Habitat for Neighborhood Business
June 2021 Newsletter
The June 2021 issue of the Habitat for Neighborhood Business newsletter features HNB entrepreneurs Vanessa Greene, owner of Royal Court Event Planning and Renee Hodgins, owner of the Counseling & Educational Center, LLC. Our featured HNB Board member this month is David Copeland, Board Treasurer and Secretary, who also assists HNB entrepreneurs with using accounting software. HNB entrepreneur Jeanetta Hawkins was recently featured on FOX2 News with HNB Executive Director Linda M. Jones and HNB mentor Ray Barrett. See the links to the videos from the interviews and Tim Ezell's commentary on the power of people pouring into each other using HNB as an example for Jeanetta's business. HNB also says goodbye to SLU Ignatian Fellow Johnny Dolan, who graduated in May and who has been a tremendous asset to the HNB entrepreneurs while enrolled in the SLU MBA program. Finally, HNB congratulates SLU business student and Service Leadership student Samantha Schmidt, who was awarded the 2021 Junior Student Service Leadership Award. Samantha serves as a Service Leadership intern with HNB and creates the HNB newsletter.

If you have an interest in supporting Habitat for Neighborhood Business, as a
mentor, industry consultant, or donor, contact Gladys Smith, Ph.D., Program
Director, at 314-341-0868.
HNB Entrepreneurs of the Month
Vanessa Greene - Royal Court Event Planning
Vanessa Greene is an enthusiastically spirited entrepreneur who thrives on customer service and attention to detail in everything she does. Having graduated from Harris Stowe State University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice, she worked in the Criminal Justice field for about 20 yrs before pursuing her interest in economic development and project management. While working with small business owners and startup businesses, her passion/hobby for event planning and decorating blossomed.  

Vanessa officially founded The Royal Court Event Center in 2018. Her focus is on providing complete and affordable event planning/designing services for small to medium events throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Her specialty and niche are Basic BackDrops for photos, to Elegant Backdrops and Room Draping for special events. Vanessa also assists local community agencies and nonprofit groups with hosting drives and fundraisers. Whatever your event's needs are, The Royal Court Event Center is at your service! To contact, call the number 314-226-4111, or click the button below to visit the webpage.
Renee Hodgins - Counseling & Educational Center
Renee Hodgins, M.Ed., LPC is a licensed therapist and the owner of the Counseling & Educational Center, LLC located at 4144 Lindell Blvd. She began her career in Education over 30 years ago and has experience as a classroom teacher, Consultant Teacher, Academic Advisor, and Counseling Services Specialist. She has operated the Counseling & Educational Center since 2010.

Renee began her counseling career with an interest in making mental healthcare available to underserved communities that traditionally shunned therapy. Her practice offers individual, couples, family, and group counseling sessions. She says her specialty focus is working with Black females, who are often expected to be ‘Superwomen.’ She provides techniques that focus on self-care as a priority. For more information on the services Renee provides, click the button below to visit the webpage or contact her at 314-440-4448.
HNB Board Member of the Month
Dave Copeland - HNB Board Member
Dave Copeland was invited to consider becoming involved with Habitat for Neighborhood Business by a long-time contact at Saint Louis University. Dave’s SLU contact knew that Dave was nearing retirement, was interested in community service and had career skills that could be helpful to Habitat. Dave was introduced to a couple of board members with whom he quickly developed a connection and a shared interest in the mission of Habitat. He is now the Treasurer and Secretary of HNB and he is still involved in helping minority entrepreneurs. Dave has provided QuickBooks training sessions for the HNB entrepreneurs and has worked with the entrepreneurs one-on-one to help get their business accounting on QuickBooks. 
 
Dave’s working career has been spent in the accounting profession - first, after graduating from St. Louis University, with Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young), then as VP-Finance of Intrav, an international travel company, next as CFO with RubinBrown LLP, a large CPA firm, and now, in semi-retirement, as Controller of Schrader Funeral Home. His community service includes 15 years as a volunteer with United Way of Greater St. Louis, board service, including President, of the St. Louis Children's Choirs, board service, including Treasurer, of CASA of St. Louis (formerly Voices for Children), and Financial Secretary of Ascension Council of the Knights of Columbus.  
Fox 2 News HNB Interviews
HNB Entrepreneur Jeanetta Hawkins, owner of Personal Touches by Jeanetta, was recently featured in two news reports by Fox 2 News. The interviews discuss her methods of pivoting business during the pandemic and the ways that the HNB staff and mentors assisted her through this time. Click the links below to watch!
Johnny Dolan - SLU Ignatian Service Fellow -
SLU MBA Graduate - May 2021
SLU Ignatian Service Fellow Johnny Dolan
Johnny Dolan, Saint Louis University Ignatian Service Fellow, graduated in May from Saint Louis University with a Master's Degree in Business Administration. Johnny has been a great addition to the HNB team over the past year where he assisted with the Capstone course applications for the HNB entrepreneurs and conducted the annual Habitat for Neighborhood Business survey. He has been actively involved in the work of HNB, and the program has truly benefited from his efforts. Johnny has now completed his fellowship with HNB.

He is pictured here on his graduation day with Saint Louis University President Fred Pestello.

Thank you, Johnny. We wish you the best in your future career endeavors!
HNB Marketing Intern Recognition
Samantha Schmidt, the HNB volunteer marketing intern, has served the HNB community for over 2 years. Samantha is a SLU student involved in the Service Leadership program and was recently recognized for her hard work and dedication to her service and the St. Louis community. Samantha was awarded the 2021 Junior Student Service Leadership Award during the Chaifetz School of Business 2021 Excellence Awards Ceremony. Samantha has served the Service Leadership program as the Media Chair over the past 2 1/2 years and has served a total of 263 hours since she joined the program her freshman year. Working closely with HNB during this time, she assists with internal marketing efforts for HNB, and she has also supported two entrepreneurs with their marketing strategies as well.
Donate to HNB Today Through Amazon
Amazon will donate 0.5% of your Amazon purchases to Habitat for Neighborhood Business when you buy your Amazon products through their website for donations smile.amazon.com. Consider Habitat for Neighborhood Business each time you buy a product through Amazon and let Amazon’s donation help minority entrepreneurs in the city of St.Louis. 
HNB Businesses - Products and Services Available
Small businesses have struggled due to the shut-downs of the COVID-19 pandemic. The HNB entrepreneurs are still operating their businesses and we encourage you to consider HNB entrepreneurs for your products and services. Listed below are HNB participating businesses and contact information. Check them out!

HNB is growing! We now have 46 businesses in the HNB program.


Diversity Gallery LLC Natural Hair Products Web Page
 
Joe-Jo's Fish and Chicken Carry Out Restaurant  Web Page
 
God First Religious Specialty Items  Web Page
 
Cardinal Home Health Care Services LLC Web Page  
 
Samplings by Ms Deb LLC Carry Out Restaurant  Facebook Page

KDZ Demolition and Construction LLC  Web Page
  
SHR Builders LLC Construction 314-280-2092 
 
Bryan Young's Catering Kitchen Catering Web Page
 
Nurse Necessities LLC Nurse Scrubs Facebook Page
 
It's A Gamble Production Film producer, writer Web Page
 
Brooks Family Entertainment Bounce Houses Web Page
 
Institute of Personal & Professional Development LLC Individual and Family Counseling  Web Page
 
The Mary Ann Network TV Show Production  Facebook Page
 
The Royal Court Event Center Special Events Planner Facebook Page

KG Bookkeeping and Tax Preparations Services 314-210-7326

Gill Industries LLC Vehicle fuel additive Web Page

Create Community LLC Corporate and Event Training Web Page
 
Personal Touches by Jeanetta, Inc. Special Events Decorator Facebook Page

KJ Styles LLC Specialized Barber Shop 314-240-8959

Travel Angel Planner Travel Agency Web Page

Gregory's Healthy Alternatives LLC Colon Hydrotherapy Web Page

Personal Home Health Services Home Health Care 314-664-1100

EAS Financial Service Tax Services 314-553-9292

Children Are Unique Academy LLC Day Care Service Web Page

SILLYBLES Game for groups 314-402-1750

DJ Owe Disc Jockey 314-688-3627

J Murphy Construction Construction Consultant 314-207-9701

SoHeart LLC Addiction Recovery Service Web Page

Fleur De Lis Development Corporation Real Estate Development 314-249-5957

Healthful Beauty LifeSpa & Wellness Health and Wellness Boutique 314-439-6636

Jon Que Barbecue Grill Sales 314-443-6753

Blue Realty Real Estate Company 314-324-6272

Softest Touch Full-service Beauty Bar 314-484-9599

Eminence Financial Consulting Credit counseling 314-249-3985

Fancy Girl Event Planning Event Planning and Catering 314-437-3470

R&W Logistics & Escort Shipping and Escort Freight 314-267-2140

Clean Cycle Lounge LLC Laundry Services 314-600-8618

Mykiel Rose LLC Beauty Product Sales 314-240-8959

BeauTee Inside Out Retail Clothing & Decor 314-482-2361

Buddy's Auto and Tire Repair Auto Repairs 314-659-0587

Paton Redevelopment Series LLC Property Redevelopment 877-649-4770

SPOTS Enterprises LLC Property Redevelopment 314-550-2301

Counseling and Educational Center LLC Counseling Center
314-440-4448

Gourmet Soul LLC Soul food restaurant, catering, event venue 
314-339-5658

The Butler Group LLC Film production 314-479-2938

Pour Patty's LLC Beverage business 314-503-7144
HNB Staff
Linda M. Jones
Executive Director
Gladys Smith, PhD
Program Director
Johnny Dolan
Graduate Assistant
Samantha Schmidt
Marketing Intern
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

Barnali Gupta, Ph.D. - Edward Jones Dean of the Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University

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
HNB Sponsors
Commerce Bank
The Pettus Foundation
Guy B. Jaffe and Judy Schwartz Jaffe Charitable Foundation
of the St. Louis Community Foundation
Black Communities Investment Initiative of the
St. Louis Community Foundation