Buffie Blesi ’
90, MAL ’97 is on a mission. For the last five years she has been coaching small businesses as an AdviCoach franchises and along the way she has learned a few things about what makes them tick and what holds them back. And through this experience, she realized that the conversations surrounding small business were not telling the real story – that the challenges these small businesses faced were bigger than taxes, access to capital and regulation. She also realized that millions of dollars and thousands of hours of effort were being dedicated by non-profits, government organization, chambers and the like to help them be successful, but no one was working together.
Thus was born AccelerateMN, a collaboration of businesses and community leaders committed to Come Together, Work Together and Stay Together. AccelerateMN believes that we can significantly improve our economy and get more Minnesotans hired by concentrating on education and the commitment of each business to take small steps that lead to hiring just one person. On August 14, Augsburg will be the host the keystone event the 2nd Annual AccelerateMN Let’s Get Growing 2013 Small Business Conference.
This commitment to small business growth and support of Augsburg includes her own organization. More than half of Blesi’s team are Auggies: Denielle Johnson ’11- Marketing and Administrative Support Coordinator, Ward C.Schendel ’74- Business Coach and Zebo Tursunova’13– intern working on AccelerateMN. They are a very diverse team engaging in our small business community by bringing together business partners, community leaders, and business owners by facilitating conversations, providing opportunities to share knowledge and ideas, and encourage small businesses to provi
de job opportunities.
Come support your fellow Auggies at AccelerateMN as they continue the College’s missions of educating to “be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.”