Press Releases

In today’s tough economic times small businesses are being hit hard.  However, little is being done to help smaller players weather the storm.  It seems all of our attention is focused on Wall Street, not Main Street.

Here’s an important new initiative that’s being launched specifically to help small businesses.  It’s called the “Great American Small Business Challenge.”  It’s a non-profit initiative that combines the resources of corporate, non-profit and governmental sponsors.  It provides direct assistance to smaller companies who need to prepare for what economists are promising will be a long and difficult recovery. The release below details the newly launched Challenge.

We’d also like to make Jean Kulig-Tucker and Michael Kramer, the organizers of the Challenge, available as an interview resource for features related to the specific, positive steps small business owners can take to create a flexible, resilient and successful business, regardless of the economy.

If there is someone else you would prefer I send this press release to, kindly forward this email to him/her or provide me with their contact information.  Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Jean Kulig-Tucker, GASBC National Director
President, InteliCorp Business Solutions, Inc.
(877) 642-1907 ext. 2

Mike Kramer, GASBC National SBDC Coordinator
President, OnTheSystem Management Software
(800) 999-9231 ext. 707

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The Great American Small Business Challenge is a national event designed to help small business owners develop an effective business development process. The GASBC encourages business owners to set-up their organizational infrastructure and to gain the essential leadership skills needed to turn their business into a rewarding, profit generating enterprise. Challenge participants receive software, training and support at no cost. The Challenge is designed to help small companies clarify their vision, set realistic goals, plan strategies, implement best-practices and create a program of continual improvement. 

www.TheGreatAmericanSmallBusinessChallenge.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELAEASE:

Chicago, Illinois October 31, 2008 --

Small Business owners feel like they hit a brick wall.  Sales are slipping.  Accounts-receivables are mounting.  And, vendors are tightening their credit terms.  “To survive the current economic downturn,” says Michael Kramer, co-founder of the Great American Small Business Challenge, “Companies need to ensure they’re operating at peak performance.”

The Great American Small Business Challenge is a non-profit initiative designed to help small business owners create an effective strategic planning and business development process. The Challenge is part of a collaborative effort that includes corporate, government and non-profit sponsors to help small business owners across the country establish best practices.

All GASBC participants receive free access to business development software, training and support that helps strengthen their company's organizational infrastructure. "The Challenge is a great opportunity for small business owners to streamline their operations and transform their companies into highly organized, innovative, productive and profitable market leaders," says Kramer. 

Unlike their Fortune 500 counterparts, many small businesses do not have the personal or financial resources to survive the recent economic downturn. According to data collected from the US Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration, there are over 25 million small businesses in the United States. Small businesses, often called the "backbone of our economy," employ over 54 million Americans and contribute to 40% of our Gross National Product.

"Regardless of the important role they play in our economy, little effort has been made to create appropriately weighted quality systems targeting the needs of small businesses," says Jean Kulig-Tucker, co-founder of the Challenge. "Our goal is to help small business owners develop the skills they need to improve quality, increase customer satisfaction and remain competitive so they can grow their business ~ even in tough times."

The Challenge helps small business owners clarify their vision, set realistic goals, plan strategies, implement best-practices and create a program of continual improvement. “I believe that with the right tools, training and support, small businesses can grow their companies in a much shorter time-frame and with fewer resources," emphasizes Kulig-Tucker.

As a champion of the quality movement, the American Society for Quality (ASQ), who administers the United States' premier quality event -the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award- has also joined in to support the Challenge. ASQ members have informed and advised the U.S. Congress, government agencies, state legislatures, groups and individuals on quality-related topics and have over 100,000 individual and organizational members worldwide.

The Challenge is also partnering with selected Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to provide Challenge participants one-on-one training and support.  SBDCs are funded in part through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.  There are approximately 1,000 SBDC service centers throughout the United States.

"Today, consumers are very sophisticated and their needs are constantly changing. To compete in the 21st Century, small business owners must develop strong leadership skills, engage employees, create a scalable infrastructure and implement an ongoing program of continual improvement. Otherwise, it will become increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for small businesses to offer high quality products that consumers want, and still produce a profit," states Kulig-Tucker.

Everyone who participates in the Challenge has an opportunity to win a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum award. "We've structured the Challenge so that everyone who participates can be a winner," states Kramer. "In essence, small businesses are competing with themselves, not each other."

Small Businesses that would like to find out more information regarding the GASBC or would like to sign-up/register for the Challenge should go to The Great American Small Business Challenge web site: www.TheGreatAmericanSmallBusinessChallenge.com. Corporations and non-profits that would like to support or co-sponsor the Challenge can also complete a short sponsorship form directly on the GASBC web site.

We invite newspapers, radio stations, journals and other media outlets to become a sponsor of the Challenge.  "Sponsorship is a great way for corporations to support small business owners who are working very hard to realize the American dream," states Kulig-Tucker.

"Small Businesses are in desperate need for practical tools that can help them streamline their operations and make their business easier to manage," emphasizes Kulig-Tucker. "But we can’t help a small business if they don’t know about the Challenge."

Small Businesses that would like to find out more information regarding the GASBC or would like to sign-up/register for the Challenge should go to The Great American Small Business Challenge web site. Corporations and non-profits that would like to support or co-sponsor the Challenge can also complete a short sponsorship form directly on the GASBC web site.

www.TheGreatAmericanSmallBusinessChallenge.com.

If you have any questions regarding the GASBC, would like to post information regarding the Challenge on your web site or would like to promote the Challenge in your local area newspaper or publication, please contact Jean Kulig-Tucker or Mike Kramer.

Jean Kulig-Tucker, GASBC National Director
President, InteliCorp Business Solutions, Inc.
(877) 642-1907 ext. 2

Mike Kramer, GASBC National SBDC Coordinator
President, OnTheSystem Management Software
(800) 999-9231 ext. 707

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To arrange an interview please contact Michael Kramer and Jean Kulig-Tucker directly.