After several years of educating around the world in 1994, NeCole realized her dream to become co-owner of the award-winning Noir et Blanc Salon and Spa with her husband and business partner Orlando. They later sold the salon after 15 very successful years in business. During her years as a salon owner she became involved in The Professional Beauty Association, the largest national salon business owners association in North America, where she was an active member and past president.  NeCole’s passion and commitment for the beauty industry also led to the appointment to The State Board of Cosmetology by former Governor Vonivich.    

In 2004, NeCole and Orlando were encouraged to open Paul Mitchell The School Cleveland and two short years later they opened their second location in Columbus, Ohio.  The success of their schools has allowed their company to grow to over 75 employees and, graduating over 300 future professionals per year between both locations, making their schools two of the largest cosmetology schools in Ohio. Aside from being involved in her schools, NeCole also serves as President of The Paul Mitchell School Franchise Association and, a member of civic organization, The Presidents Council. She and Orlando are loving parents to their greatest accomplishment, children Orlando Jr. and Skylar.

In this role, Ron coordinates community and neighborhood outreach and programming, provides direct assistance to entrepreneurs and advocates for the needs of these entrepreneurs with partner organizations in the state-funded Entrepreneur Services Provider (ESP) network.
Prior to taking on this role, Ron was Assistant Director for Emerging Technology Centers, a venture of the Baltimore Development Corporation focused on the incubation and acceleration for early-stage technology-based startups. Before this, he served as a Neighborhood Legal
Fellow and a Neighborhood 360 Fellow with the NYC Department of Small Business Services, where he assisted with corporate governance and economic development research and program management.

Outside these positions, Ron has also designed and implemented financial models and strategic plans for a variety of colleges, financial institutions, non-profit organizations, political campaigns and foreign governments.

Additionally, he is a published thought-leader on topics of diversity equity and inclusion and has traveled both nationally and internationally to speak on these topics, as well as overall startup incubation and financial management.

Ron is a proud alum of Morehouse College. He also holds a master’s in Management Science and Engineering from the Stanford University School of Engineering and a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law, where he was a Jacobson Law and Business Scholar and graduated with distinction as a Vanderbilt Medal winner.

Fae specializes in bringing high-performance products to market.  Over the past 15 years, she’s worked with global industry players such as L’Oreal, Kao Brands and Conair Professional Products.  Her brand management experience spans from entrepreneurial to established global brands with multi-million-dollar portfolios.  

Fae is a Boston native with a Bachelor of Science degree from Babson College. She also holds a dual Master’s degree in Business Administration and Information Age Marketing from Bentley University.  

Through strategic and effective communications campaigns and creative energies, companies increase visibility. COSE recognized VMI with its Ten Under 10 Award for their best practices in innovation, growth/success and value to the community. Her company has won awards for its exemplary work in creative public relations.  

The National Council of Negro Women, Crain’s Cleveland Business “40 Under 40,” The Phenomenal Woman Foundation and Kaleidoscope Magazine’s Forty Forty Club have recognized Adams’ civic contributions. She is also an accomplished public speaker and writer, penning Just Do Your Dream! Seven Steps to Help You Do What You Always Wanted* from personal experiences. Over 100 people from around the world were interviewed for the book which encourages and inspires its readers.  

Community-focused, Adams has served on the Women’s Community Advisory Board of Case Western Reserve University, the boards of East End Neighborhood House and Continue Life Inc. (where she served as president) and The Public Relations Society of America. She is a member of Crain’s Business Diversity Council, the Boards of Breakthrough Schools, the Better Business Bureau, The Presidents’ Council Business Chamber and The African-American Philanthropy Committee founded by the late Steve Minter. She is a Distinguished Toastmaster and a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association. 

Adams earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina, BA from Baldwin-Wallace University and an accreditation in public relations.