12 Graduate from St. Cloud Enterprise Academy
The Initiative Foundation is celebrating the graduation of 12 entrepreneurs who are dedicated to building their homegrown business ideas in the St. Cloud area.
These entrepreneurs recently completed the Enterprise Academy course—an Initiative Foundation business-building program that features training matched with free, ongoing business coaching plus access to flexible loans.
“These 12 entrepreneurs dedicated themselves to learning the fundamentals of building a business—from crafting a solid business plan to managing finances and promoting their ventures,” said Zach Tabatt, vice president for economic opportunity at the Initiative Foundation. “We’re proud to continue supporting them as they grow and pursue long-term success.”
The following St. Cloud-area students completed the program:
Erica Cole: Erica is the owner of Brenda’s Place, a business that offers residential and community-based health and wellness services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. She joined the Enterprise Academy to gain the skills and knowledge to run a successful business. Erica is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of her clients and her team. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with friends and family.
Aden Dekow: Aden launched Waamo Cafe in 2023, serving Somali tea, coffee and light meals. He hopes to expand by adding a bakery. Aden describes the Enterprise Academy as “transformative” for his business, helping him think more strategically about his goals and how best to serve the community. He is currently studying political science and international relations at St. Cloud State University. In his free time, Aden enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Corey Evans: Corey is the owner of Opulent Visions, a custom embroidery business he launched in late 2023. He joined the Enterprise Academy to build his business skills and grow his company. His goal is to add more machines to serve a broader range of clients. Based in St. Cloud, Corey is a father of two and enjoys gaming and playing chess in his free time.
Shernoveia Hinds: Shernoveia is training to become a nail technician and joined the Enterprise Academy to gain the business skills she needs to succeed. She has a passion for nail art and finds joy in making others feel happy through her art. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her five children, going for walks and visiting parks.
Devin Hyde: Devin has been running Hyde and Barrel Studio since 2024 and is excited about the next step—transitioning from an online-only shop for plant enthusiasts to a retail space in St. Cloud. He joined the Enterprise Academy to gain practical business skills and to access valuable support. Devin looks forward to collaborating with fellow graduates to grow their businesses and share knowledge within the community.
Latoria Martin: Latoria owns Village Details, a car detailing and cleaning business. She joined the Enterprise Academy to build business skills and connect with other entrepreneurs. One of her goals is to create job opportunities for teens from underserved communities. Outside of work, Latoria enjoys spending time with her child, reading, playing video games and traveling.
Glentrice Montgomery: Glentrice is passionate about serving others and plans to launch a business focused on providing outreach and support to individuals who were formerly incarcerated. She’s excited to grow this work and expand her impact. Glentrice values the knowledge and insight she gained through the Enterprise Academy. In her free time, she enjoys creating art and spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.
Sheree Sheffield: Sheree’s goal is to launch a logistics business that offers shipping, warehousing and other support services. She currently works as a private transportation coordinator and looks forward to building a strong, reliable team, leveraging technology and delivering outstanding customer service through Sheffield Logistics. In her free time, Sheree enjoys meditating and reading.
Students also graduating: Amber Goodlet, Kristen Kimbrought, Briana Pearcy and Tyrone Reynolds.
Since its founding in 2018, some 300 people have graduated from the Enterprise Academy program.