USBC Entrepreneur Training

Date / Time: 7/27 @ 1:00 PM

Hosted By:  Alisa S. Joseph and Mario Middleton

Description

Business failure is simply not an option for Black-owned businesses.The University of Phoenix© and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. have joined forces to provide an exclusive opportunity to small business owners. This unique 15-week course puts businesses on course to compete for contracts, improve opportunities for access to capital and provides the business education needed to stay ahead of the curve. Take the next step in growing and sustaining your business, and learn about the USBC Entrepreneur Training Program.

 

Alisa S. Joseph, Chief Operating Officer, US Black Chambers, Inc.

A business professional who has worked in the financial services industry for over 25 years, Alisa S. Joseph dedicates her time helping companies achieve their growth and expansion goals.  During her time working for three major financial institutions, including Wells Fargo, she led strategy development and tactical execution of national marketing and advertising initiatives that targeted client segments including Wealth, Business owners, general market and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  She managed direct marketing campaigns and promotions, produced events and tradeshows and managed collateral development.  Her work in diversity initiatives and as a consultant to key business units for the company, including group mentorship, consulting, employee engagement, external partnerships, and vendor management ensured that Wells Fargo increased its brand awareness and acquisition, leveraging activities to drive $72.6 million in new accounts business over a two-year period.

After retiring from Wells Fargo in 2013, she founded her company, CINE Enterprises, LLC, to share her knowledge, learnings and industry expertise with small businesses and non-profit organizations.   

Highly skilled in a variety of areas, her focus is to help business owners and nonprofit leaders elevate their brands for future success.   She formed her company to seek opportunities to serve others and help them bring a vision to life.  Her company specializes in strategy, program development and management, marketing, communications, grant writing, and business planning and solutions.


She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the US Black Chambers, Inc. which includes oversight for the USBC Community Economic Development Corporation (USBC CEDC).  She is responsible for identifying grant funding opportunities, program implementation and management, sponsor engagement and policies and procedures.  Over the past three years, USBC CEDC has received over $800,000 in grant funding and served over 5,000 business owners with online tools, resources, financial education and business financing.

Mrs. Joseph is a graduate of Fordham University with a B.S. in Psychology and Columbia University – Teachers College with an M.S. in Organizational Psychology.  She is the past board chair of the Stratford Richardson YMCA and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Charlotte Alumnae Chapter.  Residing in Charlotte, NC, Alisa has been married to Keith Joseph for 25 years and they have three children.

 

Mario Middleton, National Director of Multicultural Development for University of Phoenix

Mario Middleton is the National Director of multicultural development for University of Phoenix, a subsidiary of Apollo Group. He is responsible for the assessment, design, development and implementation of the external corporate diversity strategy to build an inclusive environment to support University of Phoenix business strategy. Mario serves as the champion for University of Phoenix diversity initiatives to an internal community of managers, supervisors, and employees, as well as the ambassador to external communities such as diversity-oriented professional groups, educational organizations, and more. Mario leverages diversity as a tool to help drive business success.

Mario’s entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen have provided him with more than 12 years of experience as a small business consultant and business owner. He has extensive expertise ranging from business and human resource administration to marketing new products and services. Mario is recognized by clients and colleagues as the consummate business professional known for inspiring excellence, discovering creative resourceful business solutions.

Mario is active within the civic community. He is a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of Director for the US Black Chambers, Inc. and Board member of the Greater of Phoenix Black Chamber, two organizations dedicated to improving economic development of business entrepreneurs and the communities. Mario also serves on the Advisory Council for Phoenix Department of Education and Arizona Community Foundation Black Philanthropy task force. Mario is currently working on his doctoral degree in Organizational Management and Leadership at the University of Phoenix.