Entrepreneur Skills Network

The Entrepreneur Skills Network (ESN) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit based in Whittier, North Carolina in the heart of the beautiful Smoky Mountains. ESN encourages local business people and people planning to start a business to meet weekly to exchange experiences with each other. These meetings encourage discussions for best business and marketing practices for established businesses and for business startups. This program encourages people who are or want to be entrepreneurs to meet at regular times in their own local community each week.

The focus of the first part of these meetings is for experienced business people to offer insights about how they started their business and what success they experience. Part of each meeting is set aside for presentations about various elements necessary for operating a business. At each meeting one entrepreneur can present a problem being experienced in the entrepreneur's business. Possible solutions to this business problem can be given by other members at the meeting. Marketing ideas are also valuable information to be shared at meetings. A table can be set up for business cards, flyers, or member's products.

Entrepreneur Skills Network was originally started in March 2009 as Advocates for Excellence in Whittier, a very rural community in the mountains of western North Carolina. It became clear early on that entrepreneurs seek out solutions for their business activities primarily in their own local communities. This realization led to begin to develop ESN.

ESN is focused on experienced business people who are self-employed coming together once a week to hone their entrepreneurial skills. Business people are encouraged to request information about how to start an ESN group called Affiliate in their own community.

ESN seeks volunteer business people to organize weekly business sharing meetings in their local community or volunteer to develop ESN in their county or state.

Click here to apply as an ESN Group Leader in your local community, county or state.

Entrepreneur Skills Network offers guidance in gaining entrepreneur skills and business networking. Advocates for Excellence offers guidance and training in entrepreneurship. ESN Online offers guidance in online entrepreneurship and marketing. Affiliates offers local groups of entrepreneurs meeting weekly to exchange ideas for business development. Entrepreneur on the Web coordinates ESN Online activity and offers guidance in online entrepreneurship.