Helping Businesses Start, Grow, and Prosper
Founded in January 2007, Widener University Small Business Development Center is one of 18 SBDCs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The center provides free and confidential consulting services to entrepreneurs as well as educational workshops for which we charge a nominal fee. Widener SBDC is strongly committed to helping small businesses. While our workshops are open to all, our consulting services are generally limited to for-profit ventures. We are conveniently located in the University Technology Park (UTP-2) building at 1350 Edgmont Avenue in Chester, PA.
Widener SBDC Client Cheryl Stevens Wins Prestigious Entrepreneurial Award
BREAKING NEWS: Cheryl Stevens has opened a concession inside the new soccer stadium (PPL Park) in Chester!
Click here for the Delaware County Daily Times story
Cheryl Stevens, owner and operator of Cheryl’s Southern Style Restaurant in Chester, PA, has been chosen by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc’s Pennsylvania Chapter as the recipient of the annual Madam C.J. Walker Award for 2010. On March 13, the Coalition held its 24th Annual Madam C.J. Walker Awards Luncheon and Economic Development Seminar in Philadelphia, which was attended by numerous local and state dignitaries including Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and local State Senators.
The award is named in honor of Madam C.J. Walker, who was an uneducated former farm laborer in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Walker was driven by her tenacity and belief that she could become successful, and she eventually built her own factory as well as a hair and manicure salon with training schools for women. C.J. Walker became one of the most successful business women in history and the committee honors her every year with an award in her name.
The Madam C.J. Walker Award is bestowed upon an African-American woman and entrepreneur whom the Coalition determines has done the most outstanding work throughout the year, encompassing such areas as business growth and success as well as service to the community.
During the luncheon, they announced Cheryl Stevens as the winner of the prestigious award, citing her tremendous overcoming of challenges and her recognizable amount of fortitude to accomplish such successful endeavors.
Notable for its originality in the Chester area, Cheryl's Southern Style serves up a variety of down-home style entrees, sides and homemade desserts, all created by Cheryl’s own family recipes. Besides her soul food options, the committee specifically recognized her focus on Christian ministry, as she plays gospel music and some videos of global ministers for her customers. The restaurant’s ambience was touted as an opportunity to uplift and encourage individuals, reflecting her mission statement: "Educate, Empower to Release Leaders." She was also credited for employing two young women on a part-time basis while mentoring them about business operations and cooking skills, and Cheryl has begun the process to mentor Chester high school students who have an interest in culinary arts. Cheryl even counsels young women in her neighborhood, providing much needed positive guidance.
On March 18, the neighborhood and small business influence of Cheryl’s was again reflected when gubernatorial hopeful and current Senator Anthony H. Williams made a campaign stop at Cheryl’s Southern Style to have a roundtable discussion with local small business owners.
The SBDC would like to congratulate Cheryl on all of her achievements and wishes her the best in future business and community endeavors.
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