The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Iowa District Office has announced two entrepreneurs from Emmetsburg as the Iowa Small Business Persons of the Year.
The SBA is recognizing Groom Curriculum’s Sierra Elbert, founder and president, and Patricia Pierce, vice president and managing educational director. Groom Curriculum is the first standardized, college-accredited dog grooming education platform in the U.S.
Inspired by her mother’s work as a professional pet groomer, Elbert began her pet grooming career at age 17. As her expertise in the profession grew, Elbert saw there was a need to elevate industry standards and expand access to professional grooming education. She and Pierce launched Groom Curriculum in 2022.
Today, Groom Curriculum partners with community colleges, salons, trade schools, workforce development boards and employers in Iowa and across the country to provide credentialed education for those new to the profession as well as continuing education for professionals.
“Small businesses like Groom Curriculum not only drive our economy but also strengthen our communities. They are creating opportunities, providing top-notch service, and proving that success and service can go hand in hand,” Ryan Lincoln, director of the SBA’s Iowa District Office, said in a prepared statement. “Small businesses like Groom Curriculum are not a side story in Iowa; they are the story.”
The announcement comes ahead of National Small Business Week on May 3-9, an SBA initiative to recognize the achievements of outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs across the United States.
All 53 winners will be honored at ceremonies in Washington, D.C., with their individual award and the SBA will name the 2026 National Small Business Person of the Year.
The agency will also host a virtual summit throughout the week offering resources and training for small business owners.