Projects

New Ventures Business Development Inc. (NVBDI)

NVBDI is a business resource center and incubator serving Anson and Union Counties in North Carolina.

Leverage & Development, LLC has worked on several projects for this organization:

~ Establishment of the organization including research, grant application and development of services.

~Expansion including extensive research of the small business community, development of operations plan, assistance with grant application and training of personnel.

~ Conducted a Supply Chain Study to determine the "most likely to succeed" business types for new and existing entrepreneurs.

~ Developed an operational plan for the new Women's Center being developed.

Click here to visit the NVBDI website.

Upstate SC Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

~ Worked with the Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University in conducting a Feasibility Study for a Small Business Incubator in Union County SC. This Study was used by Union County to obtain a grant from the SC Department of Commerce to renovate a facility for the Incubator.

~Worked with the Strom Thurmond Institute to conduct a Supply Chain Study in Union County SC to identify the "most likely to succeed" business types for new and existing entrepreneurs.

~Conducted a Comprehensive Health Care Workforce Needs Assessment for the Upstate area of South Carolina.

“When working with Janet, you know the work will be done thoroughly and professionally. She provides her clients with updates so you always know what’s going on with the project. My staff and I have built a great relationship with Janet after just one project. We recently hired Janet to work on another study for us and I would recommend her to anyone”

... Ann Fesperman, Executive Director, Upstate Workforce Investment Board

Health Department of Union County NC

Leverage & Development, LLC conducted multiple Focus Groups as part of Union County's Community Health Assessment. We also provided a summary of each Focus Group and an overall analysis and comparison.

"In facilitating focus groups several factors will make or break the intent: keeping them moving and focused on topic, remaining impartial and making all participants feel safe and comfortable enough to participate, while managing to cover all questions in the allotted time frame. Your professionalism was evident in the tremendous success we had."

... Jackie Morgan, Union County Health Carolinians Coordinator

Training

Some of the organizations that have offered or sponsored our workshops:

SC Department of Transportation (DOT)

Greenville SC Chamber of Commerce

Asheville-Buncombe NC Office of Minority Affairs

Spartanburg SC Technical College

Florence SC Chamber of Commerce

Union County NC Chamber of Commerce

Anderson SC Chamber of Commerce

Spartanburg SC Chamber of Commerce

Trident Technical College (Charleston SC)

Piedmont Technical College (Greenwood SC)

New Ventures Business Development Inc (NVBDI)

Carolinas AGC (Association of General Contractors)

For more information on our workshops visit our Training page.

Woman and Minority Owned Businesses, Disadvantaged Businesses

Leverage & Development, LLC continues to work with individual Woman and Minority Owned Businesses to help them maximize their Marketing Angles.

SPEAKING

Janet Christy continues to speak to groups on the following topics:

What's the Big Deal About Woman/Minority Owned Businesses

The Five Keys to Being a Woman/Minority or Disadvantaged Business

Entrepreneurship: Are you Ready?

Fine-tuning and Focusing Research

Some recent venues:

UWIT (Upstate Women In Technology)

Mountain BizWorks 2009 Women's Conference

Keynote Speaker at the first Women's Business Showcase of the Professional Women's Business Association of Rock Hill, SC

SC OSMBA Trade Fair

Spartanburg SC Chamber's Annual Women's Business Conference & Luncheon

Greenville Chapter of Association for Women in Communications

Spartanburg, SC MED Week Workshops

YWCA of Greenville SC

Program Evaluation for Laurens County SC

Leverage & Development, LLC as the Outside Evaluator of the Laurens County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Program during the 3 years it received grant funding.

The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Program offers an opportunity for juveniles to stay in their communities and receive counseling, mentoring and supervision while awaiting their court appearance. The Program is funded by a grant from the SC Department of Juvenile Justice. The Clinton Police Department is the Program Administrator.

A yearly Program evaluation was required by DJJ. Leverage & Development, LLC conducted all three annual evaluations which included interviewing partners and participants, gathering and analyzing statistics and preparing a report. We also developed In-take, Tracking and Exit Evaluation forms and processes.

We also helped them develop the successful grant application for third year funding.

Carolinas Association of General Contractors (AGC)

Leverage & Development, LLC developed a long-range marketing plan for the Management Training programs and courses of this construction trade organization. We provided the following services:

Conducted interviews, surveys and other research

Analyzed current offerings, past reports and studies and competitors

Developed the Marketing Plan framework that includes definitive first and second year actions, guidance for development of third, fourth and fifth year actions, long-term schedule of actions and identification of decisions critical to success

Serving as ongoing consultant for implementation of the Marketing Plan

Richland County Sheriff's Office

Serving as the Outside Evaluator on a juvenile detention alternative program funded by a grant from the SC Department of Public Safety.

Assisted in the development of measurement methods and tools. Conducted the evaluation and prepared the report for the first year of the program. Contracted for a second year as the Outside Evaluator.