Andrea Akins is the Founder of Akins Strategic Growth Solutions, LLC and a strategic marketing and growth leader with 20 years of experience helping organizations build meaningful connections, generate demand, and drive measurable growth through innovative marketing strategy and purposeful storytelling.
In July 2026, Andrea took the next step in her professional journey and launched Akins Strategic Growth Solutions, where she partners with organizations as a fractional marketing consultant, providing both strategic leadership and hands-on marketing support. Today, she works with clients across education, financial services, and professional services, helping organizations strengthen their demand generation strategies, marketing operations, customer engagement, and overall approach to growth.
Recognized as a 2025 Woman of Distinction for creativity and innovation, Andrea is passionate about the intersection of strategy, creativity, and human connection. She believes great marketing is about more than generating leads it is about understanding people, telling meaningful stories, building trust, and creating strategies that make a lasting impact.

Andrea Akins is the Founder of Akins Strategic Growth Solutions, LLC and a strategic marketing and growth leader with 20 years of experience helping organizations build meaningful connections, generate demand, and drive measurable growth through innovative marketing strategy and purposeful storytelling. In July 2026, Andrea took the next step in her professional journey and launched Akins Strategic Growth Solutions, where she partners with organizations as a fractional marketing consultant, providing both strategic leadership and hands-on marketing support. Today, she works with clients across education, financial services, and professional services, helping organizations strengthen their demand generation strategies, marketing operations, customer engagement, and overall approach to growth. Recognized as a 2025 Woman of Distinction for creativity and innovation, Andrea is passionate about the intersection of strategy, creativity, and human connection. She believes great marketing is about more than generating leads it is about understanding people, telling meaningful stories, building trust, and creating strategies that make a lasting impact.

What's the Score: Guest, Andrea Akins.

SAM GHANEM

• Founder, branding expert, executive strategist, thought leader, TEDx Speaker, and Stand-up Comedian
• 25 years in the printing, branding, marketing, and messaging industries - obsessed with the human OS (operating system)
• TEDx Talk “It’s Contagious | The Way You Treat Yourself Spreads” - live this week - explores congruence, brand embodiment, and the human cost of living out of alignment with one’s authentic self
• Master of International Business Administration (MIBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Specializes in brand embodiment, congruence, and helping high performers close the gap between external success and internal fulfillment
• Has worked with brands including Lockheed Martin, Danaher, IBM, Carrier, Thermo Fisher, and the likes
• 100+ stages in the last year as a keynote speaker, comedian, emcee, and TEDx speaker
• Founder of SG INK, a printing, branding, and marketing agency, and IASG, his personal brand serving as a Fractional CMO, speaker, comedian, and emcee
• Based in South Florida

SPEAKING HIGHLIGHTS

• TEDx Talk “It’s Contagious | The Way You Treat Yourself Spreads” - live this week
• 100+ stages in the last year spanning keynotes, comedy, and emcee engagements
• Branding and executive strategy engagements with Lockheed Martin, Danaher, IBM, Carrier, Thermo Fisher, and the likes
• Active thought leader on LinkedIn and in the South Florida business community

SAM GHANEM
&bull; Founder, branding expert, executive strategist, thought leader, TEDx Speaker, and Stand-up Comedian &bull; 25 years in the printing, branding, marketing, and messaging industries - obsessed with the human OS (operating system) &bull; TEDx Talk &ldquo;It&rsquo;s Contagious | The Way You Treat Yourself Spreads&rdquo; - live this week - explores congruence, brand embodiment, and the human cost of living out of alignment with one&rsquo;s authentic self &bull; Master of International Business Administration (MIBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) &bull; Specializes in brand embodiment, congruence, and helping high performers close the gap between external success and internal fulfillment &bull; Has worked with brands including Lockheed Martin, Danaher, IBM, Carrier, Thermo Fisher, and the likes &bull; 100+ stages in the last year as a keynote speaker, comedian, emcee, and TEDx speaker &bull; Founder of SG INK, a printing, branding, and marketing agency, and IASG, his personal brand serving as a Fractional CMO, speaker, comedian, and emcee &bull; Based in South Florida
SPEAKING HIGHLIGHTS
&bull; TEDx Talk &ldquo;It&rsquo;s Contagious | The Way You Treat Yourself Spreads&rdquo; - live this week &bull; 100+ stages in the last year spanning keynotes, comedy, and emcee engagements &bull; Branding and executive strategy engagements with Lockheed Martin, Danaher, IBM, Carrier, Thermo Fisher, and the likes &bull; Active thought leader on LinkedIn and in the South Florida business community

What's the Score: Guest, Sam Ghanem.

    Nicole Bradham, MBA is a Professor of Marketing at Southeastern University, founder of HotMod Influencer Marketing Agency, and co-founder of The Influencer Academy. She helped launch one of the nation's first Influencer Marketing Minors within Southeastern University's College of Business & Leadership, bridging the gap between higher education and the rapidly growing creator economy. Nicole has led influencer campaigns for brands including NASCAR, Camping World, and Sun Outdoors, while helping businesses, entrepreneurs, and content creators build authentic partnerships that drive measurable results. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines her background in technology, business, and marketing to help organizations leverage influencer marketing, AI, and digital strategy to grow their brands.

&nbsp; &nbsp; Nicole Bradham, MBA is a Professor of Marketing at Southeastern University, founder of HotMod Influencer Marketing Agency, and co-founder of The Influencer Academy. She helped launch one of the nation's first Influencer Marketing Minors within Southeastern University's College of Business &amp; Leadership, bridging the gap between higher education and the rapidly growing creator economy. Nicole has led influencer campaigns for brands including NASCAR, Camping World, and Sun Outdoors, while helping businesses, entrepreneurs, and content creators build authentic partnerships that drive measurable results. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines her background in technology, business, and marketing to help organizations leverage influencer marketing, AI, and digital strategy to grow their brands.

What's the Score: Guest, Nicole Bradham.

Jessica is an educator turned enthusiastic product creator. After five years of teaching Physical Education and nurturing young minds through recreation and health education, she embarked on a new journey to channel her creativity into tangible products that improve people's lives. She is dedicated to crafting products that blend form and function. Armed with her teaching experience and a passion for innovation, she now designs and develop products that aim to make learning and daily life more engaging and efficient.

Jessica is an educator turned enthusiastic product creator. After five years of teaching Physical Education and nurturing young minds through recreation and health education, she embarked on a new journey to channel her creativity into tangible products that improve people's lives. She is dedicated to crafting products that blend form and function. Armed with her teaching experience and a passion for innovation, she now designs and develop products that aim to make learning and daily life more engaging and efficient.

What's the Score: Jessica Osbourne.

Dr. Treshonda Baucom is a licensed mental health counselor, professor, and founder/CEO of Enriched Life Counseling & Consulting, providing services for children, teens, adults, and parents. She helps young clients manage ADHD, anxiety, and depression while equipping parents with tools to support their children’s social and emotional development.

Before opening her practice in 2018, Dr. Baucom taught Pre-K through third grade and served as an administrative dean and school counselor. Her practice quickly grew to a team of four clinicians, conducting over 80 sessions weekly.

A recognized thought leader, Dr. Baucom has appeared on WKMG News 6, WESH 2, podcasts, and radio shows, and has spoken at Valencia College and Orlando Sentinel events. She was named to Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and Orlando Magazine’s 2025 Women of the Year. She also won the University of South Florida's Fast 50 award. She lives in Orlando with her husband and three children.

Dr. Treshonda Baucom is a licensed mental health counselor, professor, and founder/CEO of Enriched Life Counseling &amp; Consulting, providing services for children, teens, adults, and parents. She helps young clients manage ADHD, anxiety, and depression while equipping parents with tools to support their children&rsquo;s social and emotional development.
Before opening her practice in 2018, Dr. Baucom taught Pre-K through third grade and served as an administrative dean and school counselor. Her practice quickly grew to a team of four clinicians, conducting over 80 sessions weekly.
A recognized thought leader, Dr. Baucom has appeared on WKMG News 6, WESH 2, podcasts, and radio shows, and has spoken at Valencia College and Orlando Sentinel events. She was named to Orlando Business Journal&rsquo;s 40 Under 40 and Orlando Magazine&rsquo;s 2025 Women of the Year. She also won the University of South Florida's Fast 50 award. She lives in Orlando with her husband and three children.

What's the Score: Guest, Dr Baucom.

Johannys Irizarry

I was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico in 2000, followed by a Master’s degree from Metropolitan University in 2002. Later that year, I relocated to Florida, where I began a career in consumer lending that spans more than 20 years.
 
Throughout my professional journey, I have held leadership roles including Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President in the Central Florida region, as well as Loan Officer Supervisor in the Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) department. Six years ago, I transitioned into the credit union industry as a Business Development Officer, where I successfully created and launched the Merchant Lending Department.
 
Currently, I serve as a Microenterprise Development Specialist at Suncoast Credit Union. In this role, I am dedicated to helping entrepreneurs access the capital they need to start and grow their businesses, fostering economic development and supporting small business success in our community.

Johannys Irizarry
Microenterprise Development Specialist  
Suncoast Credit Union 

Johannys Irizarry
I was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and earned a Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico in 2000, followed by a Master&rsquo;s degree from Metropolitan University in 2002. Later that year, I relocated to Florida, where I began a career in consumer lending that spans more than 20 years. &nbsp; Throughout my professional journey, I have held leadership roles including Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President in the Central Florida region, as well as Loan Officer Supervisor in the Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) department. Six years ago, I transitioned into the credit union industry as a Business Development Officer, where I successfully created and launched the Merchant Lending Department. &nbsp; Currently, I serve as a Microenterprise Development Specialist at Suncoast Credit Union. In this role, I am dedicated to helping entrepreneurs access the capital they need to start and grow their businesses, fostering economic development and supporting small business success in our community.
Johannys Irizarry Microenterprise Development Specialist &nbsp; Suncoast Credit Union&nbsp;

What's the Score: Guest, Johannys Irizarry.

 Blake Emery

Research Driven Strategy

 

Blake Emery is the President of BlakeEmeryAssociates.  BlakeEmeryAssociates helps clients develop their strategies through research leading to deep customer insights.Blake is the research consultant to Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Panasonic Avionics, D2Bridge, and others. Blake is also a Board Member of All Wheels Up, which advocates for dedicated wheelchair spots on commercial aircraft.

 

Blake was the director of differentiation strategy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, where he conducted research leading to many of the innovations on the 787 Dreamliner. He is associated with the popular “Boeing Sky Interior”, the direct beneficiary of that research. He is named on multiple patents for commercial jet exterior design, seats, and even jewelry design.

 

He is featured in several documentaries, including “The Age of Aerospace” (PBS), “City in the Sky” (BBC), “The Magic of Flight” (For Air Canada) and “The Beauty of Flying” (for LATAM).

 

His career has included extensive cultural and empirical research as well as behavioral, consumer, and organizational psychology.

 

In 2026 he authored the book Wings Toward the Sun: The Culture Clash Behind Boeing Fall From Grace and the Flight Path to Redemption.

 

Blake is a avid practitioner and instructor of taijiquan. He occasionally sings and plays guitar with local musicians. He Llves outside Seattle, Washington.

<ol>
<li> Blake Emery</li>
</ol>
Research Driven Strategy
&nbsp;
Blake Emery is the President of BlakeEmeryAssociates.&nbsp; BlakeEmeryAssociates helps clients develop their strategies through research leading to deep customer insights. Blake is the research consultant to Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Panasonic Avionics, D2Bridge, and others. Blake is also a Board Member of All Wheels Up, which advocates for dedicated wheelchair spots on commercial aircraft.
&nbsp;
Blake was the director of differentiation strategy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, where he conducted research leading to many of the innovations on the 787 Dreamliner. He is associated with the popular &ldquo;Boeing Sky Interior&rdquo;, the direct beneficiary of that research. He is named on multiple patents for commercial jet exterior design, seats, and even jewelry design.
&nbsp;
He is featured in several documentaries, including &ldquo;The Age of Aerospace&rdquo; (PBS), &ldquo;City in the Sky&rdquo; (BBC), &ldquo;The Magic of Flight&rdquo; (For Air Canada) and &ldquo;The Beauty of Flying&rdquo; (for LATAM).
&nbsp;
His career has included extensive cultural and empirical research as well as behavioral, consumer, and organizational psychology.
&nbsp;
In 2026 he authored the book Wings Toward the Sun: The Culture Clash Behind Boeing Fall From Grace and the Flight Path to Redemption.
&nbsp;
Blake is a avid practitioner and instructor of taijiquan. He occasionally sings and plays guitar with local musicians. He Llves outside Seattle, Washington.

What's the Score: Guest, Blake Emery.

Dr. Latoya Wells is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, healthcare leader, nurse educator, entrepreneur, and founder of Wells Legacy Health & Wellness in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

With more than 30 years of healthcare experience, Dr. Wells has built a diverse career spanning primary care, hospital medicine, population health, value-based care, clinical leadership, nursing education, and advanced practice nursing. Throughout her career, she has led healthcare teams, mentored clinicians, educated future nurses, and developed strategies to improve clinical quality, provider performance, documentation accuracy, preventive care, and patient outcomes.

Her professional journey ultimately led her to entrepreneurship and the creation of Wells Legacy Health & Wellness, an independent primary care and wellness practice founded on the belief that healthcare should be accessible, personalized, preventive, and centered around the needs of the patient. The practice provides primary care, women's and men's health, hormone health, preventive services, weight management, wellness care, and Direct Primary Care options, with flexible scheduling and innovative approaches to healthcare access.

Dr. Wells is especially passionate about women's health and is expanding conversations surrounding perimenopause and menopause through clinical care, education, and her Hey Sis platform, where she helps women better understand their changing bodies and become stronger advocates for their health.

Her commitment to education extends beyond her practice. As a nursing professor and longtime educator, Dr. Wells has helped prepare the next generation of nurses and advanced practice clinicians, emphasizing evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, leadership, and compassionate patient care. Her expertise has also expanded into veteran medical evaluations and medical-legal consulting.

Dr. Wells' professional accomplishments are rooted in a personal story of perseverance. Born extremely premature and raised in circumstances that required resilience from an early age, she became a young mother before ultimately building a career that would take her from nursing to advanced practice, healthcare leadership, doctoral education, academia, and business ownership.

Today, she brings those experiences together as a clinician and entrepreneur committed to improving access to quality care, empowering patients through education and advocacy, mentoring future healthcare professionals, and demonstrating what is possible when experience, purpose, and entrepreneurship intersect.

For Dr. Wells, success is ultimately about legacy - using more than three decades of healthcare experience to build healthier patients, stronger communities, future healthcare leaders, and opportunities for the generations that follow.

Dr. Latoya Wells is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, healthcare leader, nurse educator, entrepreneur, and founder of Wells Legacy Health &amp; Wellness in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
With more than 30 years of healthcare experience, Dr. Wells has built a diverse career spanning primary care, hospital medicine, population health, value-based care, clinical leadership, nursing education, and advanced practice nursing. Throughout her career, she has led healthcare teams, mentored clinicians, educated future nurses, and developed strategies to improve clinical quality, provider performance, documentation accuracy, preventive care, and patient outcomes.
Her professional journey ultimately led her to entrepreneurship and the creation of Wells Legacy Health &amp; Wellness, an independent primary care and wellness practice founded on the belief that healthcare should be accessible, personalized, preventive, and centered around the needs of the patient. The practice provides primary care, women's and men's health, hormone health, preventive services, weight management, wellness care, and Direct Primary Care options, with flexible scheduling and innovative approaches to healthcare access.
Dr. Wells is especially passionate about women's health and is expanding conversations surrounding perimenopause and menopause through clinical care, education, and her Hey Sis platform, where she helps women better understand their changing bodies and become stronger advocates for their health.
Her commitment to education extends beyond her practice. As a nursing professor and longtime educator, Dr. Wells has helped prepare the next generation of nurses and advanced practice clinicians, emphasizing evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, leadership, and compassionate patient care. Her expertise has also expanded into veteran medical evaluations and medical-legal consulting.
Dr. Wells' professional accomplishments are rooted in a personal story of perseverance. Born extremely premature and raised in circumstances that required resilience from an early age, she became a young mother before ultimately building a career that would take her from nursing to advanced practice, healthcare leadership, doctoral education, academia, and business ownership.
Today, she brings those experiences together as a clinician and entrepreneur committed to improving access to quality care, empowering patients through education and advocacy, mentoring future healthcare professionals, and demonstrating what is possible when experience, purpose, and entrepreneurship intersect.
For Dr. Wells, success is ultimately about legacy - using more than three decades of healthcare experience to build healthier patients, stronger communities, future healthcare leaders, and opportunities for the generations that follow.

What's the Score: Guest, Latoya Wells.

James A. Hicks is an Entrepreneur, Public Speaker and Executive here in the Central Florida area.  As the founder of Hicks Financial; Asset & Wealth Management, he helps people all over the country build wealth through consultations and financial coaching.  His experience ranges from working at the senior executive level in corporate America where he serves on several advisory boards, as well as serving on the boards of multiple non-profit organizations nationally.

 

He is a public speaker who has conducted seminars on financial freedom, sales, and professional training.  He attended the University of Central Florida for undergrad and earned an MBA from Webster University.  He also completed a certification with Harvard University in Entrepreneurship.  Within the last few years he has won the "Black History Maker' award as well as the "Men of Honor" award with Onyx magazine. 

 

He has also been featured in the "Orlando Business Journal" and on Star 94.5 as the "Man Crush Monday," where they mentioned his accolades and work in the community.

 

 James A. Hicks

 President and CEO

 Hicks Financial; Asset and Wealth Management

James A. Hicks is an Entrepreneur, Public Speaker and Executive here in the Central Florida area.&nbsp; As the founder of Hicks Financial; Asset &amp; Wealth Management, he helps people all over the country build wealth through consultations and financial coaching.&nbsp; His experience ranges from working at the senior executive level in corporate&nbsp;America where he serves on several advisory boards, as well as serving on the boards of multiple non-profit&nbsp;organizations nationally.
&nbsp;
He is a public speaker who has conducted seminars on financial freedom, sales, and professional training.&nbsp; He attended the University of Central Florida for undergrad and earned an MBA from Webster University.&nbsp; He also completed a certification with Harvard University in Entrepreneurship.&nbsp; Within the last few years he has won the "Black History Maker' award as well as the "Men of Honor" award with Onyx magazine.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
He has also been featured in the "Orlando Business Journal" and on Star 94.5 as the "Man Crush Monday," where they mentioned his accolades and work in the community.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;James A. Hicks
&nbsp;President and CEO
&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hicksfinancialawm.com/">Hicks Financial; Asset and Wealth Management</a>

What's the Score: Guest, James Hicks.

(877) 313-XCEL (9235)

 

admin@excelpros.org www.excelpros.org

 

Certified Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) (DBE/ACDBE)

 

Dr. Fatimoh Harris, President, Author & Certified Grant Writer

Dr. Fatimoh Harris, President of Excel Professional Grant Writing & Nonprofit Services, LLc and Excel Professional Services, is a successful Training Facilitator, Certified Grant Writer, Corporate Consultant, Grant Reviewer, College Adjunct Instructor and recurring broadcast media guest. Excel is certified as Human Resource Specialist, DISC Workplace Trainer, Church Administration, Federal and State Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) and DBE/ACDBE. She is the author of Navigating the Grant Industry® Handbook and has other books to be released soon. Dr. Harris has produced and hosted her Business and Leadership Television Show, Excelled To Go Forward with Season 2 coming soon.

 

Dr. Harris has nearly 20 years of professional office and management administrative experiences including working with teams handling annual multi-million dollar budgets. She have successfully won millions in grassroots funding, 98% of 501(c)3 applications are IRS approved and over $30M in grant experiences. Her team specializes in Management/Administrative Consulting, Professional Development, Small Business, and Youth/Adult Essential Life and Employment Training.

 

Dr. Harris is a native of Chicago, Illinois and has worked virtually and on-site, internationally. Her roots are in Business and Social Service Communities. She works closely with corporate leaders, board members, and teams applying excellence and ethical principles to satisfy their business needs. She is an experienced government and community Grant Reviewer who participates in Grant Administration® duties with teams that reward multiple millions in grant funding to nonprofit agencies and an advisor to small businesses, just like yours.

 

Excel goals are to help organizations move beyond good intentions to building systems that demonstrate real results, attract funding, and sustain their mission in communities and for the clients they serve.

 

Strategize • Implement • Measure • Grow 

(877) 313-XCEL (9235)
&nbsp;
admin@excelpros.org www.excelpros.org
&nbsp;
Certified Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) (DBE/ACDBE)
&nbsp;
Dr. Fatimoh Harris, President, Author &amp; Certified Grant Writer
Dr. Fatimoh Harris, President of Excel Professional Grant Writing &amp; Nonprofit Services, LLc and Excel Professional Services, is a successful Training Facilitator, Certified Grant Writer, Corporate Consultant, Grant Reviewer, College Adjunct Instructor and recurring broadcast media guest. Excel is certified as Human Resource Specialist, DISC Workplace Trainer, Church Administration, Federal and State Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) and DBE/ACDBE. She is the author of Navigating the Grant Industry&reg; Handbook and has other books to be released soon. Dr. Harris has produced and hosted her Business and Leadership Television Show, Excelled To Go Forward with Season 2 coming soon.
&nbsp;
Dr. Harris has nearly 20 years of professional office and management administrative experiences including working with teams handling annual multi-million dollar budgets. She have successfully won millions in grassroots funding, 98% of 501(c)3 applications are IRS approved and over $30M in grant experiences. Her team specializes in Management/Administrative Consulting, Professional Development, Small Business, and Youth/Adult Essential Life and Employment Training.
&nbsp;
Dr. Harris is a native of Chicago, Illinois and has worked virtually and on-site, internationally. Her roots are in Business and Social Service Communities. She works closely with corporate leaders, board members, and teams applying excellence and ethical principles to satisfy their business needs. She is an experienced government and community Grant Reviewer who participates in Grant Administration&reg; duties with teams that reward multiple millions in grant funding to nonprofit agencies and an advisor to small businesses, just like yours.
&nbsp;
Excel goals are to help organizations move beyond good intentions to building systems that demonstrate real results, attract funding, and sustain their mission in communities and for the clients they serve.
&nbsp;
Strategize &bull; Implement &bull; Measure &bull; Grow

What's the Score: Guest, Dr Fatimoh Harris.

SCORE offers the nation's largest, network of free, expert business mentors. If you're just starting a business, SCORE mentors can provide the practical action plan, education and tools you need to open your doors and establish a customer base.

What's the SCORE

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