2025
inclusive entrepreneurship Fellows
Maria Gonzalez
M&A Supplier Diversity
Maria Gonzalez, Founder of M&A Supplier Diversity Consultants, leverages 20+ years of public sector experience to build compliant supplier diversity programs.
- Specializing in socio-economic certifications, she has supported over 1,500 diverse businesses.
- A Certified SCORE Business Counselor, Trustee at Bristol Community College, and Vice-Chair of the Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce, she actively contributes to community initiatives.
- Recognized as a 2023 Amplify Latinx Leader, she co-authored a book on Latina resilience and hosts the "Diversity Duo" podcast.
- Originally from Puerto Rico, she balances professional success with personal passions like gardening and salsa dancing.
Wilbert Weche
Willful Change
Will Weche is a charismatic, people-oriented professional who graduated with an MBA in 2011 from Dowling College.
His interests include reading insightful books focused on professional development, watching nature and wildlife documentaries, and listening to contemporary jazz music.
He currently owns and operates a training and development firm that provides customized solutions to nonprofit organizations seeking to invest in the growth of their leadership teams.
Will is a certified keynote speaker, leadership trainer, and coach. His business aims to provide a learning experience that provokes deep thought, challenges commitments, and inspires action.
Rachelle Jeanty
Chellypic Photography LLC
Chellypic Photography LLC, founded by Rachelle Jeanty in 2011, specializes in capturing authentic, high-quality portraits and special events.
Based in the South Shore and Boston area, Chellypic Photography is dedicated to delivering stunning imagery that reflects each client's unique personality and story. With a creative and natural approach, Rachelle ensures every session feels comfortable and personal, producing timeless images that clients cherish.
Beyond photography, Chellypic Photography is deeply rooted in community engagement, supporting local events and collaborating with businesses and creatives. Rachelle's passion for cultural awareness and storytelling shines through her work, making every session an opportunity to celebrate diversity and individuality.
Whether capturing professional headshots, weddings, or milestone moments, Chellypic Photography provides a seamless and enjoyable experience from start to finish. With professionalism, warmth, and a keen artistic eye, Chellypic Photography turns everyday moments into lasting memories.
Eulalio Guevara
Friends of Garden Lanscaping LLC
Eulalio Guevara's passion for the land began on his family's farm in Metapán, El Salvador, where he tended corn, beans, and citrus crops.
After Hurricane Mitch devastated his homeland in 1998, he immigrated to Boston in 1999, bringing his deep knowledge of soil health and sustainable farming.
For 14 years, Eulalio worked in landscaping, earning a strong reputation for his expertise. However, barriers to business ownership made entrepreneurship challenging.
In 2021, he founded Friends of Gardens to provide high-quality landscaping, fair wages, and environmentally responsible solutions. Dedicated to creating thriving green spaces, Eulalio's work supports local jobs and empowers underserved entrepreneurs. His mission is to blend beauty and sustainability, proving that investing in people and the land fosters lasting impact.
Karen Armstrong
LCI Paper Co., Inc
Karen Armstrong is the owner of LClPaper.com, an e-commerce business specializing in premium paper, printing, and laser cutting/engraving.
With over 30 years of experience as an Engineer and Director of manufacturing operations in the optics industry -spanning both night vision and laser components-Karen transitioned from high-tech in 2021 to acquire LCI Paper.
Her goal is to expand the company's presence in both B2B and B2C markets.
Sayem Khan
Building Design Collective
Sayem Khan is a registered architect who has been practicing in Massachusetts since 2018.
With a strong commitment to helping others, he spent four years working in Haiti after the devastating earthquake.
Originally from Bangladesh, Sayem also served as an associate professor at BRAC University, where he shared his expertise with aspiring architects. He firmly believes in the transformative power of architecture to create a positive impact on communities.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Sayem enjoys music and painting, which fuel his creativity and enrich his perspective as an architect.
Rachel Briggs
Dream Through STEAM RI
Rachel is the Founder and Creative Director of Dream Through STEAM RI, a small business dedicated to fostering a more diverse and inclusive STEAM landscape by celebrating the contributions of African Americans in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
With a vision to empower young learners, Dream Through STEAM RI provides engaging educational experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire future innovators.
Through educational consultation, standards-aligned curriculum, interactive workshops, and the photo gallery exhibition The Contributors: A Gallery of Greatness, Rachel seeks to ensure that all children-especially those from underrepresented communities-see themselves reflected in STEAM fields.
By honoring the past, educating in the present, and shaping the future, her organization not only highlights historical excellence but also equips the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to lead in STEAM careers.
Joan Drappeau
SlicPix
Joan Drappeau is the Co-founder and CEO of SlicPix. She holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Metro State and has over six years of experience enhancing website engagement by creating seamless, interactive experiences that encourage consumers to click, learn, buy, and share.
Under Joan's leadership, SlicPix envisions reshaping consumer expectations around web images and videos by making them inherently clickable and interactive. The goal is to create easy-to-navigate pathways that guide users to rich multimedia stories, encourage social sharing, and incorporate clear calls-to-action (CTAs) to provide consumers with next steps, ultimately increasing engagement and sales for businesses.
Chioma Nnaji
Ocha Transformation
Chioma Nnaji, MPH, MEd, is a seasoned public health leader, facilitator, and advocate with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of health equity, racial justice, and immigrant rights.
As the Founder and CEO of Ocha Transformations, she specializes in bringing leaders, organizations, and communities together to maximize social impact and drive sustainable change.
As a master facilitator, she employs participatory facilitation methods grounded in equity and anti-racism to foster creative thinking, inclusive decision-making, and collaborative action.
In working with mission-driven groups, nonprofits, corporations, and public sector partners, Ocha Transformations has led tangible outcomes, such as partnering with corporations to integrate equity into their strategic initiatives, designing leadership development programs for BIPOC leaders, and facilitating engagement processes that drive cross-sector innovation.
Sika Sedzro
SlicPix
Sika (Amewusika) Sedzro is the co-founder and CEO of Uncut Lab. She holds a Liberal Arts degree from Hampshire College and a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University.
During her 18 years of experience in workforce, economic development, and urban planning, Sika observed that local economic development ecosystems in the Northeast were being underserved by the technology market. Consequently, she and her co- founders established Uncut Lab to help bridge this gap.
Uncut Lab uses data analytics to help economically underperforming business districts and neighborhoods gain a competitive advantage. The company's mission is to utilize the data revolution to foster local business growth and improve neighborhood livability and viability.
Carolann Strickling
Organization INK, Inc.
Carolann Strickling is the founder and CEO of Organization INK, Inc. a certified WBE located in the Berkshires. The business that supports small and medium size businesses achieve their goals through providing exceptional HR, Accounting and Operations Management services. She currently employs 19 team members and focuses on their growth.
She is an avid learner and has held a senior level Human Resource Certification, achieved a Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, and an MBA.
She most recently received her Financial Management certificate from Cornell University. She enjoys spending time with her family and participating in mentoring opportunities within her local community.
Carolann raisedher two wonderful children Kevin and Kierstan, who continue to live in the Berkshires. She currently lives in Sheffield, MA with her husband Glenn and their two dogs (Bailey & Layla) and two cats (Tasha & Gracie Mae).
Chaney Carlson-Bullock
CTD Productions LLC
Chaney Carlson-Bullock is a Boston-based director whose storytelling merges culture, nostalgia, and history through a lens influenced by early 2000s skate films, music, and echoes of the past. His work is not just seen—it is felt—driven by a deep commitment to visual storytelling as a means of fostering human connection.
From commercial projects to films and documentaries, Chaney crafts narratives that resonate with authenticity, emotion, and purpose. His approach to cinematography is rooted in historical reinterpretation, utilizing unconventional angles to challenge traditional storytelling methods.
By creating space for fresh insights, Chaney bridges the past with the present, drawing inspiration from those who came before him and paving the way for future storytellers.
Shiv Thakur
Summit Global Consulting Inc
Shiv Thakur is a results-driven entrepreneur and innovative leader with expertise in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Management, and biopharmaceutical process optimization.
As the Founder and CEO, he drives strategic initiatives and fosters innovation, while also serving as the Managing Partner at Summit Global Consulting Inc., providing high-quality consulting services.
Currently, Shiv works as a Senior Process Engineer Consultant at Amgen Pharmaceuticals, focusing on optimizing biopharmaceutical processes.
Previously, he supported clients such as GSK and CCG during his tenure at BioX and worked with Catalent Pharmaceuticals at DPS Group Global, specializing in Commissioning, Qualification, Validation (CQV), and Single-Use Technology (SUT).
Shiv holds a Master's degree in Engineering/Industrial Management and a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University, showcasing his strong technical expertise. Passionate about mentorship, he has also taught at Northeastern University and Bristol Community College, sharing his knowledge with aspiring professionals.
Leonela Gonzalez-Fogarty
English for Life LLC
Leonela González-Fogarty is a Venezuelan American with a Bostonian heart. An educator, linguist, language consultant, and immersive English coach, she is the founder of English for Life.
With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in helping Latino professionals and entrepreneurs speak English with confidence through immersive, conversational programs.
She moved to the U.S. in 1997 to pursue a Master's in Educational Computing and Technology, arriving with no English. Her personal journey ignited a passion for language acquisition across all ages, with a focus on adult learning over the past decade. She began her teaching career in Framingham, MA, U.S., and later taught in Venezuela, Thailand, and Ireland.
In 2015, Leonela returned to Boston, developing an innovative learning method to challenge myths about learning English as an adult.
Committed to reducing the English gap in Massachusetts, she founded English 4 Life in 2019, empowering Latinos to communicate confidently and expand their personal and professional opportunities.
Marcela Aldaz-Matos
Co-founder - Arka HR Solutions
Marcela Aldaz-Matos has over 2 decades of experience as a visionary business executive, a champion of talent management, and a fervent advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Marcela’s leadership began with a passion for harnessing the business value of organizational development and talent management. Throughout her career, she has delivered substantial growth in highly competitive industries, leaving a trail of success in financial services, healthcare, and corporate and nonprofit organizations.
With a keen eye for strategy and collaborative approach, Marcela has managed both U.S. and international teams, leaving a lasting impact on businesses across the globe.
Take the next step in your journey and become a Fellow.
