In an effort to ensure success in the management and operation of the business, we have selected key individuals as a part of our advisory board. Their expertise range from fundraising & strategic development tolegal and financial advisory.
Owner of Firehouse Spice Co which manufactures seasonings, sauces and condiments from locally sourced produce. Regina’s experience and skill set lies in project management, research and development. She is passionate about sustainable and environmental practices, especially in a local application to help the Bahamian economy and its people. Firehouse Spices has been operating for 6 years as a wholesaler and a retailer. Distributing locally to restaurants and stores, as of recently obtaining placement in the U.S. distribution market, with products being sold in New York and featured on the U.S. Embassy, Washington D.C .portal representing The Bahamas. Regina is also a facilitator of the AWE program hosted by the US Embassy & SBDC, giving her the tools to achieve company goals. Her network with the University of Virginia and Cornell University provides direct contact with their food science departments and innovation centers.
Owner of Pop Stop and FAO National Lead Consultant. Kentisha’s expertise ranges in operations management, marketing & branding, R&D, start-ups and agriculture. She is passionate about Entrepreneurship and Education. Pop Stop Gourmet Popsicles has been in operation since October 2015, sourcing local fruits and vegetables to process into final products. Starting with just $10 her company is now wholesaling and retailing to local markets. Pop Stop has expanded to restaurants , resorts and local food store chains, creating valuable distribution networks. Kentisha has also taught entrepreneurship at BTVI & Queen’s College CFE for 5 years consecutively assisting many local start up entrepreneurs.
Janet Johnson is a Tourism veteran with 40+ years in Tourism marketing under her belt. Her career has afforded the privilege of foreign postings in the UK and the US representing the Ministry of Tourism, she has held various leadership positions here at home and now serves as the CEO/Executive Director for the Tourism Development Corporation.
Janet’s work which essentially links the domestic economy with the tourism industry, involves creating awareness of investment initiatives within the tourism business thereby expanding opportunities for Bahamians; she helps to build capacity by encouraging Bahamians to aspire to ownership and entrepreneurship within the industry as well as raising the standards and introducing best practices.
Janet is very active in the community and is a past-president of the Bahamas National Trust and the Zonta Club of Nassau. She is Chairman of the International Culture Wine & Food Festival and is an inactive Rotarian who supports the work of the clubs and volunteers whenever she can. Janet loves the outdoors and as the agency responsible for the Agritourism niche market, she walks the talk and has recently taken up backyard farming. Other pastimes include boating, cycling and reading.
With over 20 years of experience in conservation and nonprofit executive leadership, Mrs. Vanessa Haley-Benjamin once served as the Chief Scientist of the Baha Mar resort, CEO of Save The Bays, the Director of Science and Policy at The Bahamas National Trust and is currently the Executive Director and Chief Scientist at Bahamas Sportfishing Conservation Association. She served on the board of the Baha Mar Resort Foundation and currently sits on the Scientific Seafood Advisory Board for Good Food Institute.
Having raised over $3 million to support local conservation efforts, Mrs. Haley-Benjamin possesses skills in nonprofit management for the 21st century with specific experience and training in strategic planning, fundraising, financial analysis, and program evaluation for nonprofits.
After serving 25 years as a Banker at Barclays Bank Intl, Jannet Bullard was called to The Bar of England & Wales July 25th, 2002. Prior to joining the Supreme Court Rt. Magistrate Bullard articled with Davis & Co. In September 2007 she was enrolled as an attorney to the Supreme Court of The Bahamas and became the first resident stipendiary and circuit magistrate in George Town Exuma, where she held that position for five (5) years. Her expertise ranges from banking to all legal matters including contracts, disputes and litigation. She is currently an attorney at law but has decided to take a short sabbatical.
Sumayyah Cargill is a Canadian educated industrial engineer who is focused on systemic improvement and change management in the business environment. Following employment abroad as an analyst and technical writer she returned to the Bahamas and worked as The Communications Specialist for the Public Financial Management and Performance Monitoring Reform Project under The Ministry of Finance. She is currently the Unit Head of Strategic Development and Initiatives at the Bahamas Development Bank where she is focused on integrating Sustainable Development Frameworks into daily operations for the Bank and generating projects that combine creative financing, technical assistance and policy advocacy for innovation in the colored economies.
Mrs. Zeleka Knowles: Mrs. Knowles is an international civil servant with nearly fifteen years of experience in the non profit sector working in Africa, Europe, Asia and most recently the Caribbean. As the Program Associate with Templeton World Charity Foundation, she supports the Global Innovations for Character Development and Big Questions in Classrooms initiatives. Additionally, she contributes to the Foundation’s communications and storytelling, particularly through social media.
Prior to joining the Templeton World Charity Foundation, she served as the Executive Director of Hands For Hunger, an organization dedicated to the elimination of unnecessary hunger and food waste in The Bahamas.She has also worked with The Bahamas Ministry of Health and The United Nations – World Health Organization. Zeleka has a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Tufts University.
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