Bekah Galang is currently a small business consultant providing food and beverage businesses with bespoke systems for managing staff, customer service, and community outreach. In her previous 10-year role at Avalon International Breads, she served as the retail operations and marketing director working to develop leadership, serve delicious food, and create a space that nourished the community. In her work with other Detroit food and beverage businesses, she has successfully led & facilitated teams, implemented initiatives to drive business growth and enhance brand presence, and coordinated events of different scales, demonstrating her attention to detail and strong leadership abilities.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

Instagram: @Beksgal

Facebook: BekahGalang

WEBSITE

https://bekahgalang.com/

Marcus Reliford has worked in the grocery retail industry for over 18 years. He held several positions over his 18 year span; including store director, district manager, and various other leadership positions. He has made a tremendous impact on his community by providing exemplary mentorship to those under his direction.

He most recently started a consulting firm Reliford Investments to help small business owners and entrepreneurs grow/scale their business. Reliford Investments consults on operations of the business including sales, profit, marketing, hiring, and best business practices.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

LinkedIn: Marcus Reliford Jr

WEBSITE

https://relifordinvestments.org/

Meg Burritt is currently focused on theoretical solutions to real world economic challenges in CEA (controlled environment agriculture) as a PhD candidate at Michigan State University. Meg is a food industry strategist passionate about food systems and eradicating food insecurity through market innovation. A driven and adaptable leader with over 15 years of experience in strategy, business development, P&L and people management, Meg is a compelling communicator with a focus on economic and environmental sustainability and food chain viability from farm to fork.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meganburritt/

Ederique "Chef E" Goudia is a Louisiana native and culinary expert who has significantly impacted Detroit's food scene. With over 20 years of experience, she is the founder of In the Business of Food (IBF Detroit), a foodservice consulting agency that supports under-resourced and under-served food businesses. Her work with local non-profits like FoodLab Detroit, Detroit Food Academy, and Make Food Not Waste highlights her commitment to community, health, and sustainable food systems. Chef E's advocacy extends to child nutrition, food waste reduction, food security, equitable practices, and mental health in the hospitality industry. She currently manages the Shed 5 Incubator Kitchen at Eastern Market Partnership and serves as a food business coach and facilitator.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

Instagram: @ederique_; @inthebusinessofood

Facebook: In the Business of Food

WEBSITE

https://www.ibfdetroit.com/

Laura Wood-Romito is an Innovation Counselor with the Michigan State University Product Center and an Educator based in District 11/Wayne County. Laura also works as a Project Manager/Food Entrepreneur Liaison with Detroit Means Business (part of Detroit Economic Growth Corporation) as well as Eastern Market.

Laura has worked in the food industry in SE Michigan for 30 years and graduated first in her class from Schoolcraft College’s renowned Culinary Arts Program. Her first restaurant job was at The Golden Mushroom, and she went on to create businesses in catering, culinary tourism, culinary education, and grocery/retail product promotion. Laura has also been a private chef and food product development consultant. Her primary area of expertise is in recipe development and scaling from cottage to commercial.

In her new partnership role with MSU Product Center/Detroit Means Business/Eastern Market, Laura connects food entrepreneurs with valuable resources in SE Michigan, while also providing one-on-one counseling to start ups and growing food businesses. Prior to attending culinary school, Laura was a high school drama and English teacher, and she enjoys utilizing her educational background to create helpful programming for the food community.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

Instagram: @high5salts

Facebook: high5salts

WEBSITE

https://foodgeekfoods.com/

Bio coming soon!

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

Instagram: @freyadetroit, @dragonflydetroit, @chartreusedetroit, @theoaklandferndale

WEBSITES:

freyadetroit.com

dragonflydetroit.com

chartreusekc.com

theoaklandferndale.com

Demarra West is a therapist, author, and seasoned wellness and leadership expert with over two decades of experience. Having faced significant trauma herself, she created Be Well Beautiful People to provide transformative healing and liberation, especially to those most in need. Her journey has taught her to turn trauma and lack into abundance through practices like Reiki, abundance thinking, and nature immersion, which help her maintain a life of joy and peace.

Demarra also founded Be Well Beautiful Woman, a global initiative empowering female leaders and entrepreneurs through holistic healing and mindset services, including retreats, coaching, and summits. In addition to her therapeutic work, she is certified in trauma-sensitive yoga, a Reiki master, a professional certified coach, and trained in various healing modalities such as forest bathing. Today, she is living her absolute best life in Detroit, Michigan and working passionately to ensure healing & liberation is accessible to us all, starting of course, with her own healing.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

Linkedin: bewellbeautifulpeople

Instagram: bewellbeautifulpeople

Facebook: bwellbeautifulpeople

YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/@BeWellBeautifulPeoplePodcast

PODCAST:

https://bewellbeautifulpeople.podbean.com/

WEBSITES:

www.bewellbeautifulpeople.org 

www.demarrawest.com

www.bewellbeautifulwoman.com