Data Expert: Emily Saras | CEO and Data Scientist at Knowli

Eat Tallahassee: Vanessa Byrd | Owner of Halisi Africa

In the Spotlight: Tangela Lofton is the New Regional Director of Florida SBDC

Featured Partner: Innovation Park Member | CIMES

Things To Do + Business Events

Emily serves as the CEO and Data Scientist at Knowli Data Science, a women-owned data science and consulting company based in Tallahassee. Knowli has empowered leaders in health and education with data-driven decision support since 2009.

She is a co-founder of Beyond The Pantry (BTP), a Tallahassee-based non-profit that sources and shares basic-needs items for insecure members of the Leon County community.

Emily is a Mensa Member and a graduate of Wellesley College, Central European University, Northeastern University, and Florida State University. She received a 2019 P.E.O. Scholar Award for her dissertation research on the theory and evaluation of STEM education interventions.

She is a fellow board member of TalTech with our co-founder Julia Holly

Vanessa is a registered nurse but went on to FSU for a master’s in community health education. She taught at Tallahassee Community College and online at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Despite the changing colors of her career, from Ph.D. to restaurateur, Vanessa’s abiding interest in people, their education, and well-being has always guided her.

Halisi Africa fuses Africa’s tradition of unprocessed, wholesome foods with America’s penchant for readily identifiable flavors. It started as a boutique, but it’s become much more. In addition to offering African-made goods, it also doubles as a restaurant that offers full dinners of “Afro-fusion cuisine.” | Full Menu | Located at 625-17 Railroad Square Tallahassee

As regional director, Tangela will provide strategic direction and oversight of the Florida SBDC at FAMU’s operations in its eight-county region. She will provide managerial leadership of the region in coordination with the priorities of the Florida SBDC Network and FAMU’s School of Business and Industry (SBI).

Tangela previously served as the chief of staff at the Art District Real Estate, executive assistant at the FAMU School of Nursing, and management analyst in FAMU’s Finance & Administration Administrative Services Assistance Program (ASAP).

She was recently awarded the 2024 Domi Innovation Award and successfully operates her own small business, Juice Bar Miami, in Tallahassee.

Center for Information Management and Educational Services (CIMES)is an award-winning multidisciplinary consulting center based at Florida State University. Since 1978, they have developed cost-effective solutions for public and private agencies that want to train their employees more effectively, share information and resources with their community more productively, and communicate with their stakeholders more meaningfully.

CIMES does more than provide products and services–they transform complex needs into simple solutions. They help organizations solve modern information and training challenges. | Learn More

Keynote Speaker: Coach Mike Norvell

This event is free for all young professionals! Current Access members will receive one (1) drink ticket upon entry.

Apr. 29th, 5:30 PM to 7 PM EDT at FAMU Foundation Building SBDC Office: Opening Reception | Free Register

Apr. 30th, 8:30 AM to 5 PM EDT at Turnbull Conference Center: Workshop Day | Free Register