KAARYN MARIE NAILOR SIMMONS

KAARYN WORKS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT, AND JOB CREATION IN THE HARLEM COMMUNITY. SHE LEADS WORKSHOPS ON THE BASICS OF STARTING AND GROWING A BUSINESS MARKETING, FINANCE, AND OPERATIONS AND TEACHES IN THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY BUSINESS PROGRAM, A TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM THAT MEETS WEEKLY TO HELP LOCAL MANAGERS AND OWNERS FOCUS FIRST ON STABILIZING A BUSINESS AND THEN ON GROWING IT. THE COLUMBIA-HARLEM SBDC ALSO OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS COUNSELING AND OTHER PROGRAMS IN MARKETING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND VIDEO STORYTELLING SO BUSINESS OWNERS CAN PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEB. ITS SERVICES ARE FREE, AND FUNDED BY THE COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND SOME CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS.