Team

Small Business Owner Advocates

The Small Business Owner Advocates is a dedicated group of small and mid-sized Detroit business owners charged with utilizing their experience to inform the work of DMB and help the coalition keep business owner perspectives at the core of what we do. This group has been carefully selected to reflect the rich diversity of Detroit’s small business community, and to bring solutions-oriented owners together to support one another as well as business owners at large.

Jerome Brown

Detroit Soul

District 3 & 4

Jerome B. Brown the eldest of his siblings is a long-life resident of Detroit raised by his parents who instilled work ethics and community minded service. He's a role model for young people and loves spending time with family and traveling with his wife. Brown is the co-owner of Detroit Soul restaurant serving soul food in the neighborhood providing a third place for residents, employment and community support.

Ashley Carpenter-Logan

Klassic Mobile Gardens

District 4

Ashley Carpenter-Logan, Visionary, owner of Detroit Kollaborative, Klassic Mobile Gardens llc and Native of the beautiful city of Detroit. Tunnel vision in tune with neighborhood development without displacement. Creating change in underserved areas around the city one garden, one building, one block at a time.

Lester Gouvia

Norma G's

District 4

Lester Gouvia is a Trinidad and Tobago native who immigrated to the United States with his family later in life. After working a corporate job for 25 years, the company downsized and this opened the opportunity for Lester to pursue his true passion. With the support of his family, he opened his food truck in 2015. The overwhelmingly positive response of his clientele inspired him to open a brick and mortar. Through groups like Green Garage, FoodLab, ProsperUS, Hatch, and Techtown - he was supported in expanding into this new venture. Today, Norma G's is the first sit-down, full-service restaurant to open in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood in 30 years.

Nefertiti Harris

Textures by Nefertiti

District 5

Nefertiti Harris, the owner of Textures by Nefertiti salon and Mami Wata hair products, views herself as a lifestyle/spiritual coach to individuals who are ready for the process of creating a beginning for themselves as they embrace their natural hair.

Ping Ho

The Royce, Marrow

District 5

Ping Ho is the founder of The Royce and Marrow, and a co-founder in Mink. The Royce was named a top 10 wine shop in the nation by Vinepair in 2018 and one of the Top 50 Retailers in 2020 by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Marrow launched in October 2018 and has been recognized by national publications and groups including Eater, Food & Wine Magazine and the James Beard Foundation for its excellence. Ping graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

Danielle North

Kidz Kingdom

District 1

Danielle North is a wife, mother of three, long-distance runner, children’s book author and serial entrepreneur. Danielle has successfully launched several initiatives: Kidz Kingdom - Detroit’s first indoor playground which is also a licensed childcare center, Degree Forward - a college completion program, Detroit Women’s Leadership Network - a local group of over 10,000 women and Biz Kidz - a youth entrepreneurship summer camp. Danielle has received numerous awards for her advocacy and commitment to children, women, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Juan Carlos Dueweke-Perez

Featherstone Agency

District 5 & 6

Juan Carlos Dueweke-Pérez is an immigrant, social entrepreneur, photographer, and futurist. He is driven by social behavior, interpersonal connection, equity, and transparency. His work has developed through his company, Featherstone, from content development to public relationships for POC-owned businesses and believes his biggest impact is providing trust and resourcefulness.

Stella Safari

Zapenda

Stella Safari is the founder and CEO of Zapenda, a manufacturer of African-inspired clothing and accessories in her home country - The Democratic Republic of Congo. Stella immigrated from Congo at a young age due to political instability and arrived in America not speaking a word of English. She went on to earn a degree in mathematics and women’s studies from Dartmouth College. Her passion for entrepreneurship and community development led her to Detroit where she began her career as a Venture for America Fellow with Invest Detroit. Later on, she launched and ran the gBETA program, a free accelerator for Detroit-based companies looking to scale. Stella’s work has impacted over 100 companies in Southeast Michigan and beyond. Her experiences in Detroit has led her back to her home in Congo where she employs skilled tailors who are also survivors of the war. She has been featured on Crain’s 20 in their 20s list and is a recipient of the Joyce Ivy Foundation Woman of Impact Award.

Tanya Saldivar-Ali

AGI Construction

District 6

Tanya Saldivar-Ali is the co-founder and Business Development Director of AGI Construction. She is a native Southwest Detroiter with over twenty years of experience as a credible and strong Detroit community leader that has advocated for inclusiveness, employment, and quality educational opportunities for Detroiters and at-risk populations. Her professional skill set varies from corporate administration and fund development responsibilities within a manufacturing, corporate banking, and nonprofit setting.

Dawn Sanford

Shears and Shaves

District 2

Dawn Sanford is the founder and owner of Shears and Shaves Salon and Spa on the Avenue of Fashion. With over 25 years of experience, she continues to use her talents as a Master Barber to serve the Detroit community.

Latricia Wilder

Vibe Ride

District 5

Latricia Wilder is an entrepreneur, investor, marketing and advertising expert, and public speaker, with a passion for curating ‘positive vibe” experiences globally. Through her company, Love Yourself LLC, her mission is to empower individuals to live their best lives by creating opportunities for them to have access to the tools, education, and resources needed to assist in achieving that goal both personally and professionally. Her first major endeavor, Vibe Ride Detroit, has combined the upscale equipment, technology, benefits, and presentation of high-end boutique fitness facilities with a price point that enables everyday “working” class individuals to enjoy. In building a business that is empowering and inclusive, Latricia applies her experience and acumen to purpose, spreading the importance of health and wellness to areas that can, and have been overlooked in the past, and to individuals that deserve training, quality and excellence in addition to affordability.

Small Business Support Staff

Leadership

KEVIN JOHNSON

President & CEO, DEGC

ANDREW LUCCO

Director Of Motor City Match

LASHAWNA MANIGAULT

Director Of District Business Liaison Program

MARIANGELA PLEDL

Director Of Neighborhood Grocery & Food Access

Detroit Means Business

ALONDRA ALVIZO

Senior Program Manager

DENISE COLONA

Small Business Services Development Manager

TEKEYAH GAINES

Program Coordinator

District Business Liaisons

LASHAWNA MANIGAULT

Director Of District Business Liaison Program

ALTON WILLIAMS

District 2 Business Liaison

MD-ABDUL MUHIT

District 3 Business Liaison

KENZIE CURRENT

District 4 Business Liaison

LASHAWNA MANIGAULT

Interim District 5 Business Liaison

PERLA HERNANDEZ

District 6 Business Liaison

SAMI ELHADY

District 7 Business Liaison

BuyDetroit

KEYRA COKLEY

Associate Director

Motor City Re:Store

GREGOIRE EUGENE-LOUIS

Motor City Re-Store Program Manager

Motor City Match

ANDREW LUCCO

Director Of Motor City Match

Denisa Colona

Small Business Services Development Manager

LATOSHA FRANKLIN

Technical Assistance Manager

MEDVIS JACKSON

Classes & Workshops Coordinator

JA LISIA MELENDEZ

Small Business Services Coordinator

LIELLE SAAD

Marketing & Technology Coordinator

MADISON SCHILLIG

Design Coordinator

Exec Committee

Pierre Batton
JPMorgan Chase

Dave Blaszkiewicz
Invest Detroit

Tim Carter
McKinsey

Nicole Sherard-Freeman
City of Detroit

David Hamilton
McKinsey

Kevin D. Johnson
DEGC

Pamela Lewis
New Economy Initiative

Conrad Mallett
City of Detroit

David E Meador
DTE

Carla Walker-Miller, Chair
Walker-Miller Energy Services

Chuck Nolen, Vice Chair
Cutter's Bar & Grill

Funders

Coalition Partners

DMB is a coalition of more than 60 public, private and philanthropic leaders, Detroit-based business support organizations and civic minded small-business entrepreneurs. Its goal is to identify and remove systemic barriers to small-business success by working collectively and leveraging its significant influence to provide resources and improve Detroit’s small business ecosystem.

Team

Small Business Owner Advocates

Small Business Support Staff

Leadership

Detroit Means Business

District Business Liaisons

BuyDetroit

Motor City Re:Store

Motor City Match

Exec Committee

Pierre Batton
JPMorgan Chase

Dave Blaszkiewicz
Invest Detroit

Tim Carter
McKinsey

Nicole Sherard-Freeman
City of Detroit

David Hamilton
McKinsey

Kevin D. Johnson
DEGC

Pamela Lewis
New Economy Initiative

Conrad Mallett
City of Detroit

David E Meador
DTE

Carla Walker-Miller, Chair
Walker-Miller Energy Services

Chuck Nolen, Vice Chair
Cutter's Bar & Grill

Funders

Coalition Partners

Bedrock Detroit

Black Leaders Detroit

City of Detroit

Community Reinvestment Fund

DTE Energy

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Detroit Future City

Detroit Regional Chamber

Global Detroit

Invest Detroit

McKinsey Consulting

Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance

Michigan Community Resources

New Economy Initiative

TechTown Detroit

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Team

Small Business Owner Advocates

Small Business Support Staff

Leadership

Detroit Means Business

District Business Liaisons

BuyDetroit

Motor City Re:Store

Motor City Match

Exec Committee

Pierre Batton JPMorgan Chase Dave Blaszkiewicz Invest Detroit Tim Carter McKinsey Nicole Sherard-Freeman City of Detroit

David Hamilton McKinsey Kevin D. Johnson DEGC Pamela Lewis New Economy Initiative Conrad Mallett City of Detroit

David E Meador DTE Carla Walker-Miller, Chair Walker-Miller Energy Services Chuck Nolen, Vice Chair Cutter's Bar & Grill

Funders

Coalition Partners

Bedrock Detroit Black Leaders Detroit City of Detroit Community Reinvestment Fund DTE Energy

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation Detroit Future City Detroit Regional Chamber Global Detroit Invest Detroit

McKinsey Consulting Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance Michigan Community Resources New Economy Initiative TechTown Detroit

Request help

Talk to us

Get alerts

Pierre Batton
JPMorgan Chase

Dave Blaszkiewicz
Invest Detroit

Tim Carter
McKinsey

Nicole Sherard-Freeman
City of Detroit

David Hamilton
McKinsey

Kevin D. Johnson
DEGC

Pamela Lewis
New Economy Initiative

Conrad Mallett
City of Detroit

David E Meador
DTE

Carla Walker-Miller, Chair
Walker-Miller Energy Services

Chuck Nolen, Vice Chair
Cutter's Bar & Grill

Bedrock Detroit

Black Leaders Detroit

City of Detroit

Community Reinvestment Fund

DTE Energy

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Detroit Future City

Detroit Regional Chamber

Global Detroit

Invest Detroit

McKinsey Consulting

Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance

Michigan Community Resources

New Economy Initiative

TechTown Detroit