Q. What did you want to be when you were a little kid? 

A. I wanted to be a performer. As I grew older, I went on to perform on many stages across the country.

Q. What does your company do?

A. At PridePromo, we stand proudly at the intersection of diversity and equality as a small LGBTQ+ and Black-owned business. Our mission is to empower brands while embracing our commitment to inclusivity and community support.

Q. How long has your company been in business?

A. 3 years.

Q. Can you tell us about why and how you started the company?

A. The journey of this project started in 1999 with a single heat press in my parents’ garage. When I was very young, I learned the ropes from my parents’ side gig by helping them press and fold T-shirts, travel to trade shows and sell merchandise. This fun project developed into a full-service brand solutions organization. In 2017, I took over the reins of their company, and in 2020, when things got crazy with the pandemic, things pivoted.

During the pandemic, operations significantly decreased with mandatory shutdowns, which gave me the space and opportunity to lean into my true passion. Near the end of 2020, I launched a company called Queerencia, a direct-to-consumer brand that focuses on queer history and culture through branded apparel and accessories. We encourage the LGBTQ+ community to be bold and proud of who they are, and to show off their Pride.

We didn’t stop there! As life returned to “normal,” we reintroduced wholesale brand solutions under the name PridePromo, which assists corporations by providing them with custom promotional products. Pairing these two organizations together has been amazing, and we are proud to see the impact we are making in the lives of our corporate clients and end consumers.

Q. What has been your biggest business challenge in the past year?

A. The biggest challenge for us has been access to capital. As a young business, gaining access to capital can be very tough from traditional financial institutions. To continue scaling and taking on more capacity, it was crucial to secure funds. We addressed this issue by leaning into our network. At the end of Q2, we secured substantial financing to assist us in executing our plans and large projects.

Q. What is one thing that makes you stand out from your competition?

A. Our collaborative process and commitment to community support and empowerment sets us apart. From the very start to the very end, we are there to support our clients. We are confident in our expertise to ensure the products that we produce align with the organization’s mission and values, and we are fully committed to directly uplifting our communities.

Q. What do you love to do when you’re not working?

A. In my free time, I love to play competitive kickball. You’d be surprised how much fun it is to play this sport as an adult and how great it is to play with other members of the LGBTQ+ community through Stonewall Sports.

Q. What’s your favorite place in the world you’ve ever visited, and why do you love it?

A. My current favorite place to visit is Atlanta, Georgia. Specifically, during ATL Pride! I love the diversity and freedom I feel when I’m there.

Q. What is one piece of  business advice you would offer your LGBTQ+ peers?

A. Be the person you needed when you were younger, and know that you are loved and accepted for being authentically you. 

How to connect … pridepromo.com

queerencia.com