Alicia Bowens-Mercaado
Personal Profile
Alisa Bowens-Mercado is the Founder, CEO, and Brewmaster of Rhythm Brewing Co. Affectionately known as "Lady Lager", she made history by becoming the first African-American, woman-owned beer brand in the state of Connecticut (4th in the Country).
Alisa, a professional salsa dancer and Owner of Alisa's House of Salsa (since 2000), glided on to the beer scene in 2018. Her passion for music, dance, and beer have played a significant role in her life. Both of Alisa’s grandmothers were lager drinkers. On occasion, they would listen to music, dance, and sip on a good brew. Alisa remembers her grandmother telling her that the key to success was “Finding Your Rhythm in Life”.
Recognizing a significant gap in the $114 billion beer industry, she has made it her mission to tap into an "untapped" and under served demographic in the Country.
Her story has been featured both Nationally and Locally. Fox Soul, NBC Universal, ABC and 75+ news publications including Martha Stewart, the Associated Press, and Thrillist. Just recently, GNL named them "Top 10 Breweries around the World owned by Women", New Haven Biz's, Women Business Owner 2021. Both of Alisa's businesses were recently inducted into the New Haven Museum archived collection. She has received over a dozen awards and 150 recognitions.
Rhythm Brewing Co., produces Rhythm Unfiltered Lager and Rhythm Blue, an unfiltered light lager. Both products can be found in locations such as Whole Foods, Total Wine, Trader Joe's, Big Y, ShopRite just to name a few. With a buyers list that includes Disney, Mohegan Sun, and Foxwoods. Alisa is currently pursuing National distribution opportunities.
Barbara R. Crouch
Personal Profile
Barbara Richardson Crouch has a BA in Political Science/English and an MBA from the University of Mississippi, and an Associates of Applied Sciences in Accounting from Three Rivers Community College.
Barbara has an extensive career in Business Development; Angel Funding for Technology Start-ups; Finance; Communication; Training. Barbara currently serves as the Secretary of the ISAAC School Board, Registrar of Voters, Certified Election Official and Justice of the Peace. Barbara was an active Rotarian for 10 years having served as President of the Niantic Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Award Recipient.
Barbara has combined her skills in the public and private sector to focus on economic justice and elimination of poverty. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Marketing and Development for Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Southeastern Connecticut's poverty fighting agency.
She is a football fanatic and lives with her husband, Jeff, and two children in Sprague. In her spare time, Barbara enjoys hiking, camping and outdoor activities.
Tammy Hendricks
Personal Profile
Prior to joining Access Health CT as its Director of Health Equity and Outreach, Tammy’s career spanned positions from Pharmaceutical Sales to Marketing and Business Development. Driven by a passion for digital and traditional marketing, she established her own marketing firm, after completing her MBA at the University of Connecticut 2019. She was responsible for the branding, strategic planning, and digital/traditional marketing initiatives for clients including many healthcare providers throughout Connecticut, Florida and New York City. Tammy is acknowledged for well-defined understanding of business development and capacity to identify and align clients' emerging needs with products and services.
She is a seasoned marketing and business development professional with extensive experience in the healthcare field. Her success is driven by building meaningful relationships through problem solving, strategic planning, and dedicated follow through. She has built a wide network of community advocates, doctors/providers and numerous vendors throughout the State during the course of her career.
Growing up in CT and completing both bachelors and master’s degree at UConn, she looks forward to using her personal/professional background and statewide connections to lead the Outreach efforts in communities throughout CT.
Tracee Hunt
Personal Profile
Traceee Hunt, Owner/CEO of Total HR Solutions, LLC, a skilled HR professional, has provided key leadership in senior level roles as well as driving HR strategies through Board membership as a Committee Chair. Tracee has over 25 years of experience in the field of Human Resources. As a refined HR Executive and Business Partner, Tracee has served as a key member of executive leadership teams in varying industries, as well as currently serving as an extension of each client’s leadership teams to facilitate the achievement of organizational goals and objectives.
Throughout Tracee’s HR career and in her business, she has been applauded for her astute business acumen, strategic focus, her premier executive consultation skills, her holistic focus on driving cultural competence, as well as her benefits expertise relative to its P&L impact. Tracee attributes her success to a never-ending determination to achieve in spite of any obstacle.
Recently, she authored her first book “Silent Overcomer – Trauma comes in all shapes and sizes!” which conveys her life’s journey and how the power of reframing was integral in turning life traumas into life triumphs. Tracee holds a master’s degree in Human Services Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Rider University; a bachelor’s degree in Vocational Education with a concentration in HR Training and Development from Southern Illinois University; and an associate’s degree from Burlington County College in Accounting. Tracee is married and has two children.
Zaynah Camp-Fry, DBA, MT
Personal Profile
Zaynah Camp-Fry is the Director of Ancillary Services with Benson Hospital. In this role, Zaynah leads the Laboratory, Radiology, and Respiratory Therapy departments at a critical access hospital providing oversight of all departmental operations, financials, planning and staffing. She heads a number of hospital strategic projects involving all aspects of hospital operations.
For over 20 years, Zaynah has been a noteworthy leader in the healthcare space. A big believer in servant leadership, she advocates for putting team needs first and creating an environment in which all staff feel respected, appreciated, and valued.
Zaynah’s career started more than 20 years ago in the United States Air Force as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. She has also held positions at global and very prominent organizations. Zaynah holds a Bachelor’s in Medical Laboratory Technology and an MBA in Management as well as a Doctor of Business Administration.
Dr. Camp-Fry has published work as part of her doctorate degree entitled, The Underrepresentation of Black Women in Executive Healthcare Leadership: A Phenomenology of Lived Experiences. Throughout her career, Zaynah has earned achievements such as Non-Commissioned Officer of the year by the Pacific Region Surgeon General while in the military and multiple performance-based promotions.
Dr. Camp-Fry lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband and son. When not working, Zaynah enjoys travelling, sporting events, and bowling.
Shaka Felder
Personal Profile
Dr. Chaka Felder-McEntire is a professional development consultant and a 20-year education administrator with expertise in leadership, motivation, diversity/equity/inclusion, school counseling, and college & career readiness. A certified Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainer, Dr. Felder-McEntire provides training and coaching to the public and private industries who want to “repurpose for success”. Dr. McEntire is the owner of Higher Elevations Consulting which provides professional development, coaching, motivational speaking, and fitness consultation. Dr. Felder-McEntire is also the founder of Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs, Inc. and the Connecticut College Access
Lisa White
Personal Profile
Lisa C. White's career spans more than 25 years as an individual devoted to the well-being of vulnerable children and their families in New York. Her passion for improving the overall quality of life of individuals has echoed throughout her career. Lisa has worked across multilayered and challenging systems where she successfully developed, managed, and enhanced services in many organizations, including hospitals, community-based organizations, criminal justice originations, and public officials' offices.
In each system that she has touched, Lisa has been committed to developing and cultivating skills using a collaborative and inclusive form of leadership that incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is her thought that systems and organizations need to create spaces where individuals are given tools and resources to operate equitably. She has been committed to this process throughout her career as an administrator and psychotherapist and continues this in her work in her own business and as Director of Health and Wellness at NYC social services agency.
Lisa received her Masters degree in Social Work from Columbia University and a Bachelors degree in Business Management from Hampton University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work at the Institute of Clinical Social Work in Chicago.