Impact Program Spotlight: Rashida Vanleer-McHargh of Iron Koi
Rashida VanLeer-McHargh is the founder of Iron Koi, a certified personal training service offering private studio training, group training, in-home/in-office training sessions, event appearances and competition prep coaching. Inspired by the koi fish – Iron Koi symbolizes strength, personal determination, perseverance over adversity and inevitable success. COVID-19 made it impossible for us to connect in person
JumpStart’s Core City: Cleveland and Northwest Ohio Impact Programs Will Split Prize Money Equally and Eliminate Upcoming Showcase Events
In February 2020 JumpStart kicked off its third Northwest Ohio Impact Program and its ninth Core City: Cleveland Impact Program. Then COVID-19 hit our communities and we were forced to pivot our approach for these two cohorts, continuing to teach virtual class sessions while altering curriculum to meet the rapidly evolving needs of all the
Pride & Knowledge: A Conversation About Black History Month With JumpStart’s Lamont Mackley
Each February, the U.S. celebrates Black History Month, highlighting the rich heritage, extraordinary achievements and unique culture of African Americans throughout our nation’s history. As our 2020 celebration comes to its conclusion, we sat down with JumpStart’s Chief Inclusion and Outreach Officer Lamont Mackley for a conversation about life before Black History Month, how the celebration
Meet Cohort Nine of the Core City: Cleveland Impact Program
We are excited to welcome the ninth cohort to our Core City: Cleveland Impact Program! This 12-week business assistance program is designed to drive economic impact in the city of Cleveland by helping individuals overcome obstacles to entrepreneurship through hands-on advising and industry-specific mentoring. Over the next three months, these entrepreneurs will be learning and
A Step Toward A More Inclusive Innovation Economy
At JumpStart, we strive to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve in the work we do. That’s because diversity is a powerful thing. A recent study from the Boston Consulting Group found companies with diverse teams produced 19 percent more revenue due to increased innovation. Another famous study from McKinsey found companies in
Daron Henderson Takes $10K Grand Prize At Core City: Cleveland Entrepreneur Showcase
On Wednesday, December 4, Core City: Cleveland Impact Program participant Daron Henderson delivered the winning pitch for his business, Lo-Key Entertainment during the program’s culminating entrepreneur showcase—taking home the top prize of $10,000. Lo-Key Entertainment offers a variety of premium entertainment services including DJing, uplighting, photo booths and promotional printing. DJs from Lo-Key have performed all over the
Five Questions with Vicki and Stephen Kotris of Cleveland Cookie Dough Company
Cleveland Cookie Dough Company is a mobile business serving edible cookie dough, ice cream sundaes and more via its mobile food truck, nicknamed “Chip.” Recently named the second-best food truck in Cleveland by Cleveland Scene, the company publishes its mobile locations on its website and also offered a variety of catering options for individual clients.
Five Questions with Daron Henderson of Lo-Key Entertainment
Lo-Key Entertainment offers a variety of premium entertainment services including DJing, uplighting, photo booths and promotional printing. DJ’s from Lo-Key have performed all over the country alongside famous entertainers such as Will.I.Am, Kevin Hart, Rickey Smiley, Russell Simmons, Deray Davis, D.L. Hughley and Outkast. What inspired you to create your business? I played the piano my
Five Questions with Frechic Burton, Jason Garrett and Kamron Khan of CoCreative
CoCreative is a branding and marketing agency specializing in serving nonprofits and government entities. The agency offers brand strategy/identity, photography and social media management services as well as hourly rental space in its Downtown Cleveland office for meetings, events and offsite work. What separates CoCreative from the competition? CoCreative has the unique ability to
Five Questions with Ethan Holmes of Holmes Made Foods, LLC
Holmes Made Foods is the company behind Holmes Mouthwatering Applesauce. Shaker Heights native Ethan Holmes launched the business when he was just 15 years old, using his grandfather’s applesauce recipe. Today, Holmes Mouthwatering Applesauce is available across the nation in stores such as Acme Fresh Market, Giant Eagle, Heinen’s, Lucky’s Market, Target, Whole Foods, Kroger, Marc’s
Five Questions with Antonio Coleman of Game Speed Performance Academy
Game Speed Performance Academy provides professional training to maximize athletic performance. The business offers many training services, including 6-8-week post-rehabilitation programs for athletes. Sessions are structured to include dynamic warm-ups, flexibility, coordination and balance exercises; with a strong emphasis on movements to build stability, accuracy and speed. What has been your biggest takeaway from the Core
Lamont Mackley Joins Fellow Community Leaders for WVIZ/PBS Discussion on Diversity and Inclusion
On October 15, JumpStart’s Chief Inclusion and Outreach Officer Lamont Mackley sat down with Brian Hall from Greater Cleveland Partnership and Vanessa Whiting, Board Chair of MetroHealth and President of A.E.S Management for “An Inclusive Economy: What Does That Mean?” part of the Cleveland Connects series. Sponsored by PNC Bank and produced by cleveland.com, The