Despite systemic barriers in place for marginalized communities, there are countless thriving Black-owned businesses in CapNY. Many use their resources to pay it forward, bettering the communities around them.
Leaving a Legacy
Whether it’s by combating poverty through transportation, supporting new business owners from marginalized groups, or creating a gym that welcomes those often left out of the fitness world, these three Black entrepreneurs have made an impact in CapNY.
Trent Griffin-Braaf, Tech Valley Hospitality Shuttle & GB Logistics
Trent Griffin-Braaf is the founder and CEO of transportation companies Tech Valley Hospitality Shuttle and GB Logistics. In 2021, the 37-year-old was named one of Forbes’ Next 1,000 Entrepreneurs. GB Logistics is currently partnered with Amazon, making deliveries out of the tech giant’s Colonie base. Tech Valley Shuttle offers a variety of modes of transportation, with a special focus on the community. Their main mission is to combat poverty through transportation. According to Griffin-Braaf, “Transportation and poverty go hand in hand, and we’re trying to change that, to flip the switch.” Tech Valley Shuttle offers shuttles to aid those living in local food deserts, commuter rides to work, as well as transportation to the New York State’s correctional facilities, allowing people in the community to visit loved ones, which is found to lower recidivism rates.
We asked, why are you passionate about what you do?
“Two things. I think the biggest thing is that I’ve had times in my life when I wasn’t able to drive, so I understand the barriers. And then I was someone who was previously incarcerated in my youth. So I lived all of these things, from not being able to get a job, to having to utilize public transportation, which minimized my work opportunities, to being in prison. I lived in food insecure areas, I grew up on Hamilton Hill, in Schenectady, and the Heights in Troy, where there are no grocery stores nearby. So, I’ve actually had to deal with these same issues. And now being able to help others in the Capital Region get past those barriers, I feel good. I feel like I have a mission every day. I know my purpose. I know I’m helping change lives, and that allows me to keep going.”
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
“The best advice that I would give to anybody who wants to be an entrepreneur is one, to believe in yourself. I believe that so many times people don’t have the true belief in themselves that they can accomplish what it is they set out to do, or that they can make the kind of money they say they want to make. I say belief starts with belief, and knowing that you really can accomplish anything. We all have greatness within us. It’s just identifying that greatness, and pulling it out and working on it. You have to make the time to work on yourself. No one can be successful without being the best version of themselves. And if they do, it’s just luck and then that would be squandered. But for anything that’s sustainable, and for the long term, it takes education and in the know how. Take courses, or if you’re not the best in school, utilize YouTube and read books. Take advantage of networks that help small businesses entrepreneurs.”
Cori Rodriguez, Cussin’s Nails
Cori Rodriguez is the owner of Cussin’s Nails in Downtown Schenectady. The 34-year-old moved to the Capital Region in 1997, and has lived in the hamlet of Delmar ever since. Cussin’s Nails focuses on keeping nails healthy, and clients safe, as well as being an inclusive space where all feel welcome. Rodriguez opened the nail salon in 2018, and now hosts the space “for six micro-businesses,” as Rodriguez likes to call it, that operate independently inside of her salon. The six micro-businesses currently working out of her salon are all women-owned, and include minority and disabled owners as well. The salon has a popular following on social media, and Rodriguez herself has a waiting list for future clients.
Why are you passionate about what you do?
“I like that I have the freedom to make my business the space that I want it to be. I’m also able to help my renters out, by mentoring them as they create their businesses, get their licensing and insurance, just overall mentorship. Being nail technicians, most of my renters came to me straight from school, so they’re starting from scratch, with no clientele, and that can be very jarring and alarming. You kind of just jump in, and hope that you can swim. I create a lifeboat, where any question they have, I can hopefully provide an answer. What is also really important to me, is that a lot of Black women spend money on beauty services, and while the hair industry and waxing industry are very diverse, the nail industry is a bit less so. While there are nail salons that are owned by other marginalized community members, many are not Black-owned, so Black women can often find themselves being mistreated in another environment. So I wanted to make a space that’s safe for everybody.”
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
“The best advice that I could give, and what I give my new renters as they’re coming in, is that we are capable. We are programmed to think that there is one way to do everything, and one way to live. You go to high school, you get your diploma, you go to college, you get your diploma, you get the job, and you work, and then you retire. But that doesn’t work for a lot of people. Instead of struggling for years to live happy later, what can I do now? Realize that you do have the potential, and the resources available, where anybody has the ability to start something new today.”
Trinel Mcdermott, Synergy Albany
Trinel Mcdermott is the owner of Synergy Albany, located on Everett Road. The 29-year-old Long Island-native opened Synergy Albany in 2018. Mcdermott says he chose Albany as Synergy’s location because of its diverse demographic, and affordability compared to the pricier Long Island, allowing him to start his business with less initial overhead. Whereas many gyms operate as a one-size-fits-all model, Synergy provides a personalized fitness experience at a group value. Mcdermott’s approach allows patrons to “get that community feel, but also get a personalized experience that caters to [them], and whatever [their] goals are.”
Why are you passionate about what you do?
“I’m passionate about what I do because I get to help people on a consistent basis. I think oftentimes, a lot of people get caught up or consumed with the everyday hustle and bustle, and you get pulled into just making money and just surviving for the most part. For me to be able to do what I love in terms of helping people, and help someone who may be struggling with hypertension, or struggling with fibromyalgia, is super fulfilling. When someone is struggling with their weight loss journey, and they’ve tried everything, it’s fulfilling to see them get from point A to point B, when things finally click. The feeling you get, knowing that you’ve helped someone, and it doesn’t have to be a ton of people, it always starts small, but before you know it, the compounding effect of just helping people and being able to bring a smile every day keeps me passionate about what I do.”
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
“Make sure you have a plan of action, and you execute that plan. A lot of times, we will create a plan, but we won’t execute it for a lot of different reasons. And we’ll always tell ourselves, “Well, I need to do this before I can do that.” Sometimes it’s just about finding a way to execute your dream, knowing it’s okay to fail. And if you fail, fail fast and move on fast. If you’re passionate and genuine about what you do, in the long run, it will always pay off, because it’s more so about relationships. And from those relationships, you can cultivate better success. When I was starting Synergy, I was knocking on doors, and saying, “My name is Trinel, and I’m opening up a gym not too far from here. I’d love for you to come down and check it out.” Just creating some sort of rapport, so that I’m able to know them on a first name basis, and create some type of relationship. It doesn’t always work, of course, but if you do that consistently, you’ll get maybe five people that will come down and check out your business or give you a call back. And before you know it, they have a friend and you can start to create a community just simply off of one or two meaningful connections.”
Written by: Victoria Diana
Victoria Diana is a writer, director, and stand-up comedian born and based in Schenectady, NY.