Data Driven

Tracy Knight is a pro at branding her own business — which makes sense, since her company does marketing and advertising, with a niche in the healthcare industry.

But there are a few other tasks small business owners juggle that aren't Knights' forte. “I've never had the training on the financial side,” says Knight, who has run her company, Venice-based Knight Marketing, since 1997. “I've learned it as a I went.”

Now Knight, along with a host of other Gulf Coast entrepreneurs who share her do-it-all challenges, have a resource for help in areas that aren't their strengths. It's the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, a one-on-one business consulting program founded by the Kansas City-based Ewing Kauffman Foundation, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country devoted to entrepreneurial support.

The foundation runs the UEP program in the Sarasota-Manatee region through a joint effort with Bradenton-based Suncoast Community Capital. Suncoast is a nonprofit that provides access to microloans of up to $50,000 for local small businesses. Suncoast President and CEO Mike Kennedy says the UEP program — free to clients — works because it focuses on helping firms quickly increase revenues and add people to the payroll.

“It's highly personalized coaching that is data driven,” Kennedy says. “There is nothing cookie cutter about this program.”

The Kauffman Foundation runs other UEP programs in Detroit, Kansas City and four Gulf Coast cities in Louisiana and Texas. This is the UEP's first foray into Florida, an effort that received $50,000 in funding from Wells Fargo and $40,000 from the city of Bradenton's Central Community Redevelopment Agency.

Nearly 50 local companies applied for the first UEP class, which began in April. Nine were accepted, including Knight Marketing. The first class ends later this month, when another session will begin.

Knight says her weekly lessons with the UEP business coach, in-person once and the rest in a videoconference, have been invaluable. The instruction has helped Knight focus on revenue goals, and how to better understand return on investment. “It has made me more disciplined,” Knight says. “It has been really helpful.”

The UEP coaches work with client-companies off a list of business challenges, from financial analysis to business processes to innovation. UEP officials say a key component of the program is that coaches give a long-term time commitment to the companies.

Kennedy monitors the local end of the program through an office in north Sarasota County the UEP uses in a building owned by Sarasota-based Internet marketing firm IntegraClick. Kennedy previously ran Florida operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, based in Bradenton. He was also the executive director of the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority for more than four years. He joined Suncoast Capital in January 2011.

“We are thrilled a partnership like the Kauffman Foundation selected us to host the program,” says Kennedy. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the community.”

Entrepreneurial Assistance

The Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, a one-on-one business consulting program founded by the Kansas City-based Kauffman Foundation, made its Florida debut in April in the Sarasota-Manatee region.

So far, nine local companies have gone through the program, which is free for the businesses. Now the program, UEP on the Suncoast, seeks more clients. Entrepreneurs are eligible if they live in Manatee or Sarasota counties, and either have an idea for a business, or already run one.

Applications are at www.uepkauffman.org/suncoast. For more information, contact Mike Kennedy at 941-744-2666, ext. 1, or [email protected].