By Kristine Gill
Navy veteran and newly minted private chef Javonte Jackson was stoked to get his first NBA client after moving back to Canton in 2021.
Having started his own business in 2019, the Kent State student was looking forward to working for himself, setting his own hours and spending more time with family. Working with a professional athlete, who referred him to three other plays, felt like the icing on the cake. Then the Browns got a hold of him.
“I’m like OK, OK, OK, I’m booked, I can’t do it,” he joked.
Jackson, now 34, knew he wanted to scale his business so he could say yes to more opportunities and step back from the day-to-day operations for City Live Experience. He was surprised to learn that a contact he knew from the Stark County Minority Business Association was offering that exact kind of mentoring at his new role – for free.
As a Senior Business Consultant for JPMorgan Chase, Skyler Parks mentors small business owners as they scale their operations. And he does it at no cost to them.
JPMorgan Chase is a funder for Signal Akron.
“One of the best things is hearing people say ‘Chase pays you for this? This is free for me?’” he said. “The fact that I’m spending time to help and go over things they might pay somebody for…it just lets me know we’re doing the right thing.”
Parks’ role is one of 35 new positions the bank started in 2020 as part of their $30 billion Racial Equity Commitment aimed at closing the wealth gap for minority groups, specifically in Black, Hispanic and Latino communities.
“Being in business in general, there are certain trials you’re going to face to get your idea off the ground and take care of your family. That’s not unique to anyone,” Parks said. “But the unique piece is the history behind underserved entrepreneurs, which is why Chase made the Racial Equity Commitment in the first place.”
Now, Parks works with about 40 Akron-area business owners through the complimentary Coaching for Impact program, helping fledgling entrepreneurs scale their operations.
The program is free for individuals who have owned their business for at least two years and are making $100,000 in annual revenue. Participants apply online and get linked up with a consultant in their area who they meet with twice monthly for four to six months.
Parks offers advice during these sessions and connects these business owners to community resources such as tax professionals or software experts who can help them with specifics of their operations.
Jackson has been meeting with Parks since the beginning of the summer, looking at ways to save money and grow. Jackson is working on opening a business line of credit and has goals to open a culinary boutique with a commercial kitchen where he can host intimate dinners and smaller events and ideally hire staff to help.
“The goal is to get you to a point where you feel like you’re growing your business,” Parks said.
The program currently has 74 senior business consultants across 35 cities – with plans for three more – each coaching up to 40 small business owners at a time.
As of December 2023, the program has graduated more than 3,000 business owners nationwide.
“My goal has always been to be able to serve others through entrepreneurship,” Parks said. “Business is a passion of mine, and I’ve always understood the need that exists.”
