EMMETSBURG, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) —A northwest Iowa business leader is being recognized on a statewide and national level.

Sierra Elbert, president of Groom Curriculum in Emmetsburg, has been named Iowa Small Business Person of the Year. The honor is presented through the U.S. Small Business Administration and Iowa’s Small Business Development Centers.

Elbert says the recognition was unexpected, but deeply meaningful.

Groom Curriculum is a nationwide program that partners with community colleges, nonprofits, and other institutions to teach the trade of dog grooming through a structured, short-term workforce curriculum.

Elbert started her career in dog grooming at the age of 17 and developed the program after teaching at Iowa Lakes Community College, where she noticed dog grooming lacked the standardized curriculum found in other skilled trades.

 

As part of the recognition, Elbert is now set to represent the state of Iowa in Washington, D.C., alongside other small-business leaders from across the country.

She says the honor brings added national visibility to Groom Curriculum as it continues to expand.

Groom Curriculum now operates in multiple states and offers students a pathway into a skilled trade that can lead to a livable wage. Elbert says graduates commonly enter the workforce earning between $55,000 and $65,000 annually.

For more information, visit groomcurriculum.com.