Center's Holly Rachel MS

Despite the recent ending of operational and financial ties with Fisk University, advocates for pursuit of goals at the heart of the original Darrell S. Freeman Sr. Incubation & Innovation Center remain focused on near-term programs and weighing potential paths forward.

Interviewed today, both Center board of advisors member Rod McDaniel, who is majority owner and CEO of S3 Recycling Solutions, and the the Center's founding executive director, Holly Rachel M.S., expressed optimism regarding prospects for continued Center operations.

McDaniel, a close friend and entrepreneurial protege of Freeman until his mentor's death in June 2022, at age 57, today recalled that Freeman's priority for the Center had been helping minorities grow and scale their businesses.

Emphasizing that he spoke only for himself, McDaniel added, "I feel good that there is a really good possibility that we move forward," later adding, "It'd be an honor and a privilege to be part of it."

This morning, VNC also interviewed Rachel, who is concurrently co-owner of the Rachel + Winfree data analytics consultancy and is with business partner Lena Winfree co-president of the Nashville chapter of Blacks in Technology. Until the Center's recent separation from Fisk, Rachel had been on the Fisk University payroll.

Rachel said Darrell Freeman's survivors who had originally favored creation of the Center remained supportive, even since early this year, when the promise of substantial funding evaporated, due to Fisk's need to allocate funding to higher priorities.

She said the next meeting of the Center's advisory board is currently scheduled for October.

The continuing original board's members include, in addition to McDaniel, Sherry Deutschmann, Michelle Gaskin Brown, Mignon Francois, EJ Reed, LaTanya Channel, David Klements and Pearl Amanfu.

Previous sponsors -- including Pinnacle Bank and Republic Bank -- remain aboard, said Rachel.

Darrell Freeman Founder of Zycron

Rachel told VNC she shares the board's passion for the Center and its "mission and original vision," adding that, naturally, she recognized from the outset that the undertaking "was always a big lift."

She said that her current priorities include preparing to intake up to 15 business owners for the Center's second Bankable Bootcamp program, raising further program sponsorships, revamping the Center's website, and raising more program sponsorships.

Bankable Bootcamp applications are due by end of the business day, Sept. 9, 2024. Applications for the 12-week hybrid program are made via a jotform here.

While the website is being revamped, she also provided two posters about the Bootcamp here and here.

Founders seeking admission to the Bootcamp program must satisfy several criteria, including:

1. Having secured a Federal employer identification number (EIN);
2. Having booked at least three years of continuous business operation;
3. Being prepared to provide two (2) years tax returns
4. Providing a profit and loss (P&L) statement.

She said those criteria not only help the Center shape a cohesive cohort, but also ensure that the business owner is likely to qualify for financial loans, as warranted.

Rachel, 36, is a St. Louis native. She earned a bachelor's in biochemistry at Oakwood College in Huntsville, and a master's in chemistry at Vanderbilt University. Her LinkedIn profile.

She said that the Center banks with Pinnacle Bank and had no formal legal counsel while it was allied with Fisk.

The Center receives some guidance from volunteer attorneys. The Center has also relied on JMC Marketing & Communications for some services.

Note: VNC reached out today to some personnel at Fisk University regarding what, if any plans they or the university might have for incubator, innovation, entrepreneurship and related programming. This story will be updated, as warranted.

Prior VNC coverage of the Freeman Center. Coverage of Darrell Freeman. VNC

. last edited 1808 16 August 2024