Charleston Metro Chamber announces Minority Business Accelerator graduates

December 8, 2022

The Charleston Metro Chamber’s Lowcountry Minority Business Accelerator (MBA) program recently graduated their first cohort of leaders. The Lowcountry Minority Business Accelerator, presented by Bank of America, is committed to accelerating the development and growth of high potential minority-owned businesses, strengthening our region’s minority entrepreneurial community and advancing our region.

Participants underwent intensive training for the first six months following the internationally-recognized Interise StreetWise ‘MBA’ curriculum, led by instructor Wendell Jones. Then, participants worked closely with financial experts, coaches and MBA peers on their three-year Strategic Growth Action Plans and implementation of learnings for the last six months.

2022 MBA Graduates:

  • Frank Ancrum, Hard Hat Transportation
  • Christy Bell, Cookie.Dough.Love
  • Kimberly Butler-Willis, GOODSTOCK Consulting
  • Sarina Freincle, La’Roc Beauty
  • Madeline Frume and Katherine Drayton, Koppur Trailers and Chassis
  • Safiya Grant, Hannibal’s Kitchen
  • Courtney Harris, Recovery-N-Motion Physical Therapy + Wellness
  • Adrian and Andres Lorduy, BuenaVista Information Systems
  • Jaymes McCloud, J.H.W. Enterprises Property Management
  • Jenna Richardson and Natalie Wright, Real Estate House International
  • Regina Robinson, Prime Time Logistics LLC
  • Fernando Soto, New Digital Press
  • Virgil Wade, Dream Team Constructions LLC

“We are thrilled to announce the graduates of the first cohort of the Lowcountry Minority Business Accelerator,” said Richard Waring, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “This group of leaders have grown, developed and learned so much in order to take their business to the next level and we look forward to seeing their success for years to come.”

Funded with a seed grant from Bank of America, the initiative was designed to advance economic inclusion across the state of South Carolina by helping to reduce the economic disparities experienced by minority-owned businesses. The Founding Partners of the Lowcountry MBA program include Bank of America, Charleston County, City of Charleston, City of North Charleston, Coastal Community Foundation, The InterTech Group, Dominion Energy and SCRA.

To qualify, businesses must be based in the Charleston region, socially or economically disadvantaged (minority, veteran or woman-owned, as well as those serving lower-income communities), and a member of the Charleston Metro Chamber.

Learn more about the Lowcountry Minority Business Accelerator at www.charlestonchamber.org/mba.