San Antonio Black Entrepreneurs, Experts Who Can Speak at Your Next Event

What will it take to improve diversity at conferences?

We know diversity in teams is the key to innovation and makes us smarter. This panel with Tiffany Haddish discussed ways to incorporate diversity into conferences and other public events. 

We must acknowledge the systematic barriers holding back people of color from being recognized as experts.

It has long been evident that we are not doing everything we can to ensure that discussion panels, keystone speakers, and conference sessions reflect the full spectrum of talent in our communities. Too many events lack racial diversity, so we’re taking steps to help change that.

La Juana Chambers Lawson worked diligently to assemble this curated list of Black professionals who have shared their expertise and views at events. 

When you scan these names, don’t only look for experts by title. Many of these speakers have both professional expertise and unique experience in community service.

Sourcing speakers outside your traditional networks means adding differences in experiences and points of view. That’s why we’ve included thought leaders, public servants, and other experts in addition to entrepreneurs.

This list can help you bring in people with valuable experience, whether it’s from running a business or by working on an issue from within a community organization.

We encourage you to look at these LinkedIn profiles for more information on each person’s background and to connect. These 100-plus names are only the beginning.

We’ll do our part by maintaining and updating this unranked, alphabetized list as submissions come in. If we missed anyone or need to correct an entry, please let us know here.

Here's a list of Black entrepreneurs and experts who can speak at your next event in San Antonio. Click To Tweet

1. Born Logic Allah, Owner, 9Logic video production company
2. Margaret Wilson Anaglia, Director, San Antonio Women’s Business Center and founder Al’s Gourmet Nuts
3. Jada Andrews-Sullivan, District 2 Councilwoman for the City of San Antonio
4. Sherrika Arch, President, Straight Line Management  construction management services
5. Ada Babino, Video Producer, Jezebel Filmworks and San Antonio Black Film Festival 
6. Amanda Bankston Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Co-Founder, MVP Vibe
7. Eddie Bankston Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder, MVP Vibe
8. Staci Beane, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder, Tekgration
9. Kamilah Beltran, Founder and CEO, ADO Digital
10. Robbie Bishop-Monroe, Assistant Professor of Accounting, St. Mary’s University
11. Nicola Blaque, Chef and owner, The Jerk Shack
12. Iman Blyther, Owner, Neatly Done San Antonio
13. Stephanie Boyd, Judge, 187th Criminal District Court, San Antonio
14. Nancy Brewington, CEO and RN, Hands N Harmony
15. Monica Brite, CEO, B Rite Family Finance and financial literacy speaker
16. Karla Broadus, President, Commonwealth Computer Company
17. DeAnna Brown, Sheago Cosmetics Better Life Consultant and FwdProgress A&E Center nonprofit organization
18. Celeste Alana Brown, Advocacy Manager, KIPP San Antonio Public Schools 
19. Lester Bryant, Financial Professional, OPES ONE HILL COUNTRY
20. Marcae Bryant-Omosor, USAA software engineer and Culture & Equity-Diversity Advocate, Cybersecurity Leadership Change Agent
21. Sha-Rone V Buggs-Reyes, government contracting and small business expert, board member of ThruProject, former 1st Vice Chair of the Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce
22. Dianna Burns Banks, President, South Texas Center for Pediatric Care
23. Willie Burroughs, Chief Operations Officer (COO) at San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD)
24. Tommy Calvert, Jr., Bexar County Commissioner 
25. Tommy “TC” Calvert, Sr., VP of Marketing and Advertising, KROV FM San Antonio Community Radio, Chair at Fair Contracting Coalition and President of Neighborhoods First Alliance
26. Nicole Carr, Black Feminism Scholar and Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio
27. Paula A. Chaison-Monroe, Founder of PAM Media Outreach Urban Communities Teen Summit
28. Chawanna Chambers, Director of Academics, Compass Rose Public Schools
29. Karen Chattum, Owner, Poetry In Motion Publishing
30. Neka Cleaver, Owner/Personality of Tha1Radio Hub
31. Brandi Coleman, University of the Incarnate Word Adjunct Professor and Founder/CEO of The Lemonade Circle
32. James Cooper, Jr., Business Development, Project QUEST
33. Julian Dais, CEO of The Green Lab, a cannabis business development agency
34. Steven Darby, Creative Director, HeavyHeavy
35. Beatrix Davis, CEO, The Legacy Firm
36. Cheryl Davis, Dr. Cheryl Davis Family Dentistry
37. Brian Dillard, Chief Innovation Officer, City of San Antonio 
38. Angelica Docog, Executive Director at the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) of the University of Texas – San Antonio 
39. Harriet Dominique, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs at USAA
40. Raven Douglas, Deputy Director, Project MOVE
41. Tracie Edmond, CEO, CAVALRY and Professor, University of the Incarnate Word
42. Anthony Edwards, African American Arts advocate and civic leader, board member of the Witte Museum and San Antonio Museum of Art
43. Tiffany Edwards, Owner, T.C. Fitness and a NASM Certified trainer and nutrition specialist 
44. Deyla Elliott, Program Specialist at UT San Antonio, Certified Health Coach, and FemCity San Antonio Collective Leader
45. Ashley Evans, Professional photographer
46. Erika Forbes, Founder and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Culture CrossOver, entrepreneurial culture for women
47. Erik Ford, Digital Director, HeavyHeavy
48. Ivory Freeman, Financial Services Professional, NYLIFE Securities
49. Mikala Gibson, Actress (Fear The Walking Dead, Dawn, and more)
50. Charles Gentry, Professor of African American Studies, UTSA and Founder and Director of Programs and Administration, Teatro Anansi
51. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Texas House of Representatives District 120
52. Paula Gold-Williams, President and CEO, CPS Energy
53. DW Goodloe (Dat Mayne DeeWayne), Filmmaker and Owner of Good Visualz Productions
54. Demetrius Gordon, CEO and Founder, Jamaica Jamaica Cuisine
55. Billy Gordon, President, Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers Association
56. Jackie Gorman, Senior Partner at Allen Austin and Managing Partner and CEO and Ivy Consulting
57. Karen Grace, CEO, Grace Star Media Group
58. DL Grant, Manager at the San Antonio Public Library Carver Branch, and San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum Research Committee Chair
59. Tiffany Grant, Chief of Staff, San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD)
60. Tracey Groomes, President, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, San Antonio Chapter and Scrum Master at Brit Incorporated
61. Glen Guyton, keynote speaker on Diversity and Inclusion
62. Nias Harris, globally recognized pan-African scholar
63. Rosalind Harris, Entrepreneur Coach and Independent Consultant for Start-up Nonprofits and Grant-writer
64. Erynn Haskins, Development Manager, City Year San Antonio
65. Rachel Hathaway, Vice President and Community Relations Manager,  Bank of America
66. TJ Haygood, founder, CEO and SVP of Sales & Marketing for Get Inclusive Vacations and expansion coach and marketing representative for PlanNet Marketing
67. Bennett Hendrix III, cybersecurity expert, author, and speaker
68. Christopher C. Herring, Sr., Executive Director, Global Chamber of Commerce San Antonio
69. Ben Hodge, CEO and Product Owner, EEVET, Inc.
70. Charles Hood, Fire Chief, City of San Antonio
71. Paul Hoskins and motivational speaker and Michelle Hoskins, Owners, Urban Air Adventure Park 
72. Yolanda Huff, Judge, County Court 12, San Antonio
73. Adrian Jackson, Subject Matter Expert (SME) on crisis communications and Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications, St. Philip’s College
74. Gylon Jackson, Chief Idea Architect, Big G Labs digital media firm
75. Deborah Omowale Jarmon, Executive Director, San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum
76. David E. Johnson, Owner/Principal, TranformEd Consulting
77. Marcel Johnson, Vice President for Business Development, Port San Antonio
78. Naomi Sumthin2Say Johnson, founder of the San Antonio Kwanzaa Commission
79. Tiffany Jones-Smith, CEO, Texas Kidney Foundation
80. Tuesdaé Knight, President and CEO, San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE)
81. Antoinette Lakey, Founder and Artistic Director, Teatro Anansi and Community Partnership Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA
82. Delores Lenzy Jones, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of CPS Energy
83. Kelly Lampkin Principal Consultant, FUNMISE IT consulting services and Vice Chair of The Boardroom Project
84. La Juana Chambers Lawson, CEO and founder, Tacit Growth Strategies and former president and chair of the Alamo Project Management Institute (Alamo PMI) board of directors and San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM)
85. Elexus Liggins, Moki and Outreach Coordinator, School’s Out Hackathon
86. Brandon Logan, President, Rotary Club of San Antonio
87. Monique Long-White, Economist and Project Manager, UTSA Technology Commercialization Center
88. Adena Loston, President, St. Philip’s College
89. Michelle Lugalia-Hollon, Director of Initiatives and Partnerships, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
90. Baba Aundar Ma’at, Owner of Melaneyes Media, Ma’at Marketing and KuumbaNia, filmmaker and writer
91. Shalonda Mack, Founder, LVES Sexual Trauma Recovery Program
92. Jordan Maney, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, All The Days
93. Mario Marcel Salas, Civil rights leader for over 30 years, author, and former City Councilman District 2, City of San Antonio
94. Diamond Mason, writer and performance artist
95. Cornelius Massey, Real Estate Agent, Redefy Real Estate
96. Bijo Mathew, Director, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute for Economic Development and Associate Regional Director at South-West Texas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network
97. Nakita McClure, Life enrichment assistant at Autumn Leaves Memory Care and poet
98. Renee Joy McGhee, Alamo Colleges Workforce Development Instructor and Owner of King’s Glory Enterprises Inc – IT~N~TeleCare – Inspirationally Yours
99. B Michele, CEO and Branding Coach, B Michele Branding Agency
100. Lou Miller, Chief of Staff, Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan and past president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of San Antonio
101. Taylor Mobley, Lifestyle Producer, WOAI and KABB
102. Jeneea “The Fire Starter” Moore, poet and host of The Fire Starter Show
103. Kevin Nabors and Kela Nabors, founders and owners, Organically Bath and Beauty, a line of vegan beauty products
104. Shokare “Sho” Nakpodia, Owner of the Mighty Group and founder of DreamWeek
105. Shetigho Nakpodia, Founder, Pastor, and Owner of Redeemer’s Praise Church and The Love Community Center
106. Nadia Noel-Anglade, Founder, the Networking Embassy and professional speaker
107. Sierra Parker, CEO and Founder of Queening in MY Purpose Women’s Nonprofit Organization and Host of Tea Time with Q.i.M.P.
108. Cassandra Parker-Nowicki, Executive Director, Carver Community Cultural Center
109. Christian Reed-Ogba and Uchennaya Ogba, Founders of EHCÜ Public Relations
110. Yinka Ogunsanya, Vice President of Operations for Maaco and Business Strategy & Planning Speaker
111. Bonita Owens, CEO, Founder of the Amazing Women Network and speaker, trainer, coach, author
112. Alicia Perry, and Walk Development Specialist at National MS Society and SAISD Board member
113. Keely Petty, Founder and CEO of Kick-Start Your Life Coaching and professional keynote speaker
114. Rita Phillip, Managing Director, Business Diversity and Workforce Development, Texas High-Speed Rail
115. Aaronetta Hamilton Pierce, Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, African American art advocate, and civic leader
116. Tia Prescott, Owner, Tia’s Beauty Supply
117. Katherine Pruett, Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Ethical Style Journal
118. Jason Pulliam, U.S. District Judge at Fourth Court of Appeals
119. Gloria Ray, lifelong D2 resident and native of San Antonio
120. Margaret Richardson Taylor, Professor of Government at Alamo Community Colleges District – San Antonio College (SAC)
121. David Robinson, Jr., Founder, Blueprint Local community investing firm and Admiral Capital Group
122. Mills Carnell Rodgers, author and speaker for schools and first-generation programs
123. Shantana Robinson, Owner, MFAD Creative Group management consulting
124. Walter Rogers, Transition Coordinator, U.S. Government Warrior Transition Battalion
125. Dorinda Rolle, President, Rolle and Associates
126. Vicky Romero, Learning and Development Leader, Plumquest, LLC and President-Elect 2020 Association of Talent Development (ATD) San Antonio
127. Mycheryl Russ, Owner and Chief Creative Officer, Chak Therapy vegan product line
128. Mecca Salahuddin, Strategic Planning and Performance Excellence, Alamo Colleges District
129. Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, San Antonio Poet Laureate, musical artist/healer and poet
130. Lawrence Scott, Executive Director of the Community for Life Foundation, Founder, Strengthening Educating Navigating Developing SEND and Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University
131. Michelle Garcia Shaw, Associate at Curney Farmer House Osuna & Jackson, P.C.
132. Will “Cruz” Shaw, Associate Judge,  436th Judicial District Court, San Antonio
133. Tracie  Shelton, Founder, Alamo Kitchens and Senior Business Advisor at the UTSA SBDC
134. Liz Simpson, executive coach, professional speaker, and owner of Stimulyst, B2B Sales Coach for Women
135. Jacqueline Smith, CEO, The Jacqueline Smith Foundation
136. Tamara Smith, philanthropist, basketball player, CEO of Children Core Connection
137. Ya’Ke Smith, Film Director at Exodus Filmworks and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The University of Texas’ Moody College of Communication
138. Rockie Gilford Stepter, Community activist and Fellow at New Leaders Council – San Antonio
139. Danielle Campbell Steans, Director, San Antonio Ballet School and San Antonio Youth Ballet
140. LaShawn Stewart-Baylor, President and CEO, Integrated CM Solutions
141. Kirsten Thompson, Creative Director, celebrity stylist, serial fashion award winner
142. Laura Thompson Owner and General Manager at The African American Network (TAAN TV)
143. Jordan Mischel Thomas, Project Manager, The MightyGroup and Community Development, Family Service Association of San Antonio
144. Grace Uzomba, Judge, County Court 2, San Antonio
145. Renee Watson, Director, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Department – Bexar County
146. Tracy Watts, Grant Director at St. Philip’s College, Board Member of the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund (SAAAACF) and the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM)
147. Morjoriee White, Homeless Administrator, City of San Antonio Department of Human Services
148. Tivy Whitlock, President, Nobles Institute
149. Antonio Wicks, Financial Literacy Coach and  Distribution Advocate
150. Dorian Williams, Learning and Development Manager, San Antonio Area Foundation
151. Maria Williams, Owner, Majestic Events by Maria and former 2nd Vice-Chair Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce/Former Carver Community Cultural Center Board Member 
152. Frederick Williams, author, retired Adjunct Professor, UTSA 
153. Derrick Wilson, Founder and owner of the Lion’s Den and Power Factor Entertainment Group  
154. Malii Watts Witten, Founding Principal, Trainer and Management Consultant at EngageBetween
155. Veronica Shields Witter, McDonald’s Franchisee
156. Bria Woods, Executive Producer of Digital KAVU-TV and Founder of Glo App

For more listings of Black-owned businesses in San Antonio, please consult the following resources:

• African American Chamber of Commerce of San Antonio
• Bexar County maintains the African American Business Enterprise directory
• Tha1 Radio Hub regularly distributes and updates a listing of African-American owned businesses in San Antonio, the Black Business Directory in San Antonio
• The Texas Black Pages is a listing of African-American-owned businesses

Did we miss someone? Know a Black entrepreneur in San Antonio who is a great speaker and should be on this list? Please let us know here or post a comment below. We’ll update this list with your additions.

Guest author La Juana Chambers Lawson is CEO and founder of Tacit Growth Strategies and former president and chair of the board of directors of the Alamo Project Management Institute (Alamo PMI) and the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM).   

Featured image is of an African American entrepreneur reading a business publication. Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash.