5 Successful Immigrant Entrepreneurs

LearnQuest
Yuri Schneiberg, founder
Native country: Russia
Headquarters: Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
Immigrated: 1979
Yuri Schneiberg came to the U.S. from St. Petersburg in Russia in 1979 with strong computer programming skills and a desire to use those skills in education. He and his wife originally ran a computer programming school with two campuses, serving 1,500 students, but sold it in 1997.

Shortly after, they shifted the client list from consumer to commercial clients and started Learnquest, which provides vocational training in IT and other business disciplines to Fortune 1000 businesses and government agencies.

The company operates training sessions all over the country and virtually, and has five regional sales offices across the U.S. and one in Canada.

This September, Schneiberg will be adding to LearnQuest's offerings by launching The Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management certificate program. It was the recession that sparked the idea.

"As unemployment continues to be high, and we [have] 25 years of experience, we would like to offer some help to our peers in small business," he says. "We want to share our experience with other small-business owners, including immigrants. This is definitely one of our target audiences."

As an immigrant and small-business owner with an MBA -- his son has one as well -- Schneiberg says his practical experience will help others who are starting out.

"Those who would benefit the most would be the people who've been in business for a year, got a taste and what they learned is what they don't know. They're ready to take off, ready to start hiring," he says. "Our program will put them in the right position, where the growth is not already a mile ahead of them."