The Paducah Chamber’s 2024 Small Business Cohort members recently started their program and will be recognized at the August 1 Power in Partnership Breakfast. Ten small business owners joined the cohort in June and are using nationally recognized business consultant and author Mike Michalowicz’s book, “Fix this Next,” as the basis of their study. 

Cohort members include:

• Rafiel Banks-Nailing, R.B.'s Unique Touch
• Erica Davis, Davis Top Notch Plumbing
• Ebone Henderson, E. Charles Photography
• Jessica Housman, Housman Partners Real Estate
• Brooke Jacobs, Delve Health Consulting
• Katrina Lee-Marshall, Shaped by Katrina
• CheyAnne Ludovissie, Housman Partners Real Estate
• Tysie Milliken, Martha's Agape Love Childcare and Agape Ruth's Childcare
• Jim Smolen Jim Smolen Architectural & Interior Design
• John Stopka, Liberty Pest Control

Chris Wooldridge, Director of the Murray State University Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development, is the cohort instructor. Katie Englert, Compass Counseling and Chicken Salad Chick in Paducah and Murray, and Chris Hill, IHM Used Parts, are the cohort mentors and represent small businesses. Both have completed previous studies with “Fix This Next” and are also members of the Chamber’s Small Business Committee.

“It is always valuable to connect with other small business owners about struggles, strategy and successes,” said Englert, who also serves as the Chamber’s 2024 Board Chair. “This program helps small business owners, new and seasoned, do business better and provides tools for what to fix next.”

The Presenting Sponsors of the Cohort Program are Murray State University’s Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development; Paducah Bank; and West Kentucky Community and Technical College’s Workforce Solutions. The Supporting Sponsor is Open Door Accounting.