click to enlarge ⊗

Kaisha Nicole Byrne (center), of Chatham County, received first place honors and a $2,500 grant from Verizon Wireless' Open Doors Entrepreneurship Initiative business plan competition. Central Carolina Community College's Small Business Center in Chatham County assisted Bryne with her plan for her business, 'Growing Hands Natural Hair Care Center' located in Salon Tease, in Siler City. Pictured with Bryne are Mike Jones (left), CCCC Small Business Center director, and Gary Kibler, former CCCC Small Business Center director in Chatham. Bryne graduated in the spring as part of the inaugural class of a new CCCC program, Natural Hair Care Specialist. She was recruited to participate in the competition through her involvement with FVRC, a Siler City non-profit. For more information about the CCCC Small Business Center, with offices in Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties, visit chathamsbc.com, harnettsbc.com, or leesbc.com; or call 919-545-8013 in Chatham, 910-892-2884 in Harnett, or 919-718-7424 in Lee.