Where the Ladies At: Founders Edition
Building a business is challenging. Building a successful business in the land development and real estate industry is even more so. For Black women founders, who often navigate systemic barriers related to both race and gender, the path to entrepreneurship, scale, and sustainability requires resilience, strategy, and vision.
This panel brings together dynamic Black women founders who are not only building successful companies, but reshaping the landscape of the industry. Panelists will share their journeys into entrepreneurship, the challenges of accessing capital and opportunity, and the strategies they’ve used to grow, lead, and sustain their businesses.
Ann McNeill (Panelist)
Founder & President, MCO Construction and Services, Inc.
Ann McNeill is the President of MCO Construction and Services Inc., MCO Consulting, Inc., Constructively Speaking, Inc., on the Board of Directors for Better Investing, and Founder of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC).
With decades of experience building and leading a successful construction company, Ann has established herself as a pioneer for women and minority entrepreneurs in a historically underrepresented field. Her career includes expertise in construction management, business development, government contracting, and strategic growth.
Dawn Hicks (Panelist)
Founder & CEO, DesignCyphers
Originally a design professional from Richmond, VA, Dawn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She also holds a Master of Architecture degree from University of North Carolina-Charlotte, where she focused on the cultural, social and economic impacts of Hip Hop on Architecture and the built environment.
In 2022, Dawn founded DesignCyphers, a consulting firm dedicated to promoting community-led strategies that bridge the gap between designers, developers, and the communities they serve. DesignCyphers emphasizes participatory design strategies and collaborative engagement, ensuring community voices and their lived experiences guide the design and planning processes. By integrating design and development with grassroots engagement, DesignCyphers aims to create spaces that authentically reflect the needs, aspirations, and cultural identities of the people who inhabit them.
Lasenta Lewis-Ellis (Panelist)
President & CEO, LLE Construction Group, LLC
Lasenta Lewis-Ellis, GC, CM, CQM-C, MAHRD, is the President/CEO of LLE Construction Group, LLC. LLE Construction Group, LLC provides General Contracting, Project and Construction Management, and Facility Maintenance and Management to School Districts, Charter and Private Schools, Commercial Businesses and Institutions, and she’s expanding to the federal marketplace. She is a licensed General Contractor, Construction Manager, and Real Estate Sales Agent with a focus on Commercial Real Estate in the State of South Carolina.
She is passionate about encouraging, motivating, mentoring, and supporting small, women, and minority-owned businesses and helping to facilitate their growth.
Karen Jenkins (Moderator)
Founder & Principal, KRJ Consulting, LLC
Karen R. Jenkins is a strategic advisor and founder of KRJ Consulting, where she works with organizations on leadership, governance, and organizational development. With a background in both corporate and community leadership, she brings a thoughtful and results-driven approach to guiding conversations around equity, business growth, and impact.
Karen made history as the first African American woman to chair the Columbia Chamber of Commerce in its 121-year history. She also serves on the Executive Board of the SC Chamber of Commerce, where she chairs the Small Business Committee, and is a member of the National Small Business Association Leadership Council.
Karen holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Webster University. During her tenure as Vice President at NetBank, she earned the prestigious Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) and Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) designations from the National Mortgage Bankers Association. She is also a Certified Housing Counselor, Certified Entrepreneurial Instructor, and Certified Professional Coach.
