Accounting + Finance I Financial Projections I Cash Flow I Strategy + Operations

My father's roots are in Michigan and I love giving to the city of Detroit in any way I can. I am an accounting/finance whiz that can help you with preparing all three financial statements (P&L, BS, Cash flow), project financial analysis (breakeven analysis, startup analysis), accounting/bookkeeping questions, accounting software, and overall strategy/operations.

Software + Web Development I Data + Analytics I MVP Prototype

A native Metro Detroiter, co-founder and CEO of Development By Futures, Brandyn offers expertise in software development. He can provide insight in web and software development and solutions, database development and solutions, analytics, and IT solutions. Development by Futures specializes in startup prototypes and MVP's, with a passion for helping you get your ideas up and moving!

Customer Experience I Consulting I Customer Journey Mapping I Customer Success

Jennifer Ashman is a global (CXPA Certified Customer Experience Professional) with over 20 years of experience in marketing and bringing the consumer voice to life. She is the president of CX Amplified, a boutique consulting firm that provides consulting, customer journey mapping, and CX training to help companies of all sizes deliver best in class customer experiences.

Manufacturing / Distribution | Operations | Space Design | Strategy + Business Development

Shane serves as Director of Engineering for Seraph Biosciences, Inc. drawing upon 10+ years of laboratory research, engineering design, + business management. As the founder + president of the Sustainable Consulting Group, Shane successfully managed engineering design efforts for both startup companies + established medical device + engineering clients throughout the United States as well as Eastern Africa.

Ellen Currin is a Detroit-based web developer and entrepreneur. She understands what it takes to launch a small business online and how to earn loyal customers. If you’re struggling with tough questions: What’s your brand? Who’s your audience? Why aren’t website visitors buying my products? Ellen will help you get to the bottom of those problems, and find smart, cost-saving solutions so that your small business can succeed online.

Food + Beverage

With over 20 years in the restaurant industry, Ederique co-founded In the Business of Food, a foodservice-based consulting agency and is also the co-owner of Gabriel Hall, an upcoming Creole restaurant.

Human Resources I Compliance I Hiring + Interview Processes I Employee Support

Your People Solutions is here to guide you through all "your people" questions and challenges. We ensure you are compliant with “your people” processes and practices including but not limited to; handbook, forms, job descriptions, posting requirements, employee issues, etc. Our consultants have over 50 years combined experience in Human Resources working with a myriad of difference industries.

HR I Policy + Programs I Employee Retention I Investigations

Jill Zientarski is an HR consultant and strategic business partner with a track record of creating rewarding workplaces that achieve results. She's led HR teams for nationwide real estate, senior living, telecom, logistics, and retail companies. Jill has a Bachelor's in Organizational Studies with a focus on Leadership & Management from The University of Michigan and a Master's in Training and Development from Oakland University.​

Expertise: Talent Acquisition, Recruitment, Training, Retention

Brianna supports the manufacturing and retail/hospitality sectors in finding, hiring and retaining Detroiters to meet their talent needs. She provides one-on-one virtual guidance to local businesses to assist with:

- Identify upcoming talent needs
- Identify skills and training needs for your team
- Offer guidance on hiring and retention policies

Technical Writing I User Experience I User Interface

Dr. Jared Grogan is the coordinator of a partnership between Wayne State University and TechTown that pairs technical communication students with startups to work on collaborative writing and design projects. He specializes is supporting startups with website
copy, User Interface and User Experience studies, design for manufacturing, software documentation, and social media. Jared has been connecting startups to WSU resources since 2016.

Legal I Contract Attorney I Cybersecurity I Software I Risk Assessment

Lauren is the owner of Nervy Mise PLLC, a legal consulting firm specializing in technology contracts and transactions. A native Detroiter, she has expertise in providing legal services to technology-based companies, ensuring that products, services, and intellectual property are protected.

Legal Entity Formation I Business + Partnership Contracts I Real Estate I Intellectual Property

Canvas Legal was founded by Erin Bonahoom to make legal counsel accessible to small businesses in the Detroit area. Canvas Legal offers a range of legal services to companies of all sizes including, but not limited to, legal entity formation, partnership contracts, employment and hiring practices, real estate, business contracts, and intellectual property.

Cybersecurity | Contracts + Negotiation | Tech Transfer | Copyright | Trademarks

Max focuses his practice on intellectual property protection + litigation, entertainment law, and commercial contracts, including drafting + negotiation of contracts + licenses. He has extensive experience prosecuting trademark applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office, as well as litigating trademark disputes. Max appears before state, federal + appellate courts related to all aspects of civil business litigation

Logistics I Supply Chain Management I Operations

​David is the founder of the Crysler Club, a consulting company that helps small business owners streamline their internal processes and improve logistics. Prior to entrepreneurship, David worked for a large nationwide manufacturer and supplier, and he is passionate about using the knowledge he acquired to support the small business economy. He has extensive experience with system implementation and increasing supply chain efficiency.

Wholesale | E-Commerce

After a 25+ year career in sales and marketing with Kimberly-Clark Corporation, I co-founded a company six years ago, Thumbprint Artifacts. We import handcrafted items from South Africa and distribute to the US market - both wholesale and e-commerce. Four years ago when we had distribution with 200+ retailers, my home could no longer hold the inventory. So, in 2018 we opened our own fulfillment center in Detroit to service Thumbprint Artifacts + the needs of other small businesses.

Supply Chain Management I Outsourcing I Logistics I Costing/BOM

Ajay is a small business owner, investor and advisor. He is the Co-President and Owner of Electro-Technic Products, an industrial and scientific equipment manufacturing company. Ajay has an extensive background in Supply Chain Management, Outsourcing, Logistics, Data Analysis, and Costing.

Diversity + Inclusion I Social Media Marketing I Branding I Public Relations I Digital Design I Strategy + Business Development

Juan Carlos Dueweke-Pérez is an immigrant, social entrepreneur, photographer, and futurist. The founder of Featherstone Moments, a multicultural marketing agency, his expertise ranges from content development and strategy to public relations for minority-owned businesses. Juan Carlos believes his biggest impact is providing trust and resourcefulness in working relationships.

Branding I Strategy + Business Development I Social Media Marketing I Communications

A native Detroiter, Pamela is the owner and senior consultant of The Hill Street Group, a marketing consultancy focusing on supporting small businesses with communications skills and strategy. With an extensive background in marketing and communications, she has expertise in supporting startups as they develop and practice presentations, creating powerful first impressions that foster lasting professional relationships.

Digital Design I Branding I Visual Design I B2B + B2C I Strategy + Business Development

Hien (like the ketchup with the z) Lam is the Chief Prophesy Fulfiller at Huck Finch - a strategic branding studio distilling a brand's purpose into messaging and visual design that's scroll-worthy and vibrant. His goal is to grow the digital presence and design for small businesses. Hien specializes in supporting startups that are purpose-driven.

Marketing + Advertising I Market Research I B2B

Kay Reisen is a business consultant with a decade of successful experience in providing counseling, training, and market research assistance to new and existing companies. She holds an M.B.A. from San Francisco State University and is a certified small business development consultant.

Digital Design | Marketing + Advertising | Digital Media | Videography

Bushell Media is a family of creators, filmmakers, designers, writers, strategists, and adventurers, on a mission to provide our clients and their audiences stories with heart, passion, and authenticity. Lead by husband and wife team, Bushell Media believes that we are defined by the human journey and it’s our job to instill wonder, inspire creativity and create empathic doorways that help us better understand each other.

Art | Marketing + Advertising | Branding | Public Relations | Digital Design

Jodie first started consulting with small businesses as a Peace Corps in Nicaragua. She later joined corporate America and managed multi-faceted marketing strategy and implementation for large brands in the travel industry. Now, as the Principal of Standby Marketing, Jodie works with a variety of business types to create and refine their marketing approach.

Retail I Brick + Mortar Operations I Retail Pop-Up Support I Visual Merchandising I Customer Service

Carrie has been on the front lines of retail operations having been a small business owner for twelve years. She enjoys mentoring and supporting others, and has a strong background in merchandising, product selection, customer service, promotions, shopping trade shows, store events, and pop-ups.

Retail I Operations I Visual Merchandising I Business Strategy I Brick & Mortar Operations I Pop-Up Support

Christina provides support to small business owners as they strengthen business concepts, open physical locations, and continue to grow. She has over 20 years experience in retail management, operations, product development and non-profit leadership. Her areas of specialty include business strategy, operations, staff training, visual merchandising, pop-ups, and inventory management.

Areas of Specialty: Microlending | Banking Financing | Start-up Support + Brick and Mortar | Business Plans

Warren Galloway is a strong advocate of microlending, and has taken the lead in promoting it as an important resource for small businesses throughout Michigan. He is an author of four books and the founder of the National Microloan Conference—an annual conference for microlending industry professionals (lenders, entrepreneurs, bankers, and service providers).

Areas of Specialty: Bilingual | Community Resources | Event Planning + Outreach

A native of Durango, Mexico, Mayté has lived in Michigan for over 25 years. Mayté brings a tremendous network to TechTown from over 20 years of service to Southwest Detroit communities through a mix of community and economic development. Her background allows for an understanding of the unique bicultural/bilingual circumstances of the SW community. Because of this, she is able to personally connect with entrepreneurs.

Zonas de Especialidad: Bilingüe I Recursos Comunitarios I Planificación de Eventos

Originalmente de Durango, México, Mayté lleva más de 25 años viviendo en Michigan. Ella trae una red enorme a TechTown, cultivada sobre más de 20 años de servicio a las comunidades del suroeste a través de una mezcla de desarrollo comunitario y económico. Su experiencia permite un conocimiento de las circunstancias biculturales únicas de la comunidad. Debido a esto, ella se connecta personalmente con empresario

Areas of Specialty: Start-up Support + Brick and Mortar (especially restaurants and retail) | Operational Support for Restaurants

As the owner of 2 local businesses, Heather enjoys helping neighborhood businesses work through their challenges, from obtaining a liquor license to hiring their first employee to implementing operational processes and procedures. Heather gained considerable experience through her 10+ years negotiating leases and other agreement for large commercial property owners.

Areas of Specialty: Web/Mobile Apps | Growth | Strategy

David has a rich background in tech with a deep focus on software. Over the last 20 years, he has helped small businesses to Fortune 100 companies build and maintain critical software apps on various platforms. In 2008, he realized his dream of entrepreneurship + started a B2B consulting firm servicing small to medium-sized businesses in Web and iOS product development. In March of 2015, David became the 4th employee at StockX.

Areas of Specialty: Strategy | Intellectual Property | Fundraising | Hardware

Fathi is a tech entrepreneur based out of San Jose and Detroit. He is very passionate about developing solutions that have substantial social and economic impact and is a member of several entrepreneurial communities, including TechStars, Sprint Accelerator, Jumpstart Foundry, Startup Weekend, and Seamless IoT. He has served as a mentor and entrepreneur-in-residence within several economic development orgs around the world.

Areas of Specialty: Product Launch | Marketing | Customer Discovery | Business Models

Jeff Ponders II is a modern-day Batman. By day, he leverages experience as an exec with agencies like Leo Burnett and Digitas to develop marketing & innovation strategies for ambitious brands. By night, he performs as a jazz saxophonist. In between, the serial tech entrepreneur coaches startups and helps orgs achieve peak performance as a keynote speaker.

Operations : Food + Beverage | Retail I Childcare

I grew up in a family business, after college I worked in sales for a Fortune 500 company and earned my Masters Degree in Business. I then went on to open my first business and over the following 30 years have owned and operated over 4 small businesses. I began facilitating workshops for the SBDC in 2016 and became a Senior Business Consultant in 2018. I enjoy working with small businesses with their business needs.

Operations I Business Strategy

Karen Thornton is at the heart of Detroit Delivers, Her passion for the city, women, and organization are evident in her past experiences, which
include a tenured history working for the US Federal Government and various other entrepreneurial ventures like Mary Kay and others. She is a certified SBA Score Leader assisting all Small businesses all over the State of Michigan ensuring their vision and dreams come to fruition and in addition, Karen sits on various boards.

Human Capital Optimization I Organizational Design I Work-Life Balance

Dena Pflieger is a people and performance champion with demonstrated leadership in establishing vision, purpose, strategy, and systems that help organizations and individuals thrive. She spent most of her career at Dow, recently as Corporate Strategy Leader – Employee Wellbeing and Global Engagement Leader – Sustainability. Dena has an MBA from Northwood University.

Mortgage Loan Readiness I Credit Building I Real Estate

Our vision is to serve those thirsty for knowledge, education and personal growth around balancing life's debt, employment, and building credit. With over 35 years of experience in Mortgages, Credit, and the Real Estate industry, Natalie and Gita can help entrepreneurs learn more about the process of purchasing property and what it means to be mortgage ready.

Retail I Visual Merchandising I Space Design I Sales Analysis I Design Process

With over 7 years experience in visual merchandising, Amanda's passion is supporting small businesses in creating unforgettable retail experiences. She works with clients to use sales analysis data to guide merchandising decisions. Amanda has extensive experience in planning, designing, and staging retail spaces. She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Interior Design from Western Michigan University.

E-Commerce | Online Marketplace | Strategy | Retail Marketing + Advertising | Product Marketing + Development | Strategy + Business Dev | User Experience

Rob is the product owner for a big data platform that powers analytics + production data pipelines for global eCommerce businesses. Rob has lead product + design teams that facilitated 200+ teams' ability to launch projects on Seller Central for Amazon. Rob spent 15+ years working in eCommerce business + technology at several large scale companies.

Financial Structure + Operations I Financial Strategy

Bill has been at the Conrad Insurance Agency for the past 11 years. With several years of his career previously dedicated to working as a business banking officer, Bill interacted with small businesses to finance their growth. He is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs as they manage the financial operations and structure of their business, including payroll and bookkeeping.