Music City Chart Climbers is an accelerator program designed to engage and empower diverse communities by connecting them with opportunities in Nashville's hospitality industry. During the eight-month program, the initiative will offer complimentary NCVC membership, education, and networking opportunities to small and economically disadvantaged businesses owned by people of color, LGBTQ+, women, the disability community, and veterans. Fifteen Nashville businesses will be selected by business and community leaders for the first cohort. They will attend two-hour monthly sessions on topics such as hospitality, sales, marketing, PR/social media, human resources, finance and accounting, and entrepreneurship.
The Inaugural Music City Chart Climbers Cohort:
- Obi Ukwu – Attendants, Inc.
- Timothy Winn – Catering Concepts by Timothy
- Thomas Kelly – Creative Soulz Printing
- Briana Hawkins – Demirebel
- Olamide Aborowa – Giraffe Transport Services
- Zelinka Heslop-Randle – HunnyDo's Date Planning LLC
- Ashley Dunbar – Juice Pharm
- Jared Sizemore – Music City Creative
- Ta-Tanisha Thomas – Nashville Flying Dress
- Teneal Ivery – Ivory Cotton Bar
- Jasmine Williamson – Tea Rose
- Jessica Doaks – The Black Candle Company
- Waren Thomas – The Pepper Pott
- Christy Pruitt-Haynes – The Sip and Smoke Experience
- Erica Moore – Who Spilled The Veggies Co.
"Music City Chart Climbers grew out of our strategic plan as a commitment to empower minority-owned businesses to seize opportunities in the hospitality industry," said Deana Ivey, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. "Whether it's securing contracts with conventions in Nashville or better serving our leisure travelers or partnering with large-scale event organizers like the NFL, who actively seek diverse vendors, this program will better ready more small businesses to tap into our industry."
