Introducing ELEVATE’s Fourth Cohort!

Last week, ELEVATE, CNHED’s executive leadership program for local minority-owned businesses (MBEs), officially launched its fourth cohort with a kick-off event and student orientation. ELEVATE, which stands for Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs, aims to provide best-in-class training to MBEs located in DC to acquire new skills that will allow them to more effectively and efficiently manage their business’ products and services and increase revenue and employment. ELEVATE Cohort IV is the first of its kind, as a class made up of exclusively female MBE owners. We are excited to officially welcome this next cohort into the Spring 2024 program!

ELEVATE is the only minority executive education program in DC that is backed by a university partner. The 3-month ELEVATE curriculum, developed by the George Washington School of Business (GWSB) Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, is led by GWSB faculty members.

The ELEVATE curriculum is tailored to enhance and cultivate new skills that will enable MBEs to compete in the private, institutional, and government procurement sectors. MBEs completing ELEVATE will leave the program with a newfound clarity and dynamism that will catapult their business to the next level.

Upon completion of the curriculum, ELEVATE students will be able to:

1. Succinctly and critically analyze and evaluate various business opportunities
2. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset to help create a digital corporate strategy
3. Comprehend the complex roles of entrepreneurship, leadership, and management throughout the development of organizational strategies
4. Recognize new opportunities for introducing innovation in wide-ranging organizational settings
5. Develop a strategy for contracting and procurement with anchor institutions and corporations
6. Understand various financial valuations of their firm

ELEVATE's Cohort IV

	Nicole Allen	Allen-Norris Permitting and Inspections is a regulatory construction consulting firm uniquely providing permitting and inspection services to residential and commercial markets. Our team provides a comprehensive lifecycle approach to the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of each project we undertake.
	Anna-Marie Ashe	Area Real Estate is a full-service real estate brokerage owned and operated here in the nation’s capital. Area believes that success in real estate goes beyond the sale and that education and accessibility are paramount.
	Talitha Beverly	Strong HR provides access to experienced and highly credentialed PEOPLE and delivers services with efficient, client-centric PROCESSES…all for a PRICE that is equally smart.
	Vivica Brooks	TBG Trains is the premiere workforce training and development company. Our certified training professionals bring industry experience, knowledge, and skills to create engaging and impactful learning experiences. TBG is a leading expert in the field of customer service, work readiness, and soft skills training, with a specialty in working with the hard-to-serve population.
	April Daniels	ALD Event Solutions is an event staffing company that believes attention to detail will create sophisticated experiences. Their mission is to develop high-quality, fun, and interactive experiences that are not considered average social events. The trained staff is certified to assist any organization’s staffing needs associated with food and beverage and event management. ALD Event Solutions provides high-quality staffing to event spaces, banquet halls, hotels, and private parties.
	Victoria Glaude	Tori Autumn Coaching, LLC writes great and personality-driven copy so that you can increase your sales and change the lives of your clients. Tori Autumn is a conversion copywriter committed to helping conscious entrepreneurs grow impactful businesses through sharing their heartfelt messaging.
	Dabrielle Goodwin	Covington Supply Co. is a trusted resource for builders and developers in the DC Metro and surrounding area. We offer a wide selection of top-quality residential and commercial supplies, including fixtures, finishes, and more.
	Yolonda Higdon	HH Logistics Planning, LLC provides turnkey Business Solutions to include Project Management, Facilities Support, Construction Management, and Furniture Procurement/Management for Federal, State, and Local Agencies. Our clients also include K-12, Universities, Libraries, and Medical Facilities.
	Alicia Nti	At Milestone Therapeutic Services, they strive to provide the highest quality therapeutic care possible to support individuals in achieving successful outcomes. To be a premier leader in therapy in the nation by expanding our practice and empowering individuals through dedicated and client-centered compassionate care.
	Renata Philippe	Black Squirrel Company (BSC) is a Washington, DC-based start-up on a mission to design, construct, and sustainably sourced accessories, for you & your home. We believe we’re creating a future by honoring our rich diverse cultures.
	Olusola Pyne	The Pyne Tree offers permitting, licensing and occupancy needs for construction. Pyne Tree works with licensed contractors, engineers, architects, landscapers and more to bring your vision to life.
	Amanda Stephenson	The Fresh Food Factory is a social enterprise, whose mission is to empower underrepresented and undercapitalized entrepreneurs by providing them with a one-stop farming, food processing and distributing hub that equips these foodies with the essential resources to operate a successful healthy food venture.
	Safari Williams	Regal Beauty Club provides 100% virgin human hair that is natural and of the highest quality. Our team travels the world to source authentic virgin tresses. While compensating our donors directly, we provide them with the means to take care of their families. They source from distributors across the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central America.
	Kristel Williams	FishScale prepares delicious burgers sourced from sustainable wild fish in accordance with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program. Our belief is if you have to eat, let the food taste good and be good for your health and our environment.