By Zack Frink

The Greater West Dayton Incubator (GWDI) is hosting virtual Zoom listening sessions to learn more about the perspectives and needs of entrepreneurs and business owners. Sessions will be held:

Tuesday, June 23 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24 from 5:30-7 p.m.

Thursday, June 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

You can register here.

“We’re really looking forward to connecting with entrepreneurs and hearing what their experiences have been, what their perspectives are, and how we can provide needed resources and business consultations,” said Karlos L. Marshall, manager of GWDI.

A self-described social entrepreneur, and co-founder and president of The Conscious Connect, Inc., he helps lead several other startups in the area. Marshall holds numerous awards and honors, including being named to the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the education category.

He joined GWDI in early 2020 and started his tenure by making significant adjustments due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think I wasn't even on the job for probably like three weeks, and then I started working from home,” Marshall recalled.

He got important work done despite not being able to implement his original strategy of meeting entrepreneurs face to face.

“It's just really been reimagining a grassroots strategy through technology, social media, reaching out directly to entrepreneurs, making myself accessible and still holding meetings with anybody that wants to meet with me,” said Marshall.

GWDI continues its national research and benchmarking and continues to connect with peers and colleagues across the country to determine what initiatives, services, resources and programs they can adopt for Dayton entrepreneurs.

Outside of the listening sessions, GWDI is accepting nominations for four entrepreneurs to join its advisory council, and the organization recently launched a newsletter.