PasadenaCity College’s Community Education Center recently launched its Business and Entrepreneurial Services and Training Academy (BEST) a new resource program hosted by the CEC The free community resource project is designed to provide access to consulting, online education, and other services for small business owners, upstart business ventures and aspiring entrepreneurs.

“Pasadena City College has a proud history of serving the San Gabriel Valley and contributing to the economic vitality of the region,” said CEC Dean Rick Hodge.
“We believe this is an excellent way for the community to access our campus resources and for PCC to prepare clients with the knowledge to create thriving businesses, improve existing businesses’ operations and create jobs.”

Serving the communities of Pasadena, Altadena, Arcadia, Temple City, and parts  of Western San Gabriel Valley, the BEST Academy will provide business consulting and education resources to diverse businesses, entrepreneurs, as well as college and high school students with potential business ideas.

“BEST will serve as a platform for small businesses to access a variety of financial, operational, marketing and management resources throughout the region and online”, said project director Brandon Shamim.
      
Shamim is joined by two veteran business advisors- Karen Carr-Crawford, president, The Small Business Builders and SBDC advisor, and Tom Selinske, a business owner and CEC instructor. Additionally, the team will enlist the help of professionals and experts who will participate in entrepreneurial events, workshops, and information meetings throughout the year.
     
The program also provides small business clients access to leading edge online-education in subjects that are vital to all business’ success- financing, operations, management, and marketing.

The CEC currently offers a set of four non-credit, no cost, courses each semester, in their Certificate Entrepreneur Success Program, including: Bus 2400-Eentrepreneur Business Start-Up-Basics For Success, Bus 2850-Personal Financing And Business Start Up, Bus 2851- Effective Business Plan Development, Bus 2852 - Business Opportunity Ventures.   

Interested individuals, business owners, entrepreneurs and students can contact the BEST Academy at 626-585-3005 to register for the program or send an email to pccbestacademy@gmail.com for information and inquiries.