As part of Diversity in Leadership Week in 2021, the College of Business recognized its alumni from underrepresented groups who own or have founded a business. By spotlighting these individuals, the college aims to broaden students’ perspectives on their own possible career paths and encourage them to strive for similar successes. Please note: These company listings are self-reported and thus not a comprehensive listing.
The college is in the process of updating this list for 2022. If you’d like to be added to our list of diverse alumni-owned companies, please contact Alex Massey, director of corporate sponsorships, by March 21 at amassey@business.fsu.edu.
&Noire
E-Commerce
Condola Brivitte (BS ACG ’08; MAcc ’10)
Danielle Skeen (BS COMM ’09)
Travis Pinnock
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A Celebrated Moment, LLC
Retail
Tiffany Hallback (BS MAN/HR ’07)
Brandon, Fla.
A. Sharper CPA, PLLC
Accounting
Anthony Sharper (BS ACG ’07; MAcc ’08)
Charlotte, N.C.
Added Incentives Inc
Advertising Specialty/Promotional Products
Richard Jacobson (BS MAR ’80)
Atlanta, Ga.
Advantage Plus Insurance
Insurance
Jaime Louisdhon (BS FIN ’07)
Sunrise, Fla.
Alexia Baillow Consulting
Marketing and Communications
Alexia Baillow (BS MAR & MAN ’14)
Washington, D.C.
Allegra of Bozeman
Marketing
David Dickey (BS Family, Child & Consumer Sciences ’95; MS-MIS ’04)
Bozeman, Mont.
Alluvionic, Inc.
Professional Services/Space & Defense
Wendy Romeu (MS MAN ’12)
Melbourne, Fla.
Alpha Representatives Payee Services, Inc.
Payee Services
Melissa Wilson (BS RMI ’02)
Raleigh, N.C.
Ameritek Industrial Corp.
Distribution of Industrial Goods
Pedro L. Rodriguez (BS BUS ADM ’82)
Miami, Fla.
Asset Builders, LLC d/b/a Messam Construction
Construction Management
Wayne Messam (BS MIS ’97)
Angela Messam (BS MIS ’96)
Miramar, Fla.
Astek Inc. and On Air Designs
Design/Digital Print
Aaron Kirsch (BS BUS/HTL MAN ’78)
Calabasas, Calif.
BKM Sowan Horan, LLP
Public Accounting
Richard J. Sowan (BS ACG ’80)
Richardson, Texas
Bright Tax Solutions FL, LLC
Katharina Reekmans (BS ENG ’13; MBA ’20)
Miami, Fla.
Brisas Empanadas
Wholesale Frozen Food Trade
David Orozco (BS MAR ’13)
Elizabeth, N.J.
Dean Insurance Agency, Inc
P&C Insurance
Deborah J. Turner (BS RMI ’80)
Orlando, Fla.
Definitive Sports Group
Business and Legal Consulting
Tenisha Patterson Brown, Esq. (BS MAN ’07; MS SPORTS MAN ’08)
Charlotte, N.C.
Dimension Works
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
Mindy Beegle (BS MULT BUS & MAR ’01)
Ocala, Fla.
Edukos Beer House
Restaurant/Retail
Xeqniel John Guilarte (BA MAN ’05; MBA ’08)
Miami, Fla.
Faircloth Insurance
Insurance
Barbra Faircloth Harless (BS RMI ’92)
Tallahassee, Fla.
Florida Disabled Outdoors Association
Non-Profit
David C. Jones (BS BUS ’94)
Tallahassee, FL
Greenwood Ice Cream Company, Ltd
Manufacturing
Mitchell Williams (BS ACG ’83)
Atlanta, Ga.
Headsets, Inc./Mr. Headset, Inc./State Sales
Retired
Communication/Communication/Office Equipment
James Lamar Powell (BS BUS ’53)
Leesburg, Fla.
Honey, Love, Etc.
Food
Madiha Beg (BS MAR ’03)
Lahore, Pakistan
iPEO Solutions, LLC
Professional Employer Organization
Michael Ortoll (BS BUS MAN ’84)
Tampa, Fla.
Jeff Stubins, PA
Commercial Real Estate
Jeff Stubins (BS BUS/HTL RES MAN ’76)
Miami, Fla.
K & G Construction Co., Inc.
General Contractor/Developer
Aaron Galley (BS REE ’04)
Jacksonville, Fla.
KB Studio
Online Marketing
Hemal Patel (BS FIN & MAR ’08)
Tallahassee, Fla.
Kona Ice of Horry County
Food Services
Marvin Keene (BS APP ECO ’99; PhD MAR ’00)
Carmaletia Robinson Keene (BS MAN ’99; MBA ’00)
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
LANDMARK TAX GROUP
IRS Tax Resolution
Michael Raanan (BS BUS ’03)
Irvine, Calif.
Lottes Law Group
Law
Lisa Carozza Lottes (BS HOS ADM ’87)
Naples, Fla.
McCall Commercial
Real Estate – Commercial Brokerage & Development
Chris McCall (BS REE & FIN ’98)
Panama City Beach, Fla.
Next Impact, LLC
Insurance/Health Benefits
Lester J. Morales (BS RMI ’02)
San Juan, P.R.
Peter Boulware Toyota
Automotive
Peter Boulware (BS MIS ’97)
Tallahassee, Fla.
Powell Contracting Group
Construction
Jada Powell (BS BUS & HOS ADM ’04)
Fulshear, Texas
Rendina
Healthcare Real Estate
Michael Rendina (BS REE & FIN ’05)
David Rendina (BS FIN & ECO ’10)
Richard Rendina
Jupiter, Fla.
Rent-all City, Inc.
Party/Special Event Rentals
Howard Pinsker (BS MAR ’71)
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Spread Your Sunshine
Inspirational Speaking, Products & Consulting
Melanie S. Griffin, Esq. (BS FIN ’03; MBA ’06)
Tampa, Fla.
Stewart Simmons
Retail + Wholesale Apparel
Shena Simmons (BS MAR & FIN ’07; MBA ’12)
Atlanta, Ga.
Strety Software
Software
Larry Garcia (BS FIN ’03)
Miami, Fla.
Success Uncensored Coaching
Coaching and Consulting
Dr. Keita Joy (BS MAR ’04)
Orlando, Fla.
Sumner Marketing, Inc
Construction
David Sumner (BS BUS ADM ‘74)
Lakeland, Fla.
Surgical Resources Group LLC
Healthcare Sales
David Enrique Johnson (BS HOS ADM ’06)
Clearwater, Fla.
Tamarack Capital Partners
Hotel Real Estate
Heather Turner (BS BUS ’82)
Santa Monica, Calif.
The Community Solutions Group
Housing and Community Development
Priscilla Willis Howard (BS BUS ’82; MS URB REG PLN ’86)
Tampa, Fla.
The Nieves Law Firm, APC
Legal
Jo-Anna Nieves (BS FIN & MULT BUS ’05; JD ’09)
Oakland, Calif.
The White Label Creative
Marketing Consulting
Lindsay White (BS FIN ’12)
Tampa, Fla.
United Sports Properties
Sports
Christopher Keeney (BS MAR ’92)
Tucson, Ariz.
Vet Gear, LLC
Apparel/Brand
Michael Abernathy (MBA ’17)
Jacksonville, Fla.
Wakefield Aiken Law
Legal
Kimberly Wakefield Aiken (BS MIS ’02; MSF ’02)
Kingsland, Ga.
Wealthly
FinTech
LaToya Westbrooks (BS FIN ’08)
New York, N.Y.