East Boston Main Streets hires Michelle Brown-Droese as Director of the Small Business Institute

BOSTON, MA  (March 24, 2014) – East Boston Main Streets has hired Michelle Brown-Droese, MBA, as the Director of the Small Business Institute in East Boston.  Michelle is the founder of Surpass Business Alliance, a company dedicated to the success of small businesses and entrepreneurs. Michelle is a graduate of the Simmons College School of Management where she obtained her MBA with a concentration in Marketing. 

With over 20 years of experience consulting for a variety of businesses, including health care, non-profits, restaurants, state agencies, artist groups, landscapers and more, Michelle is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed.  Michelle is very active in her community where she has mentored young Latina women for over 17 years.  "We feel incredibly fortunate to have someone of Michelle’s caliber join our team at East Boston Main Streets," says Max Gruner, Executive Director of EBMS.

Michelle will be taking the lead on launching the East Boston Small Business Institute generously supported by Citizens Bank and the Boston Main Streets Foundation.  "The Small Business Institute will allow us to offer to our local micro-business community a year-long curriculum of classes that will be immediately relevant to the small business entrepreneur” explains Michelle.  'These classes will be delivered locally and in a manner that is culturally appropriate and in a language best commensurate with the needs of the first cohort of students," she continues.

"It is always an exciting time when you can launch a brand new initiative that truly has the potential of positively impacting the lives of the folks who own small businesses in Eastie and that might very well be replicable and scalable throughout Boston," explains Max Gruner.  

The Small Business Institute is currently recruiting students for the inaugural cohort and classes will commence in April, 2014.

Anybody interested in this program should contact Michelle Brown-Droese at michellebrown-droese@ebmainstreets.com.
 
For more details or questions please call Max Gruner, Executive Director of East Boston Main Streets at 617-561-1044.

EBMS is a non-profit corporation. Our mission is to create a more vibrant business district by initiating private and public improvements, promoting commerce, and supporting efforts to improve the quality of life for all who live, work and do business in East Boston.

Source: Max Gruner, East Boston Main Streets 3/24/2014