As a catalyst for regional economic development, CAAO has worked to promote entrepreneurship and leadership empowerment through its member organizations and individual members since 2001 and has made an economic contribution of over $50 million through increased contracts, jobs created, promotions obtained, and loans/lines of credit accessed, with an average annual budget of less than $200,000.

CAAO piloted the RISE Program (Resurgent Investment in Successful Entrepreneurs) in partnership with National City Bank in 2007 training ten companies over six months with the following 6 month follow-up outcomes:

• 12 New Alliances/Partnerships for each company
• 58 New Contracts for $20.5 MM
• 12 New jobs created
• 34% average increase in monthly revenue

CAAO piloted the STRIDE Initiative (Sustain, Train, Retain, Develop and Employ) in partnership with NOMSDC and ULGC from 2010 through 2011 training six companies over 12 months through October 2011.  As of November 2011, the following stats have been collected:

• 15 New Alliances/Partnerships for each company
• 20 + New Contracts under discussion
• 3 Contracts Confirmed (final dollar amount unknown at this time)
• 6 New jobs created so far

CAAO’s BESTT (Base, Enhanced, Sustaining, Trust Builders, Trust Builders Plus) donor program was created in 2009 to grow an individual donor base.  A variety of thank you gifts are available under each level, including tickets, discounted events, online training, coaching, executive matchmaking, business matchmaking, etc.  To date over 30 individuals have been recruited into CAAO’s BESTT bringing in approximately $14,000 in revenue and adding significant value to the individuals who support CAAO.  (See CAAO’s BESTT flier for details.)

Youth Innovation Forum – over 120 students, ages 10 to 19 have gone through 4 plus months of training in critical thinking and product concept production.  Each and every student who has completed at least one year of the program has graduated from high school and enrolled into college full time, some with full scholarships.  See Youth Innovation Forum details on the website.

Other significant accomplishments include:

• 2011 – Hosted Affordable Care Act Roundtable for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius
• 2009 – Hosted Delegation from Belarus for the Cleveland Council of World Affairs
• 2009 – National finalist for the Collaboration Prize – CAAO placed in the top 20
• 2009 – Honored by CBC Magazine for the Best Networking Event and Best Networking Organization
• 2008 – Hosted Delegation from Nigeria in partnership with Cleveland State University
• 2007 – MLK Jr. Community Service Award from the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Orchestra, and Greater Cleveland Partnership
• 2006 – Toast of Midtown Award for Community Service
• 2006 – Community Impact Award, Black Pages Ohio
• 2006 – BrownFlynn Circle of 10 finalist out of 63 nonprofits in Northeast Ohio “for defying the traditional definitions of creativity and excellence – thinking outside the box to ensure the healthy future of their organizations”
• 2005 – Community Impact Award, Cleveland Northeast Ohio Chapter of the National Black MBA Association

Frequent media coverage, including:

TV5 – The Kaleidoscope Show

TV3 – The Good Morning Show and the Noon News

TV8 – Public Service Announcements

TV19 – The Morning News

WZAK – The Urban Spotlight

WSOM – Public Service Announcements

WJCU – Public Service Announcements

The Boston Globe

LA Times

The Plain Dealer

Call and Post

The Akron Reporter

Akron Beacon Journal