BBB’s Breakthrough Accelerator focuses on helping local small businesses scale their operations and strengthen their foundations. With a flexible format and access to real-world guidance, it gives participants something many early-stage entrepreneurs struggle to find: space to focus and support they can trust.
“The BBB Breakthrough Accelerator program offers an incredible platform for small business owners to grow both personally and professionally,” said Medeliza Roel of Sbay Print and Design. “What sets it apart is the emphasis on real-world application and community—you’re not just learning concepts, you’re building connections and implementing strategies that make an immediate impact.”
The accelerator blends group learning with personalized mentorship, offering more than 40 hours of guided sessions and over five unique mentorship and one-on-one coaching opportunities. Topics span operations, marketing, branding, financial planning, and leadership.
“This program felt like the greatest gift an entrepreneur could receive,” said Leslie Patino. “I remember there being points in the middle of class where I felt tears coming because I was just so grateful to be in a room with such genuine, successful, giving people.”
An Evening of Celebration and Connection
Graduation night served as both a ceremony and a community gathering. The event featured cocktails and delicious food by graduates of the program, such as Majestic Mix Bartending, Mielimón Bakery, Love & Bake, and charcuterie by Fabilous. Local musicians provided the soundtrack to a night filled with laughter, storytelling, and shared pride.
It was a celebration of growth, but also of accessibility. On-site childcare from Destination Baby Co. was available throughout the program, a thoughtful solution that allowed parent entrepreneurs to participate fully without sacrifice. That same spirit of inclusion shaped the entire accelerator experience.
Matthew Fehling, BBB President & CEO, addressed the graduates with a message that underscored the night’s importance. “This evening isn’t just about completing a program. It’s about recognizing the hard work, the sacrifice, and the determination that brought each of you here,” he said.
That sentiment was echoed by Samantha Scholl, BBB’s AVP of Innovation & Entrepreneur Programs, who described the graduation as a moment of “momentum in motion.” As she put it, the joy of seeing entrepreneurs pitch ideas, rebrand businesses, and open storefronts speaks volumes about what’s possible when the right resources meet real ambition.
What’s Next for the Breakthrough Program
Applications for the next cohort are now open, with hybrid learning sessions set to continue at ignite sparked by BBB and online.
Entrepreneurs pay only a $99 program and materials fee. With included benefits and in-kind donations, the program is valued at over $5,000.
Participants receive a $1,000 business development grant upon successful completion of the program, a meaningful boost for those navigating the realities of running a business in today’s economy.
As the first group of graduates heads back into the world with new tools and connections, one thing is clear: the BBB Breakthrough Accelerator is helping reshape what local business support looks like in San Diego.
Interested in joining a future cohort or supporting the program? Learn more at ignitesparkedbybbb.org
Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.
“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”
Courtesy of Milan Design
Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.
At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.
Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.
At any given time, there are roughly 200 research investigations and clinical trials being conducted at Scripps Health in as many as 25 medical specialties. Research and patient care go hand-in-hand at Scripps. Those studies can be categorized as clinical trials of a medication or device that are conducted by Scripps physicians and studies designed by Scripps’ physicians and clinicians. Click here to learn about three exciting studies underway at Scripps and the benefits to patients.
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Scripps has recently unveiled new features in the MyScripps patient portal and mobile app to help patients connect with their primary care team and simplify the payment process. Among the recent updates is the addition of primary care E-visits for minor conditions. Patients who have an established primary care physician can schedule an E-visit, complete an online questionnaire and, if needed, send a photo. Their doctor can then advise and prescribe medication, when appropriate. Autopay is also now available through MyScripps. Patients can enable or disable autopay, allowing them to more easily manage payments. Learn more about MyScripps and how it helps patients stay connected here.
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Farrah Adams had a persistent dull ache in her lower back that her massage therapist suggested might be caused by the way she sat or drove. That explanation seemed reasonable, but when coupled with heavy, painful periods led the then 46-year-old to seek answers. When she looks back on it now, she’s beyond grateful she trusted her gut. She made an appointment with a Scripps OB-GYN, who determined she had Stage 3 cervical cancer that had spread to several lymph nodes. Farrah was overwhelmed, but immediately found a “champion” in Scripps Clinic gynecologic oncologist Jo Marie Tran Janco, MD. After undergoing successful treatment at Scripps Cancer Center, Farrah is now using her story to inspire other women to make time for care. Read more of her story here.
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In the last several years, there’s been a surge in FDA approvals for what’s known as oral oncolytics. Oral oncolytics are targeted cancer therapies that come in tablet, capsule or liquid form that patients can take at home, rather than in an infusion clinic. Scripps physicians have seen exponential growth using this approach, with patients citing convenience as a major quality-of-life enhancement in their cancer treatment. This approach also allows treatments to be customized based on specific genetic mutations and a patient’s unique disease biology. Find out more about oral oncolytics here.
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Meet San Diego’s leading healthcare professionals, delivering exceptional medical and dental care through innovation, expertise, and dedication to patients.
Unio Specialty Care is a multi-specialty practice specializing in urology, gastroenterology, and radiation oncology.
Unio’s Radiation Oncology team—Dr. Donald B. Fuller, Dr. Tahir Ijaz, Dr. Reza Shirazi, and Dr. Siavosh Vakilian—combines extensive clinical experience with a commitment to personalized cancer care. The RO team treats cancerous and non-cancerous conditions using precision therapies including SBRT, IGRT, and the CyberKnife® S7 System, the only system of its kind in Southern California. Their expertise spans prostate, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and central nervous system cancers, as well as low-dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis.
In 2026, Dr. Shirazi and Dr. Vakilian were recognized as San Diego Top Doctors, joining Dr. Fuller and Dr. Ijaz, who have previously received this distinction.
