Monica Ferracioli learned that growing a business is not about saying yes to every opportunity. It is about knowing which opportunities fit, building the systems to support growth, and creating room for others along the way. Through her experience with Santander’s Cultivate Small Business, Monica gained tools and perspective to make more intentional decisions about the growth of Sorbae Frozen Treats. Read More

LifePlate’s journey to becoming the number one company on ICIC’s 2025 Inner City 100 award list began with a simple belief: healthy food should never mean sacrificing flavor. Discover how the Dallas-based business turned strong relationships, a commitment to learning, and a clear sense of purpose into extraordinary growth. Read More

When Ben Canary brought his business partner, Nathan, to an Intuit More with AI Tour workshop, he expected to introduce him to a new tool. Instead, Nathan left ready to use ChatGPT every day. Now, Ben is taking that same practical approach with their team at Herculean Prepared Meals, focusing on real business needs, employee confidence, and clear guardrails. His story offers a useful reminder for small business owners: AI adoption starts with people, not just technology. Read More

Every entrepreneur can point to a moment when someone opened a door. At ICIC's Annual Conference, Changemakers Take Action, members of the Atlanta Steering Committee of ICIC's Alumni Network (ICAN) helped create those moments for hundreds of business owners. Through warm welcomes, meaningful introductions, and a shared commitment to helping others succeed, they showed that growth doesn't happen alone. Their story is a reminder that the relationships built through ICIC programs can continue long after graduation, creating new opportunities for businesses and strengthening communities along the way. Read More

For Barb Smith, growth has always been a journey. Through Building for Growth, Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses, ICAN, and other ICIC opportunities, she has gained the knowledge, connections, and confidence to continue building Journey Steel. Today, she is paying that support forward by creating career pathways and supporting the next generation of leaders. Read More