Alumni Success
Welcome to Alumni Success — a celebration of the entrepreneurs who launched their businesses through the Center of Entrepreneurs!
These inspiring ventures were initiated through our program, and this platform showcases the impact of the business owners' hard work and vision and the support they received along the way. But Alumni Success is more than a recognition — it's a hub for connections, growth and collaboration.
Explore the businesses our alumni have built, learn from their journeys, and engage with a community shaped by innovation, resilience and shared experience. This space marks a milestone for our entrepreneurs and serves as a springboard for continued growth within our entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Center for Entrepreneurs is proud to recognize three of our entrepreneurs showcased in the Summer 2026 Edition of the Tri-C Times. Read the article here.
Meet our entrepreneurs and connect with their businesses:
- Margaret Bernstein - Publishing
- Michelle Berry - Service
- Anthony Ford - Creative Services
- Rosa M. Green - Service
- Ben Holbert - Media Industry
- Ciceli Jacobs - Hair Care
- Halli Martin - Craft/Artisan
- Erik Misenis - Sharpening Service
- Elyse Robinson - Pre-licensing education
- HerBrina Shepard - Product Industry
Dad Storybooks LLC
Publishing
Margaret Bernstein is a Cleveland-based journalist who has won a wide array of awards for her writing and commitment to her community.
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
As a result of taking the Foundation track, I created my LLC, developed a relationship with the PNC banker I met via the class and established a new business banking account, wrote my first business plan and hired a videographer to create social media reels. During the process of writing my business plan, I decided the time was right to add a new product to my line of "Dad Storybooks" — an activity book for dads and kids to complete together. The training I received through the Foundation track helped me successfully pitch the book to sponsors, and the Center for Entrepreneurs even helped me win a $1,000 grant from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation that will go toward my costs for illustration and design. The support that the center provides to program graduates is truly amazing.
Contact: 216-402-3155 | margaretbernstein@sbcglobal.net
Create Grace
Service
Create Grace provides workshops and team building experiences using craft and creativity as the platform for soft skills such as team building, effective communication and project management
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
The Foundation and Discovery course were extremely helpful and necessary to the growth of my company. The resources and community connections were priceless. The development of my pitch of business ahead of made difference in my ability to connect with potential customers. The knowledgeable faculty and their genuine guidance to see you “win” is evident and access to these great minds and tested entrepreneurs is priceless.
Anthony Ford LLC
Creative Services
Anthony Ford is a multidisciplinary creative, specializing in photography, brand development and social storytelling for individuals and small businesses. His work combines striking visuals with heartfelt messaging to help clients be seen with clarity and purpose. Through his initiative, The NotArt Project, he empowers people to create freely and redefine what art means. Whether you're building a brand or reigniting creativity, Ford offers thoughtful guidance to help you show up with confidence.
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
Without the entrepreneurial track, I would still be stuck in the beginning, second-guessing my every move. The track offered a framework I could use over and over again for ideation, planning, research and execution. It's been a limitless value for me in launching and running my business.
Contact: 216-387-7693 | anthony.fordjr@gmail.com
The Green Rose Experience
Service
The Green Rose Experience is a confidence-centered lifestyle business helping individuals look good, feel confident, and express themselves intentionally. Through personal styling, sustainable and affordable fashion, beauty tools, coaching, and workshops, we provide practical, individualized support that helps clients build confidence they can carry into their personal and professional lives.
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
The entrepreneurial track with The Center for Entrepreneurs helped me strengthen the foundation of The Green Rose Experience by providing practical business education, resources, and a supportive entrepreneurial community. The experience helped me gain greater clarity around my business model, identify opportunities for growth, and become more intentional about turning my ideas into sustainable products and services.
Holbert Media Group
Media Industry
Holbert Media Group LLC is a dynamic, full-service media firm led by an Emmy Award-winning journalist with extensive experience in both broadcast and digital platforms. The company specializes in crafting powerful auditory and live experiences that captivate audiences and elevate brands.
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
Participating in the entrepreneurial track with the Center for Entrepreneurs was a pivotal experience in the evolution of Holbert Media Group. As a company specializing in voice-over artistry, master of ceremonies expertise and media relations, we needed more than creative talent — we needed strategic direction. The program offered actionable insight into building a business framework that's both efficient and scalable, helping us refine our core services and understand how to position them in a competitive marketplace. Beyond the curriculum, the real magic came from the community. Engaging with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs sparked new ideas and approaches, while personalized mentorship from experienced instructors helped translate those ideas into a clear business strategy. These conversations and relationships provided the confidence and tools necessary to advance our media brand with authenticity and impact. The experience wasn't just informative — it was energizing. It empowered the Holbert Media Group to move from concept to execution with a sharpened focus and a compelling voice — literally and figuratively.
Contact: 216-406-0682 | Benjaminholbert3@gmail.com
Ciceli's – A Natural Hair Haven
Ciceli's is a natural hair haven dedicated to providing peace, education, and transformation. We specialize in natural hair care services, complemented by total body care experiences such as relaxation and massage.
Contact: 216-223-8780 | info@cicelis.com
Myra Parker Creations
Craft/Artisan
Myra Parker Creations specializes in crafting handmade jewelry from nontraditional materials and hand-knit blankets.
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
I found the course to be helpful in various ways, including business creation, focus and setup. I also learned ways to promote my business and how to price my products. Connecting with other entrepreneurs is also a great resource that I gained from both the Discovery and Foundation tracks. There are so many things that I have taken away from these courses, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to take them.
Contact: 216-336-7099 | hallidawn71@gmail.com
Art of Sharp
Sharpening Service
Art of Sharp is the greater Cleveland area's premier knife, scissor and tool sharpening service, specializing in everything from kitchen knives to beauty shears to mower blades.
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
The Center for Entrepreneurs has given me insight into many different areas, including branding, marketing and the day-to-day operations of running a business.
Contact: 203-525-0536 | Corvette012@yahoo.com
Unquoting Insurance Company
Industry
Licensed insurance school offering pre-licensing education in the state of Ohio.
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
It helped me make the decision on whether I wanted to turn my insurance school into a nonprofit.
Just Bloom, LLC
Craft/Artisan
Just Bloom, LLC is a literacy and empowerment brand rooted in Black girl magic and the belief that representation matters. Through children's books, authors visits, and literacy programs, I create spaces where all children can see themselves reflected as brilliant, brave, and magical.
How did the entrepreneurial track at the Center for Entrepreneurs help you with your business?
The Center for Entrepreneurs gave me the foundation and confidence to grow Just Bloom from an idea into a blossoming business. The entrepreneurial track provided the guidance, strategy, and support I needed to expand my brand beyond books and into full literacy experiences. With their mentorship, I was able to embrace my role not only as an author, but as a literacy advocate and business owner—using storytelling, representation, and Black girl magic to spark change in classrooms and communities.