Level Up Business Accelerator Program

This program is FULL and no longer accepting applications!

Calling all existing business owners. Are you looking to take your business to the next level? The Level Up program is designed to help you develop a growth strategy to lead to increased revenues and job creation through targeted training and coaching. Applications are open. Up to fifteen businesses will be accepted.

Is this Program for You?

Our ideal candidates will meet the below eligibility requirements and are ready to work on their business and not just in their business! This program is for:

• Owners and CEOs of small businesses operating in Anson and Union counties
• Businesses that have been operating for at least 2 years
• Businesses with one other employee besides the owner
• Businesses with $150,000+ in annual revenue
• Those committed to growing their business, actively participating and can adhere to the program attendance policy

Program Schedule:

The program kickoff session on January 5th will be virtual and meet for one-hour from 9:15 – 10:15 am. All other sessions will meet in-person from 9:15 am – 12 pm at the Tyson Center, 3509 Old Charlotte Hwy, Monroe, NC 28110.

• January 5 (kickoff session)
• January 19, 26
• February 2, 16, and 23
• March 2, 16, and 23
• April 6 , 20

Apply Now!

Program Instructor:

Matt Villmer is a lawyer and the Managing Partner of Villmer Caudill, a law firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. Matt’s legal practice focuses on new business startup & business law, mediation, and litigation & arbitration. Over the last 13 years, thousands of business owners have sought Matt’s guidance in forming, growing, and selling their businesses.

In addition to the practice of law, Matt loves to help passionate entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level through education and professional growth. Matt is a regular guest speaker at industry conferences around the U.S., where he teaches others about the use of customer agreements, the importance of having a written contract between co-owners of a business, and other similar topics. Matt also teaches other attorneys throughout the country about advanced litigation techniques and strategies to prevail in high-stakes lawsuits. Matt also teaches the next generation of professionals at various undergraduate and graduate institutions.

Local and national media regularly seek Matt’s input on matters of national importance, such as the PPP and EIDL loan programs, class action lawsuits against multi-national businesses committing fraud and environmental harm, and claims against state and local governments for violation of Constitutional rights. Matt is a previous graduate of the SBA’s Emerging Leaders program and the Goldman Sachs/Babson College 10,000 Small Businesses program.

Program Consultants:

Sherese Duncan – Efficio, Inc.

Sherese Duncan is President and CEO of Effició, Incorporated, a strategic development firm, and has served as an advocate of entrepreneurship for over two decades providing entrepreneurial education and training for entrepreneurs, professionals, and business owners around the world. Duncan’s expertise extends to research on entrepreneurial cognition and behavior, innovative marketing, economic intelligence, and power relationships; in addition to three other business ventures. Duncan received her Bachelors from Kansas State University, and her MBA from Keller Graduate School, and to further her contribution to intellectual rigor in entrepreneurship, Duncan is currently pursuing her PhD at the Luleå University of Technologyy in Luleå Sweden. Duncan has established herself as one of the leading and most comprehensive small business resources today that can ‘mobilize’ entrepreneurs to exceed their definition of success. As the visionary leader of Efficio, Inc., Duncan and her companies are all about execution and results. Simply put, her business approach works.

Wilmenia Gripper – W.E.G. Consulting & Training Corp.

Wilmenia Gripper is a visionary, socialpreneur, innovator, and “Tech Tools/Marketing” strategist who understands the need for businesses to stay abreast of the latest technology to keep a competitive edge. As a trainer and consultant, she is on a mission to help mobilize leaders by leveraging the power of technology, using digital strategies, and smart automated marketing systems to increase their revenue and impact.

Tara McAlister – Insperity

Tara McAlister is a Business Performance Specialist with Insperity. With almost 20 years in Human Resources, and a certification from SHRM, Tara enjoys sharing her passion and energy for helping companies make the most of their greatest assets – their employees. She enjoys using her HR expertise and strategic thinking to help small to mid-size businesses manage their people strategy to help to attract and retain top talent.

A graduate of Elon University, Tara lives in Indian Trail with her family and enjoys working with Claire’s Army and Porter Ridge Athletic Booster Club.

Terrell Turner – TL Turner Group

Terrell Turner is the managing partner of a NY Times recognized accounting firm and a 2021 40 Under 40 CPA that focuses on making accounting and finance less complicated for business owners and business leaders. He has spent 13+ years in various finance leadership roles with multiple Fortune 500 companies and also served as the finance leader for a private equity backed tech company.

After years of helping large businesses grow and attracts millions of dollars year after year, Terrell decided to use all of his experience and insight to help small-medium sized businesses. Along with being a managing partner of his own firm, Terrell also leads an internationally trademarked media company called Business Talk Library. The media company creates and produces multiple podcasts, web-based business shows and on-demand training for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Outside of being a founder and business owner of multiple businesses, Terrell also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Lander University Foundation as well as the Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin Foundation. In all that he does Terrell’s goal is to take what he knows from accounting, finance, business strategy and content creation to make business and organizational leadership a little less complicated.