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Turning Insight into Impact: ICIC’s New Manufacturing Accelerator Program Helps Manufacturers Scale for the Future
By ICIC | September 5, 2025
From Research to Action
In 2024, ICIC released Racial Equity in America’s New Industrial Transformation, a research report that revealed both the promise and the disparities shaping America’s manufacturing sector. The findings were clear: while federal funding was fueling a new wave of industrial growth, too many Black- and Hispanic-owned manufacturers risked being left behind.
For ICIC, the report was not the final word—it was the spark. If smaller manufacturers were to play a meaningful role in this new era, they needed tailored support to strengthen operations, scale sustainably, and gain access to capital and contracts. That vision became the seed for ICIC’s newest executive education program: the Manufacturing Accelerator Program: High-Growth Strategies for Manufacturers (MAP).
Building Something New, Together
From the beginning, ICIC knew that this program had to be built with, not just for, manufacturers. An advisory board of industry leaders, investors, and educators came together to ensure the curriculum addressed real-world needs. Members include:
- Lynda Applegate, Baker Foundation Professor, Harvard Business School
- Rena Clark, Principal Investor, Laurel Oak Capital
- Donna Ennis, Associate Vice President, Community-based Engagement, Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute
- Lisa Navarro-Gonzales, Vice President, Santana Group
- Caron Ng, CEO, NU-SET Lock
- Jennifer Pasley, Project Director, Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute
- Rosa Santana, Founder & CEO, Santana Group
- David Salazar Yanez, Founder & CEO, Andonix
Together with ICIC’s Data Strategy and Innovation team, they designed a 12-week virtual program organized into five modules that cover everything from strategic growth and market positioning to operational excellence and technology, financing growth, aligning strategy, sales, and leadership, and ultimately scaling your business.
A Leader Who Knows the Path
Leading the program is Brian Becker, Founder and CEO of Becker Growth Strategy. For more than a decade, Brian has guided businesses toward sustainable growth—but his connection to ICIC runs deeper.
Brian is an alumnus of ICIC’s ICCC program (Washington, D.C. 2017) and a former manufacturer himself. He brings a practitioner’s perspective on what it takes to build and scale a company in a competitive sector.
“People who are engaged in manufacturing physical goods, they’re wired a little bit differently. They have supply chain concerns that might not be shared by all business owners,” Brian explains.
“We have this opportunity now for manufacturers to control the narrative by really thinking about ways to adjust to the current economic climate to grow their businesses.”
– Brian Becker, Director, MAP
Meet the Inaugural Cohort
Applications for MAP’s first cohort were announced in April at ICIC’s Innovation Summit and met with overwhelming enthusiasm. Outreach partners such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute were instrumental in helping spread the word.
By the first class in August, 60 businesses had been accepted, with many more on the waitlist. The inaugural group reflects the diversity and strength of small manufacturers across the U.S.
On average, these companies have been in business for 24 years, generate $2M in annual revenue, and employ 12 full-time staff. Nearly half are ICIC alumni returning for this industry-specific training.
Geographically, Massachusetts leads representation with 19 businesses across 13 communities, followed by Georgia—demonstrating the impact of strong regional partnerships.
Generous funding support from Eastern Bank, MassMutual Foundation, the Schooner Foundation, and ICIC’s Board of Directors made it possible to offer MAP at no cost to participants.
What Makes MAP Different
While many executive education programs provide a broad strategy, MAP zeroes in on the unique challenges of manufacturing. The curriculum blends high-level strategy with hands-on, practical insights designed to strengthen both leadership and operations.
MAP Advisory Board and ICIC Board of Directors member Rosa Santana, who founded the Santana Group and built a global reputation as Toyota’s first Hispanic woman-owned direct Tier I supplier, describes it this way:
“The Manufacturing Accelerator Program is a game-changer for small manufacturing companies looking to grow and scale sustainably. The curriculum is uniquely designed to help manufacturers refine their big-picture strategy while also diving into the nuts and bolts of execution. If you’re ready to take your manufacturing business to the next level, this is the opportunity to equip your business with the tools and network to succeed.”
A Shared Commitment to Inclusive Growth
The Manufacturing Accelerator Program shows what happens when research doesn’t stop at the page. Grounded in ICIC’s mission to break barriers, it translates insights into action and creates a new pathway for inclusive economic development—one where manufacturers can access the resources, networks, and opportunities they need to thrive.
For the 60 businesses in MAP’s inaugural class, this program is a chance to sharpen strategy, build capacity, and unlock new growth. For ICIC and its partners, it’s an investment in innovation and equitable economic development that will drive the future of manufacturing for years to come.
Are you a manufacturer ready to grow—or a partner committed to inclusive manufacturing?