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Lansing Economic Area Partnership

LEAP’s One and All Inclusive Entrepreneurship Initiative Celebrates 23 Graduates for January-March 2021 Program

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April 1, 2021 by

LEAP’s One and All Inclusive Entrepreneurship Initiative Celebrates 23 Graduates for January-March 2021 Program

Second One and All Graduating Class Continues to Accelerate Economic Mobility Across Clinton, Eaton, Ingham and Shiawassee Counties

LANSING, Mich. (Apr. 1, 2021) – Twenty-three entrepreneurs from across the Lansing region celebrated the end of a two-month journey of business growth with the second program of One and All, an inclusive entrepreneurship initiative created in 2020 by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Consumers Energy Foundation. The inaugural program began Aug. 26, 2020, and graduated 17 participants Oct. 22, 2020.

“LEAP is thrilled to graduate all 23 participants in the January-March 2021 program of One and All,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP. “We often talk about large-scale development work as the brick of economic development and the people and fresh ideas of entrepreneurship as the mortar. Each of these graduates is now well-positioned to help complete the structure of our region’s economy with their creativity and drive.”

Through a unique and intensive 2-month program, the entrepreneurs and small-business owners were immersed in an intensive experience of business and communication training, coaching and mentoring, access to an extended professional network and a small seed investment. Lack of access to these critical resources is a common obstacle to success, especially for the underrepresented populations the One and All program supports.

“Change the way you think, change your life. The One and All program changed my thinking, which changed the lifeline of my business endeavors,” said graduate Mona David, founder and owner of Kolele Energy in Meridian Mall. “It helped me encounter my self-expressed destiny and unique abilities by being who I am really supposed to be as I serve others.”

The January-March 2021 One and All program also welcomed 23 program mentors to support each entrepreneur’s journey; the mentor-mentee relationship is crucial for the program’s success.

Mentors provided expert guidance and insight, helped mentees clarify goals, identified strategies to advance their ideas and navigate challenging situations, and will continue to serve as a permanent part of their mentee’s support network after graduation. One and All program mentors are established professionals with rich life experience who hail from various business types, higher education, entrepreneurship support organizations, state and local economic development and many are entrepreneurs themselves.

“The One and All program allowed me to serve my community in a way that also made me a friend,” said mentor Nick Lynch, vice president of fund development at the Capital Area United Way. “I was humbled by [my mentee] D’Laiah’s exuberance, grit and creativity. She will succeed and I am honored to be a footnote in her story.”

“The One and All initiative is designed to address the systemic barriers that stand between historically underserved populations and small-business ownership. A vital element of One and All’s success is collaboration with our incredible program partners, the Refugee Development Center and the Fledge, and our amazing curriculum partners, Piper & Gold Public Relations and the Capital Region Michigan Small Business Development Center,” said Anum Mughal, LEAP’s manager of new ventures and One and All program leader. “The SBDC has further deepened their commitment to One and All by hiring a full-time consultant to specifically facilitate their role in each two-month program.”

Apply for one of the four upcoming programs or to become a mentor and learn more about the One and All program on LEAP’s website at purelansing.com/OneAndAll.

One and All January-March 2021 Program Graduates

  • Tanesha Ash-Shakoor, Voices of Color
  • Megan Church, Urban Lavender
  • Aurelia Cisneros, RELEASE! LLC
  • D’Laiah Clark, Armani’s Haven
  • Mona David, Kolele Energy
  • Leah Ellis, Leahmonet LLC
  • Serena Giles, S&N Cleaning Services LLC
  • Eva Gonzalez, La Fajita LLC
  • Gabrielle Holland, G.V. Fitness
  • Britt Houze, BHouze Originals
  • Linda Keefe, Utilities for All
  • Katy Kelly, Power in Passion
  • Kimberly Lavon, Thimble Media
  • Taneka McCoy, Spic N Span Cleaning and Restoration Services
  • Dayrl McMillan, Treatz N Sweetz Corporation
  • Tiffany Nordé, Dancing with the Nordés LLC
  • Caroline Passariello, Next Generation Lactation Service
  • Iris Paul, The Curtainless Theatre
  • Khailea Pond, Shopping with Khai
  • Tamela Russell, PoshSouls Pop-up Boutique
  • Najeema Thomas, You Shine Events and Consulting
  • Kathrine Toomey, Tranquil Tribulations
  • Jaime Urrecho, Spartan Spy

One&All Mentors

  • Brice Blossom, Financial Associate, Thrivent
  • Shelley Davis Boyd, Director of Communications, PR & Marketing, Michigan Association of School Boards
  • JP Buckingham, COO & Principal Geologist, Triterra
  • Alando Chappell, Managing Partner & COO, ARUtility
  • Valerie Christofferson, Director of Business Customer Growth & Sustainability, Consumers Energy
  • Dominic Cochran, Founding Partner & Founding Director, Ahptic Film & Digital and Lansing Public Media Center
  • Andi Crawford, Independent Consultant
  • Jordan Davis, Executive Director, Capital Area IT Council
  • Lisa Fisher, Founder, Lisa Fisher Associates
  • Nikki Thompson Frazier, Owner & CEO, Sweet Encounter Bakery and Sweet Encounter Kids Culinary Academy
  • James Jackson, Transportation Diversity Recruitment Strategy Coordinator, Michigan Department of Transportation
  • Nick Lynch, Vice President of Fund Development, Capital Area United Way
  • Brian McGrain, Director of Economic Development & Planning, City of Lansing
  • Don McNabb, CEO & Visionary, Triterra
  • Owen Monday, Area Director, Toastmasters International/President, Second to None Toastmasters Club
  • Robin Moore, Founder & Visionary Strategist, Robin’s Nest Building Future LLC
  • Julie Pingston, President & CEO, Greater Lansing Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
  • Doug Roberts, Director of Stakeholder Relations, Consumers Energy
  • Paul Schmidt, Owner & Creative Video Strategist, Unoduece
  • Marisa Smith, Founder, The Whole Brain Group/Certified EOS Implementer, LLC/EOS Worldwide
  • Scott Walkins, Business Intelligence Executive, Michigan Virtual
  • Amy Zander, Chief Word Slayer & Owner, Zeedia Media
  • Mary ZumBrunnen, Owner, One-Community Consulting/Academic Specialist, Michigan State University

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About LEAP
The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is a coalition of area leaders partnering to build a stronger community for all—working every day to grow, retain and attract business to the Lansing, Michigan, region.

Category: Entrepreneurship, One&All