ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING
MENTORING
NETWORKING
About NextLevel Exchange
NextLevel Exchange is a 12-month, cohort-based small business development program designed to help business owners build the capacity of their enterprise. The purpose of the Chicagoland program is to support the growth of owner-operated businesses and create economic opportunities in underserved communities.
Program components include:
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Monthly one-on-one mentorship with an experienced business owner or professional.
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Educational workshops in core knowledge areas such as marketing, finance, HR, and business strategy.
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Fireside chats with highly successful entrepreneurs.
Leadership Team
Bruce Taylor
Taylor Investment Partners
Bruce is a managing partner of Taylor Investment Partners and former Chairman and CEO of Cole Taylor Bank. He is currently on the Board of Governors and is treasurer for The Metropolitan Planning Council, serves on the Midwest board of trustees for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, is chairman of 18Doors (formerly known as Interfaith Family), and is on the board of directors for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Bruce earned his B.S. from Babson College in 1977 and his MBA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1979.
Amy Stoken
NextLevel Exchange
Amy Stoken is the Director of NextLevel Exchange. She is responsible for all aspects of the program and coordinating the participating organizations. Amy brings to NextLevel Exchange a multifaceted background including corporate law, non-profit management, and venture capital. Amy has a B.A. in American Studies from Eckerd College, an M.A. in Public Policy from The George Washington University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Email: amy@nextlevelexchange.org
Kevin P. Davenport
Chicago Urban League
Kevin P. Davenport is the Director of 2 programs at the Chicago Urban League’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center: NextDEAL (9-week cohort based intensive course on how to apply for your MBE/WBE Certification with the State of IL) & NextLevelExchange (12-month cohort based business development and 1 on 1 mentorship program). Kevin is also the Founder and CEO at TheIdealCandidate.org. The Ideal Candidate is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of individuals and organizations through our transformative soft skills training programs. The Ideal Candidate was awarded “Most Influential Business of the Year 2023” by the NorthWest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Kevin is the author of The Ideal Candidate Book – a quick guideline to self-sufficiency and living with an attitude of gratitude. Kevin was nationally recognized for his social impact work in 2023 with the Microsoft Tech Maker Award.
Email: kdavenport@chiul.org
Laura Lane
Sunshine Enterprises
Laura Lane is the Managing Director of Programs for Sunshine Enterprises, whose mission is to empower high-potential entrepreneurs living in under-resourced neighborhoods to grow their businesses and transform their communities. Laura’s role at Sunshine includes recruiting and training instructors and coaches who implement the Community Business Academy, Business Acceleration Services and Credit to Capital coaching for entrepreneurs in our six markets – South, West and North sides of Chicago; Construction Trades, Property Management and Arts & Makers cohorts.
Lindsay Mueller
Women's Business Development Center
Lindsay is Managing Director of Program Innovations at the Women’s Business Development Center. Lindsay seeks to cultivate deep relationships between civic leaders, established small businesses, and community members to create an equitable economy and she has helped develop the WBDC’s ScaleUp program. Lindsay has more than 15 years’ experience with small business advocacy and advising, nonprofit program strategy and creation, and community relationship building.
Email: lmueller@wbdc.org
Quandra Speights
Sunshine Enterprises
Quandra is the Business Acceleration Service (BAS) Senior Manager at Sunshine Enterprises. Her role includes BAS services such as the 90-day Coaching program, Next Level Exchange and PERC activities, workshops and events. In addition, she assists the program team with their workshops and events and operations team with providing human resources advice and consulting services. Quandra’s vision for Sunshine Enterprises’ clients is to support and advocate for more black-owned businesses in disadvantaged communities.
Regina Williams
Women's Business Development Center
Regina Williams Regina Williams is Director of Program Innovations at the Women’s Business Development Center. She is responsible for delivering innovative programming that supports established businesses, as well as direct services to clients, including one-on-one and group advising, workshops, and events. Regina’s career includes over 15 years of teaching and program management experience in post-secondary arts education. She also has extensive entrepreneurial experience and has worked with several entertainment companies and recording artists.
Email: rwilliams@wbdc.org
Participating Organizations
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Founding Partners
We are an extremely ambitious high-end general contractor headquartered in Chicago. We come from a long line of craftsmen, engineers & designers, starting with our great-grandfather. We are dedicated to unrivaled professionalism, unwavering excellence and exacting & transparent estimating. We bring decades of knowledge & experienced-based homebuilding precision to our clients.
The Jewish-Black Business Alliance (“JBBA”) is composed of business and civic
leaders who come together for the purpose of fostering sustainable business
relationships between the Jewish and Black communities through meetings, commerce, and travel.
2025 Key Dates
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​February 7, 2025 - Winter 2025 Applications Close
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February 8, 2025 - Summer 2025 Applications Open