Experience and Community Work
Real program work behind every service
From mentorship networks to statewide recognition, here is the program and community work the services are built on.
65+
Mentors in the MEDA Volunteer Accelerator Network
180+
Entrepreneurs and clients supported through that network
Founder
BIPOC Entrepreneur Day, recognized statewide
MAVA
Board Member, Public Policy; Vice Chair, DEI Committee
Programs and Organizations
Where the work has been done
Each entry below is program work I have led or been part of, with my role and dates.
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Community Empowered, Inc.
Founder
2018 to 2020
Founded Community Empowered, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on strengthening communities through volunteer-driven programming and economic development initiatives. Led organizational strategy, program development, community engagement, volunteer and board infrastructure, fundraising, partnerships, and implementation of community-based initiatives designed to expand access, opportunity, and economic mobility.
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MEDA
Metropolitan Economic Development Association
Project and Program Consultant
September 2023 to August 2026
Grew the Volunteer Accelerator Network to more than 65 mentors and 180+ clients, managing mentorships, resources, and small-business startup consulting. Roadmap to Business Success is a MEDA program.
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CanRenew
Project Consultant and Director, Roadmap to Business Success
September 2025 to present
CanRenew grant implementation and leadership of Roadmap to Business Success: leads the strategy, design, implementation, and growth of programming that helps entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, build operational capacity, and prepare for sustainable growth.
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PIPCLT
Partners in Property Commercial Land Trust
Vice Chair/Treasurer
December 2023 to August 2026
Strategic planning, organizational guidance, grant development, and programmatic support.
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MAVA
Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement
Board Member, Public Policy; Vice Chair, DEI Committee
September 2023 to present
Service on the MAVA Board of Directors.
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BIPOC Entrepreneur Day
Founder
2024
Founded BIPOC Entrepreneur Day in 2024, while working as a program manager at MEDA, to celebrate and support Minnesota's minority entrepreneurs, and secured an official proclamation from the Governor of Minnesota recognizing the day statewide.
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Kollville Estates Homeowner's Association
Board of Directors, Secretary
2026 to present
Serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary.
Recognition
A statewide proclamation for BIPOC Entrepreneur Day
Founded BIPOC Entrepreneur Day in 2024, while working as a program manager at MEDA, to celebrate and support Minnesota's minority entrepreneurs, and secured an official proclamation from the Governor of Minnesota recognizing the day statewide.
Current Work
CanRenew and MEDA's Roadmap to Business Success
Project Consultant and Director, Roadmap to Business Success
September 2025 to present
I have doubled program participation.
Through my consulting work with CanRenew and MEDA's Roadmap to Business Success, I lead the strategy, design, implementation, and growth of programming created to help entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, build operational capacity, and prepare for sustainable growth.
My work bridges entrepreneurial education, program development, community engagement, and business ecosystem building. I design programs that do more than deliver information. They connect entrepreneurs to the people, tools, strategies, and accountability needed to put that information into practice.
Program Growth & Strategy
Since taking a leadership role in the program, I have doubled program participation, expanding its reach while continuing to strengthen the participant experience and overall program structure.
I oversee key components of program strategy, including participant recruitment, program design, cohort development, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. I also help ensure programming remains responsive to the real-world challenges entrepreneurs face as they move from operating a business to intentionally building one.
Entrepreneurship Curriculum Development
I developed entrepreneurship curriculum informed by principles from The E-Myth, with a focus on helping business owners move beyond working solely in their businesses and begin building the systems, processes, and leadership practices necessary to work on their businesses.
Curriculum and programming support entrepreneurs in areas such as:
- Business systems and operational structure
- Leadership and entrepreneurial mindset
- Strategic planning and goal setting
- Marketing and customer development
- Financial management and access to capital
- Business scalability and sustainability
- Accountability and implementation
The goal is not simply to teach business concepts, but to help entrepreneurs translate those concepts into meaningful changes within their companies.
Business Expert Recruitment & Ecosystem Development
A major component of my work is identifying, recruiting, and engaging business development experts, educators, mentors, and industry professionals who can provide entrepreneurs with specialized knowledge and practical guidance.
I cultivate relationships with professionals across the entrepreneurial ecosystem and thoughtfully align their expertise with program curriculum and participant needs. This allows entrepreneurs to learn directly from practitioners while also expanding their professional networks and access to resources.
Cohort & Learning Experience Design
I help create a structured cohort experience that combines education, connection, accountability, and relationship-building.
My work includes:
- Designing and facilitating entrepreneur orientations
- Coordinating educators and subject-matter experts
- Developing program expectations and participant engagement strategies
- Supporting curriculum delivery
- Creating opportunities for peer learning and relationship-building
- Connecting entrepreneurs with technical assistance and business resources
- Managing communication across participants, educators, partners, and stakeholders
- Identifying opportunities to strengthen the program based on participant and stakeholder feedback
The result is a learning environment where entrepreneurs are not simply attending workshops. They are becoming part of a community of business owners, advisors, and experts invested in their growth.
Program Operations & Implementation
I also manage the behind-the-scenes infrastructure required to move a program from concept to execution. This includes coordinating program timelines, deliverables, partnerships, orientations, stakeholder communication, educator engagement, participant experience, and implementation.
My approach combines big-picture strategy with hands-on execution, ensuring that strong ideas become programs that are organized, engaging, measurable, and useful to the entrepreneurs they are designed to serve.
The Bigger Goal
At the center of this work is a belief that entrepreneurship support should extend beyond one-time workshops or transactional technical assistance.
Strong entrepreneurial ecosystems create knowledge, relationships, access, accountability, and opportunity.
Through CanRenew and Roadmap to Business Success, my work is focused on building that infrastructure and helping entrepreneurs develop businesses that are stronger, more intentional, and positioned for long-term growth.
Next Step
See how this applies to your work
Describe your program and I will tell you which part of this experience is relevant to it.