Westshore entrepreneurs graduate from Tri-C’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program

Three Westshore business owners took a step toward greater success by completing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Cuyahoga Community College.

Ben Gertz of J&D Development in Bay Village, Dave Goerlich of The Refinery in Rocky River and Matt Siebert of CertaPro Painters in Westlake are three of 36 small-business owners in the program’s latest graduating class. They spent 14 weeks at Tri-C studying a specialized business and management curriculum for entrepreneurs.

Previous graduates have seen their businesses outperform the broader economy while exceeding national and local averages in revenue growth and job creation.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) unlocks the growth and job creation potential of small businesses across the United States by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital and business support services.

10KSB launched at Tri-C in Cleveland in May 2012. The alumni list for the College’s program is approaching 500, with graduating business owners representing a variety of industries and businesses.

Gertz manages the day-to-day operations at J&D Development, which his father founded in 1982. The business builds custom homes and provides remodeling services. It is located at 521 Bassett Road in Bay Village.

Goerlich established The Refinery in 2007. The software design and development firm was named fastest growing upstart company by the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management in 2016. It is located at 20525 Center Ridge Road in Rocky River.

Siebert acquired CertaPro Painters in 2014. The business provides interior and exterior painting and light carpentry services for commercial and residential customers. It is located at 30628 Detroit Road in Westlake.

For information about 10,000 Small Businesses, visit www.tri-c.edu/10ksb or call 216-987-3220. Applications are being accepted for the next session beginning in September and are due by June 20. 

John Horton

Media Relations Manager at Cuyahoga Community College

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Volume 9, Issue 10, Posted 9:41 AM, 05.16.2017