Urban Business Profiles

Mike Ealy is not just a real estate magnate in his own right; he's a visionary who has transformed his passion for real estate into a multi-million-dollar portfolio. And he’s committed to helping others do so too. “I didn't come from a wealthy family, but wealthy families will come from me,” quips Ealy, president of Cincinnati-based Nassau Investments, a commercial real estate investment firm. “I'm the first one in my family to do this, so that’s why I’m so passionate about giving back and teaching,” says “It all starts with knowledge and believing in yourself. You. Can. Do. This!” From humble beginnings dreaming of a career in STEM to the helm of a thriving real estate empire, Ealy's journey is a remarkable one of inspiration and resilience. Born and raised in Cincinnati, his career trajectory took an unexpected turn during his time as a student at Tuskegee University, an historically Black university in Alabama. His love of math initially drew him to electrical engineering, but he read a book that lit a fire in him to give real estate a try. "I ended up being a real estate guy," says Ealy with a smile, reflecting on that pivotal shift that changed the course of his life." He first embarked on his real estate journey in his 20s with $3,000 he’d saved from working multiple jobs. He started small, acquiring his first property using creative financing strategies he’d picked up from reading more books on real estate investing and business. He eventually acquired multiple properties and enjoyed a validating season of financial rewards. However, he soon learned the hard way that he did not have the right foundation and structure and unexpectedly lost it all during the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy and when race riots erupted in Cincinnati. Defeated, Ealy initially wallowed in what he perceived as “the valley of failure,” but then he stepped out on faith, opting to change his perspective. “I cannot lie, at first I was feeling defeated, like a failure, like I let myself and my family down,” he remembers. “But then I brushed myself off and used my ‘get back up muscles’ and eased myself back into the game. It was an unfortunate experience, but it taught me some important life lessons that I needed to learn early on, about the power of perseverance and adaptability. For that, I am eternally grateful.” Ealy stayed the course and eventually bounced back, leveraging what became known as the “the Great Recession” as a stepping stone to rebuild his wealth while others were losing big. Today his real estate portfolio boasts more than 1,500 units and five hotels, valued at over $300 million. His latest venture, the Lion Capital Fund, he says, represents the culmination of his experience and vision. "The Lion Capital Fund is an opportunity to acquire real estate as a REIT, Real Estate Investment Trust, offering consistent returns to investors," he explains. More than just a fund, Ealy says the Lion Capital Fund aims to increase access to wealth-building opportunities. "We want to help people build wealth and be more in control of it," he says. The passive investment fund caters to a wide range of investors, providing access to cash-flowing properties such as apartments and hotels with limited risk. One of its key objectives is being nimble and able to identify and act on real estate market opportunities quickly. Most recently that has resulted in him launching a funding campaign to purchase a mix of hotels and apartment complexes via Vesterr, a platform touted as the nation’s first Black-owned and led crowdfunding platform for real estate investing. "There's never been a time like this in history," Ealy states, referring to the impending foreclosure wave predicted as interest rates remain high and commercial real estate investors begin offloading properties. "Now's the time to seize the opportunity to be a part of this, to get your financial piece of the pie." Ealy says Lion Capital Fund offers investors a chance to invest in existing, cash-flowing properties with limited risk. With properties already renovated and generating revenue, investors can expect steady returns and tax benefits. "We encourage people to get educated," stresses Ealy, highlighting that he believes real estate is a safer investment than the volatile stock market. “There’s just so much opportunity out there to build wealth with real estate,” he says. “Every investment comes with risk, but I want people to know that real estate investing is a vehicle and it’s accessible and very lucrative.” Beyond his business ventures, Ealy is committed to sharing his knowledge and experience in the real estate industry with others who want to learn. Through his website, www.bigdealmike.com, he offers courses, webinars and mentorship opportunities to aspiring investors. “My goal is to show people that they can impact the lives of their family and transform their financial status,” he asserts. Reflecting on his journey, Ealy says he uses what he refers to as “the hurdles of unbelief, fear and failure” that he’s faced throughout his own career as opportunities to grow. "People laughed at me, but that just made me stronger, more determined," he says. His message to aspiring investors: "There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to obtain wealth. You are always just one big deal away from financial success!

Dawn Patton, a proud resident of View Park in Los Angeles, is the visionary founder of Try MY T—a gourmet, fresh-brewed iced tea brand she established in her neighborhood. Patton's achievements are notable, and she speaks of them with well-deserved pride. "There are only a handful of African American women-owned iced tea beverage manufacturers in the U.S., and I happen to be one of them," Patton shared. When Try MY T first entered the retail scene, it was available in six Whole Foods Markets and a select number of Sprouts Farmers Markets. Today, Patton's iced tea can be found in 65 Whole Foods stores across Arizona, Hawaii, and Las Vegas, as well as in 93 Sprouts locations throughout Southern California. In fact, Try MY T has expanded into three revenue streams: warehouse clubs, retail, and foodservice. "Foodservice includes restaurants and corporations," Patton explained. "Then we have warehouse clubs like Costco. We're gearing up for roadshows because Costco invited us to showcase our products in five of their Southern California clubs."

Orlando-based seafood chain Red Lobster has announced the appointment of Damola Adamolekun as its new Chief Executive Officer. The 35-year-old Nigerian executive steps into the role during a critical time for the company, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May due to accumulating over $1 billion in debt. Adamolekun's leadership is expected to guide Red Lobster through this challenging restructuring process. According to TheWill News , Red Lobster, a household name for its cheddar bay biscuits and seafood offerings, operates more than 578 restaurants across 44 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. The chain's recent financial troubles led to its acquisition by RL Investor Holdings LLC, a new entity formed by the U.S. private equity firm Fortress Investment Group. Following court approval of the takeover, Fortress announced Adamolekun's appointment, signaling a fresh start for the iconic brand. Morgan McClure, Managing Director at Fortress, expressed confidence in Adamolekun's ability to steer Red Lobster towards a brighter future. "We’re thrilled to have Damola on board to drive our investment plan. His energy, leadership, and experience will be key to restoring Red Lobster’s status as an iconic American brand," McClure stated. Adamolekun echoed this optimism, emphasizing his commitment to revitalizing the brand and enhancing the employee and customer experience across North America. Before joining Red Lobster, Adamolekun was the CEO of P.F. Chang’s, a popular Asian restaurant chain. He made history as the first Black executive to lead P.F. Chang’s, where he also served as Chief Strategy Officer and was instrumental in managing several key investments. His extensive background in the restaurant industry and private equity has earned him recognition in various prestigious publications and leadership awards, solidifying his reputation as an innovative leader in the field. Adamolekun's impressive resume also includes experience at Goldman Sachs in their Investment Banking Division and as a Private Equity Associate at TPG Capital. He has served on the boards of several major organizations, including P.F. Chang’s and the National Restaurant Association. His academic credentials are equally notable, with a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University, where he was actively involved in investment and sports, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Founded by Bill Darden, Red Lobster was one of few racially integrated restaurants when it opened in 1968 in Lakeland, Florida.

Delphine Pruitt, PhD From a woman-owned construction company to a community-focused café, Delphine Pruitt is here to help Southern California businesses and communities flourish. With more than 25 years of financial industry experience and acumen Delphine Pruitt knows, and is known by, just about everyone serving Black-owned businesses in Southern California. But, more importantly, she is trusted and respected by them too. With a generous heart for helping others and an easy-going grace that helps her to move from community events to corporate boardroom without missing a beat, her efforts have garnered prominent recognition, including the recent honor of a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from the Biden administration. The recognition is bestowed upon individuals who exemplify unwavering integrity, outstanding accomplishments, and exceptional contributions to serving the public good. She also received an honorary doctorate degree from Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University for her outstanding commitment to humanitarian causes throughout her career. “The Lifetime Presidential Achievement Award is an incredible honor,” said Pruitt. “But what I know for sure is that being able to help small business owners achieve their dreams is the gift of a lifetime.” In 2023, Pruitt joined U.S. Bank Chief Diversity Officer Greg Cummingham to accept a recognition from the Greater Los Angeles African American Chambers of Commerce, which honored U.S. Bank as the Banking and Financial Corporation of the Year, a relationship that Pruitt helped to nurture and strengthen. “Delphine is helping people to pursue their dreams. She’s opened doors for U.S. Bank to provide support in our communities of color and has transformed the lives of countless individuals while propelling economic growth and amplifying voices in marginalized communities across the country,” said Cesar. This small business month, U.S. Bank is celebrating the entrepreneurs who power small businesses across the country, and Pruitt and her peers the Business Access Advisors serve as important ambassadors of U.S. Bank Access Commitment , the bank's long-term approach to help close the wealth gap for underserved communities, including communities of color, which launched in 2021 , and expanded to include bilingual Business Access Advisors in 2024 . A typical week in the life of Pruitt provides a glimpse of the depth of her connections with clients across the community. First, she headed to downtown Los Angeles to visit U.S. Bank client O2EPCM, Inc. dba O2 Engineering, Projects & Construction Management, an award-winning company founded in 2016 by Omoné O. Livingston. While already a U.S. Bank client, Livingston didn't actually meet Pruitt until years later at a community event and they immediately hit it off.