Born and raised in South Seattle, Jawan established Keep It Local Tacoma in 2019 as a response to the city's ballooning gentrification and displacement of its Communities of Color. Jawan's professional background comprises automated logistics earned serving in the Armed Forces, a decade of high-volume multi-location market management, territory sales management, and a degree in retail management from American Military University. Jawan's ethos: "To advance micro-economies by arming oppressed groups with financial freedom." In other words: The freedom to create jobs, develop social programs, own assets, build companies, spend more time with loved ones, maintain wellness, protect culture, determine your destiny, and live a meaningful dignified life.

As owner of The Entrepreneurs Apex, Anthony works directly with Entrepreneurs and C.E.O.s from a broad range of industries to help them develop and implement strategies for increasing their company's revenue, profitability, and efficiency. This also includes developing business plans and investor proposals and guiding companies through successful start-ups and expansion.

Mathew Patrick Heggem (he/him) is the Founder & CEO of 10kCreators.com, a social enterprise whose mission is to help 10,000 creators achieve financial freedom through mentorship, training, and access to critical resources. As both an artist and entrepreneur, this work is personal. After surviving the life of a starving NYC artist and navigating through the world of small business, he created 10kCreators to share the lessons learned along that journey. CPA Practice Advisor has recognized him as a “20 Under 40” Superstar, was a featured speaker at conferences like QuickBooks Connect and XeroCon, and has published 30+ articles for the Accountex Report, SmartCEO, and Entrepreneur.com. He is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and has eighteen years of experience in the accounting industry.

Alesha is a savvy lifestyle and business content creator who has spent the last eight years honing her skillset across all leading social media platforms. Alesha has helped clients champion their social presence while reaching over 25,000 followers for her professional brand. Faulkner earned a Master's in Economics at the University of North Carolina.

Product Designer, Zaida, specializes in UX/UI design, Front-End web development, and graphic design. Zaida has designed a fleet of mobile apps, websites, and branded graphics to help small and large clients own their digital space with creative yet functional designs that consider their unique objectives.

Kati possesses exceptional skills in the area of continual process improvement and management of administrative functions, from gathering client feedback to originating personalized financial reports to help stakeholders succeed. Kati's tireless efforts behind the scenes ensure that our systems operate optimally, allowing the team to provide the best possible service to local businesses in the community.

Tanya Rivera-Falcone is a distinguished business coach and leadership expert with over 17 years of experience in corporate sales, management, and marketing. She has generated over $120 million for Fortune 250 companies and influenced the growth of more than 500 professionals and entrepreneurs. As the founder of Massive Brand Consulting and the innovative sales and marketing software, Bossly, Tanya assists small businesses in devising effective marketing strategies, driving organizational efficiency, and building high-performance teams. Tanya is also a best-selling author, motivational speaker, and advocate against domestic violence.

Melanie Hartman is a marketing, sales, and innovation-focused executive with 15 years experience. She has spent half of those years working in the corporate sector leading Fortune 100 brands in the digital landscape. The rest of her professional time has been spent working with small business owners to assist them in building strong digital foundations using growth marketing, sales enablement and innovative strategies. She holds an MBA in digital entrepreneurship.

Having earned her Bachelor's degrees in Marketing and Psychology from Loyola University Chicago, Brianna offers five years of applied digital marketing expertise gained serving both small and established businesses. Brianna specializes in ghostwriting, copywriting, conversions, creating personalized lean marketing plans, and social media management across the major platforms.

Ashley Sherrod is a highly proficient, driven business and IT consultant with over ten years of experience in infrastructure operations, information security, project management, software development, and mobile application development. Ashley is a Subject Matter Expert with experience in business consulting, auditing, risk/compliance, e-commerce, and government engagements.

Author of the Racial Wealth Gap article, Tierra, is the fearless CEO of Take Charge Credit Consulting, whose mission is to educate 100,000 individuals to leverage credit and entrepreneurship and reduce the wealth gap for women and minorities. Bond's credit repair workshops have been featured in Black Dot, Business Impact NW, GSBA, Seattle Public Library, Habitat for Humanity, and more. Watch Tierra speak on racial disparities in the credit system on Kiro 7.

Born and raised in South Seattle, Jawan established King's Dream Business Consulting in 2019 as a response to the city's ballooning gentrification and displacement of its Communities of Color. Jawan's professional background comprises automated logistics earned serving in the Armed Forces, a decade of high-volume multi-location market management, territory sales management, and a degree in retail management from American Military University. Jawan's ethos: "To advance micro-economies by arming oppressed groups with financial freedom." In other words: The freedom to create jobs, develop social programs, own assets, build companies, spend more time with loved ones, maintain wellness, protect culture, determine your destiny, and live a meaningful dignified life.

Kate O'Connor is a consulting Brand Strategist and Brand Designer with over 10 years of experience. Having gained her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at the Queensland University of Technology, she is passionate about developing robust, intentional, and unforgettable brands. Kate has worked on branding projects across almost every industry - from tech, beauty, and real estate to luxury fashion and beauty. Her approach to design is deeply rooted in strategic insight, and her strategic thinking is underpinned by excitement for research and the drive to identify trends and patterns. Kate is dedicated to working with small businesses to build brands with impact.