We often hear the success stories, but rarely do we have the opportunity to undress our insecurities when it comes to starting and scaling a business. It’s only in that vulnerability—the frustrations and the shortcomings which every business owner deals with—that we truly have the opportunities to see our businesses grow. This principle was emphasized by Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Bailey during an address to prospective Stakeholders seeking alignment with the organization’s mission.
The 2025 Stakeholder Info Session
On November 12, 2025, the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs conducted a Stakeholder information session, attracting over 400 prospective participants in what represented one of the organization’s most significant annual events. The halls of the Russell Center were filled with hope, promise, and ambition, as nearly every person within came with a dream of where they wanted their businesses to go. What most of them had in common was uncertainty around how to get there.
Challenging Concepts of Safety & Security
Johnny and Sandra Jackson are married business partners who experienced a great deal of anxiety around bringing their products to life.
“It’s not competitive—they’re here to help me. So if I ask a dumb question, I don’t have to worry about whether they’re questioning where I am and if I deserve to be here.” — Sandra Jackson, Co-founder
The duo owns a patent for a new type of heat pump system that they’re ready to bring to market. When RICE debuts its reimagined Product Development Pathway, entrepreneurs like them will benefit most from the program.
For Beginners and Experts Alike
Latisha B. Russell—unrelated to the Herman J. Russell for whom the Russell Center is named—has a slightly different story. She’s had her share of successes; her dual businesses, Russell-Craigwell Consulting and her self-titled emotional well-being coaching service, have been operable for at least seven years altogether.
“There’s this thought of, ‘we’ve been in it for so long,’ and all we need to do is get out there and get customers. But as a service-based organization, sometimes it’s still a challenge.” — Latisha B. Russell, Founder
RICE has plans for entrepreneurs like her, too, that she hopes to be able to take advantage of.
Community Starts Here
Others were just happy to be a part of the community and were able to form helpful relationships from simply attending the info session. Tremaine Grant owns the Pulse platform, a marketplace solution that connects fitness seekers with fitness influencers to help them monetize their content.
“As an entrepreneur, it’s already hard to do this day-to-day, so it was nice to be able to connect with people who get it.” — Tremaine Grant, Founder of Pulse
Hoping to hold onto that community, his application was completed before Jay Bailey walked off the stage for the last time in the presentation.
An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
These narratives illustrate the diverse entrepreneurial journeys that have contributed to RICE’s organizational development and will inform future programming. Regardless of developmental stage, RICE provides tailored resources across every stage of the entrepreneurial journey—an environment where ideas become real and innovation thrives.
This is where ideas and innovation come to bloom.
by Garnell Bradley
