Hailing from Chi-town Terrence and Brandon dove immediately into the DC night scene when meeting at Howard University. Brandon found a knack with throwing parties and actually went on to hire his now business partner, Terrence to help him out. When both were finished with school, Brandon worked in hospitality and Terrence was going door to door as point of sales salesman but the discomfort of code switching got to be too much. What started off as a curiosity in wine ultimately led to an intense focus on Terrence wanting to create his own premium wine brand. It was a no-brainer to bring his friend Brandon into his mix given his hospitality and operations background. The need to be 100% themselves and their love of liquor and spirits would set them on a path that many people who look like them don't always find.

Launched in 2020, Michael Lavelle Wines is a black-owned premium wine label (one of the few in this space). Today, the guys alongside their two other business partners, Aaron and Devin, are proud to own a brand fused with art, education, and most importantly, unmatched wine experiences.

Co-Founder of Claima and Former Nike Marketer, Bimma Williams interviews leading and emerging creatives and entrepreneurs of color about how they were able to build their own tables by turning their hobbies, side hustles, and ideas into thriving small businesses.

From these stories, listeners will learn how to claim their dream careers by stepping into the world of entrepreneurship. Featuring Melody Ehsani, Jeff Staple, James Whitner and more.

Follow Claima Stories and Bimma Williams on Instagram: @claimastories @bimmawilliams

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