Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring

Recruiting and evaluation of qualified west michigan business leaders to serve as mentors. The program sponsors educational events for mentors in various business categories and also provides for peer mentor group sessions that assist a mentor in aiding a mentee. The total number of mentors in the program as of 12/31/24 was 53; 47 men and 8 women. In addition to other annual educational events, the mentors each participate in a training and best practices seminar once a year in october. Approximately 20% of the operating and staff costs associated with program service activities were contributed to accepting, matching, and educating mentors.

Jem holds group meetings, typically once a month. In 2024, the number of events held were seven. Four events were considered educational by providing a speaker or group of presenters that included topics such as culture, leadership development and strategic technologies. Four events were considered a "participant site visit-; meetings allowing the group to visit a mentee's place of business and discuss topics that might be helpful for the host and individuals participating. One meeting was social in nature for our annual golf outing.

With jem's eleventh year of "graduated mentees" (individuals who have been working with a mentor monthly for three years), the alumni program for those who still want to stay involved stands at 82 people. These graduated mentees (jem ambassador group - jag) will no longer be monitored on their monthly meetings with their mentor. For a 1,100 fee, they can still participate in educational meetings and use other resources of jem (example: meeting with a few mentors on an as needed basis). Our jag steering committee helps build that program and bring new ideas to the jem board on improving the existing jem program.