Habitat for Neighborhood Business
October 2021 Newsletter
HNB News Broadcast Features
Over this past month, there were two news features on HNB through Fox 2 News and KSDK.
Gladys Smith, HNB Program Director, was featured on the Pulse of St. Louis with Shirley Washington through the Fox 2 News Channel and KPLR 11.
Linda M. Jones, HNB Executive Director, restaurant owner Byron Hayes, mentor DeMarco Howard, were interviewed by Justina Coronel on KDSK.
HNB 2021 Program Update
Last fall we reported that our Habitat for Neighborhood Business minority mentoring program had expanded to 40 entrepreneurs operating in underserved neighborhoods, in spite of Covid-19 today that number has grown to 47.

We don’t want to jinx ourselves but feel compelled and proud to report that again in 2021 not a single HNB business failed.

To accommodate our rapid growth, we created a new program to augment our traditional offering of volunteer Mentors and Industry Specialists/Expert Mentors working with individual entrepreneurs. This fall we launched our first Mentoring Forum, consisting of 10 entrepreneurs. These groups will be led by a volunteer Facilitator and a Mentor, plus a SLU Student Administrator to accommodate entrepreneurs who are more comfortable learning and networking in a team setting and through the peer-to-peer interchange. This program also allows us to “stretch” the impact of our volunteer mentors and HNB team to accommodate many more entrepreneurs. The initial response has been so positive that a second Forum will launch in early 2022.

With continued encouragement from Dean Gupta, the faculty, and SLU administration, our HNB program has also expanded the opportunities for student experiential learning, while bringing their fresh and youthful knowledge and skills to our entrepreneurs. Five SLU interns are directly involved with our program administration, plus this semester 22 Service Leadership undergraduate students are regularly consulting with “their”11 HNB entrepreneurs, and three Graduate level teams, with an HNB Mentor, are executing Capstone Projects. Additionally, through generous donor support, we are now providing small but meaningful grants to engaged entrepreneurs for the implementation of business recommendations offered by our students.

With COVID-19 still active, we again postponed the successful entrepreneur “meet-and-greet,” but ask that you consider checking out the businesses listed in our newsletter and website in the hope they can be of service to you, your family, or friends. We continue to believe the best way forward is a “helping hand.”

We are happy to report we are 80% of the way to our $1,000,000 HNB Endowment goal and the matching commitment remains. Your past support for the endowment, as well as our programs, has been a source of encouragement for our entire team and a blessing for our entrepreneurs. We genuinely appreciate your support and promise to be good stewards of your generosity.

We decided to close this 2021 letter with the same words as we wrote in 2020, “this year has been a year like no other and on behalf of our board and HNB staff we are so proud of how our entrepreneurs have fought to survive, in a few cases even prosper, and how appreciative we are for the assistance of our supporters and volunteer mentors.”

Help support St. Louis city minority businesses through your donation to HNB.
Entrepreneurs of the Month
Lamar Woods - Woods&Tech LLC

Tech Entrepreneur, Lamar Woods builds software to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. He founded Woods&Tech, a Premier technology company in St. Louis. Woods&Tech provides the software strategy, design and development services that allow a business owner to grow their revenue through innovative apps and websites.

An excellent example of his mobile skills is SoHeart, an app he created to help his brother who is struggling with drug addiction.

Contact Lamar at 314-799-8074
Titus Pule - Titus Transportation LLC
Titus Pule is the owner of Titus Transportation LLC, a full-service black car transportation business. At the foundation of the business is the simple concept of ‘Committed to excellent service.’ His passion for quality customer service in the hospitality industry prompted him to start Titus Transportation LLC. His belief is that with excellent time management, clean vehicles, and professional chauffeurs, the customers are provided comfortable and memorable transport that will keep them coming back. Contact Titus when you need transportation services at 314-600-8618.
@TitusStl

HNB Spotlight
Board Member of the Month
Steve Barron
Steve Barron is one of the original Habitat for Neighborhood Business board members and today serves as Vice President. He is the third generation President of Philip H. Barron Realty, a leading real estate firm focused on the Clayton and midtown areas for more than 55 years. Steve’s oversight for the construction of our beautiful eight-bay center at 4132-44 Dr. M.L. King Blvd. was invaluable. In addition, he has managed the Dr. MLK property from the beginning and is the “go-to guy” for real estate decisions for HNB and any of the entrepreneurs' needs or questions.

We applaud Steve as our Board Member of the month and thank him for his support!
New Finance Intern
Emma Gude
Our newest HNB Intern, Emma Gude is a sophomore at Saint Louis University. She is studying Finance with minors in Human Resource Management and Spanish on the pre-law track. Emma is originally from Kansas City, MO. Outside of HNB, Emma is involved in the Service Leadership Program where she does volunteer work tutoring in Saint Louis Public Schools. She is also a candidate in Beta Alpha Psi, an honors Business Fraternity, and is also an active member in her Delta Gamma sorority. Emma says, “I am very excited to connect with the entrepreneurs in HNB and look forward to learning a lot through my service with this amazing organization!". We welcome Emma to the HNB community!
HNB Mentoring Forums
This summer HNB launched the first HNB Mentoring Forum, consisting of 10 HNB entrepreneurs. The group is led by HNB Executive Director and Mentor Linda M. Jones, HNB Program Director Gladys Smith, and Elyse Lewandowski, HNB's SLU student intern. The HNB entrepreneurs will meet monthly for twelve months, to review and discuss their businesses based on the nine components of the Business Model Canvas. The initial response has been very positive and a second HNB Mentoring Forum is being planned.
HNB Businesses - Products and Services Available
Against the Grainz LLC Haircare and grooming services, 314-719-6701

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

Blue Realty Real Estate Company 314-324-6272

Brooks Family Entertainment Bounce Houses Web Page

Bryan Young's Catering Kitchen Catering Web Page

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

Cardinal Home Health Care Services LLC Web Page  

Children Are Unique Academy LLC Day Care Service Web Page

Clean Cycle Lounge LLC Laundry Services 314-600-8618

Counseling and Educational Center LLC Counseling Center

Create Community LLC Corporate and Event Training Web Page

Diversity Gallery LLC Natural Hair Products Web Page

DJ Owe Disc Jockey 314-688-3627

EAS Financial Service Tax Services 314-553-9292

Eminence Financial Consulting Credit counseling 314-249-3985

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

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

Gill Industries LLC Vehicle fuel additive Web Page

God First Religious Specialty Items 
 317-777-5966

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

Gregory's Healthy Alternatives LLC Colon Hydrotherapy Web Page

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

Institute of Personal & Professional Development LLC Individual and Family Counseling  Web Page
It's A Gamble Production Film producer, writer Web Page

J Murphy Construction Construction Consultant 314-207-9701

Joe-Jo's Fish and Chicken Carry Out Restaurant  Web Page

Jon Que Barbecue Grill Sales 314-443-6753

KDZ Demolition and Construction LLC  Web Page
  
KG Bookkeeping and Tax Preparations Services 314-210-7326

KJ Styles LLC Specialized Barber Shop 314-240-8959

Mykiel Rose LLC Beauty Product Sales 314-240-8959

Paton Redevelopment Series LLC Property Redevelopment 877-649-4770

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

Personal Touches by Jeanetta, Inc. Special Events Decorator Facebook Page

Pour Patty's LLC Beverage business 314-503-7144

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

Samplings by Ms Deb LLC Carry Out Restaurant  Facebook Page

SHR Builders Inc. Construction 314-280-2092 

SILLYBLES Game for groups 314-402-1750

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

SoHeart LLC Addiction Recovery Service Web Page

The Butler Group LLC Film production 314-479-2938

The Mary Ann Network TV Show Production  314-938-7509 

The Royal Court Event Center Special Events Planner Facebook Page

Titus Transportation LLC Black car and limo services Web Page

Travel Angel Planner Travel Agency Web Page

Woods & Tech LLC Software strategy design and development Web Page
HNB Staff
Linda M. Jones
Executive Director
Gladys Smith, PhD
Program Director
Elyse Lewandowski
Finance Intern
Samantha Schmidt
Marketing Intern
Praise Adeyemi
Graduate Intern
Alyssa Jimenez
Marketing Intern
Emma Gude
Finance 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