Five minority entrepreneurs successfully completed the Minority Entrepreneurship Training Accelerator (META) pilot program, a transformative experience developed to equip participants with the business acumen, connections, and resources to grow their businesses. Designed to uplift underrepresented businesses in Queen Anne’s County, META provided these entrepreneurs with tailored mentoring, networking, and group training opportunities, empowering them to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth within their respective industries.
Heather Tinelli, Director of Economic and Tourism Development for QACETD, says, “The META pilot program was an outstanding platform to support minority entrepreneurs in Queen Anne’s County. It is fitting that, as we celebrate Black-owned Business Month this August, we shine a light on our impressive META participants and celebrate their remarkable contributions to our community!”
The META pilot program, developed by the Upper Shore Community Development Partnership and Rivers and Roads Consulting, aimed to foster a more equitable and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem in Queen Anne’s County. In December 2023, QACETD invited minority-owned businesses with annual revenues no higher than $22,000 to apply to the program. The response was encouraging, indicating a strong interest and need for such initiatives in Queen Anne’s County.
Funded by Queen Anne’s County Economic and Tourism Development (QACETD), Upper Shore Regional Council, and the Maryland Department of Commerce through the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund, the pilot program ran from February to August 2024. It allowed five small, minority-owned businesses to receive personalized coaching, develop business plans, create marketing materials, and build key connections with local banks, bookkeepers, and other important service providers. The participants included:
- Moniesha Baynard, Owner of Three Guys and a Girl Personal Chef and Catering
- Diane Moorman-White, Owner of DMW Soul Fitness
- Timeka Wheeler, Owner of Long Live Assisted Living
- Deayna Ewell, Owner of Onyx Beauty Supply Salon Barbershop
- Ebony Johnson, Owner of Tips & Toes Nail Studio
The program began with each participant engaging in group educational sessions and one-on-one meetings with coach Sam Shoge of Rivers and Roads Consulting. They shared their personal stories, missions, and goals before addressing specific business challenges.
Diane Moorman-White transitioned from a thirty-six-year veterinary career to establish DMW Soul Fitness, where she offers line dancing classes along the Eastern Shore, including at the Kent Island Senior Center.
“When I found META, I had already started my business, but I didn’t realize what my value was and could see myself giving away free classes,” said Moorman-White. “The META coaching sessions have been amazing and have really helped me understand the value of my services and how to market them.”
Timeka Wheeler, a longtime healthcare professional and Owner of Long Live Assisted Living, joined the program to help her open an assisted living facility in Queenstown, Maryland. She shares, “Sam really escorted us through each stage of entrepreneurship and how to confidently walk away from this course knowing that we can, hands down, become entrepreneurs.”
META has also strengthened services that directly support residents of color in Queen Anne’s County.
“When we opened our business, we really thought about our community and what was needed here,” said Deayna Ewell, Owner of Onyx Beauty Supply Salon Barbershop. “Onyx caters to all textures of hair and was created out of wanting a space for beauty that unified everyone in the community.”
“It is awesome that this program is here in Queen Anne’s County because it is much needed,” added Ewell. “As a minority business, and also being in contact with other businesses, I think this support is critical in getting the training and resources to become an entrepreneur. META served that purpose.”
The pilot program also gave participants insights from local banks, bookkeepers, insurance providers, and attorneys. Each business owner will receive a micro-grant of $4,000 to support their strategic growth initiatives.
Ebony Johnson, Owner of Tips & Toes Nail Studio, highlighted the value of understanding business fundamentals. “I learned the importance of being a limited liability company (LLC) and gained critical financial knowledge, from loans and credit to outside factors that are very important to consider,” she said. “For me, some of the challenges that I faced before META was knowing where to start my business. META has helped me establish a base, market to certain demographics, and gain more clientele.”
Niesh Baynard wanted to establish repeat customers for her private catering business, Three Guys and a Girl Personal Chef and Catering, which provides prepared meals to help customers avoid food waste through portion control.
Baynard explained, “META helped me create my niche as a meal prep business and find my audience. Before, my audience was anybody who was hungry. Now, my audience is those who are too busy to cook for themselves and are tired of fast food. I’ve been learning how to rebrand myself to bring out my best.” She adds, “My revenue and networking have increased. In the next couple of years, I plan to open an event space with a commercial kitchen to further the business.”
Wheeler finished, “[META] is life-changing in the sense of education that you can take with you throughout your life and into other business ventures.”
Rebecca Clark, QACETD’s Economic Development Administrator, impresses, “Our team is incredibly proud of the META pilot program participants! These remarkable entrepreneurs have taken a monumental step in growing their businesses, and we are honored to play a part in their journey. It’s been a joy to watch them learn and thrive, and we look forward to seeing them make an even bigger impact in our community.”
Building on the outstanding success of the initial program, QACETD is actively pursuing ongoing funding to sustain the META program, further empowering minority entrepreneurs in Queen Anne’s County to elevate their businesses to new heights.
Discover other business support initiatives in Queen Anne’s County, and read other blogs here.
Categories: Economic Development, Press Release