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APS Academy for the Advancement of Small, Minority- and Women-owned Enterprises (AAAME) helps businesses grow.

In a year when many caterers saw a downturn in business or closed their doors altogether, Nibblers Catering, of Phoenix, saw sales increase by 15 percent and net profits rise by nearly 30 percent.

How did Nibblers President Diane Eicher do it? She put into practice the lessons she learned at AAAME, the APS Academy for the Advancement of Small, Minority- and Women-owned Enterprises.

AAAME, a program geared to help small businesses grow their companies was begun by APS in 1997 and teaches small-business owners the skills necessary for their companies to succeed.

AAAME accepts 12 businesses into each class and the two-year program begins with “Boot Camp,” weekly group sessions that include classes on strategic planning, finance, management, operations and marketing. Boot Camp is followed by twice a month group meetings and individualized company meetings with specially assigned advisors that help each company achieve its growth targets.

“I love marketing and wanted to do a better job of it,” said Eicher. “So that was the area I worked on first with AAAME.”

With the help of APS marketing expert Steve Summerville, she wrote her marketing plan. “Diane already had a solid business, but wanted to set some aggressive goals and achieve double digit growth,” said Summerville.

Eicher recalls, “Together we formulated a plan that focused on the market segment that had the greatest need and the highest profit margin - corporate catering.”

“Diane put together an excellent marketing plan, but that is only a roadmap to success. Execution of the plan is what makes it work,” said Summerville. “To succeed, key people in the organization must be committed to following the action plan. Diane was able to achieve that and the resulting business growth is proof,” he said. Nibbblers' Diane Eicher is not alone in her success, according to AAAME Program Director Rena Huber. “Graduates and current participants of the program have received many accolades such as small business of the year from various organizations and have realized real growth in terms of gross revenue and employee growth,” said Huber. “They have increased their business skills, acumen, knowledge and access to resources that can assist a small business to grow.”

The participants in the current AAAME classes, are currently partnering with advisers from both the non-profit and private sectors - including APS volunteers, business consultants and retired executives - who can lend lessons learned from their own experiences in the business world. They also continue to meet twice a month for group training and sharing.

The next AAAME class begins in August 2007 and applications are accepted through June 29, 2007. The academy is free to those accepted. To qualify for AAAME, applicants should have established business operations for at least one year and display a potential to grow.

For more information on AAAME or for an application form visit the AAAME Web page or call APS at (602) 250-4712 or e-mail Rena Huber, Director of AAAME at Rena.Huber@aps.com.