39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 201, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 201, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Date: September 24, 2025
On September 24th, the Montgomery Small Business One Stop Shop (SBOSS) hosted the Education Business Mixer, a powerful evening focused on the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and community impact. More than 70 educators, entrepreneurs, and local leaders gathered at the Dream Makers Studio for an engaging conversation on transforming skills and passions into sustainable business ventures.
Moderated by Terrance Baldwin, the panel featured LJ Walker, founder of Better Than Average Tutoring; Anisha Officer, founder of Edify Consulting; and Chris Culver of Valiant Cross Academy. Each shared their journey of building enterprises rooted in education—whether scaling a tutoring program into a citywide resource, helping leaders grow through consulting, or creating a nationally recognized academy for young men.
Their stories highlighted resilience, innovation, and the importance of collaboration, leaving attendees inspired and equipped with strategies to turn educational expertise into entrepreneurial success.
Discussed the entrepreneurial side of building a school from scratch and sustaining it through faith, resilience, and community support. Culver detailed the early challenges of starting Valiant Cross Academy with just 30 students and how, a decade later, it now serves more than 300 young men. He emphasized the mindset required for success—what he called having “a dog in you”—a willingness to do whatever it takes, from sweeping floors to leading instruction, to make the vision work. Collaboration was a major theme, as Culver highlighted how partnerships with artists, universities, and local organizations enriched Valiant Cross programs without overextending resources. He closed by encouraging entrepreneurs to let their results speak for themselves, stressing that excellence and consistency ultimately attract funding, partnerships, and trust.
Key topics included the transition from a 27-year career in K–12 leadership into consulting and professional development. Officer underscored how leadership and coaching are at the heart of sustainable educational enterprises, pointing out that principals, administrators, and even business leaders benefit from strong mentorship. She highlighted the need for continuous professional growth, reminding attendees that “a coach is always coached,” and encouraged entrepreneurs not to fear shifting their business model based on community needs. Officer also spoke to the power of authentic networking and relationship-building, stressing that impact and opportunity often flow from the circles we already belong to but haven’t fully tapped.
Key topics included the importance of starting small and letting passion guide growth. Walker shared how he began tutoring as a high schooler, transforming a side project into Montgomery’s top-rated tutoring center. He highlighted the role of word-of-mouth referrals and consistent results in building trust with parents and schools, noting that delivering measurable student progress is the strongest marketing tool. Walker also emphasized humility and adaptability, stressing the value of collaboration and feedback from both staff and community partners as essential to long-term growth.
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