This is a pivotal year for the Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy — a Berks County summer educational program for high school students who aspire to own a business.
As the program prepares for its fifth year, it is undergoing an evolution that includes a rebranding and expansion.
The Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy, which launched in 2022, is a six-week program that alternates classroom modules and speakers with internships at area businesses led by entrepreneurs.
Rebranding
The program is now known as the Emerging Entrepreneurs Leadership Academy, according to Gary Seibert, founder and CEO of the initiative.
“Leadership and critical thinking are two of the buzzwords in the marketplace right now,” Seibert said, adding that with the focus on AI, corporations are looking for critical thinkers — “creative people that can deal with situations and handle them the right way and have the right answers.”
Christine Kreisher was named executive director in November. She came on board to help scale the impact of the organization — creating access, opportunity and real-world experience for participants.
The Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy is rebranding, and is now known as the Emerging Entrepreneurs Leadership Academy. In this file photo, Vanesa Aguay Guerra, of Wyomissing and her sister Karla Aguay speak with representatives of Brentwood Industries during a banquet for the academy’s class of 2025, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 701 Penn St. (BILL UHRICH/MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO)
An entrepreneur, longtime volunteer and facilitator for the program, Kreisher said much of the Academy’s material already focused on leadership development and critical thinking skills.
It was suggested “leadership” be added to the name, since it is a focus and important work for youth. Kreisher said the new name reflects on the organization’s critical mission — not just to inspire entrepreneurship but to cultivate the leaders the community will depend on.
Seibert said the focus of the academy will not be changing. The program is driven by its curriculum.
“At the end of every program year, we look at what areas we are teaching,” he added, to see if they are relevant to today, and will they be relevant three to five years from now.
“We want to prepare these students for the future. I think we’re doing a good job of that so far,” he said.
The Academy
For six weeks each summer, 40 students meet for the Academy. They alternate weeks in the classroom with internship assignments.
Seibert said some participants may not see the possibilities for their futures when they start but leave the program with hope.
“They say, ‘I never knew that was available.’ We’re opening the eyes and the hearts of these students to actually be excited about their futures,” he said.
Kreisher said the program exposes the students to so many different career paths.
“Hearing from all the entrepreneurs and people from the business world help them see the possibilities — giving them a sense of purpose and direction,” she said.
Expansion
The Academy is more than just a six-week program, according to Kreisher.
“We have a robust alumni with 93 student alumni,” she said, adding that a major focus this year is to commit to quarterly events for alumni and enrolled students.
Seibert said enhancing the alumni program aims to reinforce what the students learn during the academy — for years to come.
Kreisher said one of the goals is to have more “intentionality in what we’re doing,” and getting events on the calendar.
She added that alumni can participate in Small Business Resource Association events, and there will be opportunities such as ongoing mentorship and coaching, which she said is invaluable.
The Emerging Entrepreneurs Leadership Academy is formalizing its alumni program with plans for quarterly events. In December, some of the organization’s 93 alumni and students enrolled for this year’s academy, got together at the organization’s Alumni Christmas Party held at the Penn State LaunchBox at the GoggleWorks. Formerly the Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy, the program is rebranding to put a focus on leadership. (Courtesy Emerging Entrepreneurs Leadership Academy)
December saw the first formal gathering of the students enrolled for the 2026 program and alumni. Kreisher said they are looking for places to hold quarterly events and for entrepreneurs willing to share their stories.
A major area of expansion, according to Seibert, includes taking the program beyond Berks.
“After four years and the success we’ve had, we have other counties, other communities reaching out asking how they can get the program,” Seibert said.
Among the places that have expressed interest are York and Harrisburg and Lancaster, Montgomery, Chester, and Schuylkill counties.
“We know now that we have proof the product works, it’s time we take it into the marketplace,” he said.
Kreisher said the goal is to raise $250,000 this year to fund the expansion.
The first place the program is expected to expand is in Lancaster County, Seibert said.
“For two years they have been asking us to come there, but we just were not ready yet. But we are now ready,” he said. Talks have already been held with Penn Manor High School and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, which Seibert said is a perfect fit.
“Because we’re encouraging students to look into the trades. We need those things in our community because the void is huge,” he said.
“We need carpenters and tradespeople with a business foundation,” Kreisher added.
The expansion effort is expected to move forward this year and next, Seibert added.
Partnering With The Business Community
A key component is the role area businesses and entrepreneurs play in the program. Kreisher and Seibert said there are many ways business leaders can get involved to support of future entrepreneurs.
For the alumni quarterly meetings, the organization is looking for spaces and for entrepreneurs to host events and share their stories.
For the program as a whole, businesses and individuals can become a donor or sponsor.
“When you invest in the program you’re investing in the students, and freeing us to focus on the students,” Kreisher said.
She added that sponsorship levels are being reworked, with a new campaign being planned to get 40 people to commit to sponsor one student for $5,000. That sponsorship would cover the cost of the program as well as the alumni program.
Other financial commitments could include donations to help offset the cost of lunch or by donating drinks and snacks.
On the classroom side, the academy is looking for experts on a variety of topics.
Seibert added there are 40 companies set up to offer internships. That number represents 40 different career opportunities, but organizers are looking for more.
He added that they are looking for companies with owners who are true entrepreneurs.
“When we find the right company and they spend the time with the students it is magic for the owner and the student,” he said.
The Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy, a six-week summer program for Berks County High School students, is rebranding, and is now known as the Emerging Entrepreneurs Leadership Academy. In this file photo, students arrive for a banquet for the academy’s class of 2025 on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 701 Penn St. (BILL UHRICH/MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO)
Kreisher said business owners and individuals looking to get involved can reach out at www.eeainpa.org.
“For a community to survive it has to work together,” Seibert said, adding that the Academy is a collaboration involving schools, employers, institutes of higher learning and parents — giving the students a sense of what a community looks like and how it works.
“You talk about diversity — they walk in not knowing each other and stay connected the rest of their lives,” Seibert said. “That’s what community is all about.”