Meet our Detroit Cohort

Mosaic Masterminds helps learners of all types improve their academic performance and higher-level thinking by offering unique and individualized learning experiences that increase personal growth and self-esteem. Mosaic Masterminds was founded in 2003 in Grand Rapids, Michigan as a response to an increase in parents seeking academic assistance for their children. It began by providing one-on-one, in-person tutoring services to supplement traditional classroom instruction for students in the Greater Grand Rapids Area. Mosaic Masterminds has grown to offer in-person and virtual services for learners of all ages in 13 states. The Mosaic Masterminds team consists of a network of talented and experienced educators who are passionate about helping others learn. Its back-to-basics model allows for diverse instruction approaches and facilitates creative learning. The Mosaic Masterminds tutoring network operates differently from other educational support service companies that may use uniform approaches to tutoring all students. We believe in personalized sessions in caring environments where students can focus according to their learning styles and needs.

In 2018 Asia opened the Norwest Gallery of Art a community-based contemporary art museum that focuses on art from the African Diaspora. As founder and director Asia chose to locate the Norwest Gallery of Art in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood of Detroit because the community had been overlooked in the recent revitalization efforts that focused primarily on the downtown area. Asia also lives and grew up where the Gallery is, and so understands as a resident as well as a business owner the importance of having a viable, vibrant, walkable business community to advance the people. The Gallery has turned the neighborhood into an international hub for contemporary art with plans to expand its efforts as a staple for creative arts and culture in the community. Asia has also participated in many community arts projects, and is a 2018 and 2021 Knight Arts Challenge winner.

Chantele Jones is the founder and CEO of Estella’s Vegan Dessert Boutique, Detroit’s first all vegan bakery. Our mission is to redefine the dessert experience by bridging healthier options with delicious flavors. Estella’s Vegan Dessert Boutique was founded in 2020, during the pandemic, to solve the problem of their being a lack of quality and delicious vegan baked goods. As founder and CEO of Estella’s Vegan Dessert Boutique, Chantele oversees the day to day operations. Ensuring emails are responded to and orders are fulfilled. Chantele believes that by providing healthier choices, we empower our communities to lead happier, stronger, and more balanced lives. To date, Estella’s Vegan Dessert Boutique has been recognized by PETA for they’re red velvet pound cake and featured in VegNews, Crains Detroit, The Michigan Chronicle, and Travel Niore.

Charlita Knox is a certified pastry chef from Schoolcraft College and the owner of Crummies Sweets And Treats LLC DBA Crummy's Cake Supply & Studio. She specializes in custom scratch cakes and offers cake supplies and classes for those interested in learning baking and decorating from scratch. Charlita's passion for baking began in her childhood when her grandmother taught her how to bake from scratch. As an adult, Charlita honors her grandmother's legacy by sharing her teachings and recipes with other bakers around metro Detroit.

Crystal Angel is the founder and CEO of ANGELS ONLY. Her mission is to disrupt the medical apparel industry by providing modern stylish uniforms that give women in healthcare confidence and a sense of expression! ANGELS ONLY was founded in 2020 during the pandemic after working in healthcare at DMC’s Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. As founder & CEO of ANGELS ONLY, Crystal oversees all aspects of the business currently ranging from marketing, fulfillment, content creation and customer service. Crystal believes that after working in healthcare and wearing scrub uniforms herself it is important to feel your very best on the job ;because when you look good you feel good and when you feel good, you perform better! To date, Crystal has been recognized by the Detroit Pistons, Shea Moisture, Business Insider, and many large platforms after her numerous viral videos

A Vibrant Destination wedding planning, corporate event management, and event branding studio focusing on well-organized planning, strong execution, stylish design, and most importantly—YOU! Crystal Marie’s day to day duties include researching, selecting and reserving venues, negotiating contracts, creating detailed run of shows, securing various permits/licenses, coordinating logistics, managing budgets, cybersecurity updates, and ensuring that all aspects are seamless. This requires soliciting bids, writing RFPs, comparing services and costs, and signing service contracts. Crystal Marie is a risk taker and believes when fear is staring her in the face, she believes in three core values that still steer her business today—fearless, focused, and feminine. Crystal Marie Events has been awarded Couple’s Choice 2023, Top Ranked Wedding Vendors in 2022, 2020 Wedding Rule Editor’s Choice Awards, Best of Detroit Event Planners in 2019 and 2015 and the Brand It Well Award in 2017. Crystal Marie and her clients have been featured in Essence Magazine, Michigan Meeting + Events Magazine, The Michigan Chronicle, LadyBossBlogger.com and The Detroit Free Press. Crystal Marie received her Bachelors of Science Degree from Virginia Union University in 2004 and Nutrition and Food Science from Madonna University in 2009. She is also an author of three event related books which has deemed her as an event expert around the globe.

Establishing Blue Dove Pharmacy on a foundation of community altruism, Jacqueline Mbwille Sakaya is a longstanding pharmacy professional with over 19+ years of experience optimizing practice compliances, improving team unification/diversity, and advancing new levels of patient care. Originally from Tanzania and coming to the US in pursuit of a better life and opportunity, Jacqueline has brought with her an innate value of hard work and perseverance. Her vision to foster larger-picture change became the catalyst for Jacqueline to earn her Doctor of Pharmacy at Howard University College of Pharmacy in 2004, along with a Healthcare MBA from George Washington University in 2021. Furthermore, Jacqueline undertook advanced certifications in Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacist Immunization Delivery. Since then, Jacqueline made Belleville, Michigan her home and has worked in several practices, to later blending that dynamicity to develop Blue Dove Pharmacy in 2020. Collectively, Jacqueline’s unprecedented efforts in optimizing practice ethics, patient care, and field diversity have led to measurable results. This includes closing gaps between individualized care and department development, sales performance increases, forming mutually respected community connections, and highlighting the notions of sustainable growth through intentional integrity. In addition, this has led to her earning awarded recognition by Walgreens for excellent customer service and for her dedication to academic success and support of the Howard University Center of Excellent Programs. Alongside operating Blue Dove Pharmacy, Jacqueline serves as a preceptor for PharmD students at the University of Michigan and Wayne State College of Pharmacy, is an active member of the Michigan Pharmacy Association, the American Pharmacist Association, the Westland Chambers of Commerce, and is a board member of the nonprofit DCDI. In addition, Jacqueline is a service volunteer at the MPA Government affair Committee and the MPA Public affair Committee.

Janelle Wilson is the owner of Loving Locks an independent company providing Sisterlocks® services, products, classes, space share (chair rental)/ private suite rental, and mentorships. At Loving Locks LLC, our mission is dedicated to providing exceptional Sisterlocks® services, premium products, comprehensive classes, flexible space share options, and mentorship opportunities. We celebrate and nurture the beauty of natural hair while fostering a supportive and inclusive community for people with tightly textured hair." "Empowering Natural Beauty Through Education, Innovation, and Community The company was founded after I became a certified Sisterlocks consultant in 2008 and an LLC in 2016. I left a government job in 2020 to provide Sisterlocks services full time, and train for the National Sisterlocks organization.My role as owner covers many responsibilities, such as customer experience, providing services, scheduling, teaching classes, managing rentals, and mentoring new students. Janelle envisions a future where natural hair is celebrated and embraced, where our Sisterlocks® services, premium products, educational classes, versatile space-sharing options, and mentorship programs inspire confidence, creativity, and community. To date Janelle Wilson has been a guest on Fox 2 New "The Noon" to talk about business. She has been featured on Every Strand Counts with Dana Wilson host. Janelle is a 2024 awardee of the SBDC Best Small Business by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.

Jazmine Vila is the dedicated Founder of Social Solutions, a leading virtual assistance and social media management agency. Her mission is to empower entrepreneurs by providing efficient virtual assistance and effective social media management services. Social Solutions was founded in 2022 when Jazmine recognized the need for small businesses to streamline administrative tasks and enhance their online presence. As founder and CEO of Social Solutions, Jazmine oversees all business aspects, ensuring clients receive exceptional service tailored to their needs. Jazmine believes in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital age, enabling them to focus on what they do best.

Lakeshia “K.Jai” King is the founder and owner of Verbatim, LLC, a custom print apparel business…where the journey of women is empowered through words on all forms on wearables like, Tshirts, hoodies, hats, jackets and more. Her mission is to advance self expressionism, while resolving limited beliefs for women who may feel silenced, hopeless and vocally oppressed. Verbatim was founded in January of 2021 by K.Jai King who oversees the operations and day to day business. K.Jai believes that Verbatim fills the gap on how society views the lifelong journey of women. By offering women the opportunity to reclaim their voices through art, the power of words and quality clothing for all sizes. K.Jai has been featured on WDIV Channel 4 Live in the D (2023) and in Visit Detroit for the Cadillac Square holiday market (2023). The Detroit Free Press and downtown Detroit Partnership for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Patricia (Trish) Carruth is a third generation jeweler and Owner of Your Personal Jeweler. Taking her passion for fine jewelry and love of the wedding industry her business specializes in creating bespoke engagement rings & wedding bands that tell her clients unique love stories. Recently her love of design has expanded & she has started creating collections of her own. Her latest collection, Le Saphir, debuted at JCK Las Vegas 2022 and is comprised of teal sapphire engagement rings. Her expertise has earned her numerous accolades, including winning the prestigious BIJC's Together By Design competition and Jewelers of America 20 under 40. Trish continues to push boundaries and redefine personalized luxury. Her downtown Royal Oak showroom is home to her many designs as well as other rising designers. Her unconventional approach to how a jewelry store should function has drawn in clients from all over applauding her attention to a personalized experience.

Princess Castleberry, CEO of Castleberry Global, leads a wellness and risk management speaking, training, and consulting firm established in 2019. Initially a fractional risk and HR consultancy, the firm pivoted during the pandemic to meet demand. Princess's expertise led to features in Fast Company and TEDxDetroit, sparking her passion for professional speaking and facilitation. She developed the leadership model "Every Leader is a Risk Manager™" and several signature programs, steering the firm toward collaborative learning experiences for large organizations at various events. As the founder and CEO, Princess manages instructional design, delivers live and virtual performances, and forges strategic partnerships. She believes wellness and risk management are vital for prosperous lives and organizations, asserting that equipped leaders make sound decisions, manage stress, and resolve conflicts effectively. She is recognized as a Comcast R.I.S.E. Grant Recipient and holds WBE, MBE, and WOSB certifications. Featured in Fast Company, Supply and Demand Chain Executive, and Benefits Pro, Princess is a sought-after speaker internationally.

Sandra C. Kelley is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Prestige Promotions, LLC, a leading provider of promotional products and innovative branding solutions tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, colleges, and universities. Her mission is to forge enduring partnerships with clients, empowering their marketing and branding strategies as an integral extension of their team. Founded in 2004, Sandra's strong entrepreneurial spirit and extensive experience with GM propelled her to establish the company. As COO, Sandra strategically drives the company’s growth, manages comprehensive order processes, and cultivates client relationships. Sandra believes that business growth is built on relationships, and that successful businesses are based on trust, and a deep understanding of client needs. Sandra was privileged to serve as the 2021 President of the Michigan Promotional Professionals Association and has been honored with nominations for the Minority-Owned Business of the Year in 2022 and 2023 by the Flint & Genesee Chamber reflecting her commitment to excellence and leadership.

Shonna Amos is the Founder and Principal Consultant at EWP Coaching and Consulting. EWP’s mission is to support organizations and entrepreneurs with professional and leadership development that goes beyond theory and mantras. EWP was founded in December of 2021 when Shonna was led by a deep desire to Explore What’s Possible®. Compelled to connect to her professional passion and support a diverse set of clients, the company officially launched in March of 2022. As the Founder and Principal Consultant, Shonna oversees business development and program development, delivery, and evaluation. Shonna believes that taking the time to truly listen to the needs of her customers allows EWP to create customized solutions that support sustainable learning, growth, and change. Shonna has been featured on numerous podcasts, was named a Top Coach in Detroit in 2022, served as a visiting Coaching Expert for Morning Brew Learning’s leadership development programs, and is currently serving her third term on the Board of Directors for the International Coaching Federation’s Michigan Chapter.