Ashley Owens

Ashley Owens is the first and only Networking Concierge that puts you in the right situation or gets you out of the wrong one. As a networking concierge, Ashley works as a strategic partner, attending events with professionals as an extension and champion of them at local events and conferences. Starting her career as a personal and executive assistant to two celebrities in NYC, her experience in networking grew as she obtained positions in customer service, business analytics, and account management. Since 2017, she has grown her business into something she could have NEVER dreamed of. Ashley is a host of two digital TV talk shows on RVNTV and This is it TV, speaking and interviewing on the topic of tactical networking. She has taken over 700 introduction phone calls with business professionals looking to grow their network, and has given close to 1,000 introductions. She has spoken to over 50 networking groups, organizations, companies, and conferences, including the coveted Pennsylvania Conference for Women. She has been interviewed on the Mel Robbins Show on CBS, produces and hosts a podcast talking to entrepreneurs and their screw-ups, raises over thousands of dollars for local nonprofits that she partners with at her Cocktails and Conversation networking event, has over 185 referral partners, owns equity in two other startup companies, and has been flown around the country as a keynote speaker

Anna Ehlenberger

Katie May

Katie K. May is the owner and CEO of Creative Healing, a teen support center with three locations in the Greater Philadelphia area.  From solo practice to 7 figure empire in 3 years, Katie leads a team of 17 and growing with her mission to help teens learn to manage big emotions and cope with confidence to create a life they love.  Creative Healing earned its place as #17 on the Philly 100 fastest growing businesses list in 2020.  In addition to her practice, Katie owns a consulting business where she helps therapists market, fill and run groups in private practice. 

Daisy Fontanez

As a proud resident of Philadelphia, I am a professional with over 30 years of experience in the Corporate Environment with specific focus on Operations. I have a wealth of knowledge in Customer Service, Adult Education, Quality Assurance, Change Management, Leadership Skills and Process/Performance Improvement.

An advocate for continuous learning, I completed my undergrad from LaSalle University with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, and my Master’s from the University of Phoenix in Education specializing in Curriculum and Instruction for Adult learners. In 2016 I completed an eight-month Leadership program through Philadelphia Urban League.

My passion and daily motivation are learning something new every day. With that in mind and understanding the value of giving back to our community, I volunteer in several community programs. In addition to feeding, clothing families, cleaning community activities and rebuilding a school library, I am currently teaching English as a Second Language in our Latino community.

In 2018, I made the decision to depart from my employer of over 24 years, feeling that with all of my experience a future was out there for me to discover. With lots of research, time, prayer and courage, in 2019 I launched my consulting firm Diagnostic Business Solutions LLC. Diagnostic Business Solutions is a company designed to work with other small businesses and provide consultative services, in areas of Operational performance, Process Improvement, and Educational Services, just to name a few.

On a final note, I take pride in my family, in addition to my responsiveness to community and business partners. Taking a proactive approach to the value of collaboration and partnerships is essential to success.

Jorge Fontanez

Jorge is founder of Marca Studio, a consultancy that builds capacity and social impact strategy for small businesses, entrepreneurs, brands, foundations, and nonprofits. Jorge has been a First Movers Fellow since 2014, a program of The Aspen Institute Business & Society Program, the foremost leader in intrapreneurship, shaping business as a force for social good. He also lectures at the Bard MBA in Sustainability Program and designed a course on Stakeholders & Marketing, a call to marketers to lead inclusive stakeholder engagement to build long-term brand equity.
Jorge is committed to multi-stakeholder engagement to transform capitalism, shift organizational culture, and arm the next generation of business leaders with the tools they need to achieve racial equity and environmental justice. Jorge serves on the Advisory Board for The NYU Center for Sustainable Business and Pacific Community Ventures, a San Francisco Community Development Financial Institution. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his MBA at The New York University Stern School of Business.

Jon Herting

Dr. Jon Herting is the Owner of Precision Performance Physical Therapy with locations in Garnet Valley, Philadelphia and Malvern. He also currently serves as adjunct faculty at Widener University and has developed several continuing education courses for clinicians and certified strength and conditioning professional based around assessment and rehabilitation techniques. COVID has been a challenging time for all businesses but the ability to pivot to create other revenue streams to change the way people view your service will be the key to sustainability in an ever changing world. Jon has been able to pivot and create multiple streams of revenue outside of a traditional Physical Therapy practice in order to continue business growth and prepare for future challenges.

Lindsay Hagerman

Lindsay Hagerman is Co-Owner and Co-Founder of RainCaper, a family-owned company that designs & manufactures smart travel accessories. Their core values are inspired by decades of experience owning a successful gift store in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and their store-friendly policies make RainCaper an attractive brand carried in more than 1200 independent retailers, boutiques, hospital gift stores, and museum gift shops. During COVID, with most of their retail partners shuttered, RainCaper pivoted by adding gorgeous fabric face masks to their collection of umbrellas, gloves, and reversible travel capes. Face masks have been a lifeline both for RainCaper and for many of our stores in 2020.

Yolanda Coleman

Yolanda’s passion for educating children and inspiring them to achieve academic success was the driving force behind her decision to develop Team Tutor. An expert in her field, Yolanda has over 25 years of teaching and tutoring experience.

It was during her tenure with the Philadelphia School District that Yolanda was first exposed to the wide-spread need for accessible one-on-one instruction. It has been Yolanda’s mission to offer the best personalized tutoring program throughout the Delaware Valley. She believes all children can learn and should be given the opportunity for academic success.

Yolanda received her bachelor’s degree at Moravian College, and completed her Master’s Degree in Education at Eastern University. She taught for 10 years with the School District of Philadelphia. She is also a dyslexia practitioner and is a certified Wilson Reading Specialist.

Yolanda consults with parents to help them make decisions for their children’s education. She works closely with students of all ages and works directly with school administrators throughout the Philadelphia area. She also blogs regularly on learning related issues. Yolanda was featured on Answers.com as the Homework Expert. She also consults with woman business owners to help them navigate the journey of entrepreneurship.

Yolanda currently lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband, 3 daughters and 2 dogs. She loves to run, do yoga, spin, watch her girls play basketball,  read, and spend time with her family.

Jason Klock

Jason Klock is the founder of Klock Entertainment, a high-end Wedding DJ & Live Event Services Company from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Klock has been known for wedding receptions in Central Pennsylvania for over a decade providing DJ services, Lighting, Photo Booth, and Décor.  In 2015, Klock launched their Meetings & Events Division, which has quickly risen to the top for quality lighting, content management, event branding, and full-event planning.  In the last 5 years, Klock has added over thirty part-time jobs to the community as well as five full-time positions. Klock supports their people, providing full benefits to their qualified employees such as Healthcare coverage, 401k programs with a competitive match, and paid time off. 

In February of 2018, Jason was the runner-up Entrepreneur of The Year for Action Coach USA at their Business Excellence Forum Conference in San Diego, California.  In July 2018, Jason won the “Director’s Choice” award from an elite private industry group known as, “Think Tank”.  Jason also dedicated three months in 2018 to Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses Program out of Philadelphia.  

In September 2018, The Company, Klock Entertainment was awarded as a Central Penn Business Journal’s Top 50 Fastest Growing Company.

In November 2018, Jason won Harrisburg Regional Chambers’ Entrepreneur of The Year during their Annual Catalyst Awards.  

In October 2019, Jason won “40 Under 40” presented by Central Penn Business Journal.

Jason has been eager to support the community, whether it be personally or through the company to many non-profit organizations throughout Central Pennsylvania. Whether he’s provided volunteers or assisted with annual events, his contributions have been consistent and impactful. 

Jason has created a strong brand based on an extremely high level of customer service, the experience that is provided to clients from the moment of inquiry through the end of the event, and the ability to embrace the use of technology to help clients achieve their vision stress-free. 

In Jason’s free-time he enjoys helping his kids with their activities.  Ava, age 7, is excited about dance and Eli, also age 7, enjoys basketball (which Jason coaches) and golf. Owen, age 4 is still learning about all of the possibilities. 

Jason has placed the right individual talents to take over the day to day operations and continue to grow the company.  This will allow Jason to focus on being the visionary to push the needle forward for his next big opportunity.

Pam Henshall

Pam Henshall is President of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GNPCC), the largest business advocacy organization in the Greater Northeast Philadelphia community. Hired in April 2015, she brings to the GNPCC a wealth of professional experience as an administrator, marketing manager, and event planner.
Tasked with providing the organization a stronger foothold in the changing, technologically charged business industry, she has managed in just three months to plan and develop new, aggressive strategies focused on growing membership, bolstering programming and increasing revenue.
Ms. Henshall is no stranger to the work of business advocacy, having served nearly 19 years as Vice President of the Cherry Hill Regional Chamber of Commerce. Her responsibilities included all marketing, public relations, and event planning for membership.
Immediately before her employment at the GNPCC, Ms. Henshall was Director of Development at United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia and Vicinity. Her work there included business development, fundraising, marketing, public relations, and event planning.
Her experience as a pioneering entrepreneur as President of her own company, Shifting Trends, LLC, afforded the opportunity to explore business-to-business membership and marketing online. Ms. Henshall is presently employing those skills as an integral part of the GNPCC’s vertical growth. Ownership of her own business resulted in a priceless skill that helps immensely in her daily contacts with business owners, service providers, and entrepreneurs.

Venus David

• Since reopening my primary role is duplicating myself in the business. I facilitate clinical assessments and provide training and guidance for our Master & Bachelor level therapist.  
• So Love Autistic Center is an education, therapeutic, early learning center that has pivoted to a 1:1 service provider that accepts insurance for 90% of services provided
• I possess 20+ years experience in education, behavior therapy and program development.  I graduate from the first HBCU with a Master’s in Special Education and Behavior Modification. I’m a Licensed Behavior Analyst and opened my business 5 years ago.
• Masters Special Education, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
• Personal interests
• www.solovecenter.org
• If 10KSB Alumni, Cohort #17, Fall 2018

Kim Strengari

Kim Strengari is the co -owner of Conshy Girls Restaurant and Catering Group and co-owner of Pretty Tasty Cupcakes. Kim began her career in the restaurant industry right out of college, she learned all she knew of the business while working behind the bar. Kim has been in the restaurant for over 40 years where she teaches and mentors her many employees. Many of which have learned from her mentorship and guidance and have opened their own restaurants. The restaurant group  believes strongly in giving back to their community. They have hosted many charity events and raised thousands of dollars for dog rescues, partnered with the Eagles for autism, ALS, and the Homeless just to name a few. Kim defines her success through her love for people, her loyal employees, her dedicated customers over the last 3 decades and most importantly by paying it forward.

Julie DeLucca-Collins

Julie DeLucca-Collins is the Founder and CEO of Go Confidently Coaching the host of the popular podcast Casa DeConfidence Podcast. Julie began her career as a Pre-K teacher and later worked with Middle School students. Over the past 20 years, she has worked as a senior executive in the education industry field. She recently completed her tenure as Chief Innovation Officer for an academic solutions company based in New York City. Julie has been a mentor and coach to women in the professional world and several leadership programs at community colleges in her area for several years. She trained as a mentor and later received her certifications as a Coach in Holistic Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, Mindfulness, and Life Purpose Life Coach Certifications. She became certified as a Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator along with her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification. Julie is currently writing her first book about confidence.