Behind many successful small businesses is a network of people working quietly in the background – offering guidance, resources, and encouragement when it matters most. In Oakland County, that support often comes from Oakland Thrive, a nonprofit strategic partner created by Oakland County Government to help entrepreneurs build stronger, more sustainable companies.
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For Jonathan deSanctis, Eastern Region Manager for Oakland Thrive, the mission is simple: help business owners succeed by making the journey a little easier. “We were created and funded by the county to help small businesses in Oakland County thrive – no pun intended,” deSanctis said.
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Oakland Thrive supports businesses through workshops, webinars, and one-on-one consulting. Rather than simply handing out funding, the organization focuses on helping owners build the skills and systems needed to operate successfully. “Our job is to help make that lift a little easier,” deSanctis explained. “A business needs things like marketing, legal support, HR, IT, and accounting. We help owners navigate those areas and create a plan so they can grow step by step.”
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Consultants work directly with business owners to identify challenges, set realistic goals, and create action plans that move companies forward in manageable stages. “We want to set goals that are attainable,” deSanctis said. “It may take time, but we want businesses to reach the next level.”
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Serving northern Oakland County – including Oxford – is small business consultant Joyce Kreger. With her own background as an entrepreneur, Kreger understands the challenges business owners face. Before joining Oakland Thrive, she ran a successful online wedding and party favor business for 17 years. When the pandemic slowed weddings and large events, it eventually led her to a new path helping other entrepreneurs succeed.
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“I really believe this is the best job I’ve ever had,” Kreger said. “I’m happier helping other businesses than I was running my own.”
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Kreger works closely with local entrepreneurs, offering one-on-one consultations and connecting them with experts in business planning, IT, law, accounting, marketing, and human resources. Businesses can also access a variety of workshops and online training sessions through Oakland Thrive.
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Connections within the Oxford business community have already produced creative collaborations. One example is The Running Commode podcast, created by Chamber members Mark Raymond and Erik Hodge after an Oakland Thrive session sparked the idea.
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In the past three years, Oakland Thrive has served more than 4,000 businesses and hosted over 100 trainings. With the help of its consultants, clients have also secured roughly $130 million in loans to support growth and expansion.
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The 2026 program cycle is now underway, and some businesses may qualify for specialized consulting hours and additional resources. Kreger encourages local entrepreneurs to reach out and start the conversation.
As deSanctis puts it, “Reach out to us. We’d love to be a partner and help businesses in the community succeed.”
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To find out more about Oakland Thrive, visit: https://oaklandthrive.org.