Published on Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Major Burnell and Dima Elisa
Dima Elisa and Major Purnell have joined Polsky Exchange’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as advisors to further support economic growth on the South Side of Chicago.
The Small Business Development Center at Polski Exchange launched last year to support pre-entrepreneurs and existing business owners. The center was the first resource on the South Side of Chicago dedicated to supporting professional services and technology businesses, offering assistance with everything from business plans to marketing strategies to help them increase revenue, create jobs and boost the economic vitality of their communities.
Since its opening, the centre has played a pivotal role in helping entrepreneurs launch their businesses, and to provide further support and expertise, it now welcomes two new consultants with extensive professional experience.
Here's more about Dima Elisa and Major Burnell, the new advisors to the Small Business Development Center.
Name: My name is Dima Elissa, CEO and Founder of VisMed-3D, a healthcare technology company dedicated to driving innovation in the healthcare sector.
Professional Background: My STEM journey has been marked by remarkable achievements in global health and healthcare, earning me recognition as a Crain’s Outstanding Woman in STEM, Chicago Magazine’s Top Woman in Tech, and a 2024 Chicago Titan 100 honoree. I am also a co-founder of a nonprofit dedicated to advancing equity and innovation in STEM, and advocating for quality and excellence in technology-based health equity solutions.
What motivates you to advise small business owners? I am motivated by seeing others succeed and achieve their visions. Advising small business owners allows me to share my experiences and insights, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Empowering others, especially women and minorities, is a passion that drives me every day.
What do you consider your areas of expertise? My expertise lies at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship. I have honed this focus through years of pioneering digital health innovations, leveraging advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to revolutionize patient care and business processes to drive equitable treatment and care.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur? The most important lesson I’ve learned is the importance of resilience and adaptability. In the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship, challenges are inevitable. How we deal with and evolve from these challenges determines our success. Staying resilient, adaptable, and focused on your vision is critical. Every challenge is an opportunity to innovate, learn, and grow stronger. Every setback is an opportunity to innovate and grow stronger.
Name: Major Burnell, Business Development Consultant and Small Business Development Center Advisor.
Professional Background: I spent eight years at McDonald’s, overseeing flagship restaurants and headquarters. During this time, I played a key role in developing new training initiatives and coaching managers and executives around the world. In 2017, I transitioned to become the Operations Manager at MAFA Recovery Project, a nonprofit in its second year. There, I developed and implemented strategies to streamline and improve operational efficiency, partnered with local organizations to create long-term community impact, and ensured that our operational plans were aligned with the organization’s vision and goals.
Four years later, I returned to my passion for business operations and started my own consulting business. For nearly four years, I have been helping entrepreneurs and businesses across the Chicago area grow and scale their businesses.
What motivates you to advise small business owners? My passion for helping my community began early on through my work with my family’s organization, Just Love Foundation. Seeing firsthand how so many local businesses struggled and closed due to lack of resources or knowledge ignited my drive to make a difference. I am deeply committed to using my expertise to support underserved communities, striving to empower entrepreneurs to reach new milestones and turn their seemingly impossible dreams into reality. Every day, I am motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact and help others achieve their goals.
What do you consider your areas of expertise? My areas of expertise include operational strategy, team leadership and management, and strategic planning. I have over 14 years of experience in business development and operations. Currently, as a business development consultant, I provide tailored support to companies, helping them identify new opportunities and develop strategies to implement initiatives.
What is the most important lesson you have learned as an entrepreneur? The most important lesson you have learned as an entrepreneur is the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn. This cycle involves gaining new knowledge, unlearning old information, and then incorporating updated ideas to enhance and build on what you already know.
