In 1956, executives from Halle Brothers established in Cleveland a volunteer organization to help aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in their journey for success. Now known as Business Advisers of Cleveland (BAC), new Gates Mills resident Grace Ann Bourne is working to bring more volunteers into the BAC fold and continue building that same philanthropic ethos in the region.

With an undergraduate degree from Michigan State and her MBA from the University of Maryland, Grace Ann lived in the Washington, D.C. region for 20 years working for companies like Verizon, the Telecommunications Industry Association, a trade association, and CSIS, a nonprofit policy organization. Grace Ann's background includes technology, corporate development, and member relations, as well as prior experience in web design.

Five years ago, Grace Ann and her husband decided to change their lifestyle and move to Northeast Ohio; her husband grew up in Kirtland Hills and the move brought them closer to family. They recently moved to Gates Mills.

“When we moved, we both wanted to do something that would root us more deeply in Cleveland and give our kids a sense of place.” says Grace Ann. “My kids are in school full-time, and I was looking for meaningful work. After meeting the BAC board and learning about the dedication of the volunteers, the organization seemed like a great fit.” In December 2022, she took on the role of Executive Director.

BAC is an organization composed of experienced executive volunteers. Volunteers are typically retired or are close to retirement, as they have time to devote to a younger generation of rising entrepreneurs and small business owners. The organization is unique in that it provides for each client three-person mentoring teams with skills and experience from various disciplines and industries. All mentoring is free, and clients are encouraged to work with BAC to build long-term advisory relationships.

“BAC has been a hidden secret in Cleveland for too long. I’m trying to change that,” says Grace Ann. She is creating increased awareness of the organization and giving it the exposure that it deserves. “Our members have exceptional experiences to share with clients. The companies from which they hail include Lubrizol, Oatey, Olgebay Norton, ABB, Energizer Battery, Nestle, Ernst & Young, Custom Rubber, CresCor, among many others. Several members have started businesses from scratch, and they remember what it’s like to need advice and direction.”

The organization serves approximately 100 clients each year, or about 10 clients every month. These clients come from various backgrounds, from those aiming to open a laundromat in their neighborhood to individuals who have developed technology apps and need to know how to bring it to market. BAC even has clients who invented a unique kitchen gadget and have since appeared on the popular TV show "Shark Tank." These clients credit the help they've received from BAC as instrumental to their success.

Grace Ann is very happy to call Gates Mills home. She notes that she is not the only Gates Mills resident involved with BAC. She has come to know others who volunteer and learn over time that they are neighbors.

When asked about her hopes for Gates Mills residents, Grace Ann said, "I am hoping to build a sense of community for myself and my neighbors in Gates Mills, and would love for part of that to be for retired executives to learn more about BAC. If someone has a business background and is looking to spend time with the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m happy to share the details about the organization.”

Grace Ann's tenure as Executive Director has been an incremental journey, as the group is relatively small but growing. “From its inception, the organization organically has been creating connections among people from diverse experiences and backgrounds. Every connection, every interaction for advancing knowledge and skills for Cleveland entrepreneurs and their businesses is one more than yesterday.”

BAC is located at 2800 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. If you're interested in learning more about BAC or getting involved, visit www.bacleveland.org.