It is with great pride that IVMF announces the 93 Black, Latinx, and female entrepreneurs selected to take part in Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) program’s 25A cohort. These entrepreneurs are joining a community of passionate and innovative individuals who are facing systemic barriers and creating solutions to today’s business problems.
There are always challenges in entrepreneurship, obstacles, complexity, and risks that every founder faces head on. Unfortunately, many of these challenges are exacerbated for members of underrepresented communities. BBiE provides resources, mentorship, and community to minority veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs so that they can support each other, share best practices, and ultimately grow their businesses, together.
Join us as we celebrate and welcome our first cohort of 2025!
Black Entrepreneur Cohort
- Anthony Nelson, Cultivate Network Leadership and Called Out Ones Clothing
- Calvin Green, Spindletop Pizza
- Carlito Fustino, Gravestones & Memorials
- Carrie Roberts, Casary Benefits
- Claude Jenkins, Unit One Science and Technology Group, LLC
- Dante Little, Premier Vet Services
- Dave Richards, Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant
- DeMarcus Montgomery
- Donel King, SeaMossNashville
- Emanuel Smith Iii, Ramjac Consulting
- Gibran Jones, Krimson Square
- Jasmine Brant, Greater Good Food Pantry and Wellness Program
- Jeremiah Pearcey, Corporate Stress Management Initiatives
- Johnny Lynum, REI Genius
- Julie Hoyte, HITS
- Justin Lewis, Quantum Rhodes, LLC
- Kenneth Morris, R’Air Vision Advisory Group, LLC
- Kesha LeBron, Score Moove, PLLC
- Larry Green Jr, YAMO Premier Properties, LLC
- LeRoy Callendere, R2 Consulting, LLC
- Patrick Mevs, Veterans In Staffing
- Rhonda Dandridge, Dwehli Professional Services, LLC
- Roger Gilbraith
- Roslyn Grizzard
- Ryane Smith
- Skyler Doss
- Souhimbou Kone, SecRed Knowledge Inc.
- Wallace Audena, Elite Omega, LLC
Female Entrepreneur Cohort (2 cohorts)
- Adrienne Ford, Ford Music Group
- Adrienne Trudell
- Alexis McCray, Elevated Horizons Mental Health
- Andrienne Spann, SerVet Digital
- Angela Berasa-Owens, Professional Financial Services
- Ashley Griffin, My Ancestors Touch
- Camille Turner-Townsend, Iconoclast Mind, LLC
- Candace Swindell, Next Door Photos San Antonio | VBW Ventures
- Cavelle Batchelor
- Charlotte Lingard-Young, C. Y. Virtual Solutions, LLC
- Charmain Evans, Faithfully Fit & Frugal, LLC
- Cheree Hicks
- Cheryl Ford, ATHOS1, LLC
- Courtenay Hall, Eagle Vision Empowerment Services
- Dakota Olson-Harris, Reveille and Retreat Project
- Danelle Quigley, Goddess Bath Co.
- Danielle Sheppard, ElevateHer Leadership
- Darlene Williams-Prades, Superior Love Forever, LLC
- Diana Sanchez, Blue Ocean Events, LLC
- Erinn Roth, Mrs. Jo’s Petite Eats Patisserie & Cafe
- Evelyn Powell
- Felicia Reed
- Heidi Clemons, Managed Expectations
- Jaimee Freeman, Yasmara Communications
- Janice Bush, Fides Investigations, LLC
- Jannae Gammage, Cyphr
- Jasmine Blade
- Joyce Hatcher
- Justine Nevins
- Karen Perocier
- Karen Thomas, Venture Out Wellness, PLLC
- Kheresa Glasco
- Kimberly Liszka, Reveille & Retreat Project/Dog Tag Diaries Podcast
- Kristina Eaton, DBA Adamas Grace Writing Lab
- Lauren Webster, Right Hand Woman Consultin
- Lensee Nelson, Hang 10 Nails
- Lisa Harris, Close The Gap Consulting
- Lisa Robleto, Security Raptors
- Margaret Dwiggins, Forester Way
- Marion Holden, MARSH Property Investments
- Maryann Coleman Weldon, Advise Agil
- Melissa Clay, Interdependence Coaching and Consulting
- Monique Jackson, Real Talk T.Y.M.E., LLC
- Monique Rogers, Insprire Hope, LLC
- Paula Sanchez, Sankirt Marketing and Consulting Services
- Precious Mitchell, vp4fitness
- Priscilla Richardson, SKIN BY DAEK
- Rachel Czmyr, ECOthrive Farms, LLC
- Shirelle Washington, Shirelle’s Person-Centered Case Management
- Tara Leweling, Sage 71
- Tashana Carmichael
- Tiffany Jones-Lewis, TJL Collection
Latinx Entrepreneur Cohort
- Antonio Gonzalezlopez
- Cherisa Jerez, Ashire Technologies & Services Inc.
- Conrad Yanez, Apple Blossom Investments
- Heather Vicioso, Bishop’s Backyard, NC
- Javier Palenzuela
- Jose Vasquez, Vazquez English/Spanish Investigative Services
- Orlando Jimenez, Dos Bros Coffee
- Peter Rios, Peter Rios Consulting, LLC
- Ricardo Palenzuela
- Richard Contreras, Tempest Contracting Solutions, LLC
- Robert Rivera, 123 Imaging
- Rose Browne, Reflection Hour, PLLC
- Victor Hurtado, SongFather Media Group
Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship Program
Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship is an 8-week virtual program that facilitates business growth and support within AAPI, Black, Latinx, and female veteran and military spouse communities. The program is designed to create an immediate impact for early to growth-stage businesses by providing access to business tools, resources, capital opportunities, mentorship, and a stronger peer network. Learn more about the program or fill out an interest form to be considered for our next cohort.
This cohort is professionally facilitated by Latoya Clark – Maylon Media, Dr. Nicole Dhanraj – HND Consultancy, Valerie Lavin – Luminary Global, and Alejandra Amegin – Culturus Consulting Firm and Jax Natural Healing. A huge thank you to our sponsors for making this program cohort possible: PwC Charitable Foundation, Macy’s, and Molson Coors.