The Los Angeles Urban League’s (LAUL) Entrepreneurship Center is pleased to announce a significant expansion of its team of business counselors.
The Entrepreneurship Center provides Black, minority- and women-owned companies with best-in-class business intelligence, one-on-one strategies for success, and a network of culturally competent, experienced, advisors and mentors that complement the management team of a small business. The newly appointed business counselors are the core of LAUL’s capability for providing businesses and entrepreneurs with the technical advice, strategic planning, resources, and connectivity to both capital and commercial contracts that help promote the businesses’ overall growth and long-term success.
The professionals who have recently joined LAUL’s team of business counselors provide expertise in contracting, digital marketing, e-commerce, organizational design and management as well as strategic planning and early-stage financing. These new capabilities supplement the existing team’s strengths in accounting and bookkeeping, business plan development, financial analysis, financing strategy development, innovation, and product pricing.
Current LAUL Business Counselors:
Gloria Dioum
Gloria Dioum is a seasoned entrepreneur, CFO, and profit strategist with over 20 years of experience. She’s dedicated to helping business owners achieve scalable growth, financial stability, and long-term success. Gloria’s expertise spans entrepreneurship, business development, and financial succession planning. She’s now channeling this knowledge into her company, Joseph Management, where she empowers small businesses to thrive in the competitive landscape and become industry leaders.
Rhonda Holbert
For 25 years, Rhonda Holbert served as Director of Special Projects for the Los Angeles Urban League where she collaborated with business community leaders to form LA Collaborative, where she is still a Business Coach and Counselor to Black, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. She founded the Urban League’s Biz Camp and Biz Institute youth entrepreneurship programs and still serves as the Lead Instructor and Curriculum Developer for both programs. Ms. Holbert obtained a Master of Ministry and was ordained as a Pastor of Christian Education in 2001.
Crystal Mitchell
Crystal is a business professional with a successful 28-year track record of operating a profitable business. She provides entrepreneurs with access to the necessary tools, mentorship, and resources that support each stage of their business’s development to ensure the growth of successful businesses. In addition, Crystal provides QuickBooks training solutions to assist our clients in keeping accurate financial records which is essential to running a successful business.
New LAUL Business Counselors:
Dr. Tora Brown
Dr. Tora Brown is an organizational psychologist, coach and the creator of the Build Your Best Brand Program. She has spent the last 16 years coaching and advising entrepreneurs/business owners in the areas of business startup, government contracts, sales, marketing, branding and public relations. Dr. Tora has been a member of many business and community organizations throughout California and currently serves as Board President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Black MBA Association and the Good Vibes Women’s Business Roundtable.
Chacha McGinnis
Chacha McGinnis boasts an impressive 25-year track record of spearheading successful growth initiatives for Fortune 500 corporations. She is a distinguished sales and marketing professional, celebrated for her expertise in instructing business owners on the creation of enduring marketing strategies that yield results. Presently, she leads an AI-driven movement in the mobile marketing arena as the CEO and Founder of California Beacons, a digital marketing agency based in Long Beach, California.
Clarevonte “Clay” Williams
Clay is a dynamic, proactive, and goal-oriented professional equipped with diverse knowledge of venture capital. Organized and technology savvy, capable of utilizing proficiency with various financial and policy skills. While venture capital is Clay’s central focus, Clay is civic-minded and engaged. He has successfully partnered with various local businesses for voter registration campaigns, fundraisers, and initiatives.
“We look forward to continuing to support our current clients as well as working with new businesses and entrepreneurs as our expanded Entrepreneurship Center team helps them all get to the next level of excellence and success,” said Jon Walls, Co-Director, LAUL Entrepreneurship Center.
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About The Los Angeles Urban League
The mission of the Los Angeles Urban League, which is an affiliate of the National Urban League, is to help African Americans and others in underserved communities achieve their highest true social parity, economic self-reliance, power, and civil rights. The League promotes economic empowerment through education and job training, housing and community development, workforce development, entrepreneurship, health, and quality of life.