NBOTB: The Pickle Pad + 7 Brew

Entrepreneur Support: Coffee + Commerce by Capital City Chamber

CEO Spotlight: Mike Akers | Hello Credit Union

Featured Partner: Innovation Park Member | BHL Center

Networking + Business Events

7 Brew has already opened to serve everyone, just off the interstate at 2901 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303. It is a national chain that prides itself on "cultivating kindness," director of operations, Kelly Batiste said. The shop has implemented "community hours" for the week to pass out small drinks to those who come in the drive-thru during certain hours and to businesses neighboring them. | Tal Dem

The Pickle Pad will open as a place for people to play indoor pickleball, different games including darts and corn hole, and grab a bite to eat. Tallahassee will be home to their first U.S. location. It is located at 1925 N. Monroe St. They are set to open in the next few weeks. | FB

"A big part of what we've been trying to do is encourage private investment but also have our own public investment of taxpayer dollars to spruce up the whole area," said Leon County Commissioner Minor Rick Minor. Most recently, that's included his work securing Blueprint funds. That's for a federal grant application that the CRTPA is working on that would invest over $20 million into improving North Monroe.

Meet and greet with special guest: Tangela Lofton | Regional Director of Florida SBDC at FAMU, and Donna Williams | Executive Director of Department of Management Services Office of Supplier Diversity | Register

May 7th, Tuesday from 7:45 AM to 09:00 AM

Venue is at Vino Beano, 1309 Thomasville Road

Mike has spent over 20 years in financial services. Starting his career on the front line, he has gone on to serve in nearly every capacity in the credit union, becoming CEO of FLAG Credit Union in 2019, and in 2020, he took the helm of Bay Credit Union in Panama City.

In 2022, he led the merger of those two financial institutions and rebranded the entire organization as Hello Credit Union in late 2023.

Hello CU serves a diverse population across the entire state of Florida and is committed to being a resource for the underserved. Since Akers took over in 2019, the credit union has grown from approximately $35 million to $168 million in assets, and from 6,000 in membership to nearly 12,000. | Learn more about their products and services.

The FSU Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations (BHL Center) focuses on developing and testing model higher education and community-based programs to address health disparities in underserved populations.

The mission of the BHL Center is to help underserved populations have better health and life through transdisciplinary research and program development. | Learn More

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

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

May 7th, 4 PM to 7 PM EDT: Networking Reception and Human Service Awards

May 8th, from 8 AM EDT: Registration & Continental Breakfast, Sessions and Networking