By Audrey Ingram

Six area entrepreneurs have joined the Greater West Dayton Incubator Advisory Council, the organization announced recently.

The Incubator seeks to develop an equitable startup community that places entrepreneurs at the center. To do so, it launched a public process for community members to nominate Greater West Dayton entrepreneurs and business owners that would best represent the voice of underrepresented, under-served and under-resourced entrepreneurs. The team received 29 nominations for 18 different entrepreneurs.

“Thank you to everyone that submitted nominations for this critical step in the development of a collective vision,” director Karlos L. Marshall wrote in an email. “Below you can read a statement from each entrepreneur that has joined the team. Please help us give them a warm welcome!”

Clarece Richardson: “I am excited about the GWDI and its commitment to the West Dayton community. I am eager to serve and offer additional business leadership experience to the advisory board. It is my goal for that experience and insight to provide equitable programs to new and existing businesses.”

Cherrelle Gardner: “I am excited to join the GWDI Advisory Board because it gives us the opportunity to shift much needed resources to our community of current and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Greater West Dayton area. With these additional resources, we can accelerate the development of businesses that meet compelling community needs.”

Christina Mendez: “I’m excited to be apart of the Greater West Dayton Incubator because I’m invested in helping black and brown people navigate through entrepreneurship and really learn to monetize their knowledge base. In order to be a leader, you must learn to effectively serve. I am so excited for an opportunity to serve my community.”

Deirreon Durrant: “I decided to join the team because I’d like to add a positive perspective to ALL the teams that come aboard. We are all seeking positive change in our communities so to be apart of something that is uplifting is inspiring to me. A way to ‘pay it forward.’”

LeKeisha Grant: “Entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of many communities and West Dayton is no different. Assisting in bringing the necessary resources to help my community is important.”

Tae Winston: “I’m excited to join because I want to make a difference in my community. I want to help small businesses grow and get the support they need to go further.”

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