Our Team

The CMWP team is made up of business leaders, advisors, and community professionals dedicated to supporting Black and minority entrepreneurs in Connecticut and beyond. Our collective expertise spans business development, mentorship, grant-funded programming, workshops, and community-based economic initiatives. Together, we help entrepreneurs access resources, build capacity, and navigate the systems needed to start, sustain, and grow successful businesses.

Through strategic leadership, hands-on support, and trusted partnerships, our team plays an active role in advancing equitable opportunities for business owners across the state.

Explore our team members and their roles across leadership, governance, and advisory support below.

Leadership & Operations Team

Our leadership and operations lead oversees the day-to-day work of CMWP.

Typhanae Williams

Operations Coordinator

Typhanae (Tiffany) Williams is a creative visionary, mental health advocate, and business owner dedicated to building spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported. Her work began with creating community-centered events focused on women’s wellness and mental health and has grown into a broader commitment to community building through art, culture, and entrepreneurship.

As a creative consultant through her firm, Unlox Meraki—a name rooted in soul, creativity, and love—Typhanae has partnered with municipalities and arts organizations to amplify creatives, entrepreneurs, and BIPOC communities. From 2020 to 2025, she consulted with the City of New Haven’s Department of Cultural Affairs, where she curated programs and events designed to uplift local creatives and entrepreneurs.

One of her most impactful projects, the Unapologetically Radical Conference, is a one-day experience created to address, amplify, and activate anti-racism in arts and culture. Typhanae has also collaborated with organizations including the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Gather New Haven, CT Folk Fest, and Artspace, continuing her mission to foster meaningful connection, visibility, and cultural impact.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors provides governance, accountability, and strategic oversight. Our board members bring diverse professional experience and help guide organizational priorities, financial stewardship, and long-term sustainability as we carry out our mission. Click their image to learn more about them.

Orlena Cowan-Bailey

Board Chair & Chief Elevation Officer (CEO), HR Zoom, LLC

Chair

Carlah Esdaile-Bragg

Director- Marketing & Community Relations, Cornell Scott - Hill Health Center & CMWP Member

Athena Murphy

Owner, Lip Lock, LLC. & CMWP Member

Jacqùese C. Patterson

Clinician / Psychotherapist, Vision of Hope & CMWP Member

Scott Gombar

Owner, Nwaj Tech

Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board offers subject-matter expertise and strategic insight. Advisors support CMWP through specialized knowledge, industry perspective, and guidance that strengthens programs, partnerships, and community outcomes. Click their image to learn more about them.