Frenise Mann, better known as Niscey – The Mentor, is a Financial Advisor and founder of Mann Financial Consulting. She empowers others to break cycles of debt, build wealth, and walk in their God-given purpose. Through Mannifest, she blends faith, finance, and motivation to help you create a legacy that lasts.

Alexis J. Willis is a dynamic leader, strategist, and community builder with over a decade of experience driving entrepreneurship, economic development, and real estate growth across the Chattanooga region. She currently serves as the Entrepreneur in Residence at the Max Fuller Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she leads initiatives that support under-resourced founders, maintains an 80%+ participant retention rate, and distributes more than $80,000 in microgrants while connecting local entrepreneurs to global innovation networks. A committed civic leader, Alexis has served on numerous boards—including the Chattanooga Library Foundation, Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association, the Southside Council, CHA Ballet, National Park Partners, and others—bringing her passion for innovation, equity, and community transformation to every role she undertakes.

Carlos Mann has been a business entrepreneur for 35 years. He is the current owner of SOE, Inc. He oversees the business matters of Mann Power, Mann’s Property Management and Investments and Mann Financial Consulting Serves. He worked as a Trouble Shooting General Manager in the restaurant industry for 20 years. He is a Certified City Strategist and has served on several educational and business boards. He is an ordained Licensed Minster of the Gospel. He obtained education from Wisconsin School of Electrical Engineering. Carlos is passionate about helping individuals and families learn and live the truth of our constitution, which is the Word of God. He is a connector of people from various, diverse nationalities, ethnicities, denominations, backgrounds, and occupations. He inspires and encourages everyone he comes in contact with. He is a powerful man of God and endeavors to live his life as a true ambassador of God. He has been married to Frenise Mann for 27 years. They are Certified Marriage Administrators through Prepare/Enrich. They are also Certified Marriage Coaches through Covenant Keypers Marriage Coaches Certification Training Program developed and administered by Dr. David Banks. Together they are passionate about building God- healthy marriages, and they love to minister one-on-one or corporately to couples. They are on the Executive Leadership team of their church, Empowerment, and serve as leaders in the marriage ministry. They also serve as Covenant Keypers Staff and Board Members. Carlos is native of Racine, Wisconsin. He currently resides in Chattanooga, TN with his beautiful wife. They have two daughters and one grandchild.

Chef Lemont and Renita Johnson have been married for 43-years and been in business for over 30 years. They were born and raised in Chattanooga, TN. They have owned and operated Lemont’s Catering and Café for 30 years and opened and operated The Pancake Bakery for 4 years. They both have been awarded as winner and/or nominated as Best Chef and Baker in Chattanooga, TN through Chattanooga Business Elite. They are the proud parents of 2-daughters and 1-son. They both started a love for food, baking and serving others at the early age of 8 and 9 years old. They both believe God is the sole reason they have operated in the culinary industry successfully and will continue to leave an indelible mark as they evolve into greater philanthropic endeavors and community service. Renita, known as Lady J, is the founder of SKIRTS ministry, a non-profit organization that ministers to the broken-hearted and helps people to find their purpose and their WHY. Renita is the author of The Attic and How I Watered My Garden. Both books have ministered and helped heal many. Chef Lemont, is a honorable Sargent of the Unites States Army, where he served as the Head Chef to B. Co. 844th Engr. Bn U.S. Army Reserves Chattanooga, TN. He graduated from Morrison Culinary School in Charlotte, NC and received many accolades for cooking. He also served as, head chef at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he had the opportunity to serve and work with the White House chef for President Ronald Reagan while they visited the UTC campus in May 1987.

Dr. David L. Banks is a Purpose Strategist & Creator of Purpose Fingerprint™ Dr. David L. Banks is a global speaker, award-winning coach, and creator of Purpose Fingerprint™, the transformative framework helping people align identity, assignment, and impact. As President of Noble Success Strategic Group, he equips leaders and entrepreneurs to unlock purpose-driven success after courageously leaving his former profession to pursue his own calling. A certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach—with additional credentials in Neuroscience Coaching, Success Coaching, Entrepreneurship, and Business Coaching—Dr. Banks blends psychology, behavioral science, and kingdom leadership. He has empowered audiences across the U.S., India, Trinidad & Tobago, Pakistan, Australia, Belgium, Africa, and the Philippines. A two-time Amazon International Best-Selling Author who has collaborated with icons like Les Brown and Dr. Cheryl Wood, Dr. Banks is known for turning purpose into profit and potential into performance. He resides in Chattanooga, TN with his beloved wife, Lady Sylvia, and they are proud parents of three children.

Dr. Cynthia Evans is a wife, mom of 4, CEO, and worship leader. A native of Louisiana, she has made Chattanooga home. She owns Champion Christian Learning Academy here in Chattanooga, as well as New Orleans Center for Hope and Change in Louisiana- both having multiple locations. Walking in purpose and power with Christ’s strength is her daily goal.

Stephanie Dark holds a B.A. in English from Rollins College where she played basketball on a four year athletic and academic scholarship. She has been with State Farm Insurance for 31 years. Thirteen in management positions and an insurance agent for eighteen years where she is the Owner/Operator of the Dark Insurance Agency. She is licensed in Property & Casualty, Life & Health, in TN, GA, and AL, and recently retired her Securities 6 & 63 designations. Her primary focus is wealth building, life insurance legacy, and small business insurance. She also owns two real estate rental and commercial holding companies inSink, LLC and inSink Properties, LLC. She has authored 3 fictional books titled “Shoot the Lights Out, “Turf Wars,” and “Game Changers.”. Stephanie has served on the CHI Memorial Foundation , The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Health, Education, Housing for the City of Chattanooga, and the Chattanooga Habitat for Humanity Board. She was a Hamilton YMCA Girl’s Basketball coach for eleven years and loves mentoring African-American women and girls. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the Jack and Jill of Greater Chattanooga Chapter. Stephanie has received the Small Business Award from the Chattanooga Urban League, and the Best Insurance Agent Award 3 times from Chattanooga Business Elite. Stephanie is married to Stephen Dark and they have a 10-year-old son named Xavier.

Vanessa Hardaway is a passionate motivational speaker, educator, and lifelong advocate for student success, dedicated to igniting a child’s imagination and inspiring excellence in learning and leadership. With more than two decades of experience in education, Vanessa knows what works in the classroom—and more importantly, how to fix it when it doesn’t. Holding a Master of Science in Teaching Education from Lee University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Tennessee Wesleyan University, Vanessa brings both academic expertise and real-world insight to every presentation. Her career spans roles as a Pre-K, elementary, and middle school teacher; kindergarten grade- level chairperson; adjunct professor; juvenile probation officer; and staff development trainer. This unique blend of experiences allows her to connect authentically with educators, students, administrators, and parents alike. Vanessa has devoted her career to motivating everyone on both sides of the teacher’s desk—helping seasoned educators rediscover their passion, empowering emerging teachers with practical strategies, and inspiring students to believe in their potential. Her work includes identifying and supporting at-risk students, fostering positive behavior interventions, strengthening home-school relationships, and leading collaborative teams focused on student achievement. As a staff development trainer and motivational speaker, Vanessa has partnered with Dr. Renee Albert since 2006 to deliver impactful sessions on “Techniques to Beating Teacher Burnout.” Her presentations are consistently described as encouraging, inspirational, interactive, and fun. Each session is thoughtfully tailored to the audience, ensuring participants leave feeling inspired, valued, and equipped with strategies they can implement immediately. At the heart of Vanessa Hardaway’s work is a simple but powerful mission: to help educators and students become better teachers, better learners, and ultimately, better human beings.