Local & Thriving

Mr. Hubbard is the CEO of Nexus PMG, a leading infrastructure advisory and project development organization dedicated to reducing carbon intensity and enhancing resource efficiency. Mr. Hubbard cut his teeth managing domestic and international high-profile projects, acting in various roles for a global Engineering & Construction firm. After co-founding Nexus PMG in 2013, Mr. Hubbard developed deep knowledge of investment underwriting, empowering the firm to bridge the gap between project development and project finance. His powerful ability to translate strategic organizational goals into clear operational plans has led to measurable results for the growing firm. Mr. Hubbard maintains a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University, and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. He also serves as an investment committee member of Nexus Dev, a development capital provider to renewable and circular economy assets. To learn more, sponsor the show, or recommend a guest visit www.localandthriving.com, follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram, or join our private Facebook group!

Mishty is a skilled attorney with over 15 years of practice experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. She Teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution as an Adjunct Professor with the UNT School of Law. She co-founded the Dallas law firm of LaSusa & Deb, PLLC and specializes in providing legal counsel to small businesses. She has worked on multiple complex litigation cases and is an active advocate for alternative dispute conflict resolution methods, holding current certificates in mediation. She is a volunteer mediator with the SMU dispute resolution center in Plano and also volunteers with the Dallas County Dispute Resolution Center. She also mediates all types of legal cases from divorce to insurance. To learn more about Local & Thriving, apply to be a guest or inquire about sponsoring the show...visit www.localandthriving.com or follow us on Instagram @localandthriving

"To meet Val Jean-Bart of Val’s Cheesecakes is to adore him. Since opening up his namesake storefront on Maple Avenue in 2015, Jean-Bart has become a dessert supplier for some of Dallas’ most well-known establishments, like Terrili’s, Opening Bell Coffee and more. His company’s growth is a direct result of his enthusiasm for his craft and his desire to keep his customers happy with a magical mixture of sugar, eggs, cream cheese, lemon and “lots of love.” And even more endearing is how he got into the trade — by making cheesecakes with his mother for four years as she battled terminal breast cancer and continuing to do so after her death as a means of honoring her legacy." He baked in the basement of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and sold cheesecakes to restaurants until opening his own bakery on Maple Avenue in 2015. A location on Greenville Avenue followed in 2017. What's more is his background (and skills he keeps fresh) is as a civil engineering leader with over 20 years of experience in roadway, utility design, master planning, asset management, marketing, sales and business development. Before starting Val's Cheesecakes, he has been an Asset Risk Manager with North Texas Municipal Water District, and a Civil Engineer with the City of Arlington. He has a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from University of Florida.

Shanthi Rajaram is Principal and Co-Founder of Amazech Solutions and is the new President of the DFW Alliance of Technology and Women (DFW*ATW). She is an entrepreneur, technologist and problem-solver with over 20 years of experience in areas of business management, developing and driving strategic initiatives, technology adoption, software development, selling and implementing IT solutions for various clients. She demonstrates trust, accountability, thought leadership, customer-centric approach in all areas of work. Before stepping in as President, Shanthi served as Treasurer and headed the recognition & advocacy committee for DFW*ATW. Shanthi also serves on the board of Tech Titans and Frisco Chamber of Commerce, she is an active member and volunteer with the US India Chamber of Commerce DFW, and she’s been honored at the North Texas Women In Technology Awards.

Zarin Gracey is an experienced Executive Public Administrator with a demonstrated history of working in local government. He is skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Cash Flow, Budgeting, Analytical Skills, and Government (Economic Development, Treasury, and Procurement). Zarin is a strong program and project management professional with a Master of Arts (M.A.) focused in Organizational Leadership and an executive education from Harvard Kennedy School with a focus on State and Local Government.  Zarin planned, developed, and implemented the strategic plan for the new Office of Business Diversity for the City of Dallas. He created, facilitated, and successfully launched the City’s first Business Diversity Taskforce through established relationships with chambers of commerce, contractor’s associations, trade organizations, non-profits, elected officials, and small business owners to identify ways in which the Office of Business Diversity can create opportunity and build capacity for small businesses through strategic partnerships while ensuring diversity is important to all businesses and organizations doing business with and in the City of Dallas. Zarin works with internal departments to align departmental objectives to better serve the City’s business community. Zarin also works closely with the City Attorney’s office to ensure compliance with state laws and local City ordinances. He plans, coordinates, and presents various public events and trainings in multiple City Council districts for their constituents. Overall, Zarin oversees two divisions consisting of nine employees, developed and manages a $1.5M two-year budget for the new Office of Business Diversity and manages 6 direct reports.

Stephanie Alsbrooks Hanson is an executive business leader, principal consultant, and board member. Stephanie is the highly regarded founder and former CEO of defi Solutions, an industry-leading cloud-based solution for originating and servicing consumer loans that disrupted an established marketplace using cutting-edge technology. She successfully raised funding from Bain Capital Ventures and drew over 100 lenders to its mission and platform before merging the business with Sagent Lending Technologies in 2019. Hanson was recognized as E&Y’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner for the Southwest Region in 2017 and was named a ‘40 Under 40’ Honoree by Dallas Business Journal in 2014. As of February 24th 2021, Tricolor, a tech-enabled Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and the nation’s largest used vehicle retailer and lender for the Hispanic consumer, announced that it has named Stephanie as President of newly formed Tricolor Financial. As part of its mission to transform consumer credit for underserved Hispanic consumers, the new venture will extend the company’s proprietary AI-powered technology through a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. Stephanie helps companies reach lofty objectives and create value with a repeatable, scalable, and sustainable approach. She excels at building, funding, and positioning commercially successful business operations, elevating the profile of organizations in highly competitive markets, and most importantly creating thriving company cultures that amplify results and maximize revenue. Leveraging wide-ranging experience gained as a successful and award-winning entrepreneur, she currently serves as a thought leader and advisor working to help companies disrupt markets, move faster, and win bigger.

Known for her insightfulness, candor, and passion, Jennifer Carter is a proven leader specializing in leadership and business transformation. Throughout her lengthy career, she’s helped build brands, products, cultures, and leaders. Regardless of her role, she’s consistently had a passion for helping others unleash their potential – particularly women in business. Combined with her expertise in business strategy and leadership development, this passion has led her to help companies build strong pipelines of female leaders, and to help women shatter barriers both personally and professionally. Jennifer is President and co-owner of EWF International, a Dallas-based leadership development company dedicated to increasing the number of women in business leadership. She is also a Partner at Diversity Crew, a consortium of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professionals focused on helping companies create equity for an incredible tapestry of humans. Jennifer is a writer and frequent speaker on women in business, business strategy, career navigation, and business culture transformation. She’s an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and a member of the Dallas Business Journal’s Leadership Trust. She’s part of a double-entrepreneur household with her husband Jack, loves to lavish attention on her 5 grandsons / godsons, and is always on the lookout for partnerships and opportunities to help change the world. Learn more about Local & Thriving at localandthriving.com.

Today I talked with Foodbitch who is an expert eater and published food writer who lives here in Dallas, TX with her exceptionally well-fed twin daughters, husband and their dogs. She’ll tell you what to eat and you’ll like it! She has over 50,000 followers on Instagram, writes for Eater Dallas, Central Track, Dallas Observer and has a background as an advertising copywriter and Creative Director. Learn more about Local & Thriving at www.localandthriving.com.

Benjamin J. Vann is the Founder and CEO of Impact Ventures, a 501c3 startup accelerator with a mission to empower talented, yet under-resourced women and entrepreneurs of color to build generational wealth through inclusive entrepreneurship and integrated capital. Since 2017, Impact Ventures has partnered with some of the most notable Fortune 500 companies, national organizations, and global brands to serve over 2800 people, including 220 students through mentorship, events, workshops, themed hackathons, and 135 entrepreneurs through technical assistance, mentorship, and access to capital to raise $478,000+ and create 46 new jobs. Benjamin brings over a dozen years of professional expertise in finance, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and impact investing, combined with deep grass root social sector experience in community organizing, civic engagement, and non-profit management. He is also the President and CEO of TVG Enterprises, an investment and strategic advisory firm focused on providing innovative solutions in the areas of strategy, business development, technology integration, and capital formation. Previously, he worked as Finance Manager atGood Returns Group, a global social enterprise startup working to transform corporate philanthropy through impact investing and micro-lending. He worked as the North Texas Philanthropy Officer atThe Trust for Public Land, Fundraising Associate atFidelity Charitable, managing the world’s largest Donor Advised Fund, and spent 3.5 years as a Financial Analyst atFidelity Investments. As a dedicated servant leader, Benjamin currently serves as an executive board member for theAssociation of Fundraising Professionals(AFP)Greater Dallas Chapter and The Dallas Foundations Good Works Under 40 Selection Committee. He previously served as aCity of Dallas appointee to the South Dallas Fair Park Opportunity Fund, South Dallas Fair Park TIF Board, Bishop Arts Theatre Center, Anthem Strong Families, DISD Innovation Design Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA), and Aspire — Fidelity Investment Regional African American and Latino Employee Resource Group. In 2015, he launched the Dallas County Civic Alliance, a citywide Get Out The Vote Initiative that resulted in registering over 10,000 residents in Dallas County. He is also a member, volunteer and supporter of the DFW Urban League Young Professionals, NSBE DFW, and The NAACP Dallas Chapter. Benjamin has received a number of awards and recognition by both regional and national media and news publications. He is a member of the SMU Hunt Institute of Engineering Inclusive Economies Consortium (IEC), a 2020 Boston Impact Initiative Fund Building Fellow and was named top 50 Future Innovators of DFW in 2020 Dallas Innovates Magazine. He is also a 2018World Economic Forum Global Shaper Fellow, Partner atDallas Social Venture Partners, 2016 Dana Juett Social Venture Resident, and 2015Mayor’s Star Council Alumni. In 2019, he was nominated forCosign Magazine’s Tech Innovator and Public Figure of the Year Award, as well as Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2017. Awarded DFW Urban League Business of the Month, In 2016, he was featured in the 3rd and 4th edition of Who’s Who in Black Dallas Publication, In 2015, he awarded 40 under 40 Future Leaders in Dallas by i10 Magazine, named top 28 #BlackDFWMatters influencers, and featured on the cover of Be Great Magazine, Dallas Millennials Edition. Benjamin is a Midwest native of Wichita, KS and earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Washburn University, where he was also a standout Defensive Back. Benjamin also played professional football in the Indoor Football League (IFL) for the Kansas Koyotes and was the Defensive Coordinator at Highland Park High School in Topeka, Ks. He is a self-taught musician of four instruments, avid vinyl collector, and a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated.

Trey Bowles is Cofounder and Executive Chairman of the Dallas Entrepreneur (DEC) Center where he recently stepped out of his role as CEO. At The DEC lead strategy, vision, and drove the overall planning and development efforts for the DEC. Bowles cofounded and launched the Dallas Innovation Alliance, a public partnership to develop a Smart Cities initiative for the City of Dallas. Bowles is cofounder and Chairman of the Mayor’s Star Council which is created with City of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings to engage culturally diverse and civically minded group of young professions to make impact on the city. Trey launched an entrepreneurship department at SMU in the Meadows School of Arts where he still serves as an adjunct professor and most recently Bowles helped relaunch the next stage of the Startup America Partnership as the Startup Champions Network. SCN is national network of professional ecosystem builders working together to support entrepreneurs in their local regions. Most recently Bowles was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) as a special government employee by Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Bowles, a serial entrepreneur, having built numerous organizations in both the for-profit and non-profit space, lives in Dallas, TX with his bride and three kids. Learn more about Local & Thriving on our website at localandthriving.com, find us on social media and join our private Facebook group. Instagram @localandthriving Facebook @localandthriving Twitter @localnthriving LinkedIn @localandthriving

Jason Straughan is the CEO of Codeup, a career accelerator that uses an immersive approach to training software development to students with little to no prior programming experience. Jason is the former CEO of Grok Interactive and continues to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Tech Bloc, is an active member in Vistage, a TechStars Mentor, and a Disney parks enthusiast.

*Throwback Bonus* Branding Your Business with Michelle Wintersteen by Bri Crow & Company

Developing, launching, and strategically building businesses is the common thread tying together Tom Foley's 20+ years of professional work. In 2017, Tom directed his efforts to designing innovative, social entrepreneurial models to close the gender and racial wealth gap. Tom launched The Study USA, established through a public- private partnership with the City of Irving, focusing on growing women-owned businesses. Concurrently, Tom founded On PAR – Parity through Access & Realism – to address corporate gender parity and create courageous conversation, including engaging men in the mission. Tom is partners with Tiffany Derry, Top-Chef, in the Roots brand, including Roots Chicken Shak and the soon-to-be opened Roots Southern Table. Our “table” is welcoming and diverse, combining culinary skills with social impact. Tom also leads the entrepreneurial program at Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in south Dallas, where Tom has the opportunity to pilot disruptive educational models to enhance the student’s opportunities upon graduation. Tom regularly speaks on gender parity and facilitates workshops for corporations aiming to advance their diversity culture. Tom is a Fellow for the Dallas Economic Leadership Academy through the Aspen Institute, adjunct faculty at Dallas County Community College, and Of Counsel at Wright Connatser. Tom earned his J.D. from the Villanova University School of Law and his B.A. from Colgate University. Tom lives in Dallas, TX with his wife, Roopa, and two children.

Megan Smith is a multi-faceted creative, working in community building, event production, digital design, and podcasting. She is the owner of In the Air Balloons and co-founder of The Hoppy Hound. As the host of CreativeMornings/Dallas, Megan produces a monthly breakfast lecture for the creative community. CreativeMornings believes that everyone is creative, and aspires to shine a light on innovative and inspirational people within the local community.This is a joy- because Dallas is filled with amazing talent! A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, in the field of education, Megan brings her love of learning to all her endeavors. She is always looking for a good book recommendation.

Leah Frazier is a 2-Time Emmy Award-Winning entrepreneur and was recognized as one of Dallas' most successful women for 2015. She is a multi-licensed attorney turned fashion and marketing guru, who unapologetically left the practice of law to pursue her fashion ventures. In 2020, Leah was recognized by Dallas Innovates as one of the Future 50 Leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth for tech, innovation and disruption. Leah has built a multi-faceted empire as an award-winning fashion journalist, media personality, celebrity stylist, digital marketing expert, and in-demand fashion consultant to notable brands. She has been honored as one of the best wardrobe stylists in Dallas, and recently led the styling initiatives for the Emmy and 5-Time Addy Award-Winning #IAMUP campaign for WFAA Channel 8. Leah is the CEO and proud owner of Think Three Media – a creative marketing agency focused in the areas of content marketing, social media marketing, and public relations services for brands spanning the industries of fashion, beauty, public speaking, the performing arts, food, lifestyle, and more. Her work has been featured and mentioned on Vogue.com, NBC, CW, CBS Local, Chase TV, Fox TV, Good Morning Texas, Haute Living Magazine, and many other outlets as an expert in fashion and entrepreneurship. Leah has cultivated top-tier partnerships with Belk, Cantu Beauty, Marshall's, Via Spiga, Vogue, Brahmin, Neiman Marcus, Warner Bros., Shoedazzle, Yosi Samra Shoes, and more. Leah co-authored her first book in 2018, The Success Factor, which reached #1 as a Best Seller for Women and Business reads, and was also awarded an African-American Literary Award. She is currently working on her second book to be released at the latter part of 2020.

Tarsha Polk currently serves as the Director of the LiftFund DFW Women’s Business Center. At the WBC, her team provides support and guidance to entrepreneurs seeking to start or grow their businesses, and connect them to business and financial resources in their community. She is professionally known as The Marketing Lady. She is an experienced professional with over 20 years of combined marketing, sales, corporate training and entrepreneurial expertise. She is an engage member of the Dallas business community; has received numerous awards and held a variety of leadership roles. In her free time, she volunteers with organizations helping high school students learn about entrepreneurship.

Erin Gregor is from the Entrepreneur world. Having sold a couple of businesses, she now focuses on helping companies grow through content and social media marketing. But she also helps expand their outside the box thinking by introducing innovating companies to the businesses that need them. Syya Yasotornrat is a seasoned professional with 24+ years in technology sales, recruiting, and hospitality for companies including SonicWALL, Hewlett-Packard and Disney Corp. She has worked with a diverse range of customers from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies on many innovative technologies that are ubiquitous today. She has two great dogs, Ellis and Ripley (one of Erin’s foster dogs), and can be seen at many a local music venues in the DFW area.

Jonathan Chavez is a Dallas-based venture associate for Capital Factory, the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas. Jonathan spends his time sourcing tech startups for Capital Factory's accelerator program and fund. Prior to Capital Factory, Jonathan spent six years in banking, most recently with J.P. Morgan's Technology & Disruptive Commerce Group, and Wells Fargo prior to that role. Additionally, Jonathan was part of the founding team of Neu Robotics, an autonomous UAV robotics company; his roles included business development, fundraising, and operations. Jonathan graduated from The University of Tennessee's Global Leadership Scholars program with a degree in finance/economics/international business. He's an avid music fan who spends a lot of his free time (pre-Covid) attending live music events and music festivals. He is also a big gamer.

Start here for Volume 1 - This breaks down how this production came about, what we're passionate about, who it features, and who we serve. *Updated this recording Monday, 6/3/2020.