Shabbir Katabji receives certification from SBA Emerging Leaders Program

Seven-month program provides framework for businesses on the brink of growth to produce high-impact results. Bakersfield– The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Emerging Leaders program is a “mini-MBA” training initiative for local business on the brink of growth. This program spans over a seven-month executive education series and connects small business owners with a network of industry experts and peers, and supports the creation of a three-year strategic growth action plan. Since the SBA started offering the Emerging Leaders program in various locations across the country, graduates have created more than 2,400 new full-time jobs, accessed more than $73 million in new financing, and secured federal, state, local and tribal contracts worth more than $1 billion. The 2015 graduates from Bakersfield span the Kern County area; and, represent various industries including aerospace, manufacturing, health and wellness, publishing, biotechnology, retail and food services. “This has been a great program for us to participate in. The Emerging Leaders initiative provides the tools and expert guidance to spark sustainable growth,” said B&H Internationals CEO Tasneem Katabji