Reena Bhatia joined the North Carolina Military Business Center Business Development Team in January 2023. She is responsible for identifying lucrative federal contract opportunities and assisting businesses with understanding government solicitations, how to prepare winning proposals and to successfully execute federal contracts.

Prior to joining the team, Reena worked 28 years supporting government contractors in business growth strategy, business development, capture management and proposal solutions. She has also supported commercial companies within the U.S., the Middle East and the APAC region. She brings extensive experience helping companies do business with the federal government within the United States and overseas.

Reena holds a master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland College Park and is an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Program – National Cohort 7.

Alisa Johnson has more than 17 years of experience in Human Resources. One of her primary responsibilities has been in developing and training the management of employees. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Master of Science in Human Resources Training and Development. Alisa earned her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification in 2007 and the Society for Human Resource Management-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification in 2015.  She has extensive experience in coaching and has successfully assisted her clients with planning. Alisa’s clients credit her with helping them develop leadership skills.

Alisa has a genuine and enthusiastic interest in assisting small-business owners. She is committed to helping small-business owners develop their business sense and “know-how” to facilitate successful navigation within the community and positively add to the economy.

Specialties: Human resources processes, hiring and employee matters; strategic planning; pre-company formation, planning and launch

Karriem Kanston has been with the Small Business Center since 2019. He currently owns Kanston Development, a small-business development consulting firm, and is a partner in a QSR franchise. Formerly a Lead Faculty for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, he spent over 15 years in the banking industry lending to small businesses. Karriem holds an MAT in Entrepreneurship and Business from Johnson and Wales University and has extensive experience teaching college students and business owners in courses related to entrepreneurship, business, leadership and finance. 

Specialties: Business funding, small business grants, small business growth, business planning

Mia LaMotte is an accomplished leader, facilitator, coach and consultant specializing in personal development, personal and business branding, training and transformation. She wants to help other leaders be seen the way they want to be seen. Intelligent and organized with great communication skills and big-picture thinking, she has more than 20 years of experience in developing programs that help others become leaders of their own lives. Mia holds a master’s degree in public administration and various certifications: Certified Transformational Coach, Divine Living Academy, December 2018; Certified Image Consultant, Association of Image Consultants International –Active; Certified Transformational Generalist Trainer, Trainer Global Designs, April 2018; Certified Public Manager, State of North Carolina, October 2011.

Capable of thinking “outside the box” when problem-solving and managing unanticipated setbacks in life and business, Mia helps her clients drop all pretenses so that they can get paid to be their true selves. Her core competencies include image consulting, online presence, personal development, transformational courses, personal branding, training/coaching and course creation.

Mia is passionate about conscious entrepreneurship, adventure, and learning about others and their cultures. She travels extensively and helps clients and businesses open up to a global vision and location-independent life.  

Specialties: Personal development, branding, marketing, mindset, transformation, coaching, consulting businesses, location independent businesses

Lori Wright leads operations and logistics for the Small Business Center and Entrepreneurship Initiatives department. With Wake Tech for nearly a decade, she has worked in the Curriculum Education department and on the Public Safety Training Campus. Her education began at Wake Tech where she completed her AAS in Business Administration and certifications in human resource management and project management. Lori is furthering her education at Fayetteville State University, where she will complete a Bachelor of Science in Project Management. 

Prior to her service with Wake Tech, Lori was a correctional officer at Central Prison for more than 5 years. Her experience working in a prison launched her career at the Public Safety Campus as an administrative assistant. She is now proud to be a part of the Small Business Center serving students in the greater Wake County area. 

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