News

November 18, 2021

Eight Local Entrepreneurs Graduate from Capital Region Chamber Boot Camp

Eight Capital Region entrepreneurs in seven businesses (one partnership) have built a foundation to expand their businesses following their successful completion of the Capital Region Chamber’s 60-hour award-winning Entrepreneur Boot Camp training course, specially designed for starting and growing businesses.

“I have no doubt that this semester’s entrepreneurs will each be very successful in establishing and growing their business. This was one of the strongest classes yet and it was personally very rewarding to work with them. I look forward to seeing them grow as thriving members of our business community; and to continuing the Chamber’s support as a resource they can count on,” said the Chamber’s Vice President of Business Growth, Laura Mann.

The entrepreneurs graduated from the Chamber’s fall 2021 boot camp course at a ceremony held at the Capital Region Chamber’s office in Albany.

During the virtual event, Brian Wolters from Sunmark Credit Union presented Aimee Wagner of Rolly-Poly Buns & Stuff LLC a cash grant of $3,000 and a one-year Capital Region Chamber membership. Rolly-Poly Buns & Stuff LLC will be the Capital Region’s first cat café and bakery; providing a truly unique experience where customers can choose from more than ten different gourmet cinnamon bun creations and enjoy their delicious treats and beverages in a relaxing, stress-melting environment with some of the region’s most adoptable and adorable cats.

Noelle Dommasch of Viridian LLC was presented with a $1,500 check from Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP and won a Ricoh printer from Repeat Business Systems. Viridian Composting LLC is a food waste recycling company that will transform the Capital Region’s approach to food waste using a highly effective, technological process to take organic waste that would normally be discarded into a landfill and recycle it back to the Earth as enriched soil. Viridian’s solution is efficient and non-toxic and doesn’t involve burning, incineration or produce other toxic side-effects like methane or greenhouse gas-emissions.

Glory-Anne Jones, Euphoreje, LLC, d/b/a Chocolate is Self Care won two classes from MicroKnowledge and a 3-credit class of choice from SUNY Schenectady County Community College. Chocolate is Self Care offers a variety of delicious chocolate teas, chocolate-infused self-care products, guided meditations, classes and retreats primarily through its online, e-commerce platform. Chocolate is Self Care is poised to launch a line of ready to drink bottled teas “steeped with purpose” to fill the mind, body and soul of its customers in a world where individuals are in search of balance, peace, renewal and purpose.

Laura Mann, Vice President of Business Growth at the Capital Region Chamber was Master of Ceremonies for the event and the keynote was delivered by Andre’ Goodbee, CEO of Goodbee Controls & Electrical Contracting and Entrepreneur Boot Camp graduate (fall 2018).

The award-winning 10-week course, taught through the Chamber’s Entrepreneur Boot Camp Training Course, educated entrepreneurs on the critical skills necessary for business growth and expansion. The classes blended classroom and individual training with lectures by prominent business experts. Special guest lecturers covered topics including branding, advertising, legal issues, market research, demographics, sales, financing, leadership, diversity and inclusion, social media, presentations skills, accounting and more.

Fall 2021 Entrepreneur Boot Camp graduate businesses/entrepreneurs include:

Jeff and Sara Burt, South Troy Distilling

Noelle Dommasch, Viridian LLC

William Johnson, Phoebus Apparel

Glory-Anne Jones, Euphoreje, LLC d/b/a Chocolate is Self Care

Curran Kelleher, Datavis Tech, Inc.

Jason Vengersammy, Do You Wanna Jam?

Aimee Wagner, Rolly-Poly Buns & Stuff LLC

Entrepreneur Boot Camp is supported by the Capital Region Chamber and the Empire State Development Corporation’s Entrepreneurial Assistance Program. Sunmark Credit Union is the presenting sponsor. For more information about the program, contact Vice President, Business Growth Laura Mann, at 518.431.1430 or by email at lmann@capitalregionchamber.com.