The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training

“OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE ENTREPRENEURS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS”.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to prepare entrepreneurs for business success.

Vision Statement

Enhancing the talent, skills, and knowledge of innovators, entrepreneurs, and business owners to impact every community in the United States for generations.

Value Statement

Our core principle is to value every human being who strives to build a better world through business creation with integrity, respect, accountability, social responsibility, diversity, and inclusion .

Upcoming Events & Seminars

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CMET EBA JULY 2024

Our Story

The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training

2020 was a year of instability affecting the small business community. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and an unstable economy, these businesses had been presented with enormous challenges.


Consider this one statistic; researchers suggest that minority-owned companies are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Economics professor Robert Fairlie at the University of California at Santa Cruz found that "the number of active business owners in the United States plummeted by 3.3 million or 22 percent over the crucial two-month window from February to April 2020. The drop in active business owners was the largest on record, and losses to business activity were felt across nearly all industries. African-American businesses were hit especially hard experiencing a 41 percent drop in business activity. Latinx business owner activity fell by 32 percent, and Asian business owner activity dropped by 26 percent."


Historically, the economy will rebound with a strong demand for essential products and services. These businesses will need to be prepared to meet the considerable demand of this new economy. Entrepreneurs will have to have solid fundamental knowledge of financials, accounting, marketing, sales, and digital platforms.

The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training (CMET) is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering women, black and brown entrepreneurs to start and grow their own businesses. We provide high-quality entrepreneurial training that prepares women, black and brown entrepreneurs with the skills needed to succeed in business. Our overriding goal is to prepare, connect, and support these aspiring entrepreneurs for generational success.

The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training, Inc. has developed an intensive five-day curriculum to develop or improve these competencies. We focus on preparing, planning, developing, executing, and assessing our client's businesses to achieve sustainability.

2020 was a year of instability affecting the small business community. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and an unstable economy, these businesses had been presented with enormous challenges.


Consider this one statistic; researchers suggest that minority-owned companies are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Economics professor Robert Fairlie at the University of California at Santa Cruz found that "the number of active business owners in the United States plummeted by 3.3 million or 22 percent over the crucial two-month window from February to April 2020. The drop in active business owners was the largest on record, and losses to business activity were felt across nearly all industries. African-American businesses were hit especially hard experiencing a 41 percent drop in business activity. Latinx business owner activity fell by 32 percent, and Asian business owner activity dropped by 26 percent."


Historically, the economy will rebound with a strong demand for essential products and services. These businesses will need to be prepared to meet the considerable demand of this new economy. Entrepreneurs will have to have solid fundamental knowledge of financials, accounting, marketing, sales, and digital platforms.

The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training (CMET) is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering women, black and brown entrepreneurs to start and grow their own businesses. We provide high-quality entrepreneurial training that prepares women, black and brown entrepreneurs with the skills needed to succeed in business. Our overriding goal is to prepare, connect, and support these aspiring entrepreneurs for generational success.

The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training, Inc. has developed an intensive five-day curriculum to develop or improve these competencies. We focus on preparing, planning, developing, executing, and assessing our client's businesses to achieve sustainability.

The Executive Team

Joseph A. Simmons

Founder, CEO

Joseph A. Simmons is a retired pharmaceutical executive located in Orlando, Florida. Joseph started his sales career with Baxter Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, and Sunrise Medical, where he was promoted to an executive level position. He went on to Knoll, Abbott, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals in several management positions. Joseph has founded, The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training, a nonprofit organization May 2020.

Michelle Chenault

Owner of M Chenault Management Consulting

Michelle Chenault, the owner of M Chenault Management Consulting, LLC, is an independent business consultant specializing in the professional services sector with over 15 years of experience. She provides consulting and coaching services to entrepreneurs and small business owners in government contracting, compliance, identifying operating capital, and operations management. Michelle helps her clients identify business challenges and opportunities, evaluate business operations, and translate them into processes and technical solutions that are cost-effective, flexible, and sustainable to increase efficiency, reduce operational risks, and improve profitability.

Lionel Mosley

Founder and CEO of 4th and Bailey

Lionel Mosley is the Founder and CEO of 4th and Bailey, a leading Cloud Computing and Information Technology (IT) Consulting Services firm based in Houston, Founded in 2007, the company has a vision to help all businesses leverage the power of cloud computing solutions to improve their operations, increase efficiency, and reduce IT infrastructure costs.

Randolph Dukes


Systems & Process Analysis | Entrepreneurial Coach


Randolph Dukes brings over 25 years of IT experience across state government, education, telecommunications, and construction industries. With a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Computer Information Systems, he excels in five different Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) products and is proficient in various coding languages and reporting tools. Randolph has managed multimillion-dollar system modernization projects for institutions like Broward County Public Schools and Atlanta Public Schools. He holds certifications in ITIL Foundation, CompTIA A+, and CompTIA Network+, and has held leadership roles at Educational Data Resources, LLC. Beyond his professional endeavors, Randolph is committed to community service, engaging with organizations like the National Sales Network.

Alonzo Williams

Trusted Advisor and CEO of Cynerge


Alonzo is currently the CEO of Cynerge where his singular focus is becoming a "TRUSTED ADVISOR" to clients by providing proven solutions and industry best practices to help build the value of their business. Prior to Cynerge, he founded Zerion360 (SAP Business One / Acumatica VAR), which served small and midsize businesses with ERP software solutions. Cynerge's vertical focus was Distribution, Manufacturing, Professional Services and Field Services. Alonzo's expertise lies in the areas of Business and IT Alignment, Project Management, and Business Analytics. Zerion360 was acquired by Stellar One Consulting in July 2021. Alonzo is also an adjunct professor at Seminole State College and Alonzo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from University of Florida and Masters in Computer Information Systems from University of Phoenix.

Megan Reed

Digital Brand Manager

Born and raised in Orlando, Megan Reed is a proud native of the Sunshine State. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Andrews University in 2015 and obtained her MBA from Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in 2021. Megan started her marketing career in the consumer product goods industry, working for the renowned Nutella and Ferrero Rocher brands under Ferrero USA. Megan has continued her passion for food at Darden Restaurants, currently serving as a Digital Brand Manager for LongHorn Steakhouse and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. She serves her community through J4 Leaders board membership and outside of work enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, exploring new cities, and indulging in her favorite restaurants.

Joseph A. Simmons is a retired pharmaceutical executive located in Orlando, Florida. Joseph started his sales career with Baxter Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, and Sunrise Medical, where he was promoted to an executive level position. He went on to Knoll, Abbott, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals in several management positions. Joseph has founded, The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training, a nonprofit organization May 2020.

Presenters

Servola Frazier

Founder and CEO of Marketing Innovations Group

Servola is an energetic facilitator with an affinity for creating a safe place for her participants to actively engage. Servola has worked with professionals across all industries and professional levels, and her many years of experience working for the federal government and the private sector for the Department of Defense, Northrop Grumman enables her to understand business expectations. In her spare time, Servola enjoys writing and creating videos to inspire others to find their purpose and fulfill their dreams.

Bethanie Nonami

CEO of Marley Nonami Incorporated

Bethanie is a sales strategist that empowers minority and women business owners to break 7 figure sales records faster with less effort. Bethanie is a foodie that loves fast and loud cars and started programming on a green screen in 4th grade. She has 30 years of technology experience and spent the last two decades helping minority and women business owner

Jorge Cruz

Founder and CEO of Marketing Innovations Group

Jorge Alberto Cruz is an online marketing strategist with more than 20 years of experience. Is a speaker, coach, book co-author and founder of Marketing Innovations Group. Jorge is addicted to the ethical psychology of selling online. He has been mentored by top leaders in the online marketing industry and has helped multiple doctors and hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their businesses online to multiply their sales.

Christina Lynch

CEO of Trydent Consulting.

Christina Lynch is an award-winning consultant that has spent more than 14 years of her career propelling small businesses and Non-profit organizations forward in their industries. She has a notable track record for utilizing a flexible and non-judgmental approach with her clients and partners that has promoted the success of positive and profitable business affairs for every party involved. Clients and partners say that with Christina’s help, their businesses have become more structured and developed. Christina brings calm to a chaotic situation and order when things are getting out of hand. This has led to countless improvements in clients’ administrative operations, bookkeeping practices, and training implementations.

Katrina C. Keys

Owner of C and D HR Consulting

Katrina C. Keys is an innovative and business-savvy HR professional with over 25 years of impacting the employee experience and maximizing people performance. In addition, she is an executive coach. Well-credentialed, she holds a Senior Certified Human Resources Professional designation, and has earned an MBA with an HR emphasis, an MA in Organizational Management, and Bachelor’s in Journalism. Katrina’s biggest accomplishments are her two children; her daughter who is living her best life and her son who plays football for the University of Louisiana - Monroe

Michele G. Moss, Esquire

Founder of Johnson Moss L.L.C.

Ms. Moss has been in practice for 20 years and has extensive experience in civil trial and

litigation in Florida state and Federal courts. Ms. Moss founded Johnson Moss L.L.C. in May 2014 to focus on intellectual property and computer and internet law. Ms. Moss's intellectual property practice includes copyright and trademark registration, the preparation of confidentiality or nondisclosure agreements as well as litigation of claims involving copyright, trademark and trade dress infringement, and trade secret misappropriation. Ms. Moss's computer and internet law practice includes claims involving internet trespass, defamation, civil liability for online content the preparation of website terms of use, privacy policies, computer/internet usage policies, and End User License Agreements (EULAs) for

mobile applications and computer software.

We explore topics including…

2020 was a year of instability affecting the small business community. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and an unstable economy, these businesses had been presented with enormous challenges.

The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training has developed an immersive five-day curriculum to develop and improve these competencies. We focus on preparing, planning, developing, executing, and assessing our client's businesses to achieve sustainability.

Sales

Finance & Capital

Development & Strategy

Networking

E-Marketing

And so much more

Why Us

Relevance

Today’s business environment demands that entrepreneurs evaluate and improve their business skills on a regular basis in order to increase operational efficiency and to identify new ways to produce profits. CMET provides the needed training that entrepreneurs are seeking.

Focus

CMET is focused on the core competencies that help sustain a successful business. In fact, we strive to enhance the talent, skills, and knowledge of innovators, entrepreneurs, and business owners to impact every community in the United States for generations.

Coaches

Our coaches are subject matter experts. Each coach has the practical working knowledge that will give our clients the needed insight to preserve and prosper in any business environment.

Schedule

Our programs are held several times each year. The learning is spread over 5 days and each day is filled with valuable techniques and workable knowledge to help take your business to the next level.

Application Process

CMET has developed a simple process to qualify participants. It starts with you, the client, submitting the CMET Program Application Form below. After we receive your request, we will review it and we will contact you for the program interview. It's that simple.

Reviews

Keaidy Bennett

CMET Attendee

Sami Haiman

CMET Attendee

Kelda Senior

CMET Attendee

Dr. David Walker

CMET Attendee

Building Entrepreneur Literacy

to Win in Business

Dr. David M. Walker speaks with Joseph Simmons.

Building Entrepreneur Literacy

to Win in Business

Discover why The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training (CMET) was founded and how it supports black entrepreneurs to build business literacy.

10028 Rustic Ridge Court, Orlando, FL 32832