Fall FastTrac Program Gets Underway In September

August 22, 2001

by Alan Hunt

FastTrac leaders are planning to sharpen the business skills of a few good entrepreneurs during the program's fall session, due to start the first week of September.
A national program geared toward aspiring and current entrepreneurs, FastTrac has been holding classes in Waco since 1996. The program is a cooperative community effort presented by the Waco Chamber of Commerce, the City of Waco and Baylor University's John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship.
Two sessions are offered. FastTrac NewVenture, recommended for beginning entrepreneurs or those with an idea for a business, will begin Sept. 4 for nine weeks. FastTrac Planning, for existing entrepreneurs or those who have owned a business for more than two years, will begin Sept. 4 for 11 weeks. Classes are held each Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Baylor's Hankamer School of Business.
Malinda Green, administrative assistant at the John Baugh Center, said the FastTrac Entrepreneurial Training Program teaches participants the specialized knowledge, skills and insights they need to be successful entrepreneurs. Describing FastTrac as the "ultimate entrepreneurial training program," she said it has helped more than 10,000 businesses nationwide to improve and achieve success.
"We would encourage interested persons to complete an application and return it as soon as possible, since enrollment will be limited." Green said the application deadline is Aug. 28.
Allan Morris, president of Extraco Bank, will be the instructor for FastTrac Planning, and Rob Gibson, owner of Holze Music Company, will be the instructor for FastTrac NewVenture. The FastTrac NewVenture fee is $350 and FastTrac Planning is $700. Fee covers materials and textbooks. Tuition remission is available, based on need.
Baylor business students also are involved in the program as consultants in the fields of industry research, sales/marketing strategy, promotional brochure development, and accounting
software selection, installation, and use. The student consultants are junior, senior and graduate level students, most of them majoring in entrepreneurship, who are enrolled in a field studies course.
Applications for the program are available at the Business Resource Center, 401 Franklin Avenue. For more information, contact Green at (254) 710-4157 or Mary Abrahams, program coordinator, at (254) 710-4159.