EMPOWERING MICROBUSINESSES

Ciara manages and delivers the Northwest program. Fun fact: she has previously served as a Start:ME mentor in our Clarkston and Southside communities!

Colin, our Program Manager, recently joined the team after serving as a mentor. With a strong commitment to improving access to business resources in Atlanta, Colin believes that setting clear boundaries between work and personal time is essential for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Erin manages Start:ME and engages other small business support organizations. Fun fact: she summited Mount Kilimanjaro. The view was pretty awesome.

Fran manages the Southside program’s coalition, recruitment, and local alumni programming. Fun fact: she is a two-time graduate of Georgia State University - go Panthers!

Kareem manages and delivers the East Lake and Southside accelerator program. Fun fact: he is a world class baby toy assembler.

Maria manages and delivers the Clarkston accelerator program. Fun fact: she was named one of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia in 2021.

Maureen Sanchez is the Start:ME Northwest Coordinator. Maureen is the Director of Community Engagement at Grove Park Renewal. She has over a decade of community development and outreach experience living and working in the Historic Westside of Atlanta, focusing on health and wellness, faith, child-care, drug rehabilitation, and poverty alleviation.

Mercedes manages the East Lake program’s coalition, recruitment, and local alumni programming. Fun fact: she loves to travel - Mercedes has backpacked to 12 countries, 20 states, and Puerto Rico. Including biking from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Ghent, Belgium.

Mildred manages Start:ME marketing and program operations. Fun fact: she drove a cross-country road trip from Atlanta to Northern California, the landscapes along the way made the trip worth it!

Sushma manages the Clarkston program’s coalition, recruitment, and local alumni programming. Fun fact: she is also a Start:ME alum and actively working her business, Sunavworld.