Columbia Community Business Program
2015–16 Participant Application
Please note that the 2015–16 program is open only to for-profit businesses with annual revenues of at least $150,000 which have been operational for three years. Business must operate in New York City. Preference will be given to businesses located in Upper Manhattan (96th Street and North). Participation is limited to Business Owners and Partners.
DEADLINE: Monday, November 17, 2014 at Noon.
Please submit by e-mail or mail to:
Natalie Moses
Assistant Director, Columbia University-Harlem Small Business Development Center
Columbia Business School
310 Uris Hall, 3022 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
- 212-851-5966
Please note that all applicant information will be kept strictly confidential. If you are selected as a finalist for admission to the program, you will be invited to an interview in late November-early December. You will need to bring your most recent financial statement for review, it will be reviewed and returned to you during the session. No copies will be made.
Please include a copy of your résumé or a summary of your management background and experience
in your application.
__________________________________________________________________________
Business/Organization Information
Name:
Title:
Company or Organization Name:
Business Mailing Address:
Business Phone: Mobile Phone:
Email Address:
Industry:
Most Recent Fiscal Year Revenues:
Date Business Started: Number of Permanent Employees:_________________________________________________________________ Number of Employees with annual salaries under $55,113.00:
Please initial the statements below to indicate that you can and will commit to full participation in the program if accepted.
_____ I understand that participating in the Community Business Peer Networking Program involves a commitment to attend 8 individualized coaching sessions, 8 small-group coaching sessions and 16 full-group sessions between January 2015 and December 2016.
_____ I understand that I will be asked to provide occasional feedback to the program manager about my satisfaction with the program and its impact on my business or organization.
_____ I understand that if I cannot fulfill the time commitments outlined above, the program administrator may choose to end my participation in the program.
_____ I understand that if I am not the CEO of the company, the CEO must attend the individual coaching sessions with me, if requested by the program manager.
_____ My business is a for-profit venture. I agree to share financial information about the business with the program manager from time to time, as requested with the knowledge that it will remain confidential.
Participant Questions
- Please describe your company’s business model, stating your major sources of expenses and revenues and expected profit or loss.
- Please describe your company’s competitive environment and market position.
- Please describe your three greatest opportunities for business or organizational growth.
- What are the three most pressing issues or problems that your business or organization is confronting?
- What do you feel are the strengths (personal, entrepreneurial, areas of business knowledge, etc.) you can bring to this program in support of the other participating businesses/organizations?
- Please describe how you believe participation in this program will benefit your business.
References
Please list two business references we may contact to provide a description of your management and leadership style if you are selected as a finalist for admission to the program. The references can be employees, business partners or customers. We recommend that you contact these references ahead of time to let them know that someone from Columbia may be calling for more information in support of your admission to the program:
Name:
Title:
Company Name:
Address:
E-mail Address:
Business Phone: Relationship:
Name:
Title:
Company Name:
Address:
E-mail Address:
Business Phone: Relationship:
I certify that the information provided on this application is true and accurate.
Applicant Signature Date
CEO Signature (if not applicant) Date
Optional Information
The following information is optional but will help the program’s administrators design the educational components of the program. It will not be used for admissions decisions.
Areas of business expertise (please check all that apply):
__ Accounting __ Marketing
__ Finance __ Internet/Online
__ Legal __ Operations
__ Media Production __ Other (please specify): ______________
__ Media Relations
__ Management
Please list any business or professional organizations to which you belong:
__________________________________________________________
Educational Background (please check highest level):
__ Technical School
__ College Graduate
__ Graduate/Professional School
__ Some High School
__ High School Graduate
__ Some College
__ Other (please specify): ______________
How did you hear about us?
__ Abyssinian Development Corporation __ Seedco
__ Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce __ Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone
__ Harlem Business Alliance __ Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO)
__ New York City Business Solutions __ Women Presidents’ Organization
__ New York City Small Business Services
__ New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce
__ Columbia Business School
__ Columbia Law School’s Nonprofit Organizations/Small Business Clinic
__ Columbia-Harlem Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
__ Other (please specify): ____________________________________
Please submit your completed application to Natalie Moses by e-mail at ccbp@gsb.columbia.edu.
Finalists will be contacted regarding admission at the end of November. Applying for this opportunity does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Community Board 10 