WILLIAMSBURG — Ti’Juana and Lawrence Gholson were recognized this month by the U.S. Small Business Administration for one of the many businesses the couple runs to support the community in the Historic Triangle.
Nearly 100 people gathered in the Williamsburg Community Building Wednesday to witness and celebrate the Gholsons, whose organizations include TAG Consulting, the Inner Peace Coalition, The Maximized Life Coaching and Mentoring team and YOU Factor Coaching. They also run two co-working offices, The Maximum Building and Work Nimbly, as well as the Make ‘ur Merch boutique in York County, and have each published books drawn from their own experiences to help others.
“Which project are we here honoring them for?” state Sen. Monty Mason joked at the opening of his remarks. “There are so many!”
The Gholsons’ longest-running business, FamMat Services, was recognized as an SBA Legacy Business. The 68 businesses given this honor got their start with help from the SBA and are being recognized nationwide as part of the agency’s 70th anniversary celebrations, according to a news release.
FamMat Services helps people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities and mental health issues in the Hampton Roads area, providing resources and support to prevent or eliminate institutionalization.
“The strongest recognition for a small business is the impact it has on its community,” SBA Virginia District Director Carl Knoblock said. “Today, it is an honor to mark in observance of the SBA 70th anniversary to commemorate FamMat Services LLC for its commitment to the community and being a positive change agent.”
Ti’Juana also serves on the boards of Virginia Peninsula Community College and the Community Action Agency, and Lawrence serves on Williamsburg’s Truth and Racial Reconciliation Committee and is the president of the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP.
“It’s not just gathering people, but aligning teams, that is where the magic happens,” Lawrence said.
The couple credited a number of people during the 90-minute ceremony, which was attended by members of their family, their staff and people who assist with their Small Business Boot Camp and July’s Business Symposium and Gala, along with community members. The ceremony came during the last week of National Black Business Month.
The award, Ti’Juana said, “is not just for us. We serve our community — and that’s a big part of our life — but we have a strong foundation, a team, our friends behind us, our children, our direct care staff, our administrative staff.”
Towuanna Porter Brannon, president of Virginia Peninsula Community College, said of the Gholsons: “They are people who give themselves away, and mentor, coach and love people; they are examples of great humans and incredible businesspeople. If you are serious about transformational change, have coffee or lunch or dinner with one of the Gholsons.”
The SBA is dedicated to supporting the creation and growth of small businesses across the country. Since the start of 2021, more than 12.2 million people have applied to start a small business, according to the organization.
For more information on the SBA’s Legacy awards, visit sba.gov/article/2023/07/30/us-small-business-administration-marks-70th-anniversary. To learn more about FamMat Services, visit myfammat.com.
Natalie Miller Moore, circulatemore@gmail.com
This content was originally published here.
