Business Highlights, Good News, & More!

Meet Alisa Bowens-Mercado, Salsa Extraordinaire & Brewer It’s hard not to be inspired by Alisa Bowens-Mercado’s optimism. Every time I’ve met or spoke with her, the professional dance instructor and brewer is unwaveringly, infectiously positive. Even in 2020 she and Rhythm Brewing Co. haven’t missed a beat. Two years ago, she became the first Black female brewer in the state and today she continues to be a vocal proponent of more diversity in the predominantly white, predomin

Meet Neville Wisdom, Fashion Designer The ninth of 11 children, Neville Wisdom learned to sew from his mother while growing up in Jamaica and started designing clothes by 15. “I always liked to look fly,” he says. “I didn’t come from a family that had the means and capability of being able to change their clothes very often or having the money to buy new stuff whenever I saw it. Making clothes seemed like the next best thing to do.” He adds, “I was always drawn to physical ap

Meet Samantha Williams, Professional Consultant December will be the 5th business anniversary for the content development firm, Sam’s Word! As a Content Strategist, owner, Samantha (Sammi) Williams, assists entrepreneurs and small to mid-sized businesses with their writing needs. With services including editing, press release writing, PowerPoint development, copywriting, business plan creation, and writing business letters, Sammi is a necessary resource for any company. Sammi

Bilal Afolobi, Financial Consultant Bilal Afolabi joined Northwestern Mutual in 2012 as a college intern. He went on to be the leading Undergraduate Financial Representative in the Eastern Region. During his senior year of college, he finished as one of the Top 5 undergraduate advisors in the United States. Upon graduation, he was handpicked as a Field Representative for Multicultural Markets, to add perspective and insight to the shape and direction of Northwestern Mutual’s