Hands-On Workshop Helps Montgomery Entrepreneurs Turn Ideas Into Action

蒙哥马利，阿拉巴马. — Aspiring and existing business owners gathered Oct. 3 for a hands-on entrepreneurship workshop designed to help participants strengthen their business plans, clarify their priorities and identify practical next steps.

Hosted at First Baptist Church Greater Washington Park, the three-hour workshop took a working-session approach to business development. Participants brought their laptops and worked directly on their own business ideas and existing ventures, combining practical instruction with peer collaboration and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs.

A fireside conversation featuring Alexis Thomas of The Battleground 和 Tashundrea Patterson of Patt Brown Creations gave participants a candid look at the realities of building a business. Thomas and Patterson discussed how they got started, attracting customers, navigating challenges, learning from mistakes and adapting their original visions as their businesses evolved.

Their experiences reinforced an important message for entrepreneurs at every stage: successful businesses rarely begin with everything figured out. They are built through action, learning, persistence and a willingness to adjust along the way.

Following the conversation, Naila Jackson of Network Navigator guided participants through a hands-on business-building session using Navigate MGM. With laptops open, entrepreneurs worked through key components of their own businesses while identifying areas that required additional research, planning or support.

Rather than completing hypothetical exercises, participants were challenged to answer practical questions about their own ventures—what they are building, who they intend to serve and what will be required to move forward.

For Damond Davis of RKCD Corporation, the opportunity to collaborate with other entrepreneurs added to the value of the experience.

“Today’s workshop was impactful because of the networking and collaboration. We were able to bring together the information we had, learn from one another, and put what we learned into practice through a hands-on exercise,” Davis said.

The peer-to-peer exchange allowed participants to compare experiences, ask questions and gain new perspectives from others navigating similar challenges.

Participants also used the work they completed during the morning to establish priorities for the next 30, 60 and 90 days, turning larger goals into specific next steps. The session concluded with entrepreneurs practicing their pitches in small groups, helping them strengthen how they communicate what they do, who they serve and the opportunities they are pursuing.

For the City of Montgomery, providing entrepreneurs with hands-on training and access to business resources is part of a broader effort to strengthen the city’s small-business ecosystem and support sustainable economic growth.

“Small businesses are vital to Montgomery’s economy, and that’s why we invest in this kind of training,” said Frank Robinson, Director of Economic Development for the City of Montgomery. “When entrepreneurs have access to the right tools, information and connections, they are better positioned to build sustainable businesses, create jobs and contribute to stronger neighborhoods. When we invest in our entrepreneurs, we are investing in Montgomery’s economic future.”