Erica Payton fell in love with the game of golf when she was about three or four years old.  It’s in her DNA. The lifelong golf player was recently named the head coach of Clark Atlanta University’s first-ever women’s golf team, the school’s 11th NCAA varsity sport.  This new opportunity comes as data reveals a growing number of women and girls are playing golf, a 45% increase since 2020, according to the National Golf Foundation.  As a featured guest on “Closer Look,” Payton talks with host Rose Scott about her passion for the sport, why she accepted the coaching job at CAU and her top priorities ahead of the inaugural season.

Also on today’s show, we meet two young Atlanta entrepreneurs who are participating in the city’s Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program through Showcase Atlanta. We meet Devin Mitchell, the founder and CEO of SOKA, a soccer streetwear brand and Jase Kurtz, who is the founder of Jase’s Lemonade. Joined by Kelsey Maynor, the Director of Small Business for Showcase Atlanta, we learn about the mentorship, funding, and vending opportunities they’re receiving through the program and how they’re watching their businesses grow. Maynor also encouraged anyone who is interested in the program to visit the city’s website for the Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program.