Name: Vasco L. Bridges III Profession: Business Strategy and Development: CEO of JANO Technologies, Inc. / Executive Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program at City Colleges of Chicago Age: 34 I have contributed to my industry by: helping to build, sustain and operate businesses A well rounded business professional, Vasco Bridges III has strategically leveraged his experiences to lead, execute, and grow organizations. Currently the Executive Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in Chicago, he leads a team that aligns high quality education, personalized business support and capital distribution for entrepreneurs throughout Chicagoland. The program, operated in partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago, jumpstarts small business growth throughout a cross section of industries. Additionally, Vasco also currently is the active CEO of JANO Technologies, Illinois' leading Integrated Justice Information Management firm. Originally hailing from Jackson, MS, Vasco has lived in Houston, New York, and Ann Arbor before settling in Chicago with his wife Brandi. He is a 2010 MBA graduate from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and also holds a MA from New York University in Music Business and a BA in Economics from Rice University. Born into a family of teachers, doctors, and entrepreneurs, Bridges draws inspiration from the achievements he has witnessed for many years. "I come from a family of teachers, doctors and entrepreneurs, and the one thing all three have in common is that each of these professions have a profound impact on communities," Bridges tells BE Modern Man. "You can't have strong communities without either of these three. "While I chose a career in business, I try to teach people and fix things in whatever I do." His work dedicated to small businesses helps communities, individuals and families to advance on a path of financial stability. The financial impact Bridges is making through the Goldman Sachs Initiative is astounding. The Goldman Sachs progress report illustrates the power of small business financial health. Program alumni have gained greater access to capital, and increased use of financial statements to make informed decisions. Read more on page 2... A non-traditional career path has led Bridges to explore four careers in various areas of business including music and media business development, supply chain strategy consulting, IT entrepreneur, and small business educator. "I've never taken the typical step forward, and I don't have life planned out," says Bridges. "I don't know what's next, but I have my eye on a long term goal of making an impact and choose the next best step that makes sense." Helping entrepreneurs make sense of the many functions to successfully run a business has been a huge step in Bridges career as the Executive Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in Chicago. "I think that entrepreneurs are a backbone of our society," Bridges tells BE Modern Man. "While we often look at big names like Robert Johnson or Oprah, we often don't recognize the guy who owns the restaurant on the corner or the dry cleaners down the street. Establishing a culture of entrepreneurship is one way to grow communities, and through my roles at JANO and 10,000 Small Businesses I hope to do that." Making many, many small investments in the lives of the people he touches, Bridges stays focused on doing the little things everyday. "I don't know how I will make an impact tomorrow. I just know that today I should work as hard as I can to make an impact on the small businesses owners that come through the 10,000 Small Businesses program, and my customers and employees at JANO," says Bridges. Working relentlessly to make an impact, Bridges vision is long-term and without boundaries. There used to be a day when you could categorize someone by what they wear, what they listen to, what car they drive or how many tattoos they have. This is not always the case today. "A BE Modern Man is unique, and cannot be placed into any box," says Bridges. I look around at my generation and know that to us being a BE Modern Man is being original, and you can't categorize originality." The BlackEnterprise.com team congratulates Vasco Bridges working to empower thousands of entrepreneurs, while successfully building his family business. Bridges is a standup professional who is able to use all of his experiences, and we are honored to call him a BE Modern Man. It's our normal to be extraordinary. Follow @blackenterprise and join the BE Modern Man conversation using #BEModernMan