Director of Entrepreneurship

Cynthia Terry

Cynthia Terry, Director of Entrepreneurship, has been managing Tennessee entrepreneurship programs for Communities Unlimited since June 2004.

Her work includes management consulting with business clients and managing the entrepreneurship team. Together, they serve small business owners onsite and virtually in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.

She also leads the development of new partner relationships, programs responsive to entrepreneur and local community needs (e.g. MEMShops) and funding development. Cynthia is an entrepreneur herself, having started her own successful business.

She has a master’s in business administration and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis in Tennessee.

Senior Management Consultant

Brian Wells

Brian Wells, Senior Management Consultant, works with rural communities, small businesses and entrepreneurs to solve problems and grow their business with in-depth consulting and innovative lending programs.

He started his career as a command pilot in the United States Air Force. He then transitioned to being the Chief Financial Officer of a small firm with multiple business lines. Brian’s years of experience in different fields make him especially adept at finding solutions that fit his client’s needs.

He has earned a bachelor of arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, a bachelor of business administration degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Indiana University Bloomington.  

Senior Management Consultant

Dale Rutherford

Dale Rutherford, Senior Management Consultant, based in Little Rock, Arkansas, started his Communities Unlimited position in March 2021.

Dale works with clients to develop financial models and budgets for their existing or conceptual business ideas. Dale conducts assessments with clients to scope the type of their needs and helps them identify problems and develop plans to achieve their goals and objectives.

Aside from being a published author, Dale also holds several certifications including Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Dale also has an MBA and a BS in Management from Henderson State University. 

Senior Management Consultant

Marnell Love

Marnell Love, Senior Management Consultant in Memphis, Tennessee, began working with Communities Unlimited in 2020.

He works daily to provide one-on-one assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs to guide them in building, growing and sustaining their businesses. In addition to assisting small business owners and entrepreneurs,

Marnell serves as a chaplain for the Sardis Fire Department in Sardis, Mississippi, providing care and counseling to firefighters, their families and victims of fires or accidents. He is a member of The Federation of Fire Chaplains. He also serves as a chaplain for hospital patients and those in palliative care.

His education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Management, a Master of Business Administration in Finance, a Master of Science in Industrial Management and a Doctor of Education in Management and Employee Training Practices internationally.

Senior Management Consultant

Rhett Douglas

Rhett Douglas, Senior Management Consultant located in Memphis, Tennessee, joined Communities Unlimited in October 2020. 

He works with small businesses and entrepreneurs to prepare financial and operational plans for clients, conduct webinars on digital marketing and corporate structure and assess small businesses for loan readiness. He comes from a business background, having successfully launched and promoted two new franchise concepts in Collierville, Tennessee.

He has a bachelor of arts degree in Theatre Concentration with a minor in Business from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He has a master of business administration in Sales-Marketing from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Management Consultant

Tracy Cook

Management Consultant

Trent Thomason

Trent Thomason, MBA, joined the CU team in January 2023 as a Management Consultant. He has more than a decade of experience as an entrepreneur, successfully launching Fit Camp Austin and the Enlightened Eating seminars, featured on NBC, Mind Body Green, and UT television. Trent is well traveled, versed in Mandarin, and able provide clients of all backgrounds with robust, transformational consulting services, trainings, and technical assistance.

Before starting CU, Trent worked as an Event Logistics and Tour Manager for Aardvark Mobile Tours, Lime Media.

Trent has a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas. 

Management Consultant

Teresa Coleman

Teresa Coleman started CU in November 2022 as a Business Consultant. She assists existing and aspiring business owners in starting their small business. She helps them develop financial forecasts and come up with a business plans to fit their needs. Before coming to CU, Teresa worked as an Employment Coordinator for A-Team Solutions (Army National Guard).

Teresa has a Master in Business Administration and a Master in Public Administration from Strayer University. Teresa lives in Oxford Mississippi. 

Management Consultant

Sergio Salazar

Sergio Salazar, Management Consultant, joined Communities Unlimited in 2015 in Raymondville, Texas.

He has worked with environmental management systems for more than six years. He currently assists three community water and wastewater systems in Texas and has leveraged more than $14 million in community infrastructure financing last year. He also assists aspiring and existing business owners in starting and growing their small businesses by conducting initial assessments with clients to determine their needs, identifying any problems and assessing the best course of action to address those issues.

He received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Texas at Brownsville.

Training Coordinator

Latoyia Morgan

Latoyia Morgan Training Coordinator joined Communities Unlimited in September of 2021.

Latoyia works alongside business management consultants to develop course content. She also coordinates and facilitates training and other events and assists in providing advice and services to business clients. Latoyia has a previous background in training. Latoyia received her MBA in Human Resources from the University of Phoenix-online.

Before coming to CU, she served as a Training Coordinator for Agape Child and Family Services in Memphis.

Management Consultant

LaKetter Cannon

LaKetter Cannon started CU as a Management Consultant in November of 2022. She assists aspiring and existing business owners in starting and growing their business. LaKetter helps them with business plans and financial forecasts. Before starting at CU, LaKetter worked as a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist for the United States Army Joint Forces Headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi.

LaKetter has been a Program Manager for the 412th Theater Engineer Command, Equal Opportunity, since 2021. She has a MBA from the William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 

Project Coordinator/Management Consultant

Katy Parrish

Katy Parrish, Project Coordinator for Entrepreneurship, located in Amarillo, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in August 2020.

She comes from a background of marketing, management and community outreach. At Communities Unlimited, she provides technical assistance in the areas of business financials, bookkeeping, strategic management, growth management, turnaround and digital marketing.

She received a bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Tech University and a master of Business Administration concentrating in International Business from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. 

Management Consultant

Baretta Robinson

Barretta Robinson started CU in November 2022. She works as a Management Consultant, serving aspiring and existing business owners in starting and growing their business. She assists them with financial forecasts and business plans. Before coming to CU, Barretta worked as a Purchasing Specialist for the University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville, Arkansas.

Barretta holds a Master of Science for Organizational Leadership from John Brown University in Siloam Springs. 

Management Consultant

Sierra Polk

Sierra Polk joined CU in May 2023. She is a Management Consultant for the Entrepreneurship Team.

Sierra works with business owners to develop relationships and work with them in areas where they need extra assistance. She helps with HR, finance, outreach, and training, etc. Before coming to CU, Sierra was the Chief of Events, Engagement & Programs for Precipice IP, PLLC Technology Law Firm. Sierra has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Sierra lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, and will work in the NWA area. 

Management Consultant

Pamela Reed