The ScaleUP! Kansas City program has announced the 15 growth-oriented small businesses that will be part of its fifth cohort.

For four months, participants will be immersed in intensive training that connects them with subject matter experts and mentors who help them with the strategic perspective necessary to position their businesses for growth.

ScaleUP! KC launched its first cohort of 15 small business entrepreneurs in January 2015.

The program selects businesses that have been operating for at least 2 years, generate annual sales between $150,000 and $750,000, have the potential to generate more than $1 million in sales and desire to drive their business to greater heights.

Since the program’s inception, 62 business owners have graduated. Alumni have expanded facilities, launched new products, discovered new markets, streamlined processes and improved operations.

The fifth ScaleUP! Kansas City cohort includes:

• Brown, Structural Modeling & Analysis, Kansas City, Mo., a boutique structural engineering and laser scanning company with clients and projects worldwide.
• Shanita Bryant, Magnolia’s, Kansas City, Mo., a customized catering and event planning service. McAfee-Bryant also owns Magnolia’s on the Move, a food truck. She also plans to launch a series of cooking classes and a line of food products.
• Jessica Corbett, Hitched Planning + Floral, Kansas City, Mo., is an event/wedding planning business and event floral design studio.
• Chris Goode, Ruby Jean’s Juicery, Kansas City, Mo., is a juicery offering a full line of beverages. The company is currently building a distribution kitchen and bottling facility with plans to add a grab-and-go packaged food/snack line.
• Reggie Gray, H3Enterprises, Kansas City, Mo., is a health education company that combines hip hop and health and has delivered it message at 1,500 concert performances. H3 plans to develop an online video platform, mobile app and original music and health-oriented content for kids ages 3-12 in elementary schools worldwide.
• Gretchen Henry, ConsultUS Technology, Prairie Village, Kan., a software development and solutions provider.
• Marco Listrom, Valdes & Moreno, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., is one of the top Hispanic-owned investment banking firms in the country, is a broker-dealer firm that specializes in underwriting and trading municipal bonds.
• Delbert Olesen, Gold and More Jewelers, Liberty, Mo., a local, family-owned and -operated jewelry store in Liberty.
• Katie Petty, The Paw Wash, Leawood, Kan., a pet product company dedicated to keeping dogs clean and healthy through their product line, the large- and small-sized Paw Washes and The Paw Wash Mitt.
• Steve Pope, R2FACT Product Development, Kansas City, Mo., an on-demand R&D department that develops, supplies and supports innovative product devices for U.S. entrepreneurs and established businesses. R2FACT guides projects through design, engineering, prototyping and manufacturing.
• Dawn Potts, H20 Window Cleaning, LLC, Lee’s Summit, Mo., a commercial window cleaning, final construction cleaning and commercial power washing company.
• Jorge Salazar, Salazar General Contractor, Inc., Kansas City, Kan., specializes in commercial construction services as well as in-house expertise in project construction, including renovations and tenant finish.
• Heather Spalding, Cambrian, Leawood, Kan., specializes in creating realistic augmented reality for mobile applications. The company’s Home Harmony App allows users to find inspiration, collaborate on projects and visualize their ideas by virtually changing paint, flooring and surfaces in real time.
• Travis Thonen, Midwest Comfort Homes LLC, Blue Springs, Mo., is a licensed electrical contractor and remodeling company.
• Marisa Wiruhayarn, M-Power Enterprises, LLC, Kansas City, Mo., focuses on healthy products, such as Primal Cry hot sauce, sweet peanut sauce and beef jerky.