Goldman Sachs鈥� 鈥�recently celebrated the graduation of 38鈥痵mall business owners from Cohort 15 in Iowa, marking an important milestone for the local entrepreneurs who successfully completed the comprehensive program.
The event, held at 鉴黄师app's Ankeny Campus, honored participants鈥� achievements throughout the rigorous program and underscored the vital role small businesses play in driving economic growth and job creation across Iowa communities.
The newest graduates now join a network of more than 17,000 program alumni across the nation, including 400 alumni in Iowa. The 10,000 Small Businesses program in Iowa is administered by 鉴黄师app in collaboration with all 15 of state's community colleges.
Through the鈥�12-week鈥痯rogram, small business owners鈥痺orked one-on-one with a dedicated business advisor to gain practical skills, recognize new opportunities, and develop a customized growth plan to take their business to the next level.鈥��
罢丑别鈥�10,000 Small Businesses鈥痯rogram addresses the most significant challenges faced by small businesses by providing practical business education, access to capital and support services. For more than 15鈥痽ears, the program has played鈥痑 key role in supporting the local economy and bolstering the local small business ecosystem by equipping entrepreneurs with the tools they need for their businesses to succeed.鈥�
鈥淎fter a decade in business, I didn鈥檛 need more hustle. I needed a reset and the right support system鈥濃�痵aid鈥疻hitney Warne, owner of鈥疎voke EQ and Ivory House Photography鈥痠n Des Moines, and a graduate of cohort 15鈥痠n鈥疘owa.鈥�淭he Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program gave me both. It pushed me to define what meaningful growth actually looks like, challenged how I lead and surrounded me with advisors and peers who don鈥檛 let you stay small. I left with clarity, momentum, and a renewed belief in what鈥檚 possible for my business.鈥濃���
Graduates from the Spring 2026 cohort of Goldman Sachs 10,00 Small Businesses in Iowa include:
- Rashad Akinci, Turquoise Trucking, Cedar Rapids
- Lorraine Chidester, Walnut Creek Psychiatry, Johnston
- Bunny Churchill, Benolas, Baxter
- Felicia Coe, Cirque Wonderland, West Des Moines
- Katie Colony, Colony Acres Family Farm, North Liberty
- Krista Dewar, Lifestyle Health and Wellness, Dubuque
- Craig Flickinger, Iowa Popcorn Company, Marion
- Chase Gibb, Fork Catering Company, Burlington
- Aaron Gobert, Garage Force of Des Moines, Urbandale
- Bridget Good, b.e.good, Ames
- Olga Guevara, Casa Azteca, Sioux City
- Alyssa Hoff, A&P Graphics & Signs, Maquoketa
- David Horak, American Railcar Repair, Lakota
- Samir Husidic, FitTech Solutions, Newton
- Christie Jensen, Iowa Wine Growers Association, West Des Moines
- Melissa Johnson, Your Leadership Group, Centerville
- Jaime Leiva, Legado Insurance Professionals, Des Moines
- Shanshan Liu, The Nail Gallery, Clive
- David Marburger, Mid-Iowa Diesel Repair, Ames
- Korrey Mayland, Fabtastic Painting, Cedar Rapids
- Kelley Molitor, Molitor Construction, Boone
- Malora Montag, Donutland, Cedar Rapids
- Heather Moore, Moore Local, Maquoketa
- Frederick Newell, Dream City, Iowa City
- Reagan Osborne, Greene Bean Coffee, Jefferson
- Evie Peterson, Farmhouse Catering, Nevada
- Wes Policky, Dub P Apparel & Signs, Guthrie Center
- Fiona Roberts, Lympha Spa and Massage, Clive
- Traci Schermerhorn, Foster SQUAD, Ankeny
- Aminata Taylor, Taylor CPAs and Advisors, Iowa City
- Laura Taylor, Woofables, Coralville
- Kenzie Thomas, Homegrown Kids Therapy, Ankeny
- Lindsy Trotter, Chilled Freezer Meals, Center Point
- Jennifer Walker, The Serving Caf茅, West Branch
- Whitney Warne, Evoke EQ, Des Moines
- Brie White, Breeze Bakery, Sioux City
- Rebecca Williams, Open Hearts Therapy, West Des Moines
- Anne Zwink, Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
鈥淲e are鈥痯roud to celebrate the鈥痬ost recent graduates from our鈥疘owa cohort鈥痮f the鈥�10,000 Small Businesses鈥痯rogram," said Jacki Boldt,鈥疎xecutive Director of the program. "By providing small business owners with the resources and tools they need to succeed, we can ensure that these entrepreneurs can continue to create jobs and uplift our local economy and communities. These small business owners are the future of economic growth鈥痠n鈥疘owa, and we are committed to helping them thrive.鈥濃��
础产辞耻迟鈥�10,000 Small Businesses鈥�
Goldman Sachs鈥�10,000 Small Businesses鈥痠s an investment to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing a comprehensive business education program and access to capital and business support services. To date,鈥�10,000 Small Businesses鈥痟as served over 17,000鈥痵mall businesses across the United States. The program has reached businesses from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.
Learn more at 鈥痑nd apply at鈥�.鈥�