Profile

The Mindshift Business Accelerator for Technical Assistance Providers is a comprehensive and transformational business program designed to empower TA Providers in supporting entrepreneurs through every stage of their journey. Over the course of eight dynamic sessions, participants will gain practical skills, insights, and strategies to address the unique challenges faced by both entrepreneurs and TA Providers. Learn more about the program co-creators and facilitators, Dee Dice and Kasey Corsello, in the interview below!

What first sparked your interest in working with small businesses?

Dee: I have always been a person who has had a small business. I started out in college with cross-country ski business and since then I've had over 15 different businesses of all types. It seemed natural that I would connect with other business owners and share knowledge with them.

Kasey: While my husband and business partner opened Corsello Butcheria, a whole animal butcher shop in Easthampton, MA, I was completing my coaching certification. I realized my coaching tools directly applied to our small business—especially in areas often overlooked, like navigating fear and paralysis during change. Most business advice focuses on what to do, but not on how to be when fear gets in the way. Working with other businesses was a natural fit.   

What inspired you to create and facilitate the Mindshift Business Accelerator series? What were your priorities when creating the curriculum?

Dee: Kasey and I saw a need for newer businesses (within the first 5 to 8 years) to help not only with logistical, practical issues but with emotional and leadership issues. Our priorities were to create an inclusive curriculum that embodied both the practical and the transformational.

Kasey: During the pandemic, I collaborated with Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle on a project connecting resource partners to support small businesses. Through that work, I identified a critical gap: traditional business programming overlooked the human side of entrepreneurship.

I learned that both startups and Fortune 1000 companies invest millions in executive coaching to develop leadership skills and performance—key drivers of their success. Dee and I wanted to make this same support accessible to small business owners by creating a program that addresses mindset, stress management, and emotional intelligence alongside traditional business planning and technical skills. These human elements are essential but rarely prioritized in standard entrepreneurship training.

How has the Mindshift Business Accelerator helped course participants become better Technical Assistance (TA) providers?

Dee: When a TA provider is in a non-competitive environment with other like-minded individuals, all sorts of transformation can happen. TA providers look at their own biases and are willing to adjust them to provide accurate and informative services to their clients. When a TA provider has a critical issue with a client, it's helpful to get advice and resources from other TA providers in a similar situation. TA providers often have specialties and within that comes sharing about their specialty and also further collaborative work to strengthen their own abilities and broaden their workplace. In short, it helps them become a better TA provider by strengthening their own abilities as well as having a wide breadth of resources to access. It saves the organization both time and funding and secures the TA provider with confidence in their current position.

Kasey:  The Mindshift Business Accelerator goes beyond technical expertise to help TA providers show up more effectively for their clients. Participants learn to recognize and address the mental and emotional blocks that often hinder the entrepreneurs they serve. By developing emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and self-awareness, they can better support clients through the psychological challenges of building a business—not just the logistical ones. This holistic approach creates more impactful, human-centered technical assistance.  

Are there any other projects or trainings you're looking forward to working on in 2026?

Kasey: Our Mindshift Business Accelerator will now be offered in several different communities in 2026 and we are excited about that. We also offer one day workshops which highlight embracing change and navigating uncertainty. Mindshift Business Accelerator is expanding so that individuals can join a cohort even if they are not part of an organization.

What are some hobbies or passions of yours outside of work?

Dee: Oh that's a big question for me. I have many hobbies and passions. Currently I travel quite a bit and lead adventure travel groups around the world. I just finished leading a paddling trip in Croatia and a cultural trip in Nepal. Hiking and kayaking are passions for me as well as gardening, as I used to own a garden center. Being with my family, enjoying walks and coffee with friends, meditating and being immersed in nature are just a few of the things that I find luscious about life. 

Kasey: I've got 2 teens who are involved in sports, and I love watching and supporting their teams. I love watching Celtics games, Patriots games and WNBA games. I also am a big fan of UCONN WBB. Sports are a great metaphor for life and practicing a growth mindset. When not being a spectator, I love being home with my two dogs, my spouse and kids. 

Register for the second cycle of this popular series before January 7, 2026!