REEP 2022/23

The latest cohort of City Startup Labs’ ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program (REEP) just recently completed two legs of their entrepreneurial journey, which started back in late August 2022. REEP implemented the post-pilot model of LEARN/EARN/BUILD in 2021 and the final leg (BUILD) is where they begin to apply what they learned over the past nine months.  […]

Pushing Through Loss: Tiffany White shares her story | REEP

REEP participant Tiffany White speaks about her experience of losing her son to gun violence and the impact it had on her life, including a run-in with the law. She shares how she found redemption through the program, which helped her develop emotional intelligence and start a job as a digital navigator. Thanks to the […]

Suzanne Fetscher

Suzanne Fetscher is a visionary not-for-profit Executive Director and strategic consultant with more than 25 years of experience in creating innovative and relevant partnerships between artist-in-residency programs and communities. An artist herself, Suzanne aligns her creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit to support artists in their ability to succeed and grow audience connections that are meaningful […]

Joel Ford

Joel Ford, TRAClient Executive   Joel joined the Sentinel team in 2022 as a Client Executive and is responsible for the oversight, management, and implementation of all strategies as they relate to the management and servicing of an account.   Originally from Belmont, NC, Joel is a former North Carolina State Senator who represented Mecklenburg […]

MEGAN VAN FLEET

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Megan Van Fleet has served as the Executive Assistant at City Startup Labs since 2015. A native of Virginia, Megan graduated from the University of Virginia, and has previously worked in education, the financial services industry, and with small business operations.   Megan and her husband Jim relocated to Charlotte in 2008, where […]

LEEROY JORDAN

DIRECTOR OF RESTORATIVE PATHWAYS Author, Advocate, Activist, Leader, Trainer, Speaker   Over the span of a 30-year career LeeRoy Jordan has served marginalized populations in a variety of roles. He has worked extensively with criminal and juvenile justice populations, from pre-trial services to post-incarceration support. He has advocated for alternatives to incarceration and diversions to […]

ELIZABETH THOMAS-HOLLIER

Business Program ManagerMecklenburg County   Elizabeth (Liz) Thomas-Hollier is an accomplished financial leader, business strategist, and entrepreneur. Her insightful, candid perspective is the hallmark of her leadership style, setting apart her collaborative consulting and creative thinking skills.   With over 20 years of experience in the public sector, Liz possesses deep financial planning and forecasting, […]

NIA ROCK

Senior Community Banking ExecutiveCustomers Bank   Nia Rock is a Community Development Banking professional and founder of BlueSuite Solutions, Inc., a business consultancy promoting sustainable strategies for triple bottom-line results. With an MBA from Bard College and a graduate banking diploma from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Wharton School (UPenn), Ms. Rock has […]

SONDRA HINES YATES

Sondra Hines Yates is a multitalented educator, communications change agent, journalist, marketing professional, and fitness coach.   Sondra has spent the majority of her career guiding students in higher education by providing them with real-world, affordable, hands-on education to transform individuals as well as our community.  Her work has also focused on helping organizations improve […]

BRIAN S. LYGHT

COO, The Center for Urban Families   Brian Lyght is a business development and strategy professional with over 30 years of combined public, private and nonprofit sector experience helping organizations improve their operational performance and achieve their mission. Since 2017, Brian has served as Chief Operating Officer of the Center for Urban Families, a Baltimore, […]