At Rio Salado College, we believe every student has the potential to be an entrepreneur. Whether you’re just beginning to explore your business idea or you're ready to pitch it to a panel of judges, we offer two exciting programs designed to support you.
We invite you to explore these programs and discover how Rio can help bring your business vision to life.
Want to learn about Rio Salado’s academic paths for entrepreneurs? Check out our Entrepreneurial Studies programs.
Student Success Stories
Get inspired by real Rio students who’ve turned ideas into action:
Maya Mack
Business: Cornhusker Cleaning, LLC
Rio Salado Spring 2024 Small Pitch Winner
In June 2021, Mack and her partner moved with their combined six children to Arizona from Nebraska. Wanting to be available for their children, they joined an online service platform and saw an immediate need for cleaning services. Rather than work for someone else, they decided to work for themselves and started a professional company in the West Valley. They focus on common cleaning, deep cleaning, move in/move out cleans and customized cleaning on a one-time or recurring basis.
"I am the founder of a non-profit organization that serves pregnant and parenting at-risk teens. They inspire me for two reasons: I learn so that I can guide them and it also shows them that they can further their education, too."
"Back in 2022, I was a senior in high school, a spunky 17 year old gearing up for college. Then I had a dream to pay for my college completely debt free. I said to myself, 'I'm not going to get a job. I'm going to start my own business.' My business solves what I call the never-ending issue.: no matter the economy, windows get dirty. Happy Days Window Cleaning provides for three elements of one-story homes: cleaning for windows, screens and tracks."
Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Risk Management & Insurance, and Small Business
Dr. Lily Davidov serves as the Faculty Chair for the Accounting and Small Business department at Rio Salado College. With over two decades of expertise in entrepreneurship, executive administration, accounting, finance, and strategic planning, Dr. Davidov brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her academic career spans more than 16 years, encompassing college instruction, curriculum development, and facilitation. Dr. Davidov has held the position of Faculty Chair at Rio Salado College since 2018, demonstrating dedicated leadership in this capacity.
Yolanda A. Facio is an accomplished entrepreneur with 25 years of experience managing two brick-and-mortar businesses in Phoenix, Arizona. Her extensive background in small business ownership inspired her to pursue a career in higher education, first at Arizona State University and later at Maricopa Community Colleges. At the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), she provided consultation to hundreds of small businesses, leveraging her practical expertise. Currently, Ms. Facio is at Rio Salado College’s Small Business and Accounting department, where she mentors students, manages grant funds to support student entrepreneurs, and serves as an adjunct faculty member teaching small business courses.
Dr. Lily Davidov
Faculty Chair
Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, Risk Management & Insurance, and Small Business
Dr. Lily Davidov serves as the Faculty Chair for the Accounting and Small Business department at Rio Salado College. With over two decades of expertise in entrepreneurship, executive administration, accounting, finance, and strategic planning, Dr. Davidov brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her academic career spans more than 16 years, encompassing college instruction, curriculum development, and facilitation. Dr. Davidov has held the position of Faculty Chair at Rio Salado College since 2018, demonstrating dedicated leadership in this capacity.
Yolanda A. Facio is an accomplished entrepreneur with 25 years of experience managing two brick-and-mortar businesses in Phoenix, Arizona. Her extensive background in small business ownership inspired her to pursue a career in higher education, first at Arizona State University and later at Maricopa Community Colleges. At the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), she provided consultation to hundreds of small businesses, leveraging her practical expertise. Currently, Ms. Facio is at Rio Salado College’s Small Business and Accounting department, where she mentors students, manages grant funds to support student entrepreneurs, and serves as an adjunct faculty member teaching small business courses.
