First Cohort of Business Boost Program Graduates!

Beaver Valley LaunchBox celebrated a major milestone in April 2026 as the inaugural cohort of Small Business Boost completed the program and gathered for a special graduation celebration.

Designed for existing and early-stage businesses, Small Business Boost gives local entrepreneurs practical tools and strategies to help them level up their businesses. The cohort-style program meets once a month for eight sessions, creating an opportunity for business owners to learn, connect, share ideas, and put new strategies into practice.

Throughout the program, participants explored essential topics including understanding the competition, marketing, basic accounting, and other practical business skills designed to help entrepreneurs make stronger decisions and build more sustainable businesses.

The program concluded with a pizza party in April, bringing together the graduates, the entire Beaver Valley LaunchBox team, and select Penn State Beaver professors to celebrate the hard work and commitment of the cohort.

Congratulations to our first Small Business Boost graduates:

• Amber Heasley, Shades of Amber Photography
• Herta Madder, Zuko’s Comfort Crew
• Kristen Siget

We are incredibly proud of this first group of entrepreneurs and the time, energy, and dedication they invested in their businesses throughout the program. Entrepreneurship takes courage, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning—and this cohort demonstrated all three.

As they continue chasing their business dreams, Beaver Valley LaunchBox wishes Amber, Herta, and Kristen continued growth and success. We can’t wait to see where their entrepreneurial journeys take them next!