Back to about Our team

Real people,
in your corner.

A small team runs iBROC's front door day to day, connecting Dayton entrepreneurs to the right support.

LeKeisha N. Grant

Director of Community Engagement

LeKeisha N. Grant is the Director of Community Engagement at Entrepreneurs' Center and the Interim Executive Director of Dayton iBROC. With more than 15 years of experience building programs, cultivating partnerships, and connecting founders with the resources they need to succeed, LeKeisha brings both strategic vision and genuine community investment to her work.

She is a Dayton native, an entrepreneur, and a firm believer that when we build infrastructure for the people who have been overlooked, the whole community rises.

Karen Jackson, MPA, CNP

Karen Jackson, MPA, CNP

Capacity Building Manager

Karen Jackson, MPA, CNP, is a capacity-building strategist and award-winning marketing and public relations expert, dedicated to helping individuals and organizations transform obstacles into growth opportunities. As Capacity Building Manager for iBROC, she strengthens and empowers business entrepreneurs and leaders to maximize impact in the entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Karen is the Founder of Embrace Your Power, LLC, a personal branding and marketing firm, and 4 A Flourishing Life Network, a platform inspiring seasoned adults to thrive with purpose. She is also a speaker, author, and host of Through My Lens, where she equips others to repurpose setbacks into meaningful success.

The certified nonprofit leadership professional has earned numerous awards, including the Top 25 Women of Impact Award in 2021 by the BBB, commendations from the Air Force Research Laboratory, and recognition by the Alliance Management Institute for her research project, “What Does Love Have to Do With It: Embracing your Value and Value Proposition To Propel Your Life and Career.”

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Wright State University.

Utsey Shelton

Convening Manager

Brings the ecosystem together, from the community calendar to partner events and programming. Full bio to come.

A joint effort

Operated by two anchors.

iBROC is operated jointly by Entrepreneurs' Center and the Miami Valley Urban League, born out of Dayton's Inclusive Recovery Playbook and backed by a $2.4M City of Dayton investment.

Entrepreneurs' Center Miami Valley Urban League
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