Ascend LA Graduation Celebration
11.30.2021
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LISC StoriesEconomic Development
In mid-August, the 2021 Ascend LA Summer cohort gathered at JP Morgan Chase Community Center on Crenshaw in recognition of an amazing feat. The cohort had successfully completed their management education program. Through the direction of Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship in the College of Business at Loyola Marymount University and LISC Los Angeles, businesses across Los Angeles garnered the tools and skills to accelerate growth.
Businesses ranging from various industries such as professional services, IT and health services, consulting, construction, and transportation entered the program seeking to advance their business. The 23 businesses were selected from a competitive and diverse pool of Los Angeles business owners to set forth on a professional journey through the support and direction of Loyola Marymount’s leading business faculty. Ascend LA’s tailored program began with teaching 12 online session management education courses. Through these courses, the cohort enhanced their abilities on topics such as financing, contract acquisition, and marketing. By various disciplines being taught, these passionate entrepreneurs become equipped to be competitive in Los Angeles’ local economy and take their business to the next level.
Here at LISC LA, we believe economic development initiatives aim to create opportunities for low-income people of color to participate in the small business and economic growth of the region and build wealth within their communities. That is why we are committed to initiatives like Ascend LA’s management program to uplift local Los Angeles businesses owners.
The celebration of the 2021 Summer Ascend LA cohort was momentous by weaving the importance of practice and community connectivity into the graduation. In attendance, we had: our Executive Director of LISC LA, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, LISC LA Program Officer Deborah Membreno, and Dayle M. Smith, Dean of the College of Business Administration at LMU. Also in the assembly were crucial LMU professors like David Choi, the Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Fred Kiesner Center of Entrepreneurship, and Darlene Fukuji, the Associate Director of the Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship. Both David and Darlene were the leads of the management education program. Each Ascend LA business had the opportunity to present their new business plans that incorporated the tools and skills they learned during their program. Creating this space of camaraderie, we had the graduation was catered by our Ascend LA graduate (2020 class) Art Delectables.
By completing the management education program, the cohort has become proficient in entrepreneurial competence and now has a business foundation prepared to acquire corporate and government contracts. Ascend LA graduate, Frankie Casillas, Vice President, and Owner of Intermex, discussed with us how helpful the program was to him and his company in a previous story highlight. Frankie Casillas detailed how incredibly helpful going through the program was and now he is well-versed in new skills for his growing family company.
After successfully completing the management education program the network of support does not end. Ascend LA businesses also receive free 1-on-1 advising services with our Business Navigators, CMG Alliance. They are also invited to participate in Ascend alumni and contract matchmaking events nationwide. To learn more about, Ascend Los Angeles, click here.
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