Ep. 6 In a time when diversity programs are under fire and economic equity feels out of reach, Maurice Barrett is doing the work where it matters most — in housing policy and human resources.

Named the Top Diversity Officer in America (2025), Maurice is the Chief Diversity Officer at New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

In this episode, he shares how inclusive hiring practices, strategic HR systems, and equitable housing developments are powerful drivers of business growth across New York.

Whether you're a small business owner, MWBE, or veteran entrepreneur trying to get certified, win contracts, or build a team — this conversation offers real-world insight on how to move forward, even when the system feels stacked against you.

🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why DEI isn’t dead — it’s just evolving

How affordable housing is a foundation for entrepreneurship

What career mapping and the employee lifetime value scale can do for your retention strategy

How NYS HCR’s DECO division is helping MWBEs and SDVOBs get certified and secure contracts

🔔 Follow Elevating Enterprise podcast so you never miss an episode.

New episodes every other Thursday.

🏛️ Explore HCR Contracting & DECO Division
https://hcr.ny.gov/opportunity-deco

📑 Get Certified as a NYS MWBE (Empire State Development)
https://esd.ny.gov/

🎖️ Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) Program
https://ogs.ny.gov/veterans

💼 Connect with Maurice on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricekbarrett

00:00 – Topic Teaser

01:30 – Meet Maurice Barrett: Housing Leader, HR Veteran, Inclusion Expert

05:15 – What “Top Diversity Officer in America” Really Means in 2025

09:00 – Why DEI Work Was Diluted

13:10 – Affordable Housing as Economic Strategy for Entrepreneurs

16:00 – Programs & Pathways: MWBE & SDVOB Certification at HCR

20:00 – Maurice’s Journey: From Intern to Chief HR Officer Before Age 26

23:45 – Why Payroll and HR Are Not DIY Jobs for Small Business Owners

25:30 – Employee Lifetime Value Scale: Grow Your People, Grow Your Business

27:30 – No Ceilings Leadership: Managing With Equity and Intention

30:00 – The Coach’s Perspective: Building Grit, Agility, and Communication

33:30 – Final Advice for Entrepreneurs and Emerging Leaders

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Ep. 5 Fresh off the IBM Think 2025 Global Conference, RJ Williams sits down with Cody Henehan, CEO of ROC AI and Silveray.AI for a rapid-fire recap of the future of artificial intelligence.

🚀 Cody shares what it was like networking with the best minds in tech, learning about the next wave of AI innovation—from agentic AI and small language models to quantum computing and photonics. Discover how IBM and its global partners are prioritizing collaboration, not competition, to close the technology gap for small businesses.

💡 Learn how AI is already transforming industries like construction, healthcare, and manufacturing—and what your business can do today to stay ahead. Whether you’re ready to integrate AI or still figuring it out, this episode breaks down complex topics into real-world impact.

🔗 Plus, Cody reveals how ROC AI is leveling the playing field with free tools, enterprise discounts, and the world’s first AI-powered GPO.

👉 Tap in to hear:

The shift from generative to predictive and agentic AI

What “hybrid cloud” means for your data and budget

Why small language models are a game-changer for SMEs

How ROC AI is helping companies access affordable AI solutions

📲 Follow ROC AI on LinkedIn or explore AIGPO.com for free resources and savings.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: Cody Henehan returns from IBM Think 2025

01:07 - Highlights from IBM Think Conference

02:12 - New AI tools: Salesforce agents & efficiency savings

03:02 - Quantum computing and the future of AI

03:54 - AI in construction and procurement

04:19 - Untapped enterprise data and AI potential

05:45 - Predictive and agentic AI

06:15 - 3 major AI shifts: Productivity, Hybrid Cloud, Quantum

07:48 - Hybrid models and cost efficiency

09:03 - Small language models & edge computing

10:12 - Projected 1 billion AI apps by 2028

10:53 - Use case: AI automating Toyota’s assembly line

11:40 - AI partnerships: IBM, Meta, Salesforce, more

12:28 - The need for inclusive AI adoption

13:08 - Educating the public about AI developments

14:08 - ROC AI and Silver Ray AI platforms

14:44 - Introducing the world’s first AI GPO

15:19 - GPO offerings across industries

16:00 - Closing thoughts and what’s next

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Ep. 4 Are you unknowingly setting your business up for costly mistakes?
From missing tax deadlines to compliance failures, many small business owners don’t realize what they don’t know until it’s too late.

In this episode of Elevating Enterprise, Jazzy T + RJ WIlliams sit down with Albert Rivera, a seasoned Business Consultant at Paychex, to uncover how entrepreneurs can build a strong, compliant, and scalable foundation from day one. With over 15 years of experience in business consulting and small business lending, Albert shares actionable strategies to help you:

✅ Set up payroll and HR systems that grow with your business

🧾 Avoid penalties with proper quarterly tax filings

🤖 Use AI-powered tools to recruit smarter and onboard faster

📚 Tap into free resources like updated employee handbooks, training modules, and live webinars.

Resources:

Paychex: Paychex Business Soultions WebsitePaychex Recruiting Co-Pilot

Paychex Flex Overview English

Paychex Flex Overview Spanish

Albert Rivera Email: [email protected]

Small Business Development Center: SBDC Website

SCORE Greater Rochester: Score Website

Enterprise Center at Pathstone: Pathstone Website

Access $300k in Small Business Funding

Whether you're a solopreneur or scaling to a small team, this episode will help you protect your business and focus on what you do best — not paperwork.

📍 About the Guest:

Originally from New York City, and with professional experience driven by diverse cultural insights from having lived in Puerto Rico, Albert offers a formidable blend of professional acumen and personal commitment to aiding enterprises in their growth trajectories.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro + The Hidden Cost of DIY HR

01:38 – Albert Rivera: Business Startup Expert at Paychex.

03:15 – From New York to Puerto Rico: A Personal Business Journey

06:45 – Coming to Rochester & Making the Leap to Paychex

10:30 – The First Step for Every Startup: market research, business plan.

14:55 – Free Business Planning Resources in Rochester

16:40 – Paychex: More Than Just Payroll

19:22 – What Happens in a Business Consultation?

21:25 – Serving Spanish-Speaking Entrepreneurs

22:40 – Why businesses get fined — and how Paychex prevents it

26:15 – I-9 audits, employee handbooks, and OSHA safety manuals —

29:00 – Why outsourcing HR is a growth strategy, not an expense.

30:45 – Officer-Only Payroll for LLCs Filing as S-Corps

33:10 – HR Pro & Real-Time Handbook Updates

35:05 – AI Recruiting with Paychex Co-Pilot

36:37 – Key Takeaways with Jazzy T

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In this episode of Elevating Enterprise Jazzy T + RJ catch up with Yahaira Zapata, Deputy Director of Economic Development at the Enterprise Center at Pathstone in Rochester, NY, who shares insider tips every MWBE and small business owner should know before signing on the dotted line. From accessing your share of $300,000 in new SBA funding, to rebuilding your credit after the pandemic, Yahaira drops gems on how to fund smart, avoid predatory pitfalls, and grow with strategy.

💸 From micro-loans to pitch competitions, and credit rebuilding to relationship-building—this episode will show you how access + education = elevation.

✅ Why “how much can I get?” is the wrong question to ask

✅ How to make your business funding-ready—even with shaky credit

✅ Free technical assistance and training programs that give you a competitive edge

✅ What lenders actually want to see in your projections and business plan

Chapters:

0:00 – Fueling Dreams: How Microloans + Education Empower Entrepreneurs

2:51 – Funding Our Future: Resources for Diverse & Underserved Founders

6:02 – Facing Credit Hurdles? Here's Why You're Not Alone

7:59 – Bounce Back Better: Rebuilding Business Credit After the Pandemic

9:50 – From Confused to Confident: Free Business Education That Works

16:03 – Why Smart Entrepreneurs Show Up for Free Programs

19:45 – Money on Your Terms: How Flexible Loans Can Help You Grow

22:22 – Fund Smart, Not Fast: Strategies to Secure the Right Support

26:35 – Relationships Over Rejections: How to Stay Top of Mind and Get Funded

30:15 – Your Playbook: 3 Must-Do Moves to Get Funding-Ready

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Ep. 2 🍕Create A Pizza is the last fast-casual pizza shop still standing in Rochester.

So what did they do right that others didn’t—and how can you follow their lead?

This episode of Elevating Enterprise is your behind-the-counter blueprint for navigating the real world of food service entrepreneurship. We sat down on location with owners Katelyn and John to unpack how they launched their pizza shop without startup capital, survived a pandemic, and built loyal customer trust while others shut their doors.

🎯 You’ll learn:

🔹 Why sweat equity can open more doors than startup capital

🔹 The hidden cost of delivery apps like Grubhub

🔹 How zoning laws can make or break your restaurant dreams

🔹 How consistency and an owner-operator model can outlast competition

🔹 What most first-time business owners wish they knew about leases and location

Whether you're still tossing dough in the back or sketching out your dream restaurant, this episode gives you the real talk and proven strategies to help you build smarter—and stay in business.

Chapters:

0:00 Starting and Sustaining a Successful Pizza Business

7:21 Resilience and Networking in Building a Business

12:19 Negotiating Commercial Leases and Location Importance

16:00 Consistency and Local Sourcing Define Create a Pizza's Success

21:26 Adapting a Pizza Business During Covid Challenges

26:12 Building Community Connections Through Pizza and Business Innovation

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Ep. 1 What if Rochester is on the brink of another tech revolution—and your business could be part of it? In this premiere episode of Elevating Enterprise, hosts Jazzy T and RJ Williams sit down with ROC AI co-founders Cody Henehan and Brendon Frazer, two Rochester natives building powerful AI solutions for businesses like yours.

With support from Microsoft and a mission rooted in community and innovation, ROC AI is helping businesses integrate Artificial Intelligence to streamline operations, secure bigger contracts, and grow with confidence.

From working with local governments to partnering with global giants, this conversation proves that the next wave of tech leadership is happening right here in Western New York.

"2025 is the Year of the AI Agent" and with partners like ROC AI your SME can be ahead of the curve of the business tech revolution.

🎯 Action Steps from This Episode:

💡 AI solutions like Microsoft Copilot can streamline your business operations—start small but think big.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to scale with intention—because success isn’t overnight, it’s strategic.

AI, enterprise, innovation, automation, networking, AI conference, enterprise growth, local innovation, strategic investments, AI models, how to reduce AI bias, importance of networking in business, building AI solutions in Rochester, strategies for enterprise success, 2025 AI agent trends

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Are you a Small to Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) ready to level up? Elevating Enterprise is here to equip you with the strategies you need to stay ahead in today’s rapidly changing tech and policy landscape.

In our trailer, we’re giving you a sneak peek of what’s to come—including actionable insights from the founders of ROC AI on navigating these shifts.

This podcast is your go-to resource for growth, with real advice on leveraging your M/WBE status, securing bigger contracts, and scaling up smarter and faster.

🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and get ready to scale!

#ElevatingEnterprise #WBE #ScaleSmarter #TechSavvy #PolicyReady #AI #DEI #SME #MWBE

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