Growing Together: Inside the DOBE Mentoring Advancement Program

Growing a business takes access to networks, strategic guidance, honest feedback, and opportunities to learn from leaders who have navigated similar challenges.

That's where Disability:IN's DOBE Mentoring Advancement Program (MAP) comes in. Through the program, certified Disability Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs) are paired with corporate leaders who provide mentorship, insights, and connections that help businesses strengthen their growth strategies.

The program is designed to create meaningful relationships that help entrepreneurs navigate new markets, refine their business positioning, build confidence, and better understand how large corporations evaluate suppliers and partnerships.

The experiences below illustrate how mentorship can help transform potential into progress.

Constellation Energy + The Leading Niche Worldwide Enterprises, Inc.

For Dr. Tamara Nall and The Leading Niche (TLN), the MAP program provided an opportunity to accelerate growth and explore new markets with guidance from leaders at Constellation Energy.

"Through the Disability:IN Mentoring Advancement Program (MAP), The Leading Niche (TLN) is driving a focused strategy to accelerate profitable revenue growth and diversify beyond federal contracting into commercial and state/local government. Guided by executive mentorship from Constellation, this initiative is positioning TLN to expand its data analytics and AI capabilities into new markets while strengthening long-term enterprise partnerships."

The experience reflects the power of pairing innovative disability-owned businesses with corporate leaders who can offer strategic perspective and real-world insight.

For mentor Towanda Livingston, the program is about creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to realize their full potential.

"Taking part in a mentoring program is far more than fulfilling an obligation—it's a heartfelt opportunity to share my unique gifts and uplift others in ways that resonate with my deepest purpose... Entrepreneurs' dreams matter, their courage inspires, and their determination creates ripple effects of hope and opportunity. By sharing wisdom and nurturing growth, together we transform hope into action and shape a future where purpose and possibility flourish."

For Ryan Mayer, mentorship became an opportunity to gain new perspectives on corporate engagement and business growth.

Through conversations with Lynn Garrison and additional stakeholders across MillerKnoll, Ryan received feedback on messaging, presentations, and partnership strategies while building valuable new relationships.

"What made this experience especially impactful was the collaborative and multi-perspective approach. Lynn not only met with me directly, but also involved additional members of her team and other internal stakeholders from MillerKnoll to provide diverse insights, feedback, and recommendations. These conversations helped expand my understanding of how corporations evaluate suppliers, partnerships, and workplace initiatives. [...] Perhaps most importantly, the experience challenged me to think bigger, step outside of my comfort zone, and approach corporate engagement with a more strategic and scalable mindset."

For Lynn, mentorship is about helping entrepreneurs see what is possible.

"Through my participation in the Mentoring Advancement Program, I hope to help clarify my mentee's vision and help him recognize the fuller possibilities of what his businesses can become. By offering strategic insight, thoughtful questions, and lived experience—grounded in faith and optimism—I aim to help him move from what currently is toward what could and will be. Ultimately, I want him to leave our conversations more confident, purpose-driven, and equipped to grow with intention."

The MAP program also helps entrepreneurs better understand how large corporations think, operate, and make decisions.

Through mentorship with Luis Jenkins of Vistra Corp., Amerit Consulting explored workforce needs within the energy sector and opportunities to align its services with industry demand.

"The DOBE MAP program is a powerful platform for helping entrepreneurs navigate and understand how large corporations think, operate, and make decisions. As a mentor, it's meaningful to share corporate perspectives, connect entrepreneurs with relationships across my company for deeper insight, and intentionally tailor our time together so they achieve the outcomes that matter most to them from the program. In our initial conversations, we focused on current workforce and training needs in the energy sector, and how [Amerit Consulting] could tailor training to help staff utilities and companies in the energy space with trained, ready-to-work veterans."

For Amerit Consulting, those conversations translated into meaningful business growth and community impact.

"The best part of MAP is the connection to mentors who genuinely care about helping us succeed. It has strengthened our ability to solve complex business challenges and translate that experience into real value in the marketplace. Disability:IN has created a powerful program that continues to drive our growth while expanding our impact in the disability community."

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One of the most valuable aspects of mentorship is having a trusted advisor who can provide practical feedback and encouragement.

For Stephanie Pollack of Creative Facilitations, the program offered both:

"I joined MAP this year to gain support from a mentor and to feel a sense of community with fellow DOBE entrepreneurs, with the goal of helping me bring my company into the world in a bigger way with updated materials. My mentor, [Sheri,] helped me think through what may be coming next and how to evolve my learning products. With Sheri in my corner, I feel more confident in my ability to achieve my goals."

Sheri views mentorship as a way to create access and opportunities that entrepreneurs may not otherwise receive.

"My scope is business inclusion- how we spend money and ensuring everyone has a seat at the table. These business mentoring programs matter because they provide access, meetings, and honest help and feedback that DOBEs might not otherwise have access to."

For Robert Thompson and AVEVV, mentorship from Sheri Shafir helped sharpen communications and increase visibility among potential buyers.

"Through Disability:IN's Mentoring Advancement Program (MAP), AVEVV was fortunate to engage with Sheri Shafir of AMC Global Media for hands-on mentorship focused on market-facing deliverables. Sheri brokered strategic introductions to prospective clients across industries, alongside feedback that has been insightful, informed, honest, and specific. Sheri's contributions have made AVEVV's communications sharper, more competitive, and more visible to the right buyers. We greatly appreciate the time and attention Sheri has given us."

Investing in Entrepreneurial Success

The Disability:IN DOBE Mentoring Advancement Program demonstrates what can happen when corporate leaders and disability-owned businesses come together with a shared commitment to growth.

For participating mentors and mentees alike, the program is about going beyond business development and unlocking potential, expanding opportunity, and helping disability-owned businesses thrive.

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