Our History
History
2015 – Classed began and were hosted by Passion City Church by Pastor Myron Pierce and Pastor Taj Stokes utilizing the “Who Owns The Icehouse” curriculum by Eli Mindset.
2015 – First Cohort created – year long program “The Thrive Project” – with 33 enrolled
2015 – The first business was created through the program – Front Range Detailing.
Southeast Business Plan Competition – https://www.csbj.com/premier/profiles/businessprofiles/blaque-plans-novel-gym-positive-culture/article_6f8d98e8-fe31-5f28-8186-3045cfefaa40.html
Classes held with Carmel School.
Thrive became an official 5013(c) nonprofit organization
2019 – Colorado Springs Business Journal held a Southeast Business Plan Competition – one Thrive Alumni was a
2019 – Andi Propst joined the Thrive team as the Operations Manager.
2019 – Thrive held its first Business on the Boulevard event to introduce Thrive businesses to the community
2019 – Thrive was awarded funding through the Transforming Safety Grant from the State of Colorado.
First networking event – Entrepreneur launch Expo
2021 – Original founder, Taj Stokes exited from the organizational leadership and Yemi Mobalade stepped down as Board Chair to become Interim Executive Director
2021 – Became a fiscal sponsor for Fiestas Patrias
Heather McBroom hired as Program Development Manager to recreate the class curriculum. Program became an intensive 4 month program ran 3 times per year with 15 participants per class.
2023 – Heather McBroom became the Executive Director for the organization.
2023 – Heather McBroom won the Small Business Champion of the Year award during Small Business Week
2023 – Increased class size from 15 to 25 due to increased demand.
2024 – Secured our first classroom space at the Family Success Center in Southeast Colorado Springs
2024 – Launched the first Spanish Speaking Cohort
2024 – Held our first Spanish graduation