EAST ORANGE, N.J. - s4story -- On Wednesday, May 28, small business owners across East Orange gathered for Talent Triumph: Managing Your Greatest Assets — Your Employees, a high-impact workshop designed to help entrepreneurs build stronger, more effective teams while deepening their commitment to community-based hiring.

Facilitated by Executive Coach Anna D. Banks of Thrive Leadership Institute, Inc., the workshop was part of the East Orange Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) Program's second cohort. The session empowered participants to rethink how they hire, delegate, lead, and retain employees—especially those from within the East Orange community.

From identifying character-first qualities in new hires to giving feedback that uplifts instead of undermines, the interactive session was packed with actionable takeaways that business owners can implement immediately.

Topics included:

• Why hiring local is an investment in the community
• How to spot potential beyond the resume
• The value of working interviews
• Setting clear expectations from day one
• How to build trust through consistent leadership
• Celebrating growth and effort to boost morale

One of the workshop's most memorable takeaways came from Gary Miller, owner of Natural Start Restaurant (https://natural-start.restaurants-world.com/) at 390 Springdale Avenue in East Orange. He emphasized:

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"What really stuck with me was the importance of having a clear, detailed job description from day one. You've got to outline exactly what you expect from each employee upfront and make sure everyone understands their role. Because if someone isn't helping your business grow, why are they on the team? You shouldn't have to keep reminding them what to do. Like Anna said last night—'Be quick to fire, slow to hire.' That hit home for me, and I'll definitely be putting that into practice."

Mark Cheatam, Manager of Economic Development for the City of East Orange, also praised the session's impact:

"When local business owners are equipped with clear leadership strategies and practical tools, everyone wins—from the employer to the employees to the entire community."

Anna D. Banks closed the workshop by reminding attendees that they don't have to wait for the "perfect" moment to improve their team or leadership style.

"Start with one small, intentional step," Banks encouraged. "That step can become the turning point your business—and your employees—need."