Apply Now <\/a> Cherith Roberson is a small business owner, the author of The Guided Small Business Planner\u2122<\/em>, and a speaker and educator. Cherith served as the Director of the Wake Technical Community College Small Business Center from 2017 to 2022, and is now the owner of Flourish in Growth <\/a> , where she helps business owners navigate and build the businesses they aspire to have.<\/p>\n In 2020, she was awarded the State Director of the Year by the Small Business Center Network for her support of business owners during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Cherith holds a B.S. from North Carolina State University, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> The Opportunity<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Who Should Apply?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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![\"Startup](\"https:\/\/cfcc.edu\/small-business-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/SAIL-Logo.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nSAIL Timeline: Fall 2026<\/strong><\/h2>
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\n \n Week<\/h6>\n<\/th>\n
\n Date<\/h6>\n<\/th>\n
\n Format<\/h6>\n<\/th>\n
\n Topic<\/h6>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n
\n Week 1<\/th>\n Aug 20<\/td>\n In-Person<\/td>\n How Your Business Makes Money<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 2<\/th>\n Aug 27<\/td>\n Virtual<\/td>\n Designing a Business That Fits You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 3<\/th>\n Sep 3<\/td>\n Virtual<\/td>\n Finding Your Ideal Customer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 4<\/th>\n Sep 10<\/td>\n Virtual<\/td>\n Knowing Your Market & Advantage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n BREAK<\/th>\n Sep 17<\/td>\n \u2014<\/td>\n Required One-on-One Counseling<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 5<\/th>\n Sep 24<\/td>\n Virtual<\/td>\n Legal, Taxes, & Funding Basics<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 6<\/th>\n Oct 1<\/td>\n Virtual<\/td>\n Defining Your Brand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 7<\/th>\n Oct 8<\/td>\n Virtual<\/td>\n Marketing & Money<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 8<\/th>\n Oct 15<\/td>\n Virtual<\/td>\n Managing the Money<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 9<\/th>\n Oct 22<\/td>\n Virtual<\/td>\n Pitch Workshop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Week 10<\/th>\n Oct 29<\/td>\n In-Person<\/td>\n Pitch Competition Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table> <\/div> ![\"Cherith](\"https:\/\/cfcc.edu\/small-business-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/cherith-roberson.jpg\")
<\/div> Meet the Instructor: Cherith Roberson<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>