Is your business ready to take it to the NEXT LEVEL? Join us on Thursday, September 15th, from 5:30 - 7:00pm., to meet, mingle and hear some pitches from several outstanding entrepreneurs who are making waves in the minority community.

KARK 4's DJ Williams and the newly crowned Miss Arkansas Ebony Mitchell will be our emcees for the evening.

NEXT LEVEL is a "Shark Tank" Inspired event for established businesses to bring their innovative ideas in front of our Little Rock "sharks." Pitch applicants will be judged and hand selected by our partners at The Venture Center. This event will feature libations, live entertainment and networking with our minority business community. The winner of the NEXT LEVEL pitch competition will win a prize package designed to help take their business to the NEXT LEVEL. The crowd will also get to choose their favorite!

Meet our Sharks

Dr. Patrice Bax
Director of Programs
Brandon House Cultural & Performing Arts Center

Dr. Patrice Bax serves as the Director of Programs at Brandon House Cultural & Performing Arts Center and is responsible for the coordination and management of Creative Education Programs designed to encourage youth to be involved in creative and artist activities in hopes to spur innovative career aspirations and earning potential. Dr. Bax also spearheads the Creative Career and Workforce Development pillar of Brandon House designed to offer programs, creative services, resources, and training to meet the needs of aspiring artists, creative professionals, local musicians and performers.

Patrice has a passion for her community and utilizes her creativity to find ways to connect with the next generation of youth and young adults who face unimaginable hardships and expectations. She holds a Masters in Learning Systems Technology from University of Arkansas Little Rock and a Doctorate in Human Resources and Workforce Development Education from University of Arkansas where she focused her dissertation on "The Career Development Steps of African American Male Musicians." Patrice has over 17 years of success in developing student success programs. She believes that we all have been given a gift that is unique and tailored to a mission. The key is to use this gift to find purpose and change lives.

Kimberly M. Lee
Financial Inclusion Officer
Hope Credit Union

Kimberly M. Lee is a proud resident of Little Rock. She is a graduate of McClellan High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UA Little Rock; also enrolled into the MBA program at University of Phoenix earning a master’s in business administration and public administration. She is currently employed with Hope Credit Union as a Financial Inclusion Officer where she is responsible for building membership and partnerships while providing financial literacy and education to the members she serves.

Kimberly is highly active in her church ministry and community. She has always had a passion to serve others. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., as well as serves as a commissioner with the City of Little Rock Land Bank, and hold board positions with Pulaski County Youth Services, and Friends of KLRE/KUAR, as well as an advisory committee member for various boards and community organizations. She is a sickle cell survivor and advocates for those battling the rare disease. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and networking. Kimberly has been married to her husband, Darryl for eight years. Together they have a well-blended family of five adult children and seven grandchildren.

Tania Martinez
Outreach & Business Consultant, Arkanas Business Navigator
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center

Tania Martinez Chavez is part of the Arkansas Business Navigator Project “hub” at the ASBTDC Lead Center. She joined the project in early 2022. Tania started at the ASBTDC in September 2021, bringing years of experience in the hospitality and hotel management industry in Mexico, Europe, French Polynesia, and the U.S. She is fluent in Spanish and is passionate about exploring cultures, learning languages, and teaching. She received her Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in business analytics from UA Little Rock and earned her bachelor’s degree from Escuela Bancaria y Comercial in hospitality and tourism management. Tania’s desire is to help others achieve their business goals through carefully selected strategic approaches.

Meet our emcees

Ebony Mitchell

Ebony Mitchell is a 25-year old native of Harrison, and the first Miss Arkansas from Harrison. She will represent Arkansas this December at the Miss America Competition in Uncasville, Connecticut. Ebony is a 2022 Graduate of John Brown University where she received her master’s degree in Health Administration. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas in 2019. After her year as Miss Arkansas concludes, Ebony plans to use her Miss Arkansas scholarships to pursue her Doctorate of Business Administration and continue working in the healthcare administration field.

DJ Williams

D.J. Williams joined KARK 4 Today as co-host in January 2015. He is also part of the Pig Trail Nation team during football season. D.J. has also hosted Nexstar Media Group’s New Year’s Eve celebration (Lone Star NYE!) in Dallas in 2018 and 2019. The Texas-sized party is held at the Arlington’s Texas Live! venue. It airs on television and via live stream on 21 websites across Texas and beyond. The former Arkansas Razorback won the Mackey Award as the country’s best tight end in 2010 and went on to play in the NFL. He was first drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round and later signed with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. D.J. was signed by the Washington Redskins in Aug. 2015 but an injury kept him from making the roster. While in college, D.J. won the Disney Spirit Award as college football’s most inspirational figure. He has been an advocate for victims of domestic violence and has shared the personal story of his own family leaving his abusive, drug-addicted father when Williams was a child. D.J. is a graduate of Central Arkansas Christian High School (North Little Rock).

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE! Please contact Stacy Wilson, Chief Revenue Officer, at swilson@littlerockchamber.com or 501.377.6004.

Additional questions? Please contact Sarah Ann Bost, Manager of Investor Development & Event Coordinator at sbost@littlerockchamber.com or 501.377.6030

2022 TABLE SPONSORS

Hope Credit Union
First Community Bank

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