From left, Michael Jeans, CEO of Growth Opps, and Ndeda Letson, Regional Community Development Market Manager at Citizens Bank, stand with business owners recognized at the Growth Opps Entrepreneur Showcase on July 12, 2023, at the St. Clair Ballroom in the Marriott at Key Center.
Whether you are laborer or leader, pastor or pupil, truck driver or teacher, poor or prosperous, young or aged, gay, straight or in flux, if you are black in these United States, life is often particularly hostile to your health, safety, spirit, and history.
That’s why the GO Entrepreneur Showcase held on July 12 was an extraordinary blessing for all who attended, and why so many chose to linger after its formal end.
The event itself was a celebration of black business owners who have already overcome long odds, and continue to blaze new paths in their industries, succeeding for their families, and doing so on their own terms.
Connection was the vibe of the day at the Growth Opportunities Entrepreneur Showcase luncheon
The luncheon had a familial vibe on a number of levels, beginning with the fact that the chief sponsor, Growth Opps, seemed to have a special connection to each of the honorees. Each business was a client of Growth Opps, but the relationships clearly transcended the merely commercial. Almost every company founder spoke of the support they had received from Growth Opps in ways that revealed their lender was not just an arms-length financier but a business partner with a stake in their customers’ success.
Several of the awards themselves — for social impact, community champion, and legacy building — reflect the sponsor’s focus on serving small businesses located primarily in underserved and disadvantaged low and moderated income communities in Ohio.
All of the companies recognized at the luncheon are black-owned. Each honoree received a grant award of at least Ten Thousand Dollars, while the top two businesses each received an award of Twenty Thousand Dollars.
The Showcase winners:
NexGen Interactive, LLC, founded by Kevin Johnson and David Brown, received the Innovative Business Award for developing creative solutions in automation, EV charging, and digital interaction.
Furahi: A Taste of Home, owned by Esther Ngemba, was honored with the Social Impact Award for fostering cultural diversity and promoting social impact with traditional Congolese cuisine, dining linens, and clothing, and other dedicated initiatives towards the well-being of young girls in Congo, Africa.
The Community Champion Award was bestowed upon NOMS Sports & Spine Physical Therapy, managed by Leon Anderson, for prioritizing community well-being through comprehensive physical therapy.
DorNee' Natural Body Luxuries, owned by Torrian Howell, received the Outstanding Growth Award for setting new standards in sustainable beauty and significant investment in resources for continued growth.
The Rising Star Award was awarded to Phenomenal Foods, established by Veronica Blue, for innovative approaches in the healthy food alternatives industry.
Aircuts & Day Spa, created by Darrell Solomon, received the Best Customer Service Award for superior customer satisfaction and innovative service delivery at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
The Legacy Builder Award was presented to CarTeCor Management, founded by Sandra & Tommy Farmer, for their outstanding contribution to the home improvement market and building a lasting presence.
Aircuts & Day Spa and CarTeCor Management were particularly celebrated for achieving the top grant awards of $20,000 each.
In addition to receiving an award of at least ten grand, each honoree also was provided at no cost a two-minute video highlighting their business. The videos, produced by Growth Opps marketing director Jose Vasquez, were each shown as part of the luncheon and were designed to be part of each company's marketing campaign.
The relational vibe of the luncheon was more than visceral, as many of the awardees were customers of one another. CarTeCor, for instance, did the build out for the Aircuts and Day Spa space at Hopkins Airport. Others said they were clients of Sports and Spine Physical Therapy or consumers of DorNee’ and Phenomenal Foods products.
NEO Hispanic Chamber of Commerce representatives in attendance included executive director Jenice Contreras, Yesenio Guerroro, and Antonio Rivera
Michael Jeans, CEO of Growth Opps, called the event "an unforgettable testament to the dedication, creativity, and innovative spirit of our entrepreneurial community." Jeans paid special tribute to GO’s longstanding partner and event underwriter, Citizens Bank.
Ndeda N. Letson, VP, Regional Community Development Market Manager at Citizens and board chairwoman for Growth Opps, said in a release, "We are deeply committed to supporting local businesses that strengthen our communities. Our collaboration with Growth Opps is a reflection of this commitment and we look forward to further opportunities to empower local entrepreneurs."
Jeans announced at the luncheon that the next round of featured entrepreneurs would be brown, saying it was important that the black and brown alliance not be merely symbolic.
• • •• • •
