Whitley City SMARTS Graduates Get High Marks in Hospitality

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Seventeen men and women interested in starting or growing their small businesses graduated from SKED’s Entrepreneurial SMARTS class in Whitley City this summer. They’re pictured back row from left: Milton “Eddie” Morrow II, with M&P CCE Inc. in Whitley City; Charity Whitis of Milton’s Burger Hut in Whitley City; William (Bill) Singleton of South Fork Medical Center in Whitley City; Tammie Johnson of Cumberland Family Clinic in Pine Knot; Steve Johnson of Cumberland Family Clinic in Pine Knot; Glen Gilreath with Glen’s Emergency Equipment in Parkers Lake; Laurie Johnson of Whitley City; Monica Lawson with Cumberland Family Clinic in Pine Knot; Tank (Terry) Lawson with Cumberland Family Clinic in Pine Knot and Daniel McFeeters with Kristina’s Kitchen in Whitley City; Front row from left, are: Sean Thompson of Whitley City; Suzie Thompson of Whitley City; Nina Bradley of Bradley’s Gourmet Coffee & More in Whitley City; Dewayne Winchester with Dewayne’s Shop in Stearns; Susan Stephens with McCreary County Fiscal Court in Whitley City; Kathy Reed with Appletree Storage in Stearns and Kristina McFeeters owner of Kristina’s Kitchen in Whitley City.

 

Some McCreary County Entrepreneurial SMARTS graduates got an A+ in hospitality during the small business training held there in August.

Four small business owners and entrepreneurs provided dinner for the four Whitley City Entrepreneurial SMARTS classes held at the Somerset Community College McCreary Center. Three were enrolled in the small business training course. A fourth restaurant owner was a previous graduate.

Those providing the food for the sessions include: Cecil Blankenship, owner of Ace Pizza in Whitley City, Kristina McFeeter, owner of Kristina’s Kitchen in Whitley City, Miton Morrow and  Milton’s Burger Hut and entrepreneur Sean Thompson and his wife, Suzie, both attended the Whitleare starting a catering business in McCreary County and thought this would be great exposure for his menu.

These six men and women were among 17 who graduated from the small business training course.

Graduates included: William (Bill) Singleton of South Fork Medical Center in Whitley City; Tammie Johnson of Cumberland Family Clinic in Pine Knot; Steve Johnson of Cumberland Family Clinic in Pine Knot; Glen Gilreath with Glen’s Emergency Equipment in Parkers Lake; Laurie Johnson of Whitley City; Monica Lawson with Cumberland Family Clinic in Pine Knot; Tank (Terry) Lawson with Cumberland Family Clinic in Pine Knot; Nina Bradley of Bradley’s Gourmet Coffee & More in Whitley City; Dewayne Winchester with Dewayne’s Shop in Stearns; Susan Stephens with McCreary County Fiscal Court in Whitley City; and Kathy Reed with Appletree Storage in Stearns.

Entrepreneurial SMARTS is a four-session, 12-hour course designed to provide entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resource materials they need to get a new small business off the ground. This training also provides owners of existing small businesses the skills they need to become more successful and grow their businesses.

McCreary County Economic Development Director Susan Stephens attended the training and says it will be a great source of reference for her office.

“I will recommend this training to all entrepreneurs that visit my office,” she said. “Even with years of education and experience, this course provided many tips, suggestions and practices that are very beneficial, and I will put it to use immediately.”

This nationally recognized course is valued at $250 per student. However, due to financial support through a grant from the ARC, combined with financial support from SKED, participants pay a mere $25 per person. In addition, each participant receives a valuable Core Four® Business Planning Course manual and numerous resource materials.

For information about entrepreneurship training, contact Bradley at (606) 335-1488 or by email at pat.sked@yahoo.com. or visit www.southeastkentucky.com, then click on the training link.