Created in 1997 to specially recognize African American entrepreneurs who embody the entrepreneurial spirit, the Black Enterprise Small Business Awards honor companies and individuals who are bringing new products to the forefront, redefining sales strategies, and discovering new and profitable markets.
“Our Small Business Awards represent one of the nation’s most powerful recognition of entrepreneurial excellence. Our audience shares with us those outstanding entrepreneurs in technology, franchising, and community impact as well as rising stars and those who have made it into the small business pipeline before adulthood, revealing promising careers in business,†says Black Enterprise Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer Derek Dingle. “At Black Enterprise, a core component of our mission is discovery, which we have done every year for 20 years of our Entrepreneurs Summit. This awards presentation fuels the aspirations of other African American business owners who seek to be identified among the very best.â€
There were 12 nominations in five categories, including the newly added Community Pillar of The Year Award. Here are the entrepreneurial powerhouses that won the 2015 Small Business Awards.
Family Business of the Year
This award is presented to a family-operated business that exemplifies the combined experience and expertise needed to excel in a key industry.
Satori Interactive
Alpharetta, GA
Co-Founders: Dara Solomon, CEO; Fela Strickland-Smith, COO
Satori Interactive is a boutique, user research & human-centered design organization wholly-owned by two sisters, Fela Smith and Dara Solomon. The company was incorporated in 2004 and is comprised of leading professionals that focus on providing solutions that create the connection between products and people. The design company provides web, mobile, and digital applications. Revenues for Satori reached $1.2 million in 2014. The company also was named Atlanta’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2014.
The two nominee runner-ups were Michael White, founder and CEO, America’s Finest Filters, a Louisville-based manufacturer rep of air, liquid and gas filtration products for HVAC; and Solomon Akinduro, founder and CEO, Ascot Associates Group, a Memphis-based construction management and engineering design firm.
Techpreneur of the Year
This award is given to a fast-growing company that is delivering groundbreaking technology products or is disrupting the digital industry in some manner.
Nexercise
Washington, DC
Benjamin Young, Co-Founder & CEO
Benjamin Young is the co-founder and CEO of Nexercise, which is a mobile game and social network platform. The workout app and weight loss tracker is revolutionizing the fitness industry. Young, who help launched Washington, D.C.-based Nexercise Inc. in 2010, is a proven leader with over 20 years of experience managing and delivering business
and information technology solutions. He led his company to profitability and successfully acquired another company. Nexercise’s products achieved over 4 million app downloads. Annual revenues for 2014 reportedly topped $724,000.The two nominee runner-ups were Andre Kay, founder and CEO of SociallyBuzz, a Miami-based social media and software firm launched in 2009 to help small businesses grow using social media; and, Charles Easterling, founder and CEO, of Crescent Unmanned Systems, which manufactures advanced small unmanned aerial systems–or more popularly referred to as drones, whose primary clientele is the military and law enforcement.
Teenpreneur of the Year
This award recognizes entrepreneurs, age 19 and under, committed to the tradition of black business achievement.
Sheascents
New York, NY
Tatiana Leftenant, Founder & CEO
Tatiana Leftenant is the 12-year-old founder (she turns 13 this year) and CEO of Sheascents, which distributes shea butter based skin products. She started the New York-based company when she was 10-years-old because she had eczema all over her arms and legs; shea butter made her feel butter. Leftenant sold $17,000 worth of product in 2014, tripling her 2013 revenues. Her Sheascents skin care line is being sold this year on the Urban Home Shopping Network. This year also marks the expansion of Sheascents’ hair care line.
The two nominee runner-ups were Farmingdale State College students Terriq
Davidson, 18, and Mohit Khurana, 18, who the founders and owners of Pop Casa in New York, a healthy gourmet popcorn company that specializes in multicultural flavors like Jamaican Jerk and Indian Masala. Chental Song Bembry is an 18-year-old freshman at Hampton University and a “teenpreneur,†since self-publishing her own children’s book series, Honey Bunch Kids, at age 13.Franchise Company of the Year
This award is presented to a franchisee for outstanding performance and overall contribution in enhancing the growth and development of the franchising industry.
TDH Capital/Wingstop Restaurants
Miami, Florida
Tina Howell, Principal/CEO
Tina Howell is the principal of TDH Capital L.L.C. and a franchise owner of two Wingstop Restaurants Inc. franchises in Miami, Florida. Wingstop is a quick service restaurant chain specializing in chicken wings. Howell purchased her first franch
ise in 2002, learning of Wingstop while living in Dallas and wanting to be the first Wingstop Restaurant owner in Dade County, Florida, when she relocated to the area. Eventually she opened a total of four Wingstop franchises. Howell’s Winsgtop franchise grossed $1.4 million in 2014.The two nominee runner-ups were Belva Anakwenze, a Liberty Tax Service franchise owner since 2011; and, Alicia Hill, owner of WorkOut Anytime Franchising Systems based in Roswell, Georgia.
Community Pillar of the Year
This award is given to an entrepreneur who has product or services that enrich lives and is committed to building both their brand and community.
Hamilton Davis Homecare
Flowood, MS
Marie Hamilton, Co-founder & CEO
Marie Hamilton is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamilton Davis Homecare Agency, servicing the elderly and the disabled. The Flowood, Mississippi-based company was founded in 2010 by two women with a shared vision to help those in need on a daily basis as well as to create job opportunities for those in their community. Annual revenue for 2014 was $1 million. Hamilton Davis sponsors retirement social groups and a local dance team. Its employees serve as mentors to young ladies ranging from 3-18. The company also hosts community events, including giveaways for holiday occasions, and participates in monthly health awareness forums.
The two nominee runner-ups were Keon Davis, owner of Smooth-N-Groove in Auburn, Alabama; a smoothie food truck company that campus of Auburn University providing healthy smoothies, the official drink of Auburn University Athletics. Sacramento home builder Mark T. Harris, CEO of New Faze Development, a multimillion dollar real estate development company this is giving away empty lots for conversion into community gardens in the underserved Sacramento neighborhood of Del Paso Heights.