Small business help at the peak of a recession
Denise Peek, an Adult Degree Program 2006 graduate, educates future business owners through the Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan in Lansing, Mich.
Denise Peek, an Adult Degree Program 2006 graduate, educates future business owners through the Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan in Lansing, Mich., which serves the greater Lansing community.
Peek is the Executive Director at the Entrepreneur Institute. Her role encompasses working with small businesses and entrepreneurs to educate them before they embark in a new chapter of their lives. She knows full well completing a chapter and starting a new one is very important not only to business success, but also for personal success as well.
Finding Northwood was one of Peek's greatest personal and professional accomplishments. Through the partnership with Lansing Community College (LCC), Peek found Northwood again in 2001 after many unsuccessful tries to complete her education. As a single mother, she began college in the late 1980s; however, due to work and life issues, she often had to quit her studies to provide for her family. Finally in 2005, she transferred her LCC credits to Northwood, and her sights became focused on completing her degree. Taking only one or two classes a term, she continually tracked the ADP schedules to ensure she did not miss any of her required classes. With great pride, she graduated in December 2006.
In June 2005, Peek was selected as a part of a delegation to travel to Ghana to teach women entrepreneurship basics. "The two-week trip," Peek stated, "allowed me to think differently about the global economy and to be thankful for the education and opportunities available in the United States." She continued, "With a lack of everyday business resources, the two-and-a-half-day training provided the business women the knowledge about how to strengthen their businesses based on what trades were available in their village, including expanding their marketing and developing a women's business network amongst the villagers."
With determination, persistence, and, the guidance of the Lansing Program Center staff and adjunct faculty, Peek endured years of personal turmoil and turned it around and has truly benefitted from her diligence. As the executive director, she counsels and teaches the necessities of starting a business. The Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan is a not-for-profit organization focused on educating entrepreneurs about business start-up. One of Peek's primary roles is to educate clients about funding. The Institute offers a three-phase seminar with hopes of securing funding for potential business owners. Phase I is a required session titled, "Credit Before Capital." The focus of the session is to provide "entrepreneurs with the ability to understand how personal credit and debt can affect their ability to access capital." The second phase builds the stage through the "Foundations of Business Planning." Phase II is a "practical, hands-on program designed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of developing a business plan." Phase III, "Accessing Capital," helps clients secure loans so they can see their business plan become their next chapter and their dream.
The education Peek received has helped her better understand the clients she works with -- both from a professional standpoint and from a personal standpoint. With the economy in a major recession, Peek sees nothing but positive for entrepreneurs. She is dedicated to building the economy one small business at a time and knows small businesses are the backbone to revitalizing many local economies.
Having pursued her dream for so long, Peek, a dedicated, lifelong learner, decided not long after graduating from Northwood that she wanted more. She, believing in the power of community and economic development, found her dream program at Southern New Hampshire University. This past spring, Peek earned her Master of Science degree in Community Economic Development. During her extensive research, Peek built a model in which she hopes her board of directors and many local counties will pursue. It is her goal to expand the Institute's services to outlying counties around the Lansing area.
She is dedicated to her passion of helping others succeed. Peek noted, "I am a teacher. I want people to succeed, not fail. Northwood prepared me for where I am today."
Every 15 weeks, she gets to share her business knowledge and passion with a new group of entrepreneurs.
Stephanie Brown
