Hear from today’s leading entrepreneurs about how they started their business and the strategies they are using to operate and grow their business.

Time: 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Where: Morgan State University, The Earl G. Graves School of Business, Room 303

Who: Morgan State University Students who have interest in starting a business and surrounding community resident

Space is limited and registration is required.

Speaker's Bio

Natasha Cross

Natasha Cross serves as Founder and Executive Director of Engaging Youth Entrepreneurs(EYE) for Change, Inc. She believes strongly in empowering and preparing youth to become successful and profitable entrepreneurs. Through entrepreneurial and financial skill building Natasha helps youth throughout Baltimore pursue entrepreneurship as a viable career option.

Throughout her college career at Morgan State University, Natasha demonstrated a strong interest and passion for entrepreneurship. In 2004, she revived the inactive Entrepreneurial Society on campus. She would later serve as Vice President and President over the next two years. Ms. Cross has participated in several network marketing businesses, served as Director of Marketing for hand made jewelry company Jazze, LLC now known as Seisyn, LLC, and co-founded a biotech company called Inovatrics Technologies, LLC after winning first prize in the Emerging Minority Business Leaders(EMBL) Launch Plan Competition in 2005. Upon returning from West Virginia's EMBL camp, Natasha birthed the idea for youth to be exposed to entrepreneurship as a career. Engaging Youth Entrepreneurs for Change which originally began as just a conference to expose youth to entrepreneurship as a career, has now blossomed into an organization that impacts over 200 hundred youth per year and has awarded over $15, 000 in startup funds to youth entrepreneurs.

Currently, Natasha works with youth and schools throughout Baltimore City and Baltimore County and has partnered with the Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City to offer entrepreneurship education as positive intervention for youth who are first time offenders.

Natasha is a recipient of several honors and awards. She was named one of Baltimore's 40 Under 40 by Baltimore Magazine in July 2008 and is the proud recipient of Magic Johnson Enterprises and Aetna "Magic Touch" award. She's a 2008 PLUM Grant award recipient, 2009 Practical Money Skills for Life “Innovative Educator” award winner was deemed "Youth Entrepreneur of the Year" by Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc, and 2009 “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Small Business Administration. She has also been featured in the Baltimore Times newspaper, Baltimore Sun newspaper, B Magazine, Youth Today, Shepreneur Magazine and Channel magazine. She is also a member of the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.

Natasha is a certified Program Coordinator through Maryland Mentoring Partnership and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Morgan State University.

Brandon M. Davenport

Prior to co-founding Vesta Mobile Solutions in 2007, Brandon worked for CBS Television Corporation assisting advertising clients in leveraging the CBS media platform as a part of their marketing and advertising initiatives.

As Managing Partner and Director of Development and Operations for Vesta Mobile Solutions, Brandon works closely with companies to establish an interactive and engaging marketing process through various mobile marketing technology systems. These systems include SMS text message marketing, mobile applications, mobile website development and mobile marketing consulting.

These strategies have benefited organizations like, Dewalt, DTLR, Hearst TV, Morgan State University and KFC.

Vesta Mobile has been featured in various publications for its leadership and accomplishments within the mobile marketing space, and in 2008 Brandon and his partners were recognized by BusinessWeek as one of the Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25. Brandon received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Morgan State University

Christine Carter

I founded my consulting firm Epps Consulting in 2007 after noticing local retailers weren’t receiving proper recognition for their impressive stores. I took on the risk of entrepreneurship and honestly, I feared the unknown. I had just graduated from Stevenson University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and I knew inevitable obstacles such as my age, race, and gender could hinder the growth of the business. In addition, the troubling state of the economy initially made potential clients resistant to my marketing services.

It took passion, determination, and seemingly endless months to get Epps Consulting off the ground. However, Epps Consulting eventually broke the mold restricting local retail. In under two years, my award-winning company has become the premier retail marketing firm for small retailers. At just 23 years old, I am one of
the industry’s youngest African-American entrepreneurs.

Instead of servicing all types of organizations in a variety of industries, I have a specialized focus in the region. Epps Consulting manages the marketing campaigns for several independently owned boutiques, non-profit organizations, and state-funded retail events. We have worked with a credible list of organizations, including the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts on Artscape 2008. Our niche
created a competitive advantage, and in a few short months, catapulted Epps Consulting to a leader among its peers.

My company has given me the opportunity to nurture the city that inspired my entrepreneurial spirit. Since December 2008, I have regularly appeared as the retail marketing expert for ABC2News. I also frequently contribute to local and national publications about retail marketing in Maryland, including Mobility Enterprise Magazine, Smart CEO, the Baltimore Business Journal, and The Maryland Daily Record. My perspective on retail marketing and consumer forecasts for Examiner.com made me the number two Examiner in the country in 2008.

I am an active member of many organizations, including the Public Relations Society of America, but it’s my charitable work that reminds me why I started my own business. I regularly encourage other young women to become entrepreneurs, which is why I partnered with the Hillman Entrepreneurs Program (HEP) in 2008 and She Matters Conference in 2009. An organization developed by Prince George’s Community College and the University of Maryland in College Park, the
HEP gives hopeful college entrepreneurs the skills necessary to succeed. The She Matters Girls’ Empowerment Conference and Expo was designed to change the lives of girls ages 9-17 by preparing them to overcome social and emotional obstacles. Both organizations have missions I am not only proud to support professionally, but personally as well: to show Baltimore’s youth that with passion and preparation, dreams can be fulfilled- and they can be powerfully rewarding.

Jonathan Passley

Jonathan Passley is the president and CEO of PDR Web Solutions, a website design and internet marketing firm. His company has worked with clients like Carrollton Bank, Maryland Re-Bath and a number of other businesses throughout the Maryland region. He serves as an active member on the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education and the president of Morgan State University Toastmasters. He has been featured on WEAA 88.9 fm’s BriefCase Radio as November’s Entrepreneur of the Month. In addition, he has spoken to youth throughout Maryland about entrepreneurship and positioning yourself for success. He is currently writing his first book on youth entrepreneurship expected for release in 2011.