No, I'm not standing next to a doctor. This is Kimberly Kelly, owner of Marketing First Aid. Having graduated from college with a degree in marketing, I have been intrigued by different marketing strategies, both good and bad. But Kimberly's branding herself as a Marketing Clinician is ingenious! Everything associated with her brand has a medical undertone to it which helps you to remember her and her company through its consistent messaging.

While talking to Kimberly, I was impressed with her passion for helping to fix the "sickness" that business owners feel from previous marketing failures. Her most notable marketing campaign has been working with Bob Ross of PBS - also known as the "white guy with the afro who paints". Kimberly's background is in ministry which is why she loves to help the solopreneur with their marketing efforts. If you really want to be wowed and in turn wow your customers, reach out to Kimberly of Marketing First Aid!

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Parul's Desserts is based out of Marietta, GA and is owned by Parul Benders. When I first met Parul at a networking event about a year ago, I was in awe from her custom offerings. Parul's Desserts focuses on providing businesses with an opportunity to market their companies through dessert offerings. I have seen some unbelievable branded cakes and cupcakes that were created by Parul.

On a personal level, Parul is Bengali and Haitian and a mother of 3 boys. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends. You can find Parul sipping cocktails on the beach or networking with fellow entrepreneurs.

Photo courtesy of thestartupnest.com

The Startup Nest is located in Baltimore, MD and was co-founded by Deonn Henderson. I was introduced to Deonn's co-working space by a mutual friend who attended college with Deonn. After graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration from George Mason University, Deonn went on to get his Master's in Systems Engineering from George Washington University.

The Startup Nest was strategically placed in Baltimore because of the more than 12,000 businesses in the area. The company was founded to begin Shifting the Culture™ in technology, business and education. You can receive mentorship, educational access from the incubator, host your events and more.

Transport Plus is based out of Ellenwood, GA and is owned by Terrence McCrary, a.ka. Bigg Tee.  Those of you who know him have no doubt seen him with a cigar in his mouth on many occasions! Bigg Tee enjoys celebrating good times with his friends and family and can frequently be seen at Savoy Bar & Grill in Stockbridge. He is also an AVID Falcons fan.

I had the pleasure of meeting Terence over 5 years ago while searching for a new transporter for the car dealership I was working for. What caused me to exclusively utilize his services was his professionalism. Transport Plus was always on time and kept the lines of communication open while handling all my moves. So if you're looking to get a vehicle, or vehicles, moved in and around Atlanta, I highly recommend you reach out to Transport Plus!

Photo courtesy of Yelp

The Griffin Firm is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is owned by Aimee Griffin. The firm also has offices in Atlanta, Durham, Baltimore and Prince George's County. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the firm's Associate Attorneys, Shannon Wilson Rivers, here in Atlanta where she operates the satellite office. 

The Griffin Firm focuses on estate planning  - an area where too many in our community don't pay enough attention. We have all heard the stories of families scrambling to get affairs in order at the passing of a loved one. But how many of us take the time to set up our estate with someone like Shannon of The Griffin Firm? And just to be clear...you don't have to be wealthy to have an estate! 

Photo courtesy of Ebony magazine

Jamyla Bennu is the CEO of Oyin Handmade which is a Baltimore, MD company that she created. This successful entrepreneur is still a wife and mother at heart. Her husband Pierre and two sons keep her grounded while juggling the demands of her company.

Oyin is the Yoruba word for honey which Bennu has found to be an amazing ingredient in natural skin and hair care. The long list of products include lotion, conditioner, deodorant, shampoo and more. If the name Oyin Handmade sounds familiar, it's probably because you've seen the products in your bathroom or your local beauty supply store or Target or CVS or ... you get the picture!

C.D. Moody Construction is based out of Lithonia, GA and is owned by C. David Moody. We sometimes think that those who have been very successful are hard to talk to or even stuck up. But hearing Mr. Moody at a recent conference in Atlanta confirmed that they are just normal people like we are. He shared his journey of successes, failures and or being a victim of sexual abuse.

His construction company has been around since 1998 and is synonymous with some of Georgia's largest projects which include Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the Honda plant in Tallapoosa, the Omni hotel, Morehouse College, Citizens Trust Bank, and more!

Photo courtesy of blogspot.com

Negash Apparel and Footwear is based out of Detroit, MI and is owned by Rocklin Negash. The name Negash is of African Amharic and Tigrinya origin. The meaning of Negash is "in line to be king" and is generally used as a boy's name. 

Staying true to the name, Negash Apparel and Footwear has lines for Kings, Queens and Young Royals. Their line consists of sneakers, leggings, jackets, boots, loafers, onesies, sweats hats, t-shirts, backpacks and more. Our community loves to look good, so why not do it while also supporting our community!

Photo courtesy of The Business Journals

The Restroom Kit is based out of Clinton, MD was created by husband and wife team Bill and Sonia Massey. We've all had that dreaded moment when we had to think twice about using a public restroom. Whether before or after entering the facilities, our constant thought is to get it over with as quickly as possible!

Now there is a solution - The Restroom Kit. The Massey's came up with an easy-to-carry kit that includes an oversized toilet seat cover, 1 full yard of toilet tissue, a "tush wipe" and a hand wipe. Imagine the piece-of-mind you can get when attending sporting events, concerts, amusement parks, a neighbor's party, etc. Let's spread the word to help the Massey's get The Restroom Kit everywhere!

Advisory CPA Group is located in Sandy Springs, GA and is owned by Andrea Lockhart (pictured on left). Andrea is active on the networking scene as I have seen her at several events around Atlanta. She is passionate about helping our community to create relationships with a CPA - even if it's with another firm.

Andrea has been a CPA for 25 years and went out on her own after a stint at Ernest & Young. Her focus is on newer businesses that don't currently have a CPA on their team. By partnering with up-and-coming enterprises, Andrea and her team work diligently to get them started on the right path as early as possible! She is one of the most competent CPAs I know and I would HIGHLY recommend calling her to inquire about their services.

Photo courtesy of I Hear That Girl

Daddy's Girl BBQ is located in Riverdale, GA and is owned by Markie Darling. I met Markie at a recent networking event where she was one of the vendors. She shared how Hurricane Andrew devastated her Miami home and left her with not much more than her grill. 

Markie is a self-proclaimed master on the grill and uses her Jamaican roots to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner on it. I can personally attest that she knows how to "throw down"! I went to her booth 3-4 times to indulge in the entrees and desserts that were on display. Make sure to support Daddy's Girl BBQ whenever you are looking for some great catering options!

Photo courtesy of theGrio

Llulo was founded by Michelle Olomojobi and originated in her home land of Nigeria. Michelle launced Llulo to express her love for the Nigerian culture while provide and option that she wasn't seeing in stores. In addition to genuinely making people happy, Michelle enjoys traveling and enjoying some good food!

Llulo is a fashion brand that lends its designs to African culture. The company is known for its home decor but also offers crew necks, hoodies and wrapping paper. 

Photo courtesy of Voyage ATL

Ultimate Model Management, Inc. (UMMI) is a modeling and talent agency owned by Rose Battle that is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Rose's personal career started in modeling where she appeared in several commercials and as an actress on In The Heat of the Night. She moved to Atlanta from Rocky Mount, NC with her husband Alvin.

Started in 2006, UMMI focuses on placing models with large corporations that have interests in advertising, fashion, music and film. Some of UMMI's talent have booked roles with Tyler Perry, BET, Disney and Cartoon Network. Their clients also include Wal-Mart, Delta and L'Oreal.

One of the businesses that has alluded my list from some time has been a dry cleaners. Many friends and colleagues have asked me if I knew of one and I didn't have (m)any options to give them. That is until now!! Zipp Cleaners is owned by Travis Belzer and is located in Riverdale, GA. A friend of mine told me about this 22-year old company recently. 

After walking in and seeing the all-black staff, Niecy, who has worked there for 8 years, shared her pride as a long-time employee. Their address is 1735 Hwy 138 in Riverdale and the phone number is 770-907-0685. LET'S SHOW OUR SUPPORT TO THEM AS THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE A COMMUNITY NEED! 

Simply Produce is owned by Deanna Butler and is located in College Park, GA. Not only does Deanna provide a much needed service to customers by selling fresh produce but she also sources most of her product from local Black farmers. She is passionate about serving the community that she has lived in for thirteen years.

At Simply Produce, you can buy fresh vegetables or purchase fruit bowls, fruit trays or fresh made to order juices. Many of us have talked about the need for Black-owned places to get fresh produce on the south side, so here you go!

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Kenya Shiver-Trout is a State Farm agency owner in the city of Fayetteville, GA. A fellow member of the Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce, Kenya is very active in the community. Her passions include being an active volunteer with the Covenant House of Atlanta and is as a member of the Lift Movement.

For the past 18 years, Kenya has provided wealth building and protection for our community through financial services and insurance products. If you are looking for a State Farm agent who cares about you as an individual, contact Kenya Shiver-Trout today!

Lighthouse Promotions is located in Fayetteville, GA and is owned by Byron Williams. Byron is originally from Florida and enjoys playing golf. I was introduced to him as a result of his personal commitment to Black-owned businesses in Fayetteville. When he realized that many of the business owners didn't know each other, he set up a monthly meeting to invite them to meet.

Lighthouse Promotions was established in 2004 and specializes in embroidery services and can handle all of your promotional needs. Timing was right for us to meet as I was personally shopping for some shirts for my business. Byron's team quoted me a great price, the customer service was impeccable, the quality was superb and my order came back faster than I was told. So I definitely recommend Lighthouse Promotions!

Ladami, Inc. is located in College Park, GA and is taught by Ladrick Williams. A native of Panama, Ladrick has more than 35 years of experience as a bilingual instructor. His course will have you Speaking Spanish Phonetically after 8 weeks of instruction.

We know that leaning a second language, especially Spanish, can afford us some economic opportunities.  Check out the website for more information. 

Act 1 Group is headquarted in Torrance, CA and was founded by Janice Bryant Howroyd. I had the pleasure of hearing Mrs. Howroyd speak recently at the Hope Global Forum and was impressed with how down to earth she was. Although she built a billion-dollar business with only $1,500, she has not forgot her North Carolina roots.  

Act 1 Group is the largest privately held, woman-owned employment firm in the United States! Since 1978, Act 1 has staffed companies around the globe.

Phillip Ashley Chocolates is based out of Memphis, TN and carries the name of its owner. If you're looking for the everyday chocolate to satisfy your taste buds, this ain't the place! Phillip Ashley is a Designer Chocolatier who sources his ingredients from local vendors. He then consults with his clients to create a flavor that is specific to them. 

Some of those ingredients include spirits that are infused in the chocolates, orange marmalade, honey, sweet potato and french blue cheese! Corporate clients include Nike, Westin, the National Civil Rights Museum and FedEx - just to name a few. Look for them at your local Neiman Marcus.