Meet the Instructors
Want to know more about the instructors who are teaching the courses at the Center for Entrepreneurs? Let's get to know them and their businesses.
- Tamsin Astor
- Evan Brown
- Nada Djordjevich
- Tina Peery Gholson
- Howard Kass
- Charron Leeper
- Hubert Littleton
- Sharia Livingston
- Gina Merritt
- Ryan Morgan
- Amy Neumann
- Mike Nwankwo
- Jim Odom
- Cheryl Perez
- Johnie Reed
- Josh Troche
Business Type: Coach, professional speaker, trainer and facilitator
Website: tamsinastor.com
How Long in Business: 8-10 years
Biography:
Tamsin Astor, Ph.D., is the founder and chief habit scientist of Yoga Brained Coaching. She is known for giving her clients the tools to shift their mindset, organize their vision and improve their habits to create a productive, joyful life and business.
Prior to coaching, Astor was an academic and later a consultant, using yoga and meditation to support children, therapists, teachers and students on the ADHD and autism spectrum in inner-city schools.
Astor holds a doctorate in neuroscience and psychology and a postdoctorate in education. She also has certifications in yoga, mindset and Ayurveda. She is an executive coach and the author of the book Force of Habit: Unleash Your Power by Developing Great Habits.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I struggled and found solutions to my struggles. I realized that I could combine a variety of my different solutions together to serve others.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Get into communities that are supportive but will challenge you to step into bigger and bigger variations of yourself.
2024 Workshop Series Courses:
- May 7: Success Habits for Entrepreneurs
- Coming Soon: The Art of Building a Successful Business Through Sustainable Customer Relationships
Business Name: Vision Birthers, Vision Birthers Publishing
Business Type: Digital marketing/social media marketing strategy
Website: coachev.com
How Long in Business: 4-7 years
Biography:
Evan S. Brown, affectionately known as "Coach Ev," is an entrepreneurial mastermind who helps business owners, organizations and personal brands expand their reach and revenue simultaneously. He is the CEO and founder of Vision Birthers, a consulting firm that focuses on providing strategies and solutions for business owners looking to elevate their confidence, identify new opportunities and shift tax brackets. He also owns Vision Birthers Publishing, a full-service book publishing company designed to package Black brilliance, knowledge and wisdom in book form for the world to consume. He is also the visionary of E.I.T.M. (Entrepreneurs in the Making), a program designed to teach Black and brown kids the foundations of entrepreneurship and business startup.
2024 Workshop Series Course:
Teaches a Discovery Track for Entrepreneurs course
Business Name: Nada Djordjevich Consulting
Business Type: Soft-skill performance improvement, including consulting, design and facilitation
How Long in Business: More than 11 years
Biography:
Nada Djordjevich was employed by Ohio Savings Bank for eight years and Key Bank for nine years before starting her own training and consulting business. She has trained and coached hundreds of employees in the Greater Cleveland area and provides performance improvement, instructional design and facilitation solutions to leading organizations.
Djordjevich works with clients to design and facilitate employee and leadership training that meets their current and anticipated business needs. She is an engaging instructor with outstanding interpersonal communication skills, dedicated to improving performance. Her strong work ethic and business experience add value to an organization’s bottom line.
What do you wish someone would have told you when you were starting your business?
Be patient. It takes time to build your entrepreneur skill set and client base.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Stay the course. Success comes in many aspects — some small wins, some large!
2024 Workshop Series Courses:
- Mar. 5: Time and Priority Management
- Coming Soon: Communication Styles
- Coming Soon: Customer Service Professional Series: Connecting With Customers
- Coming Soon: Customer Service Professional Series: Service Essentials
- Coming Soon: Customer Service Professional Series: Service Recovery
Business Name: TPG & Associates
Business Type: Payroll and HR consulting
Email: TinaPGholson@gmail.com
How Long in Business: More than 11 years
Biography:
Tina Gholson has over 40 years of management experience in payroll and human resources. She has worked in the health care, manufacturing, payroll service bureau and financial services industries. Her most recent role involves managing the payroll department for JACK Entertainment.
Gholson has also been an active member of the PayrollOrg’s (formerly American Payroll Association) Greater Cleveland Chapter for over 40 years. She is currently the chapter’s vice president and served as its president for two terms. In addition, she served as the chair of the Ohio Conference for Payroll Professionals, the annual Ohio statewide payroll conference.
In 2015, PayrollOrg awarded her the Meritorious Service Award, and she was inducted into the APA Hall of Fame for her contributions to the association and the payroll profession. She is currently an instructor for the PayrollOrg Pay Train program at Tri-C’s Corporate College.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I decided to become an entrepreneur because of my passion for the payroll profession and my desire to share the knowledge I have gained over the last 40 years as a trusted advisor and educator.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Seek out people who know more than you do, get a good attorney and underpromise and overdeliver. Always remember that you can do anything you set your mind to do.
2024 Workshop Series Course:
Business Name: Tri-C Staff for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Business Type: Teaching entrepreneurs how to grow and better manage their businesses
Website: tri-c.edu/10ksb
Biography:
Howard J. Kass spent 43 years in public accounting, serving as a tax partner at Unger, Krause & Associates Inc. and, most recently, at Zinner & Co. LLP. During his career, Kass cultivated a wide range of expertise in virtually every aspect of individual and business taxation, estate, gift and trust taxation and tax-exempt organizations.
In addition to holding memberships in the American Institute of CPAs and the Ohio Society of CPAs, Kass served in the leadership of the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland and the Society of Financial Service Professionals.
Over his career, Kass has authored numerous articles on business and taxation for a wide variety of publications and websites. He has also lectured on multiple business and tax issues before a variety of professional and business organizations.
Kass has a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Kent State University.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve in your business and be clear as to where the startup funding will come from.
2024 Workshop Series Course:
Business Name: Agency Thirty Three, Perfect Pineapple
Business Type: Marketing, design and advertising
How Long in Business: 1-3 years
Do you own any other businesses?
Biography:
Charron Leeper is a versatile creative and entrepreneur. She serves as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Agency Thirty Three, a startup creative agency, and the creator of Perfect Pineapple®, a head wrap and hair accessory brand established in 2018. Charron is dedicated to building equity for underrepresented and marginalized communities. Her fervor for fashion and modeling has led to styling features in New York Magazine's "Women in Power issue" (October 2018), Essence Online, and New York Fashion Week Street Style.As a signed model at Docherty Agency, Charron has graced campaigns for JoAnn Fabrics, Big Lots Purell, Mustard Seed Market, Sysco, J Bolin Collection and more. Beyond modeling, she is a passionate creative, artist and community advocate, drawing inspiration from her various creative disciplines to bring a fresh, artistic approach to all her endeavors.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur?
The freedom and the challenge it provides. Entrepreneurship requires an intense amount of self-awareness and self-governance to be successful. Entrepreneurship has revealed my strengths, gifts, talents and flaws, energizing me to constantly evolve as a person.
What do you wish someone would have told you when you were starting your business?
I wish someone would have made me take an accounting and contract law class so that I understood both of those subjects well.
2024 Workshop Series Course:
Business Name: HJL Leadership Solutions
Business Type: Learning and training design solutions
Website: hjlleadershipsolutions.com
How Long in Business: 8-10 years
Biography:
Hubert (Hugh) J. Littleton, president of Hugh Littleton Consulting, LLC, is an entrepreneur who has experience in sectors such as human resources, manufacturing, customer service, service industries, financial organizations, nonprofits, government agencies and health care.
He has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience as a connector with community entrepreneur leaders in Northeast Ohio’s Fortune 100-500 organizations.
Littleton has developed and designed organizational strategies, crafted organizational learning models, developed sustainable concepts for fostering organizational high-performers, provided executive coaching and implemented professional development models for business acumen essential for leaders in an ever-changing world.
He is well-versed in leading organizations during crises. He is a transformational leader, proficient in organizational development and human capital professional development. He is recognized for leading organizations through cultural transformation as an executive coach.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur?
Meeting people where they are and getting them to where they want to be.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
To have a passion for people and your positive impact for supporting their personal and professional discovery. I have extraordinary passion for seeing people discovering their personal and professional success.
2024 Workshop Series Courses:
- Mar. 20: The Art of the Ask: How To Ask for and Get What You Need for Your Business Success
- Coming Soon: Emotional Intelligence: Benefits for Entrepreneurial Business Success
- Coming Soon: The Art of Building a Successful Business Through Sustainable Customer Relationships
Business Name: Rich Scholars
Business Type: Education in entrepreneurship (business formation), with a specialty in trademarks and IP protection
Website: learn.richscholars.com
How Long in Business: 8-10 years
Do you own any other businesses? Streetwear apparel business as well as a medical spa
Biography:
Sharia Livingston's journey from a registered nurse to an entrepreneur and educator is a testament to the transformative power of passion and perseverance. Fueled by her own experiences, she has created Living Rich and Rich Scholars, which embody her core values and beliefs.
Living Rich is a lifestyle apparel brand that transcends fashion. Driven by the belief that success is not measured solely by material wealth but by embracing individuality and personal growth, Living Rich serves as a beacon for all to "Define Your Rich" and lead with purpose. Fueling her passion for entrepreneurship, Livingston founded Rich Scholars, a resource for current and aspiring entrepreneurs.
As a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Livingston goes above and beyond to empower others. Through the provision of eBooks, free workshops and networking events, she equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the practical tools to succeed in the business world.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur?
The opportunity to meet new people from different walks of life and build with one another. I love that I learn invaluable lessons, regardless of how long I've been an entrepreneur. I just continue to build on my knowledge. This allows me to make better decisions as I progress and pass what I have learned on to others to help them.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Have patience and make sure you actually believe in what you are doing — because if you don't, the first sight of trouble during this journey will cause you to be discouraged. Plan for things to not go as you originally planned. Although it won't be easy, your great idea can work if you put in the work.
2024 Workshop Series Course:
Teaches a Discovery Track for Entrepreneurs course
Business Name: Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures, LLC
Business Type: Community Development
Website: nreuv.com; projectcommunitycapital.net
How Long in Business: 23 years
Biography:
Gina Merritt is an award-winning, experienced real estate developer specializing in community development. She has been involved in over 8,000 units of housing in various stages of development, managing the entitlement process, structuring and securing the required financing, managing the design and the overall construction process. Merritt has won over 33 awards, with 11 in the last year. Her work has also impacted more than 19,000 residents across the country.
Merritt has expertise in managing large development projects with complicated financing and ownership structures. She has also underwritten over $5 billion in real estate transactions. Her real estate development expertise includes mixed-use development, apartments, condominiums, single-family homes and public-private real estate transactions. Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures' (NREUV) recent real estate advisory engagements include consulting for the University of Virginia on its Affordable Housing Initiative and consulting for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority on their Sustainability Study. NREUV is also managing over $550 million in development for its own account. The firm’s projects in Cleveland are valued at $200 million, while the balance is located in the DMV.
Project Community Capital® (PCC), an award-winning economic empowerment platform, was founded by Merritt in 2008 and redesigned in 2021 to include the Collective Impact Model. PCC is an innovative platform that bridges the social capital required to connect residents and businesses of underestimated communities with employment and economic opportunities. PCC works with developers, contractors and public agencies to place individuals in the construction field and permanent general employment. PCC also hosts Heighten the Hustle™, an entrepreneurship accelerator that helps stand-up businesses that operate informally within a neighborhood.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur?
Having control over my own destiny.
What do you wish someone would have told you when you were starting your business?
No matter how bad you feel some days, keep pushing. Your passion, commitment and expertise will help you make it through.
2024 Workshop Series Course:
Business Name: swell Digital, SEO Cohort
Business Type: Digital marketing
Website: swelldgtl.com
How Long in Business: 1-3 years
Biography:
Ryan Morgan has worked as a digital marketing strategist for more than 15 years and is the founder of swell, a digital marketing consultancy focused on strategy, SEO and digital advertising.
His past roles include director of Brand + Digital Strategy at ignite, a boutique brand and digital marketing agency serving mission-driven brands; vice president of Digital Marketing at Aztek, one of Cleveland's leading agencies for web design, development and digital marketing; and vice president of Marketing & Digital at ERC, a leading employer’s association.
Morgan is also the founder and lead instructor for the SEO Cohort, an intensive SEO training program for professionals.
In addition, he is the author of the book Double Your Website Traffic: A Step-By-Step Blueprint Using Content, SEO, PPC and Social Media, which reached No. 1 best-seller status in multiple Amazon categories.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
The desire for more flexibility, to develop products and services as I envision them and to work on all sides of the business.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur?
The flexibility, the ability to change and adapt to market trends and the ability to teach others what I know and what I'm learning.
What do you wish someone would have told you when you were starting your business?
Understand exactly what people value and validate that they're willing to pay for it.
2024 Workshop Series Course:
Business Name: Good Plus Tech
Business Type: Consulting, primarily around technology for businesses and nonprofits, workforce/talent, investment readiness for entrepreneurs and startups, and marketing and communication strategy
Website: goodplustech.com
How Long in Business: More than 11 years
Do you own any other businesses?
I also have a nonprofit, Resourceful Nonprofit, that provides technology tools, resources and training to other 501(c)3 nonprofits.
Biography:
Amy Neumann is a social impact entrepreneur, keynote speaker, author, trainer, technology strategist, consultant and artist.
Neumann enjoys discovering new social impact applications for technology. With a focus on blockchain and AI, she also founded a startup nonprofit called Resourceful Nonprofit (and its subsidiary, Technology Inclusion) to help nonprofits accomplish their goals more efficiently while being inclusive.
She is also the CEO and principal of the social enterprise consultancy Good Plus Tech, with a focus on leveraging emerging technologies and smart communication strategies to solve global social impact challenges. She often speaks at places like the Dell Social Innovation Conference, Arizona State University’s Sustainability Conference, Blockland Solutions, nonprofit events and universities. She is widely published, including as a contributor to Forbes, an author of PR News’ Crisis Management Guidebook and a columnist for the Huffington Post.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
Being an entrepreneur is thrilling for people who have ideas to solve problems. Every day is different, exciting and full of new learning.
What do you wish someone would have told you when you were starting your business?
Most of being an entrepreneur is two things: networking and a curiosity to always be learning.
2024 Workshop Series Courses:
- May 20: How AI and Other Emerging Tech Will Impact Entrepreneurs
- Coming Soon: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Funding: From Vision to Reality
Business Name: Apogee Leadership Group LLC
Business Type: Leadership, DEI, professional/personal growth coaching, training and consulting services
Website: apogeeleader.com
How Long in Business: 4-7 years
Biography:
Mike Nwankwo is the founder and CEO of Apogee Leadership Group LLC, which he started after being employed by Intel Corporation with his wife and business partner, Toni. Nwankwo has more than 30 years of experience as a business and sales consultant with a variety of public and private organizations.
Nwankwo is certified to facilitate, speak, train and coach individuals and groups in the areas of leadership development, DEI, professional skills and personal growth. Trained and mentored by John Maxwell and mentors of his world-class faculty, he is equipped with the tools, resources and experience to help you and your team improve your productivity, performance and profitability. Mike is also FranklinCovey-certified.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
It is a calling to help positively transform the world by developing exceptional and ethical leaders.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
I would advise others to ensure their business of choice is aligned with their passion or purpose in life. When things get tough, falling back on your "why" can help sustain you.
2024 Workshop Series Course:
Teaches a Discovery Track for Entrepreneurs course
Business Name: Breakthrough Strategies LLC
Business Type: Lean Six Sigma and problem-solving consultant
Website: Jlodom.com
How Long in Business: More than 11 years
Biography:
Jim Odom was employed by Delphi Packard Electric Systems for 30 years before launching his own consulting practice. As a consultant for the past 30 years, Odom has assisted companies in achieving operational excellence through the design and implementation of systems that catalyze organizational change. He has extensive experience in Lean Six Sigma, project management, quality system methodologies and other productivity-related tools in various functional areas, including human resources, purchasing, finance, engineering, logistics, information technology and manufacturing. He is a past education chairperson, treasurer and chairperson for the American Society for Quality (ASQ) Section 0805.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur?
The flexibility and the challenges it offers. Every day is a new adventure.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Understand your target market, who those customers are and how you can fill their needs.
2024 Workshop Series Courses:
Business Name: Cheryl C Perez Enterprises
Business Type: Cheryl C Perez Enterprises provides consulting, coaching and online training programs to entrepreneurs, nonprofits and small business owners who want to develop and build the "Strategies, Structures, Systems and Squads" (her 4S Freedom Framework).
Website: cherylcperez.com
How Long in Business: More than 11 years
Biography:
Cheryl “CP” Perez is CEO of Cheryl C Perez Enterprises, a brand of companies that provides consulting, coaching and online training programs to entrepreneurs, nonprofits and small business owners who want to develop and build the “Strategies, Structures, Systems and Squads” (her 4S Freedom Framework) to start and scale their organizations. Perez has over 25 years of experience in capacity-building for businesses and nonprofits — including her own — and possesses a uniquely qualified insider view of what makes a business truly succeed. She provides step-by-step guidance so you can strategize and create the systems and processes to experience the freedom of living a life that you love while you grow the business of your dreams.
Perez is also the host of CPTV, a weekly YouTube show with over 25,000 subscribers providing free step-by-step process training for anyone who wants to systemize their organization.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur?
I enjoy being an entrepreneur because it gives me the freedom to live my life on my own terms and it allows me to share my expertise and insights with individuals who are passionate about growing their organizations. I find immense fulfillment in helping entrepreneurs and leaders develop the necessary structures and strategies for success. My experience in building and selling companies has provided me with valuable insights, and I appreciate the opportunity to assist others at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
What do you wish someone would have told you when you were starting your business?
Looking back on my entrepreneurial journey, I wish someone had emphasized the importance of effective operational, sales, service and HR structures and strategies right from the start. Additionally, the value of documenting processes and delegating tasks to reclaim time and achieve the freedom to live a fulfilling life is something I've come to appreciate deeply.
2024 Workshop Series Courses:
- Coming Soon: Building Your Audience Using Social Media: Tactics To Grow an Audience of Your Ideal Customers
- Coming Soon: Lead Generation Accelerator for Small Businesses
- Coming Soon: Unleashing Your Business's Superpowers: Building Systems and Processes for Exponential Growth
Teaches a Discovery Track for Entrepreneurs course
Business Name: Johnie L. Reed Services
Business Type: Consulting services to business startup, leadership and managing your workforce and business
How Long in Business: More than 11 years
Biography:
Johnie L. Reed, M.Ed., has earned graduate degrees in Positive Organizational Development and Change at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and Adult Learning and Development from Cleveland State University. He is also an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®). Reed has nearly two decades of classroom teaching experience and over 30 years of experience as a business owner and financial counselor. Reed has also spent over a decade in the mortgage lending industry as an underwriter and loan officer.
Many of his working years have been spent training, consulting and speaking in the areas of diversity awareness, business and organizational development, mentoring, consumer debt management and credit awareness. He is also an education advocate and shares information concerning educational opportunities for organizational and individual development and engagement.
Is there anything you do not like about being entrepreneur?
Sometimes the 24/7 delivery is grinding. There are times when you may want to do something with family but you have to complete a project or deliverable (just like when you work for someone else).
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Do not be concerned about sharing your dream. What is for you is already yours. You just need to put the work in.
2024 Workshop Series Courses:
Business Name: Pedal Stomper Productions
Business Type: Multimedia (podcasting, photography and video production)
Website: pedalstomperproductions.com
How Long in Business: 6 years
Biography:
Josh Troche is a versatile professional with more than 20 years of experience in sales, technical assistance and video. He cultivated a strong online presence, amassing over 19,000 YouTube subscribers with videos reaching a million views. Leveraging his expertise, Troche founded his own photo, video and podcast production company, Pedal Stomper Productions, where he has helped hundreds of people present their best selves and businesses to a larger audience.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I’ve always tended to “do my own thing,” which often made me a tough fit in some organizations. Being an entrepreneur has allowed me to do my own thing while being successful.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Do it, but do it with the attitude of learning and growing as you go.
Teaches the Launch a Successful Podcast courses