Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary
Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary
June 11th -
10 AM
Welcoming Rising Entrepreneurs! #CBAGrad2022
OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER
State Rep. Lamont Robinson
Illinois 5th House District
State Rep. Lamont J. Robinson is a lifelong Chicagoan who has dedicated his life to giving back to the city through public service and as a businessman, college professor, and director of a youth mentorship.
A resident of Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, Rep. Robinson was elected in November 2018 to represent the sprawling Illinois 5th House District that runs from Goethe Street on Chicago’s North Side to 80th Street on the South Side.
With an undergraduate degree in business marketing from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA degree from National Louis University, Rep. Robinson became a licensed insurance agent and owner of The Robinson & Caban Insurance Group. He also was a business professor at Harold Washington College and Director of the Kappa Leadership Institute in Chicago, which provides guidance to young men and prepares them to go to college. He made history as the first out LGBTQ African-American to be elected to the Illinois General Assembly.
“The 5th District is rich with potential,” Rep. Robinson said. “My work in Springfield and in the district focuses on social justice, community resources, education, and public safety to make sure everyone has the opportunity to live to their full potential.”
B.J. Stewart
Introducing Our NEW Executive Director
B.J. has over twenty years of executive leadership and business administration experience. Prior to Sunshine Enterprises, B.J. served as Chief Operations Officer for Urban Impact, in Seattle, for seven years. There he led their economic development work supporting under-resourced entrepreneurs and small businesses. Under B.J.’s leadership Urban Impact’s entrepreneurship programs served more than 100 small businesses owned by people of color in 2021. As COO, he directed Urban Impact's Strategic Planning, Human Resources, Financial Management, and Administration functions and managed Urban Impact's Strategic Initiatives, including organization-owned programs and fiscal sponsorships.
BJ has extensive business and entrepreneurial experience personally as well. Prior to his time in nonprofit management, he was a ten-year Arby’s Restaurant franchisee and owned a staffing agency. B.J. also spent over a decade as a consultant and certified public accountant for PriceWaterhouseCoopers [and other corporations]. He earned his MBA from the University of Colorado, and a B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University.
BJ’s primary responsibilities will include: ensuring an appropriate mission and vision are maintained; overseeing operational and programmatic decisions, and human resource processes; governance and board stewardship; overseeing and directly participating in fundraising strategies; fostering a healthy, outcomes-oriented, accountable environment; supervising other leadership team members and cultivating organizational culture and a strong, passionate team.
Our Graduates & Businesses
Jai Rodriguez
Windy City Barber Collective
Reyna Ayala
V&I Electric
Latonya Lockett
The Grove on 66 Sports Bar and Grill
Chris Marshall
Restore Equipment and Computer Hardware LLC
Lamel & Jessica Washington
Legacy Solutions Group LLC
Tammie Williams
Baker Sisters
Demitrius Haywood
MzDee's Travel Solutions
LaToya Norfleet
Cute2Style
Lencia Marshall
LLM International, LLC
Jami Rhue
R & M Publications
Shanita Jackson
Angelic Keepings
Muriel Williams
Lifelong Learners LLC
Magda Herron
Valiant Women's Wellness Center
Sara Desmond
Sara Desmond's Business Idea
Kea Bellamy-Cobb
The Assistant Group, LLC
Stacy Walton
BuckScrewTaco's
Tristin Prince
T Macs Kitchen LLC
Chandra Green
Wealthy Minds
Brenda O'Neil
B5 Management Group, LLC
Linda White
Linn White Professional Organizers
James Molina
Portal Productions LLC
Gwen Lester
GLC Empowerment Center
Monique Russell
The Village Box
Kelli London
Smart-Energy Products & Services LLC
Lataura Johnson
Peacefulight nfp
Cleveland Pitts
Thynk Works
Lakevin Madlock
BuckScrewTaco's
Crystal Malone-Coles
Fit by Crys LLC
Jessica Brown
Black & White Logistics
Danyelle McCowen
D M Investments Corp
Mubarak Salami
Create Your Way
Jose Rivera
Legacie Logistics 1206 LLC
... Yoshinao
The Hemp Place
Napiera Loveless
MamaTotoMatema
David Todd
Groomfly LLC
Derrick Wright
Lawn Solutions Inc
Maria Moon
Church Shoes Global Properties
Calvin Payne
Simple E&C
Roselle Johnson
FieRrce ReSale Boutique
Tamara Edmonds Askew
Micah’s Mowing and Landscaping LLC
Veronica Nieto
V & I Electric
Jasmine Rodriguez
Windy City Barber Collective
Chris Marshall
Restore Equipment and Computer Hardware LLC
M Brown
TBD
Valerie Harris
Valerie Harris's Business Idea
Juanita Anderson
JA Designs
Markeyon Wallock
BWYB Products
Chyna Hawkins
Truth by Kweli Swahili
Virginia Hayes
Virluptuous Labs LLC.
Rabecca Gaspard
RABECCA ANN ARTISTRY
Melissa Coleman
Meraki Collection
Liz Brent
BrentArt
Wayne Jones
You9ted
Hope Davis
Hope Davis's Business Idea
Deitra Seatm
The-Wickery
Dezyre Stewart
Avec Amour Cafe
Brian Dean
Hotbox Studios
Elvira Noesen
Rose Tilma Co
Enid Johnson
Vegape
Valerie Avant
Valnessa Creation's
Amadita Correa
El Portal
Lourdes Orrante
Clean For Le$$
Alejandra Aranda
Eco Boutique by Alejandra
Rafaela Sandoval
Su casa, mi casa.
Jose Torres
Consulting
Raul Rivas
La Calle Del Hambre
Ronald Johnson
Levels of Interest Online Magazine
Clarita Anderson
Mae's Sweet and Savory Kitchen LLC
Akilah Brown
Levels Of Interests Digital Machine
Alexandra Hunter
CHICAontheGO Vending
Ariel Harris
Lovely's Gourmet, Glam, Giftshop
Damon Reed
Damon Lamar Reed LLC
April Miller
Sun Rae Cleaning Services LLC
Theresa Dorsey
There’s A Cookie4U
Raven Grant
Kraven Cosmetics LLC
Meagan Lee
iaME CREATIVES