Diversity Champions

YOUR CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY

ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESS & FRANCHISE OWNERS

Learn more about our DIVERSITY CHAMPIONS

Samantha Mitchell

For over 25 years, Samantha has been passionate about pursuing a STEM-focused career. She served as the first female aircraft maintenance technician at John F. Kennedy International Airport. In 2010, Samantha led the Boeing Women Inspiring Leadership organization. She is also the founder and President of Black Women in Aviation (BWIA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness, promoting engagement, and enabling advancement of black women in all aviation and aerospace career fields and business sectors.

Jennifer Callender

Jennifer founded InJenious Franchise Solutions after 25+ years of experience as a project management executive for various Fortune 500 companies.

She is an expert at identifying small business growth opportunities resulting in a clear path to success, she provides a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs interested in growing their company.

Jack Wilson

Jack Wilson is an experienced executive with over 20 years experience with franchise ownership, management and development experience in the alternative financial services industry.

His past experience also includes serving as the Chief Development Officer for a Philadelphia-area franchisor, where he was responsible for all franchise development activities.

Tony Nicholson

Tony Nicholson is an Anytime Fitness franchisee, owning multiple clubs for over a decade, but he has also been an integral part in helping hundreds of franchisees open their own clubs.

Anytime Fitness is the largest fitness company in the world. In his time with the company, Anytime Fitness has been named #1 on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500, #1 Global Franchise in the world, and now has over 4,000 units.

Melinda Sykes

Melinda Sykes, MBA who is Owner of Waxing the City Dothan, Alabama. She opened Dothan’s Waxing the City in just November 2017. Currently, the Dothan location is amongst Waxing the City’s largest revenue-generating franchise’s in the nation.

Melinda has actively worked to improve the knowledge gap that inhibits many executives from connecting with their diverse and ever evolving workforce in a way that creates positive changes.

Devon Mitchell

Devon Mitchell is the CEO of DSN Corporation and the Owner of Anytime Fitness Newark, Delaware. Previously an Operations Manager at Boeing, Devon has embarked on an inspiring journey that led him to venture into business ownership. As a trailblazer and member of Self Esteem Brands DE&I committee, Devon aims to motivate and facilitate progress in African American business ownership.

Adrian Archie

Adrian Archie a former NFL linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons who also has a long successful history in Healthcare Sales and Marketing with Stryker Corp, started petNmind in 2014.

Adrian originally became an expert and advocate for natural nutrition for dogs and cats out of caring for his own pet's allergies to mainstream foods sold at the grocery store. PetNMind provides pet parents with holistic nutrition, all-natural treats and pet supplies. Adrian franchised petNmind in 2021.

Ruth Agbaji

Ruth Agbaji is the CEO and Nerd-In-Chief of Code Wiz and has a passion for helping kids connect with their inner genius. Code Wiz offers kids a wide variety of technology to express their creativity through coding and robotics.

With her first center a success and 15 locations across the US, Agbaji is looking to grow Code Wiz into a household brand name in the enrichment education space.

Bentley Ritter

Bentley Ritter is President and CEO of BeneFit Personal Training. He holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School. He was an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer for over 10 years and is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program.

BeneFit Personal Training is the largest provider of in home personal training services serving 20 markets across the country.

Rodney Bonds

Rodney Bonds came up with the idea for BK Lobster when he noticed that the lobster roll had become quite a phenomenon in recent years but was not available in several key locations in New York and around the country. With this in mind, he created an exquisite menu and decided to expand.

The acclaimed entrepreneur honed his skills at franchise development while spending 15 years as a Master Franchise Developer for a real estate franchise company.

Charles & Carolyn Thurston

Carolyn and Charles Thurston founded Wisdom Senior Care in 2006. In 2016, they made the decision to franchise their business. Charles, a certified Franchise Executive (CFE), serves as the Vice President of Sales and leads the franchise development efforts at Wisdom Senior Care. Both Charles and Carolyn actively participate in the International Franchise Association (IFA). Within the IFA Foundation's Diversity Institute, Charles volunteers for the Black Franchise Leadership Council (BFLC) and chairs its Marketing Committee.

Jason Rodriguez

Jason Rodriguez is CEO of Prominent Insurance Agency, an insurance franchise whose territory covers much of the US eastern seaboard.

Clients say that Jason’s attention to detail, high level of expertise and communication are strengths which are consistent with Prominent Insurance Agency's own high touch, convenient, and customer-oriented focus.

Micah Logan

Micah Logan is Founder/CEO of MELD Fitness + Wellness a boutique fitness concept with two locations in MA and eyeing national expansion through franchising. Micah Launched his franchise about a year ago and since then was named a 2022 Top Franchise Influencer by 1851 magazine and his emerging brand was named as part of the 2021 Fran-tastic 500.

Micah has 20 years experience in the fitness industry also serving as a contributing writer to Club Industry Magazine, Advisory board member for the Club Industry fitness executive summit, Executive board member of MIFO (Massachusetts Independent Fitness Operators).

Nabila Rangoonwala

Nabila Rangoonwala is the Founder/Director of Reading Readiness. Through years of experience and research, she has designed an interactive and comprehensive curriculum to prepare kids for kindergarten.

She carries multiple Early Childhood Certifications combined with her years of experience, which has led her to own and operate multiple sites. She believes in a holistic approach that has ensured many families reach their children’s academic goals. She has since helped thousands of kids play, learn, and thrive!