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
Original founder, Taj Stokes exited from the organizational leadership and Yemi Mobalade stepped down as Board Chair to become Interim Executive Director
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