Small Business Center Team

Chris had his first taste of entrepreneurship at the age of 10, when he began delivering New York Newsday. He's opened a dozen businesses and helped other people start dozens more. Even as an active-duty 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper, he created a production company during his downtime.

Over the past two decades, Chris focused on working with national recording artists in developing their own record labels and has worked with members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Chris likes to ride his Harley Davidson, follow New York Yankees baseball, and spend time with his family. He's a proud combat veteran and remains focused on working with historically underserved communities. Chris will be working on the Launch Wake County programs, serving students internally with entrepreneurship programs, and more.

Katie Berg specializes in helping clients integrate digital marketing, content marketing, brand strategy and storytelling into their businesses. An e-commerce business owner herself, she is also well-versed in the challenges and strategic planning needs of product-based businesses.

In addition to her experience as a small business owner, Katie has over 15 years of combined agency and corporate marketing experience with a focus on technology and digital products. She holds a BBA in General Business from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from the University of South Florida.

Specialties: Branding, marketing plans/strategy, digital marketing (websites, email, social media, etc.), e-commerce strategy, strategic pricing
 

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

Tony Jones is a marketing and business development specialist uniquely qualified with thirty years of marketing and sales experience with special emphasis on: marketing and sales campaigns; merchandising and advertising techniques; public relations exposure strategies; staging sales momentum; as well as television, radio, and video production. For 15 years, Tony also worked in artist development with a major record company. In addition, Tony has experience in electronic marketing and database development and management.

Tony owned a HUB-certified commercial painting company with more than 60 employees and $4m in revenue.

Specialties: Business plan creation and refinement, marketing and sales development, music and entertainment industries

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

Ben Kittner has been an entrepreneur, communicator, marketer, funder and educator in the Research Triangle region for nearly three decades. Leveraging his business experience, communications and marketing skills, personal contacts and community resources, Ben helps entrepreneurs identify and validate assumptions, conduct market research, identify target customers, focus their business plans, tell their stories, and market their services and products.

During his career, Ben worked in communications and marketing for PBS television, the National Education Association, and College Foundation of North Carolina. He helped create a public affairs TV network for the State of North Carolina; he also started, grew and managed a public relations firm that specialized in technology and healthcare clients for 15 years. Ben has taught public relations and marketing courses at North Carolina State University, and he has counseled and advised hundreds of students, nonprofit leaders, investors, corporate executives and entrepreneurs.

Specialties: Focusing business concepts, market research, and validation; public relations; marketing and communications

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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