Fifteen local entrepreneurs are new graduates of the Build Institute Fort Wayne Business Planning Education classes. The program is sponsored by the City of Fort Wayne’s Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District (SEED) and Indiana Michigan Power. Launched in April of this year, the program now boasts 26 graduates.

The entrepreneurs recently graduated from the eight-week course designed for individuals interested in developing a business plan. The Build Institute program offers a general curriculum that is adaptable to any kind of startup; meals and childcare are provided to help remove barriers to participation.

Andrew Farnsworth, Nancy Gaier, Susan Gebert, Cheyenne Gonzales, Sonja Scott-Woods, Betty Shuman, Stephanie Smith, Juanita Williams graduated from the second Build Institute class held at the Fort Wayne Urban League. Jon Rehwaldt, owner of the Workbench Fort Wayne and Rena Bradley, community development director for Bridge of Grace, facilitated the instruction. 

Photo cutline: L-R, Rena Bradley (facilitator), Juanita Williams, Andrew Farnsworth, Susan Gebert, Stephanie Smith, Betty Shuman, Cheyenne Gonzales, Sonja Scott-Woods, Jon Rehwaldt (facilitator), Nancy Gaier.

Jennifer Bermejo, Brenna Curry, Janie Garrison, Angela Harrison, Ricco Nettles, Virginia Richardson and Tyler Stevenson graduated from the third Build Institute class held at the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, 3201 Stellhorn Rd. Facilitators Leslee L. Hill, director of the Women’s Entrepreneur Opportunity Center at the NIIC and Michelle Chambers, owner of Signing Closers, led the class.

Photo cutline: From L-T, Brenna Curry, Michelle Chambers (facilitator), Virginia Richardson, Janie Garrison, Ricco Nettles, Leslee Hill (from the NIIC), Angela Harrison, Jennifer Bermejo and Tyler Stevenson (not pictured).

Additional Build Institute sessions are now taking registrations. The $175 participation fee is returned to the graduate upon completion of the course to invest in their future business. Individuals interested in signing up for a future Build Institute course should visit www.SEEDfw.org, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..