Osiris Jamaal Na’im Jackson is the owner and operator of Safe & Sound Stewards, LLC. This business has been operating since 2020 based in Camden, N.J. that provides accounting services, tax preparation and small business development services. We had a chance to sit down with him to ask about his experience with entrepreneurship and LAEDA's training program.

Camden, NJ- On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, LAEDA hosted the final class of its Entrepreneurship Development Training Program (EDTP) Session 96. The class brought together nine highly motivated and dedicated entrepreneurs, representing a vast variety of industries including food-service, janitorial & lawn care services, support coordination agency, perfumes & beauty services, haircare & skincare services, food retailer, Tax preparation & accounting services and children’s books. Over the course of the nine-week program, participants received 72 + hours of training from industry professionals as well as business planning education and business counseling. Ray Lamboy, LAEDA’s President and Chief Executive Officer concluded the session by bringing back the first day’s conversation and asking the class to reflect back on what they have learned. “So is it the light of opportunity or are you going to get run over?” Ray asked while displaying a picture of a tunnel with a light in the far distance. The class answered that it is the light of opportunity. In addition, Ray added to the discussion that it is vital to account for everything from A to Z when calculating one’s Cost of Goods Sold. We need to take the time to invest in ourselves and our business, doing continuous research, keep moving forward and keep on driving on our road to our business success. “You need more than knowledge, resources and information to be successful; you need to put it into work so do your push-ups and apply what you’ve learned, “Ray describes, “Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your business and your future.”

Camden, NJ - On Thursday, June 8, 2023, Fonda Wynn, owner of Wynn Development Consultants, presented to a group of LAEDA’s alumni at an online seminar hosted by the LAEDA Women’s Business Center team. The workshop provided entrepreneurs with an opportunity to network, ask and talk about leadership experiences and practices and learned about ways to improve leadership skills, moving beyond mistakes, and about personal growth and highlighting John C. Maxwell’s 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. Fonda Wynn has been working with LAEDA for over ten years now and we learn a lot from her valuable experience and knowledge. She is a consultant, trainer and coach-an independent consultant for twelve years and passionate about creating high performing people and teams. In addition, Fonda helps people love what they do every day. Personal growth is important in not just the business aspect, but also in our personal lives. It helps us to look inward at our own thoughts, reactions and much more. We can look at oneself in the present and how to reach our future potential. Fonda explained that one of the best ways we learn is when we share with each other the interactivity and the conversation is what helps people to learn and grow. In addition, Fonda also taught us that in leading a team: You can teach technical skills, but those soft skills really help build those strong teams and people should enjoy coming to work and working together.