COSE

Wow wow wow! Oh what a night it was at last night's COSE and NAWBO National's event Celebrating Super-Women: An Evening of Inspiration, Innovation and Unity in recognition of Women's History Month. We had a real, raw and moving panel discussion on the unique challenges for female entrepreneurs - access, childcare/balancing family and work demands, and showing up - and the power and strength of community. Thank you to our panelists Lynnise S. of Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV), Nancy Mendez of Starting Point NEO, and Valerie Mayén of Yellowcake Shop for sharing their candid experiences and bringing humor and many applause to the conversation. Then we had the opportunity to network, connect and peruse the Wonder Women of Food marketplace. So appreciative of Tina Lattouf Chamoun and Stacey Schrantz Reid, MBA for bringing us 25+ food vendors to display, sample and sell their amazing products. I might have splurged a little bit...but it was so worth it! ?? I left last night feeling joyful, inspired, and even more motivated to do the work we do every day at COSE to help small businesses grow and thrive! Mary Ann (Durkin) Cordiano, Kristen McLaughlin, MBA, BCC, Diane Helbig, Erin Longmoon, Bill B., Bonnie Matthew, Sarah (Thomas) Crandall, Emily Joseph, Chad Hamman. #smallbusiness #supportsmallbiz #femaleentrepreneur #GreaterCLE #AllIn

Not Every Client is Worth Keeping—And That’s OK! Every small business owner faces tough clients. But are they unhappy or toxic? This week in the COSE Education Hub, we are taking a look at the difference. ? Unhappy clients want solutions—listen, adjust, and rebuild trust. ?? Toxic clients drain your time and energy—set boundaries, document everything, and don’t be afraid to fire them. Your business thrives with clients who respect and value your work. Choose wisely! Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGmgKkgv

Awesome first COSE Networking Night of the year! So many great conversations catching up with old friends about their start of 2025 and equally as exciting meeting so many small business owners new to the COSE small business community. It is always an absolute blast for me to hear the stories of everyone's entrepreneurial journey, learn about the support and resources they need, and see the real connections made throughout the evening. Thanks to everyone who attended. It was a fun night! Michael McKittrick, George Granchi, Roger Frank, John Young, Fernando Bertero, Diane Helbig, John Grigoli, Paula Tresger, Laura Lennerth, CSFS?, Raz Biton, Bill B., Tamantha Ford, Hallie Crouch and the best Greater Cleveland Partnership team members who make all the events happen Morgan Weaver and Emily Joseph. #smallbusiness #supportsmallbiz #networking #AllIn #GreaterCLE

This week is dedicated to celebrating the incredible women shaping Cleveland’s skyline and breaking barriers in construction. From general contracting to project management, these leaders are paving the way for future generations and championing diversity in a male-dominated industry. Notable Cleveland trailblazers include: ?? Ariane Kirkpatrick, President & CEO of The AKA Team ?? Tari S. Rivera, President at Regency Construction Services, Inc. ?? Deb Janik, Sr. Vice President, Business Development, Bedrock Detroit ?? Sheila M W., Co-Founder of FRONTLINE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC ?? Melissa Lear, Project Engineer at Shook Construction Together with organizations like National Association of Women in Construction and Hard Hatted Women (HHW), these women are inspiring the next generation of builders. Let’s celebrate and advocate for the women shaping Cleveland’s future. #GreaterCLE #AllIn #WomenInConstruction #WICWeek

?? 6 effective email list-building strategies for small businesses ?? Email remains one of the most powerful ways to engage customers. But before you can wow them with value-packed emails, you need a solid subscriber list! ?? Make sign-ups easy and visible ?? Keep the process simple (nobody likes long forms!) ?? Offer incentives—think exclusive content or discounts ?? Use a dedicated landing page for sign-ups ?? Integrate sign-ups into your marketing strategy ?? Ensure every email adds value to keep subscribers engaged The right strategy can turn your email list into a goldmine of customer connections. What’s your top tip for growing an email list? Share it below. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/eJV9Ywrd #EmailMarketing #DigitalMarketing #MarketingTips #COSE #GreaterCLE #AllIn Megan Kim Chad Hamman Chris Slocombe Terri Mazzola Gertz Linda Ferguson Nachum Langsner

How to Deliver Negative Feedback Positively Giving constructive feedback can strengthen your team when done with care. It’s not just about pointing out mistakes but creating opportunities for growth and improvement. ?? Be Clear & Specific ?? Lead with Empathy ?? Offer Solutions ?? Balance with Positivity ?? Follow Up By approaching feedback with positivity and clarity, you build trust while helping your employees succeed. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/e2Q2AMXB #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #SmallBusiness #COSE #GreaterCLE #AllIn Timothy Dimoff SACS Consulting and Investigative Services, Inc. City of Cleveland - City Hall U.S. Small Business Administration Megan Kim Chad Hamman Chris Slocombe Linda Ferguson Terri Mazzola Gertz

This Women’s History Month, we honor the incredible women who shape Cleveland—past, present, and future—with their leadership and innovation. From entrepreneurs and executives to small business owners and industry trailblazers, their impact is undeniable. Let’s celebrate their achievements, amplify their voices, and create more opportunities for future generations of women leaders. Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive Cleveland. #GreaterCLE #AllIn #WomensHistoryMonth City of Cleveland - City Hall Cuyahoga County Downtown Cleveland Destination Cleveland

Dreams don’t just happen—they’re built with passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to making a difference. Kanisha Rounsaville is proof of that! ? COSE recently caught up with the Cleveland Chain Reaction Season 7 winner. Her business, Balance Cheer and Gymnastics, has been changing lives since 2016. With nearly 150 students, Balance is more than just a gym. It’s an inclusive, empowering community. ? Kanisha’s journey is?personal. “When I was a younger gymnast,” she shares, “I found that the representation for Black coaches, teammates, and gym owners was not there.” She’s changing that narrative—one student, one class, one dream at a time. ? With programs starting as early as nine months and continuing through high school, Balance has outgrown its current space in Warrensville Heights. But Kanisha isn’t stopping here—she’s already looking ahead to a new location to serve even more young athletes. ? To every small business owner out there: Keep pushing. Keep believing. Keep building. The impact you’re making is bigger than you know! ? ?? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g-8THG5m ? https://lnkd.in/g8BPRcBN ? #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #RepresentationMatters Megan Kim Chad Hamman

Our 2024 Annual Report on Greater Cleveland is here – and the region's momentum is undeniable. ?? “The region is making progress, and the results are showing in Business Growth, very strong Income Growth and below 4% unemployment for the last two years. Our biggest challenge is now people: with thriving businesses, plentiful jobs, and a great place to live, we need more people to propel our growth.”— Baiju Shah, President and CEO of GCP ?? View the Full Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/gfzvJPaS With the civic system working All In, 2024 has brought remarkable progress to Greater Cleveland: ?? Major businesses expanded, and research institutions (including NASA Glenn Research Center) are scaling innovation. ?? College enrollment and graduate retention increased. ?? Record development from major residential, commercial institutional, and waterfront projects. ?? Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) received 10.2 million passengers and began its full transformation. ?? The region hosted multiple major visitor events and even brought Superman home. ?? In the latest data for the decade (2020-2023 for regions), here is Greater Cleveland’s position compared to other metro regions: ?? 7th in Business Growth (Gross Metropolitan Product) ?? 3rd in Income Growth (Per Capita Personal Income) ?? 10th in Jobs Growth (Number of Jobs) Looking forward, our priorities remain and there is more work to be done together to realize the region's full potential. With an abundance mindset and an #AllIn approach, Greater Cleveland is set to become A Great Region on a Great Lake. #GreaterCLE #AllIn City of Cleveland - City Hall JobsOhio Cuyahoga County Destination Cleveland Downtown Cleveland Team NEO MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network Global Cleveland Cleveland Clinic IBM Sherwin-Williams NASA Glenn Research Center Lincoln Electric Canon Healthcare USA, Inc. Nestlé Case Western Reserve University Playhouse Square Cleveland Guardians CBIZ Ohio Department of Development U.S. Small Business Administration Fund for Our Economic Future Cleveland State University John Carroll University Lorain County Community College Cuyahoga Community College PNC Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Bedrock Detroit Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Metroparks Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) Frontier Airlines Aer Lingus Cleveland Neighborhood Progress Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA)

Evaluating Remote Work: Is It Good for the Environment? The shift to remote work has sparked discussions about its environmental impact. While reduced commuting can lower emissions, the overall effect depends on various factors. Here's how remote work influences the environment: ?? Reduced Commuting Emissions ?? Increased Home Energy Consumption ?? Potential for Hybrid Work Models ? Considering Remote Work's Environmental Impact? Evaluate your company's specific circumstances to determine the most sustainable approach. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/e8X72vrg #RemoteWork #Sustainability #COSE #GreaterCLE #AllIn City of Cleveland - City Hall U.S. Small Business Administration Megan Kim Chad Hamman Chris Slocombe Linda Ferguson Terri Mazzola Gertz