The vast majority of American small businesses employ fewer than ten people.
Yet there aren’t many long-term learning resources dedicated to their success.
Through a lifetime of hard work, Joe became a successful entrepreneur and community leader. He credited much of his success to the advice, support and street-smart wisdom he received in his YPO peer group. Through his experience Joe realized that this was a resource all small-business owners deserved, but few could access. From that point on, building a peer model of educational success for small businesses became his mission.
Entrepreneurs Forever sprang from Joe’s vision in 2014. Since then, it has helped more than 1,000 small business owners across the nation gain the confidence and competence to succeed for themselves, their families and their communities.
Just what Joe wanted.
We believe you thrive in the presence of a supportive community.
We believe learning builds confidence and quickens success.
We believe trust is the cornerstone of everything.
We believe in making a significant and measurable impact.
AJ Drexler is the President and CEO of Entrepreneurs Forever. A national thought leader in small business development and entrepreneurial ecosystem design, AJ is dedicated to ensuring that growth-ready small businesses—key drivers of local economies—have access to the same resources and support that contributed to her own success.
An entrepreneur from early in her career, AJ founded Campos, a market research firm, and was a founding partner at Big Picture Communications, an advertising agency. Throughout her professional journey, she has benefited from the guidance of exceptional mentors and support organizations. She is a long-time member of the Women Presidents Organization, has received mentorship through the PowerLink program, and completed the prestigious three-year Owner/President Management (OPM) program at Harvard Business School—a transformative experience that continues to shape her leadership.
Since 2018, more than 1,000 entrepreneurs have self-selected to join Entrepreneurs Forever, a peer-learning program available in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Detroit.
By the end of 2023, data pulled from the scalable Entrepreneurs Forever Peer-Learning Program platform demonstrated that 71.22% of Entrepreneurs Forever member businesses grew their revenue. Those that grew actually did so by an average of 83.9%, from an average of $98,900 to $181,100.
Nearly half of our members hired full-time, part-time, or contract staff while in the program. For comparison, only 2%–5% of all businesses in the U.S. ever grow beyond just the owner.
The average number of jobs (full-time, part-time, and contract) created by members grew from 1 to 5.6 in just 2.5 years, making a direct impact on local economies.
Small business owners saw a 51.3% increase in personal compensation in under two years of participating in our program.
What small business owners just like you are saying about Entrepreneurs Forever.
Stephanie Soares | Owner, Cape Cod Be Fit | Hyannis, MA
Laura Totin Codori | Owner, Worm Return | Pittsburgh, PA
Katie Heldstab | Owner, Leona's | Pittsburgh, PA
Gerrod Winston | Owner, Winston Design + Development | Pittsburgh, PA
Chief Executive Officer
Member Experience Manager
Communications & Automations Specialist
Marketing Director
Senior Product Manager
Senior Program Manager
Director of Finance and Operations
Director of Development
V.P. of Programs
V.P. Community Relations and Outreach
CEO, Mansmann Foundation
General Manager - GrubMarket Inc
Finance Committee Chair
Founder and CEO, Icreon Tech
Founder, Propel Schools and Innovation Fellow, Propel Schools Foundation
Founder and Owner, A Hair Boutique
President, Ramar Foods International
Board Chair and Fundraising Committee Chair
Chief Franchise Operations Officer, Sylvan Learning