June 12th at 10:00 AM
“If you don’t stop, you’re guaranteed to get there.”
Celebrating 1,000 Entrepreneurs! #CBAGrad2021
Photo: Our Arts & Makers Instructor, Yohance Lacour - Owner of YJLACOUR, Luxury Leather Goods
Our Graduates
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Rhonda Albritton – Rayal Talent Partners
Jacqueline Boykin – The Boykin Group
Erica Lynette Edwards – Cultivating Better Tomorrows
Diamond Garner – Shine Bright CPA LLC
Carmen Hatch – Vision Inspired Coaching LLC
Tonisha Hood – MB Jars and Beyond
Vanzell Jenkins – VanzAir Inc
JC Lopez – Palm Car Rental
Paulette Lopez – Palm Car Rental
Denise Nelson – Longevity Medical Supplies
Donya Robinson – Creole Baby LLC
Cedric Salone – Butters RX
Claudia Sierra – Gatitos y Cafecito
Steph Townsend – Sutr X Sabr Interiors
Danyale Washington – Sweet Piece Solutions
Lorene Wilson – The Sole Ingredient Catering LLC
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Brittiny Martin – Wolcott Ave LLC
Carleen Clay-Smith – Gro Tress Essentials Inc
Charise Dukes – Yeur Jazzy Organic Creations
Chyna Hawkins – The Style Republik
Dionne Sims – By Dasiyn
Chef Harry Jean-Simone – BreakinBread21 LLC
Ingrid Nelson – Mistik Aromatik
Jason Robinson – Jason Makia
Lydia Loya – Design Your Brand
Latrice Wilson – Pro Source Imprints
Quinneidra Mines-Taylor – Soap Junkii Bath & Body
Lional Freeman – The Beat Bank
Roger Archie – MapMan Chicago
Silena Lee - Zahiriah
Tanyndra Tripplett – Designed For You Tee’s
Timothy Simmons – Purpose Clothing LLC
Scott Carlton - Scottland Music
Erick Soderberg
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Tracy Allen – Freedom Naturally Beautiful Cosmetics
Bria Brown – Wyence Handcrafted Leather Design & Apparel
Lisa Wyatt – Wyence Handcrafted Leather Design & Apparel
Rodney Gipson – Audible Edge Music Group LLC
Karen Triplett – Miss Teenie’s Handmades
Eugenia Meteye - EKLECTIKS
Michael Muhammad -Paradise Desserts LLC
Melanie Fonseca – Don’t Hold The Butter Bakery
Yentl Love Williams – NyghtOwl Digital Agency
Marsha Washington – The Resale Cafe
Latoya Jones – Don’t Hold The Butter Bakery
Shannon Bonner – The Taste of Blackness
Crystal Profit – Sweets & Eats Bakery Boutique
Chineze Mogbo – Mogbo Marketing
Clement Ware – Chef Lee Eats
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Nicole Bowden – Resilient Veterans Resource Center
Robert Brown – Brown’s Enterprise
Keinika Carlton – K. Carlton Inc
Maria Cisneros – L & L Janitorial Service
Janice M. Duncan – Bronzeville B-Q Smokey Proteins Kitchenette
Erika Durham – EWK in Focus
Ranetta Harvey – Evolution Firm LLC
Matthew Holloway – Conversations by Courage LLC
Candice Miggins – Tantalizing Love
Radiant Montgomery – Montgomery United
Shawn Montgomery – Montgomery United
Samantha Parham – VP Buyers
Meshell Robinson
Khyla Smith
Michael Weston
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Eryn Butterworth – Angel Hand Care Products
Christine Carr CPNG General Contracting
Sean Carr -CPNG Realty
Enjoli Daley – OnX Digital Media Group
Alexis Dillon – Melanated Wellness
Joyce Ford – Joyful Versatile Images
Mycale Ford – Joyful Versatile Images
Sharon Osinaike – Dr. Herbal’s Organic & Vegan Hair Care
Fabian Pena – Precision Renovations
Heather Perkins – Melanated Wellness
Gregory Rogers – Student Loan Command
Eduardo Roman – Roman Green Container Solutions
Tony Rubin – Game of Tortillas Farm-to-Food Truck
Janet Soto – Incandescent LLC
Tammara Thrower – Little Gems Preschool
Joanne Warren – Lady J’s Salon Spa
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Virgen Milagros Abril – Creation by Angels Boutique
Julian Almazan – Cali en Chicago
Ariana Cervantes Morales - Communitas Consulting
Sandra De La Vega - Shaddaiish
Jenny Dominguez – Jenny Dominguez Group
Maribel Flores – Superior Cleaning Corp
Miriam Gama Aguilera - Facinarte
Jose Gomez – JCM Gomez Roofing Inc
Magaly Gomez – JCM Gomez Roofing Inc
Milton Gonzalez - MFG Representations and Services
Patricia Gonzalez – Healthy Substance Kitchen LLC
Moises Hernandez – Janellie’s Kitchen and Sweets
Falavio Jimenez – JFJ General Construction Inc
Enrique Leon – Mariachi Mexico Vivo
Karen Leon – Mariachi Mexico Vivo
Claudia Lopez – E.R. Shoe Repair & Alterations
Jose Lopez – E.R. Shoe Repair & Alterations
Maria McDonough – Mentes MaggiEstrales LLC
Janellie Rodriguez – Janellie’s Kitchen and Sweets LLC
Marcos Ortiz Solano - Express Ortiz
Jose Torres – Communitas Consulting
Jose Zuniga – Superior Cleaning Svcs
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Felicia Barrett – FeliCity Designs
LaShonda Barton – L “n” L Business Solutions LLC
Sharon Baxter – Baxter’s Equine Experience
Moniquea Bell – J Monet Fashion LLC
Lamari Brayboy III - Brayboy Verduzco & Associates
Tiffany Evans
Dominitrice “Dee” Gonzalez – Dominitrice Gonazlez LLC
Derrick Hayes – Joshua Steam Carpet Clean
Nicole Hendricks – Fit-to-Fete Inc
Anita Jamison – The Counseling Spa Wellness Center
Renee Mack – Eban Village Chicago
Joyce Macklin - disbelef
Angel Marshall – Limitless Luxe Retreats
Anthony Nix Sr – Choice Acts NFP
Shannon Owens – Straight Trucking
LeDonna Rollins-Barnes – Grab A Snack Vending Services
Kearsen Scot-McCall – Bossy Babe Consulting LLC
Antonio Vaughn – Blended Hustle Beauty & Barber Academy
Latoya Vaughn - Butterfoot
Michael Wade - Brightture
Ticina Williams – Creativiti Custom Designs and Events
Keynote Speaker
Alfa
Demmellash
CEO & Co-Founder, Rising Tide Capital
Born and raised in Ethiopia, Alfa lives in New Jersey with her husband and two boys. She is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Rising Tide Capital, a non-profit organization that provides underserved entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch and grow successful businesses. Since 2005 the organization is now serving a network of more than 3,000 entrepreneurs in New Jersey as well as Illinois, South Carolina and North Carolina, with more in planning stages. Corporate, foundation, and government funders underwrite the cost of tuition and services for all participants; 70% are women of color. By building successful businesses, entrepreneurs meet their families’ basic needs, create opportunities for social mobility, and help transform their local communities into thriving economies.
She was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2015 and has appeared in leading media outlets including CNN, O the Oprah Magazine, Essence Magazine, Bloomberg, Inc. Magazine, the Suze Orman show, BusinessWeek and Entrepreneur Magazine. She has been recognized by President Barack Obama; received the prestigious 25th Heinz Award in the Technology, the Economy and Employment category; and was named a CNN Hero and one of the Most Powerful Women Changing the World in Forbes.
Guest Speaker
Kim Lewis
CEO & Co-Founder of CurlMix
Kim Lewis is the CEO and co-founder of CurlMix, a clean beauty brand for curly hair. After a strong showing on Season 10 of ABC’s Emmy Award-winning Shark Tank with her husband and co-founder, Tim, Kim made the daring decision to bet on herself, and turned down a $400,000 Shark deal.
Less than six months later, Kim’s talent for logistics and marketing secured a seed investment of $1.2M. CurlMix’s sales catapulted to $6M in annual revenue and they have earned over $13M in lifetime sales – all online.
Kim and Tim were recently featured in Forbes 30Under30 list and Oprah’s Favorite Things, all while raising two small boys. Their company operates a manufacturing facility in the heart of their hometown, Chicago, where they employ a full-time staff of 30+ minorities and women.
Kim recently made history by allowing her customers and the community to invest and own shares in their beauty brand. She raised $5M in two months from her customers and community, which is only fitting since the community is at the heart of every decision she makes.