With an entrepreneurial spirit and a background in all things small business, Janelle is uniquely qualified to head up our new Communications Specialist II position. You will love to get to know Janelle better as she shares her heart for small businesses, her excitement to be a part of our team, and her vision for Access Plus Capital!

What did you do before you became part of the Access Plus Capital team?

I’m still doing it! I am an entrepreneur running a small marketing consulting business and I volunteer with several nonprofits whose missions I am very passionate about. My background is in advertising, publishing, and graphic design.

What do you do at Access Plus Capital?

My title is Communications Specialist II. I get to share the stories of our team members, our clients, and our partners, and I have the privilege of communicating the mission and values of Access Plus Capital to the community — values that I hold dear to my heart and deeply believe in. The team here, and the work they do, are phenomenal. I get to make sure everyone is aware of just how valuable it is to have these partners on their side.

What is your favorite part of working at Access Plus Capital?

My co-workers. Specifically their passion for community, equity, and financial justice. I haven’t been here long, but I’ve already cried with the team over the pain of injustice. I’ve already laughed with the team over the bright moments in life. And I’ve worked with this team in casting a vision of the world we want to live in and how we’re going to get there. The honesty, the passion, and the sheer brilliance of this group are much more than I anticipated when I came aboard.

What is your favorite part of working with business owners?

Small Business owners are the bravest, hardest working, and most resourceful people you will ever meet. They are passionate about their businesses and care for them as a parent who cares for their child. I love the stories they share about the moment they knew it was time to start their business. I enjoy watching their eyes light up as they describe their passion for their company and their mission and vision for the future. Small business owners are visionaries and I find them inspiring.

What’s the latest project you worked on? What was unique about it?

I’m new to APC, so my projects so far have been relatively small. I’m looking forward to 2022 and seeing the hard work we’ve poured into fine-tuning our mission, vision, and values manifested in the projects and clients we embrace. What’s unique about APC in general, is that their values actually mean something to the leadership and team. The Mission statement is not just a random paragraph hanging on the wall. It is a reflection of hours of introspection, deep-diving into personal values, and listening to the voices of the team and community, and it is held as a crucial anchor in our decision-making.

What are some of your outside-of-work hobbies and interests?

Outside of work I am heavily invested in creating opportunities for Black Americans. I volunteer for non-profits with a bend towards social justice, access, and equity. I also spend a lot of time in the performance arts: I am a tap and hip hop dance instructor, I sing with a local choir, I am a part of a band, I write, and I dabble in photography. Most importantly, I’m a mom, and that alone motivates me to want to leave this world a better place than how I found it.

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