The Charleston Metro Chamber is committed to leading our region’s businesses in creating an equitable community where everyone has the opportunity to live, learn and earn. The Lowcountry Minority Business Accelerator (MBA), presented by Bank of America, is a Charleston Metro Chamber program that provides opportunities for economic growth and prosperity for high-potential minority-owned firms. This program is in partnership with the South Carolina Minority Business Accelerator, a statewide initiative formed by the Greenville Chamber, Charleston Metro Chamber and Columbia Chamber and was funded by a seed grant from Bank of America.
“We are extremely excited to welcome our second cohort to the Lowcountry MBA program,” said Richard Waring, Vice President of DE&I at the Charleston Metro Chamber. “These entrepreneurs will learn invaluable information about growing their businesses and find ways to make their mark on our region.”
The second cohort will be led by instructor, Wendell Jones, an experienced professional with deep financial industry knowledge and professional and management development training. Wendell will lead the instruction of program participants, preparing these high-potential minority-owned businesses for growth and expansion. He will be utilizing the award-winning and internationally-recognized StreetWise ‘MBA’™ curriculum created by Interise, which aids business owners in developing a three-year Strategic Growth Action Plan™.
“As the instructor for the MBA program, I’m excited and honored to do my part in the uplift of all communities within the Lowcountry,” says Wendell Jones. “As we continue to empower small business owners within disadvantaged groups, they, in turn, will provide solutions for the various economic disparities facing our region. I’m proud to be a team member within the Charleston Metro Chamber as we lead the charge in these efforts.”
The second cohort of Lowcountry MBA participants below represent high-potential businesses from a variety of industries including property management, logistics, IT services, real estate, food and beverage, media and marketing and more.
| Name | Business |
| Leticia Alexander | Z SofTech Solutions |
| Darian Bailey | Cage Fitness |
| Radia Baxter | Louie B Co. Consulting |
| Chenne Feaster | Changing Lives Forever Home Solutions |
| Cristina Gillaspie | CloudShyft LLC |
| Dr. Cerrissa Hugie | MyND Space Mental Health Education & Consulting, LLC |
| Shateka Husser | Husser Financial Solutions |
| Rafael Jones | Jones & Jones Painting |
| Stephen Kohn | Excel Real Estate – Charleston |
| Daniella Martinez | La Casa Mexicana |
| Emma McKenney | McKenney Marketing |
| Debbie & Rodney McLeod | McLeod Information Systems, LLC |
| Sharonda Moore | Renee Moore Beauty Bar |
| Dorian Nixon | Palmetto Family Homecare |
| Keonta Ramsey | Eloquence Unlimited, LLC |
| Alexis Scipio | The Thrive Point LLC |
| Tiquita Stewart | Phit4Lyfe Integrative Health Coaching, LLC |
| Leroyesha Tyler | Salon Lavish |
| Dr. Lindsay Vance | Mpowrd Analytics |
| Mike Vargas & Aaron Jamison | Mavrx Facility Support |
| Funded with a seed grant from Bank of America, the initiative was designed to advance economic inclusion across the state of South Carolina by helping to reduce the economic disparities experienced by minority-owned businesses. The Founding Partners of the Lowcountry MBA program include Charleston County, City of Charleston, City of North Charleston, Coastal Community Foundation, Cummins Turbo Technologies, The InterTech Group, Dominion Energy and SCRA. To learn more about the Lowcountry Minority Business Accelerator, visit charlestonchamber.org/mba. |
