formulating public policy that excludes a large segment of students.

Read the full report here.

Some associate degree and certificate programs provide a less expensive and faster on-ramp to the middle class than a bachelor's degree, according to the findings in a new report from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW).

According to the report, "The Overlooked Value of Certificates and Associate’s Degrees: What Students Need to Know Before They Go to College," the field of study a student selects greatly influences future earnings, as many of these programs are linked with specific occupations.

“Field of study matters most when it comes to certificates and associate degrees,” said Dr. Anthony P. Carnevale, lead author of the report and CEW director. “A worker with an associate’s degree can earn more than a worker with a bachelor’s degree, and shorter-term credentials like certificates and certifications can out-earn associate’s degrees.”

The combined number of certificates and associate degrees awarded by colleges is similar to the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded—around 2 million per year, the study found. Moreover, associate degree holders who studied engineering have median earnings between $50,001 and $60,000 per year, compared to workers with a bachelor’s degree in education, who have median earnings between $30,001 and $40,000 per year. Workers with certificates in construction trades and other blue-collar fields have median earnings that are as high as those of bachelor’s degree recipients in liberal arts and humanities (between $40,001 and $50,000).

Community College of Philadelphia offers more than 100 associate degree, academic and proficiency certificate programs. The College offers proficiency certificates in a number of occupations, including accounting paraprofessional, advanced automotive repair, architectural visualization, biomedical equipment, automotive service, culinary arts, computer programming and cybersecurity. Associate degrees also are offered for in-demand careers such as engineering science, computer science, dental hygiene and digital forensics.

Certificate and associate degree programs are linked strongly to careers—about 94 percent of certificates and 57 percent of associate degrees are awarded in career-oriented fields.

Other findings:

● Workers who report being employed in a job related to their certificate program have higher median earnings (between $40,001 and $50,000) than those who are not working in a related job (between $20,001 and $30,000)

● About 8 percent of workers have a certificate as their highest level of educational attainment, and 9 percent have an associate degree. An additional 15 percent of workers have some college but no credential

Building student pathways from certificate programs to associates and bachelor’s degree programs will help students better progress in their careers, the report concluded. But without an improved understanding of the educational and economic value of the full range of credentials on the middle-skills pathway, policymakers and higher education leaders risk formulating public policy that excludes a large segment of students.

Read the full report here.

Ayanna Washington, director of Career Connections, wants Community College of Philadelphia students to have an edge in their job searches, so she began collecting new or gently worn career clothing for them to wear on job interviews.

"We want our students to have every advantage," said Washington, whose staff offers individual appointments, seminars, career fairs and other activities that show students how to plan, strategize and achieve their career goals. The College's students are able to visit the career closet, located at the entrance of the Career Connections Center, to pick out a free outfit each semester that is suitable for office wear.

Community College of Philadelphia received so many clothing donations that Washington eventually needed a larger clothes rack and additional space. After receiving approval to expand the initiative, she decided to involve the students in the College’s Architecture, Design and Construction (ADC) program in the planning process.

Paula Behrens R.A., a professor in the Architecture, Design and Construction Department, and Betsy Masters, AIA, AFAAR, coordinator for the ADC Architecture and Interior Design programs, both assigned their classes—ADC 209 and ADC 259—the task of developing designs for the new space.

“I asked Paula and Betsy to get their classes involved," Washington said. "What they were able to produce and the level of work was nothing short of amazing. I had tears in my eyes while watching the class presentations.”

Working in teams, CCP's architecture students produced designs shown in drawings and in architectural models, supplementing the presentations with sample fabrics, paint color schemes, lighting layouts and fixtures, and more. Each team incorporated unique and interesting details such as hanging garment racks, built-in shelves, spacious dressing rooms, and ceiling accents.

The class began their assignment, as professional architects might do, with a tour of the space and a meeting with Washington to discuss her vision.

Masters and Behrens were impressed with the students’ work, and by their final presentations. “I was also blown away on that project because I really had no idea what to expect in so short a time, “Behrens said. “They got not only the design up to a good level, but they also produced drawings that were excellent. They each developed a different design approach and presented them in complete and well-thought out ways.”

“The presentations communicate the designs really clearly and look beautiful," Masters added. "Through design we articulated a vision for what Ayanna really wants. We learned it wasn't really a closet after all. It's a boutique for career clothing.”

Masters said the student designs were graded on a number of factors: Does the space work? Do the materials work? Do the colors work? Does the lighting work with the space? Does it meet the client’s needs?

Nicole Gonzalez, one of the students in Masters’ class, said she enjoyed the collaboration with classmates and the challenges that accompanied a one-week project deadline. “It feels great to be part of change," Gonzalez said

The next step is to cost out the teams' proposals, and find funding to cover the construction work. Meanwhile, the college community is invited to take a look at all the design boards, which are posted on the second floor of the West Building, behind the architecture program's suite of offices and on the wall of the Mint Building.

The architecture students left behind a lot more than project boards last semester—they left a legacy.

"I'm all for changing things for the better...making things simple for people, "Gonzalez said. "If we can do that, make it an easy process, simple, then that's the best feeling!”

On Friday, January 17, Community College of Philadelphia professor Pascal Scoles was honored with the 2020 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition. Named for a former AACC President, this award highlights the dedication and achievement of professors who work to make a positive impact within their schools and communities. Professors who are given this award display a strong passion and support for students inside and outside of the classroom, participate in campus committees and programs, and “go above and beyond what is required to ensure that students are successful in their academic endeavors.''

With over fifty years of experience in his field, Scoles has become known at Community College of Philadelphia and beyond as a leading voice in the movement toward providing trauma-informed care for students with substance abuse and mental health issues. He worked as coordinator of the Behavioral Health/Human Services program from 1999 until 2012, when he became the director of the Office of Collegiate Recovery Services. Now, Scoles helps remove the obstacles that stand in the way of higher education for students in recovery. Under his guidance, the program has expanded over the years to include “weekly peer-to-peer group meetings, individual coaching/mentoring sessions, support meetings, 12-step meetings, structured activities on and off campus, and access to the College’s many support services, including career counseling and tutoring.” He has been a full-time professor of Behavioral Health/Human Services at the College since 2003 and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a doctorate in Addictions and Health from the University of Pennsylvania.

With a CV that includes the publication of three textbooks and over 45 articles on addiction and recovery, Scoles has spread his passion and knowledge far beyond our campus. He has provided consulting services to treatment facilities, city and state governments, and criminal justice systems, as well as psychotherapy to chemically dependent individuals and their families. This work has earned him a number of awards throughout his career, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Award in 1983, the Impact Corp. Lifetime Achievement Award in Veteran’s Services in 2007, and the City of Philadelphia Faith and Spirituality Award in 2015, among others.

 What Scoles is perhaps most known for throughout the College’s campus community is his CCPTV series “Tapestry of Life.” Having hosted and co-produced over 70 episodes since 2011, this program sheds light on the inner workings of addiction and mental health treatment, and holds a microphone to the voices of those who experience these things within Philadelphia.

The AACC Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition award distinguishes teachers who not only exemplify excellence in an academic setting, but who also work outside the classroom to help their students achieve success. While success can mean getting good grades or graduating to some, to others, it can mean getting through the day without slipping on the path to sobriety. Scoles distinguishes himself from other educators not only in the support that he provides to students, but in his constant search for ways to improve and innovate the services which they rely on to change their lives. These innovations can be encapsulated in one of his guiding philosophies; that education can be “a vehicle to and through sobriety.” A native Philadelphian, Scoles’ career embodies his faith in the people of this city, and the College’s mission to provide an education to all of its citizens, no matter where they come from. With this, Scoles gives recovering students the tools to expand the horizon of what they believe to be within the realm of possibilities.

In spring 2020, Heba Elmountassir will graduate from Community College of Philadelphia with an associate degree in Health Care Studies and a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. Just 18 years old, Heba will receive her high school diploma from MaST Community Charter School this spring as well.

Heba applied for early admission to the University of Pennsylvania in fall 2019, along with the QuestBridge Scholarship Program, and received replies from both institutions at the same time. “I was surprised,'' she said when we spoke to her in December 2019. “I was just really grateful for everyone who helped me through it and I was grateful to QuestBridge for picking me.”

MaST Community Charter School is one of several high schools in the area that work with the College to provide a dual enrollment opportunity to high school students. Though dual enrollment is open to all high school students, a few programs, like MaST Community Charter’s MC² program, allow students to come to the college to take courses during the school day. Through this program Heba began taking up to four college courses each semester beginning in her sophomore year. She is one of approximately 736 high school students enrolled in classes at Community College of Philadelphia. This spring she will receive her associate degree alongside 10 of her classmates at MaST Community Charter School. When asked why she chose to enroll in the MC² program, she explained that she saw very early on how it would allow her to begin advancing toward her career while she was still in high school.

“I knew that I wanted to go to med school since about 8th grade,” Heba said. “I knew that CCP would help me get there. Because we were introduced to topics that were harder in biology, I realized that’s [what] I want to study… I felt that taking college classes earlier on allowed me to understand what college students actually go through.”

Heba is an avid volunteer, and plans to become an ER doctor. She says that she was attracted to the University of Pennsylvania partly because of the volunteer opportunities offered through its network of hospitals and medical clinics all across Philadelphia. In addition to her altruism and excellent grades, Heba believes that her pending associate degree helped her to stand out from the competition. “I feel like it played a really big part in U Penn accepting me,'' she said, “because they saw that I was able to take all the classes at college and still get good grades.”

“We have bio classes at my high school but I think the college classes here are more intensive,” Heba said. She explained how the MC² program also gave her access to a wider variety of elective courses, “I took a public speaking class... I think I learned a lot from that class and I wouldn’t have had the chance to take it in my high school.”

Although starting college at 15 years old isn’t easy, Heba said that the staff and faculty at Community College of Philadelphia’s Northeast Regional Center helped to bridge the gap in her academic experiences between the secondary and undergraduate programs.

“My teachers at CCP were always willing to meet with me after class,” she said. “I had one math teacher who really took interest in me and helped me a lot throughout the entire class. She actually wrote my letter of recommendation for U Penn, so she was always there for me if I had questions.”

In light of her extraordinary accomplishments, it’s no wonder that Heba recommends that other high school students take advantage of the College’s dual enrollment options. “It’s helped me a lot… college

really makes you be more independent and you have to work on your own schedule… I like how free you are in college.”

As for helpful hints for those students who plan to enroll in the program, Heba said, “Some advice I would give to a high school freshman who was thinking about enrolling in the MC² program is that they should definitely go for it, don’t procrastinate, because once I entered college I realized that you have to try and get things done as fast as possible. And I would say enjoy your time here because my time is ending and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

More than 530 entrepreneurs have completed Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses training at Community College of Philadelphia.

Twenty-three of the fastest growing privately held companies in Greater Philadelphia in 2019 are alumni of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, a free business education program designed to provide practical skills and professional support for up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

The Entrepreneurs Forum of Greater Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Inquirer announced the Philadelphia 100 award winners at a ceremony in October 2019. They revealed that the fastest growing business in the region in 2019 was Kapital Data Corp., whose owner, Kumar Mangala, completed Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia. The free program is hosted by and held at Community College of Philadelphia.

Equally as exciting, women or minorities own 16 of the 23 companies making the Philly 100. The alumni represent the city and suburbs as well as a variety of industries including architecture, law, training, construction and retail.

“We’re excited to see so many women and people of color at the forefront of Philadelphia's Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program,” said CCP President Donald Guy Generals. “Philadelphia's workforce and economy are strengthened as these entrepreneurs expand their employment rolls and increase revenues."

Mangala credits the program with helping him to sharpen his strategic corporate focus, prioritize tasks and hone his presentation skills.

“I have always operated from a position of strength, having already run another successful business,” Mangala said. “I had the knowledge in my head and I knew I could wing it. Attending this program allowed me to put that aside and view it from a different perspective. That allowed me to articulate my plan better to my stakeholders, customers and even prospective employees. I began to see, gradually, the difference it made. It was a small difference but it made a huge difference in the outcome.”

Goldman Sachs launched 10,000 Small Businesses as part of a national initiative to create jobs and foster inclusive economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and business support services. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 99 percent of all business in the U.S. and employ nearly half the American workforce.

Through Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, companies coming from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania get new supports and an opportunity to meet like-minded business owners and develop customized tools.

Alumna Patty Tawadros is founder of Studio x., a digital design firm specializing in resolving usability issues. Launched in 2003 as Xercel, Inc., it has grown from a three-person team to an international design studio headquartered in Philadelphia with teams in Russia and India.

“I spent the first 13 years of my business just working with no specific plans for how I would scale; we’ve all been there,  years just slipping by unnoticed, ” Tawadros said. “I had reached a point where I was bored and complaining to my mom. She told me, ‘Why don’t you stop complaining and start working?’ It was time to change my attitude and refocus my company. The 10KSB program helped me do just that. I was able to spend time working on my business instead of drowning in the daily tasks. Moreover, by delegating more, my team stepped up and delivered successful projects. I spent my newfound time working through a strategy to create recurring stable revenue and planning a future exit strategy, In addition, I was introduced to funding sources that have enabled me to take a larger leap than I could have on my own. I will be forever grateful.”

In addition to providing classes on topics such as negotiation, marketing and employee management, the program offers a network of support and expertise. Many of the alumni remain closely connected with peers, as past cohorts meet regularly to discuss shared challenges and sometimes collaborate on business opportunities. Since 2013, 20 cohorts have graduated at the College, bringing the number of entrepreneurs served to 540.

Sheila Adkins, a member of cohort 14, is among those making the Philly 100 for a second straight year. Adkins Management Inc., a woman- and minority-owned construction firm based in Bala Cynwd, specializes in home modifications and remodeling work related to health, aging and safety issues. Most of their remodeling work has been geared toward helping seniors and individuals with disabilities remain in their homes. Recently, the firm was selected for a pilot program that modifies homes to eradicate asthma triggers such as mold, dust, poor ventilation, worn carpet and structural hazards. The project, sponsored by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia, is being expanded.

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Adkins had about 10 employees. Two and a half years later, her company has grown to include work on commercial facilities. She now employs 35 people — all of them coming from the neighborhoods where she works.

“The growth that my company has reached—it is phenomenal. We are supplying a lot of families with income. And as I grow, the community grows with me because everybody I hire is from these Philadelphia neighborhoods,” she said. “Before Goldman Sachs, I worked on two houses a week. Now I do seven or eight houses a week.”

The program at CCP, which is the only site in the region and just one of 19 nationally, helps entrepreneurs to refocus and move beyond the daily tasks so they can develop growth strategies, as Adkins has done.

“I have been able to grow our staff from five full-time staff to eight full-time staff, said alumnus Kevin Kearns, CEO of Tri-State Training & Safety Consulting, which provides training and other services geared toward clients’ health and safety needs. “With this organic growth, our sales have grown by 40 percent. Being a member of the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program has allowed me to be more of a business owner. In the past, I was an owner of a business.”

Apply online to 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia.