‘22 Game Changer Finalist
Angela Brock
Angela is the CEO and Founder of Hello Breakthrough, LLC. Angela is a certified financial coach that is committed to making financial freedom attainable for all. For over five years, Angela has assisted women reach their financial goals by helping them become more knowledgeable about their spending habits and money management. Through Hello Breakthrough, Angela helps women create and maintain a realistic budget, save more money monthly, establish and maintain an emergency fund, create a debt payoff plan, and overall increase their savings financial literacy to help build generational wealth. Angela is also an international motivational speaker, change management trainer and facilitator, business model and development coach, leadership and organizational development consultant, and author.
Ayesha Shelton
What is impressive about Ayesha’s record of accomplishments is that it runs the gamut. From contributions to the early childhood community including educating inner-city teachers with Collaborative for Children to co-founding the award-winning homebuilder Park Street Homes in 2016 serving the greater Houston community through housing and service. Ayesha started her career in early childhood education, completing her undergraduate at the University of Houston and continuing to complete her master’s degree at Texas Southern University. After starting a second career in Real Estate she co-founded Park Street Homes in 2016. Park Street Homes has been featured in the Houston Chronicle, Fox 26, and was recently recognized for its outstanding projects and community work by winning the Pinnacle award from the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce. Ayesha is a licensed realtor in the State of Texas and has sold over $10M in real estate since 2019 earning the award for top 20 realtors in Houston from HBREA in 2021 and Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40 in 2022. She currently leads her own sales team within the Braden Real Estate Group in addition to her development leadership duties within Park Street Homes.
Brandi Carson
Brandi Carson has been a trusted strategic event advisor for a number of private industry, government, and non-profit clients. Her most memorable experience was working in the White House Social Office, planning events that took place at the White House, including Bill Signings and State Dinners to name a few. With a never-ending thirst for knowledge, Brandi earned her Masters of Science in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management from George Washington University, after graduating from the illustrious Spelman College, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. She has worked with clients across the United States as well as the UK and has been profiled by publications including Essence, YFS Magazine, and Washingtonian Magazine. Named as one of Accelevents 2022 Influential Event Planners to Watch, Brandi has an excellent reputation for developing and implementing comprehensive event strategies, and curating optimal attendee experiences for corporate events, fundraising galas, and private events. Having planned and executed hundreds of events during her career, her perspective and expertise have been included in various Event Industry publications, blogs, articles, and podcasts. Although she misses the hustle and bustle of the East Coast, Brandi currently resides in Houston with her husband, Brandon, and daughter, Harper.
Chase Hunter
Chase Hunter, became an out of state Real Estate Investor in the summer of 2021 in Michigan, with the initiative of rebuilding and developing the city of Detroit. Since Chase has grown a (1) one-million-dollar portfolio with the purchase of (7) properties and has partnered with local organization to provide safe and affordable housing to under-resourced women and their children. Hunter has recently incorporated a new business model which allows single mothers to become homeowners through seller financing giving them the opportunity to own a home without going through the hurdles of traditional financing. This is only the beginning for Chase Hunter, she also has plans to start a development project as well as purchase her first economy hotel in early 2024.
Chimere Norris
Chimere, no stranger to entrepreneurship, started her first business at the young age of 9. Since then has launched several ventures, and successfully contributed to the growth and impact of dozens of brands and corporations nationally. She currently runs a full-service creative agency that has become the go-to marketing partner for creating strategic branding and design that boost profitability for her clients. Designs By Chimere is one of Houston’s fastest-growing minority and woman-owned creative agencies whose clients are recognized globally. Its mission is to provide strategic services and execution to launch, grow and reinvigorate businesses from startup to growth stage, utilizing brand strategy, marketing strategy, graphic, web design, content creation, and digital initiatives. When she is not working on her business, Chimere is spending quality time traveling with her beautiful and talented children Gavin and Makenzie and supporting them in pursuit of their baseball, culinary and dance dreams.
Eleanor Curry
Eleanor Curry is on a mission to share the gift of entrepreneurship with others and to help unleash the boss that exists in all of us! The highlights of Eleanor’s professional career are deeply embedded with examples of the power of entrepreneurship and in the service of the needs of small business owners. After completion of her MBA at Florida A & M University, she began her career an administrator to a small physician practice, then as a commercial real estate broker helping businesses find their business home and even now as the managing partner for the Curry Law Firm in providing legal services for entrepreneurs.
In her nearly two decades as a commercial real estate broker, she has serviced small business owners and investors alike to partner with them in achieving their financial and business goals through commercial real estate. She has leveraged her years of experience in commercial real estate and as an entrepreneurship guru to partner with Michelle Johnson on the creation of the Commercial Real Estate Pros Academy. The Launch Series course is specially designed to provide the industry process foundation paired with the business strategy to get students up and rolling in commercial real estate in 30 days! As a mom, lawyer, broker and travel addict Eleanor applies her zest for life in to building a life that is impactful and positive and sharing her experiences with others.
Jennifer Counter
Jennifer Counter is the Founder and CEO of Counter's Tutoring Connection in Katy, Texas and Jennifer Counter Consulting in Houston, Texas. She is a successful Business Owner and Certified Teacher. She is a highly sought after Business Strategist, Business Credit Consultant, and Public Speaker. Her passion is helping people from all backgrounds in a variety of industries, boost their personal and professional effectiveness, through consulting and strategizing. She empowers others to go after their own dreams with fulfillment; through resource sharing, accountability, and inspiration.
Jennifer is passionate about education and philanthropy- she volunteers her time as a youth mentor for at risk students, and sits on the Board of many local Non Profit Organizations and Education Committees. She believes in creating effective change and helping children and women in undeserved communities. Her greatest pride is her 20 year old daughter Lauren Aleena. Jennifer is th a native Houstonian and the youngest of sixteen children.
Lyndsay Levingston
Lyndsay Levingston is an experienced multimedia maven and communications professional having worked in various capacities including anchor, host, reporter and producer in New York City, Houston, and Tulsa. Her vast portfolio also includes work as a media and public relations consultant for organizations, businesses, and politicians.
Lyndsay was diagnosed with Stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer in July 2019. She was declared cancer-free in 2020 and founded SurviveHER™, a breast cancer awareness and wellness nonprofit whose mission is to inform, inspire and empower women. Her story of victory has been featured in ESSENCE, OprahMag.com, and on NBC News and Revolt TV networks.
Lyndsay is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Junior League of Houston. She graduated with honors from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, and dual minors in dance and secondary education.
Perla Guerra
Perla is the founder and creative designer of the fashion brand “Perla la Baroque”. She creates custom made textile pieces that carry the message. "Iam PLB" as a reminder that we are Powerful, Loved and Blessed. Every detail is hand painted, embroidered and embellished with a purpose. Perla firmly believes each piece she creates is a fashion statement that speaks for itself and a unique opportunity to tell the story of the person wearing it.
Perla also cofounded and serves as the CEO of Kartal Construction Company. They specialize in all types of concrete foundation work.
Perla is a Life member of the University of Houston Alumni association, BBA., MSA.
Also, Lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Perla is married to Jesus Antonio Guerra, their 3 daughters, Anntonella, Camila and Isabella are Perla’s greatest motivation and inspiration.
Seante Johnson
Thriving at the intersection of Hospitality and Philanthropy, Seante Monique Johnson founded Birthday Bash Box a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to lessen the impact that poverty has on education, social exclusion, and social-emotional learning by giving children in under-resourced families exciting educational experiences through birthday celebrations.
Prior to creating Birthday Bash Box, Seante became a Pastry Chef and then went on to University of Houston where she studied Hospitality and Entrepreneurship, at the C. N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership. She also studied Nonprofit Management through the University of Houston Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.
When she is not celebrating birthdays or volunteering, she spends her free time, traveling, reading books, painting and planning dinner parties.
Tamala Austin
Tamala Austin is the imaginative founder of JIVE Juice Company. Austin is a businesswoman on a mission. She launched herself into the professional after graduating from Texas Southern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from Texas Women’s University. She is the author of “Love My Body Again: 21 Days of Meditation to Live Your Best Healthy Life Now” offers a holistic and innovative approach to helping women learn to put themselves first, stretch the canvas of their lives and paint a brighter, healthier and more fulfilling picture. She is a member of several community civic organizations, including the GoTexan organization, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and the Humble Chamber of Commerce.