Local Business Owner Accepted Into Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Renee Plain, co-owner of Carson City-based In Plain Sight Marketing, was accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses National Cohort at Babson College, located in Massachusetts.

The program, launched 10 years ago, is an investment to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and business support services. Since its inception, it has seen more than 10,000 graduates that have generated over $14B in revenue and employed over 200,000 employees.

Plain, chief executive officer of IPSM, said she started the business nine years ago at her kitchen table.

“I really wanted to help small businesses with the kind of marketing planning and strategy that sets them up for success rather than just selling them products,” she said. “Almost six years ago, I took on a business partner, and we now employ seven people from all over the region.”

IPSM recently went to an all-virtual office, which Plain said opened up more opportunities for nearby rural communities as well as the Carson City-Reno area.

“One of our core business values is to participate in our communities in a way that makes them better places to live, work and play,” she said. “This program also focuses on what social value we bring to our communities, as well as increasing the economic value we contribute and jobs we create.”

Plain said as a lifelong learner, the 10kSB program appealed to her as the next logical step as a business owner experiencing rapid growth and with even bigger plans for the future.

“10kSB puts rigor and structure behind the work we are doing,” she said. “When I graduate from the program, I’ll have more resources and a more programmatic method with which to approach new growth opportunities, not just for our own company, but also for our clients’ organizations that will take us all to the next levels together.”

The program requires a time commitment of at least 20 hours a week and consists of meetings

with a Babson College faculty advisor, a business advisor, small group meetings, office hours, project work and networking. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all classes and meetings are held virtually.

“I am a participator so I can learn,” she said. “As a business owner, you have to keep a rosy disposition for your clients and your employees. This is such a wonderful opportunity to talk with other business owners about the challenges, obstacles and hard truths we often face. After 10kSB, I’ll continue to look for these opportunities to learn and grow within our business community. I’m not just going to be done.”