The Rise of Minority Millennial Entrepreneurs
LaSonya Berry, CEO of McPherson|Berry, has partnered with MetLife and the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to create a unique year-long program that develops and mentors the next generation of minority millennial entrepreneurs to become certified, innovative and successful minority business enterprises.
The Millennial CEOs were selected to participate in the Emerging Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) program to support a commitment by NMSDC to advance business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connect them to corporate members. This innovative program will address the supplier gaps corporations have in their supply chain.
Since the program’s inception, Berry has lead the 13 participants through an intensive curriculum that moves them through assessments, think tanks, feasibility, and execution stages of new venture creation. Her objective for the entrepreneurs is for each of them todevelop leadership skills, a sustainable business, and maximize business growth opportunities with special interest in Science. Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The 2016-2017 EYE participants are Christopher Ahn, SmarTech LED, Inc.; Fredrika Atkins, Atkins Staffing Agency; Ana Bermudez, TAGit; Gerald R. Carter, Jr., Diversity Photos; Jasmine M. Clark, Yvolve (e’valv); Nancy Jia, Jia International LLC; Monica H. Kang, InnovatorsBox; Phoebe Lee, VDP Safety & Uniforms, Ltd; Elnur Maharramov, Diverse Global Corporation; Reginald Owens II, Reggie’s Tech Remedy; Allyson Scrutch, Forward Planning; Allante Taylor, A Taylor Media; Jaymie White, Global Diversity News.
Recently, the young entrepreneurs participated in a five-day exercise during the NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange in Chicago that included access to industry experts who provided insight on current advancements as well as an elevator pitch competition. During the competition, each participant was given 90 seconds to explain their business and its capabilities to a panel of three judges. The winners of the competition were First Place – Ahn, Second Place – Bermudez and Third Place – Clark.
McPherson|Berry is an award winning consulting firm providing HR consulting, leadership development, and talent management solutions.
