Habitat for Neighborhood Business January 2020 Newsletter

Contact Us: Habitat for Neighborhood Business 3674 Lindell Blvd., DS 108, St. Louis MO 63108 (314)-977-3625

Who Are We? Habitat for Neighborhood Business (HNB) partners with volunteer business professionals and Saint Louis University students to help restore economic vitality to under-served neighborhoods through mentoring, networking, and education for existing and aspiring minority entrepreneurs. Visit our Website ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Linda M. Jones Executive Director

Gladys Smith, PhD Program Coordinator

HNB Mentor of the Month DeMarco Howard is the HNB mentor for entrepreneur Byron Hayes, owner of Joe-Jo's Fish and Chicken. DeMarco is the owner of Gobble Stop Smokehouse in Creve Coeur where “The bird is the word”. With over 24 years of culinary experience, DeMarco is ranked one of the top chefs in St. Louis. He has received several awards and features in the St. Louis Magazine. Entrepreneur Byron Hayes is grateful for DeMarco's service and claims, “DeMarco stays positive about the future and keeps us thinking big with an eye on expansion into new markets.”

HNB Business Owner of the Month Byron Hayes is the owner of Joe-Jo's Fish and Chicken. With over 15 years of experience in the restaurant business Byron decided to step out of his managerial position and explore ownership. With his knowledge learned over those years, he felt confident owning a restaurant as a natural progression. Byron looks forward to making Joe-Jo’s Fish & Chicken well known and well respected with quality products and service, while staying true to the needs and tastes of his customers.

Byron Hayes and mentor DeMarco Howard       Order Online: www.joejos.com

HNB Financial Training Workshop - Linda M. Jones, Presenter

In October and December, 2019 HNB Executive Director Linda M. Jones conducted financial training workshops for Habitat for Neighborhood Business entrepreneurs and invited guests on her book The Psychodynamics of Finances . Each HNB entrepreneur that attended received a book and a workbook. All attendees received a certificate for completion of the workshop. This workshop is one of a series of workshops provided to assist HNB entrepreneurs.

Capstone Course Presentation – Diversity Gallery   HNB entrepreneur Leslie Christian-Wilson, owner of Diversity Gallery, participated in the Chaifetz School of Business fall 2019 Capstone course for students in the MBA program. Leslie submitted a proposal that was chosen by graduate students Alexandra Caneris, Becky Lynn, Lindsay Elking, and Kevin Warren to provide consulting services for Leslie and recommendations to enhance her business. The Habitat for Neighborhood Business program awards a grant up to $2500 to fund the recommendations provided to HNB entrepreneurs and Leslie is the latest recipient of the HNB Capstone Grant.

Service Leadership Presentations for HNB Businesses

HNB Program Coordinator Gladys Smith collaborated with St. Louis University Service Leadership Manager Ben Smyth to create an opportunity for SLU Business students to connect with the entrepreneurs in the HNB program. Ben included HNB entrepreneurs in a Leadership course where the students worked with HNB business owners to complete a business needs assessment. At the end of the course the students gave presentations on each business. This project gave the students insight into the operation of small businesses and provided new opportunities for internships with the HNB entrepreneurs. Participating HNB Entrepreneurs: Leslie Christian-Wilson, Diversity Gallery, LLC Jeanetta Hawkins, Personal Touches by Jeanetta, Inc. Patricia Gregory, Gregory’s Healthy Alternatives, LLC Dorise Robinson, Cardinal Home Health Care Services, LLC and Cardinal Transportation, LLC Bryan Young, Bryan Young’s Catering Kitchen Deborah Norman, Samplings by Ms. Deb, LLC Captain Joel Allred, Sillybles Annette Smoote, Children Are Unique Academy, LLC

CREA Podcast with HNB Entrepreneurs Charles Bryson, Executive Director of the City of St Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency (CREA) hosted a Facebook Live podcast on November 26, 2019 for Black Black Friday with 9 Habitat for Neighborhood Business entrepreneurs. The HNB Program Coordinator, Gladys Smith, shared information on the Habitat for Neighborhood Business program for the viewing audience and each HNB entrepreneur gave an overview of their business and discussed the benefits for participating in the HNB program. See the link below for the actual broadcast. Watch Now!

Participating HNB Entrepreneurs: Leslie Christian-Wilson, Diversity Gallery, LLC Byron Hayes, Joe-Jo's Chicken and Fish, LLC Kia Hollis, KJ Stylez LLC Jeanetta Hawkins, Personal Touches by Jeanetta, Inc. Patricia Gregory, Gregory’s Healthy Alternatives, LLC Bryan Young, Bryan Young’s Catering Kitchen, LLC Porscha Outen, Innovations of Excellence, LLC Jana Gamble, It's a Gamble Production DBA Purposed Productions, LLC Travious Brooks, Brooks Family Entertainment, LLC

HNB Industry Experts HNB is now recruiting volunteer "Industry Experts" who are professionals that provide their expertise to HNB entrepreneurs on an as-needed basis. If you would like more information on joining HNB as a volunteer Industry Expert, call Gladys Smith at the HNB office at 314-977-3625. Participating HNB Industry Experts: Dave Copeland, Accounting Tommy Davis, Electrical Contracting Terry Donahue, Accounting David Drier, Travel Brian Jones, Education Linda M.Jones - Real Estate Rick Knox, Security Lyah Leflore - Entertainment John McBride, Transportation Tom Stern, Real Estate Rick Sullivan, Construction

HNB Board Members

Tom Bailey Urban League of Metro St. Louis, VP Development

Steven Barron, Vice President Phillip H. Barron Realty, President

Doug Brown, Chairman Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Waterway Wash, WingHaven, Retired Executive/Principal David Copeland, Secretary/Treasurer Rubin Brown LLC, Retired CFO

Terry Donohue, Chief Information Officer Enterprise Rent-A-Car Retired Executive

Steven Frank Plancorp, Vice Chairman

Brooks Goedecker St. Louis Midtown Redevelopment Corporation Executive Director

Robyn Heidger Enterprise Bank & Trust, Senior Vice President, Strategic Alliances and Inclusion

Mark Higgins   Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, Professor of Accounting

Christopher Pickett, Legal Counsel Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale PC, Officer & Chief Diversity Officer

Thomas Stern, HNB-SLU Program Chair   Gershman Commercial Real Estate, Executive Board Chairman

Rick Sullivan Strategic Advisors LLC, President

Lynette Sledge Watson Missouri Small Business Development Center, Business Development Manager

Richard Weinstock, Mentor Executive Boeing Company, Retired Executive