LaMont Melson, head chef and owner of Unks Private Chef & Catering, has been cooking professionally since the age of 18, picking up diverse knowledge and culinary skills from local restaurants and kitchens — including a Greek fine dining restaurant and Hyatt hotel kitchens.
As a private chef, Melson caters for a variety of private parties and events, fine dining experiences, BBQ and chef’s table dining. His menus include a wide selection ofbreakfast, lunch and dinner options that feature country biscuit sandwiches, potato hash, soups, salads, land and sea, lobster mac and desserts.
Additionally, Unks Private Chef and Catering offers a reception tastings menu with bruschetta, mushroom caps, veggie sliders, carving station, pasta station, charcuterie boards and an extensive grill and BBQ menu with sides and nonalcoholic drinks.
Unks Private Chef & Catering is based out of Indianapolis. For more information or to book Chef LaMont, visitunksprivatechefandcatering.com. To get in contact, call 502-417-7429 or email unkskybbq382@gmail.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, a brand that’s taken the spirits industry by storm, is more than just a whiskey producer. It’s a Black-owned business with a remarkable history that intertwines the legacy of African American distilling expertise and entrepreneurship.
Launched in 2017 by CEO Fawn Weaver, Uncle Nearest is dedicated to honoring Nathan “Nearest” Green, the formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel the art of whiskey distillation. This brand not only celebrates Green’s contributions to American whiskey-making but has also become one of the fastest-growing independent spirit brands in U.S. history.
Nathan “Nearest” Green was a master distiller who perfected the Lincoln County Process — filtering whiskey through charcoal before aging it, which distinguishes Tennessee whiskey from other types of bourbon. Green’s knowledge and craftsmanship played a pivotal role in the development of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, but his legacy was overlooked for over a century. Fawn Weaver’s commitment to restoring Green’s rightful place in history drove her to found Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, a brand that proudly carries forward Green’s tradition of excellence.
Uncle Nearest offers a range of premium whiskeys, including its 1884 Small Batch, 1856 Premium Aged, and the Master Blend Edition. These award-winning spirits are made using the same meticulous process Green used, and the brand is celebrated not just for its taste but also for its quality. The company has won numerous awards, including the title of “World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey,” and it has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing whiskey brands worldwide.
Under Weaver’s leadership, Uncle Nearest has made significant strides in empowering minority communities. In addition to restoring Green’s historical legacy, the brand is heavily involved in social impact initiatives. The Nearest Green Foundation, established by the company, provides scholarships for Green’s descendants and other initiatives to help African Americans gain leadership roles within the whiskey industry. These efforts underscore the brand’s commitment to economic empowerment and the advancement of Black entrepreneurs.
Uncle Nearest’s success has been extraordinary, reaching over $100 million in sales by 2023 and expanding to global markets. Despite its rapid growth, the company remains committed to maintaining the quality and craftsmanship that define its products. Weaver’s vision has turned Uncle Nearest into a symbol of excellence, resilience and a celebration of overlooked contributions to American whiskey-making.
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey can be found at multiple retailers across the globe, including right here in the Circle City.
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. If you would like your business highlighted, click here.
Indianapolis business owner LaMar Holliday, CEO of the Holliday Collaborative Agency, received the Rising Star award from the National Small Business Association (NSBA). The award recognizes “individuals relatively new to advocacy who are making an impressive impact” according to the NSBA’s official website.
Holliday sat down with the Indianapolis Recorder’s Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones to talk small business advocacy and what this award means to him.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Camike Jones: Can you talk about how you began your involvement with the NSBA and what was your motivation to get involved?
LaMar Holliday: Their mission of advocating for small businesses is the reason why I wanted to be a part of it. It really shed light on advocacy and ensuring that small businesses have the support that they need to kind of navigate laws and ordinances and regulation.
As a small business owner, you’re doing everything. Not only are you providing the services of your industry, but you’re also the marketing director and the chief financial officer. So, wherever we can get support, we take that. It’s an honor that I am able to use my expertise to help those small businesses in that endeavor.
LaMar Holliday stands outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Photo/The Holliday Collaborative)
Jones: What are some of the unique challenges that small businesses face?
Holliday: Most times small businesses are not up to date on what’s happening either at the local, state or federal level that impacts them. When we find out things that impact our day-to-day operations, now we have an added layer of duties and tasks to advocate for ourselves and unfortunately, we don’t have the staff or the capacity to advocate for ourselves. That’s why organizations like the NSBA are so crucial.
Across Indiana and other states, over 90% of businesses are small businesses. When people say that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. That is the absolute truth. We are the backbone of every economy – local, state and federal.
“We are the backbone of every economy — local, state and federal.”
Holliday Collaborative CEO LaMar Holliday and Public Relations Strategist Konah Williams visit the office of U.S. Representative. (Photo/The Holliday Collaborative)
Jones: How does the NSBA assist small businesses with growing and building partnerships to expand their capacity?
Holliday: When I was out in Washington, D.C. we were able to network with other businesses that are part of NSBA. Knowing that we can support one another with different opportunities is one way that small businesses can help sustain themselves.
Another way that NSBA has been really helping small businesses is helping them navigate the federal contracting process. It is not easy to navigate those spaces, and sometimes we’re talking about millions and millions of dollars in contracts that could be monumental for small businesses.
One of the things that NSBA has been advocating for is a better or streamlined process for small businesses to participate in that contracting process. These are opportunities that we’re always looking for to help scale and sustain.
That’s where the NSBA comes together as well as other small businesses come together and we go to Capitol Hill like we did and we advocate (with) our lawmakers to say ‘There’s got to be an easier process for us.’ We lobby for that. We advocate for that and it’s a beautiful thing to see.
Jones: What has been one of the highlights for you as far as helping other small business owners share the professional services they offer?
Holliday: When we talk about the local and state level, every minority business is encouraged to get certified, whether that’s through the city or through the state. Once we go through that process, the local and state agencies send out opportunities.
Unfortunately, many of those opportunities are centered around construction. What happens is that a lot of the professional services are left out of potential opportunities. We’re always being encouraged to partner with a main contractor who then sub-contracts out work.
But sometimes the small businesses want to be the main contractor. If the XBE is in public relations or in accounting, there are really no opportunities when a lot of the opportunities that are being sent to us are construction-based.
I reached out to the Office of Minority and Women Business Development and had a conversation with Director David Fredericks to say I would love to sponsor a professional services workshop where we bring in city agencies and state agencies that have professional services opportunities and share those opportunities with small businesses in that sector. We held that event back in February at Martin University.
We had city agencies and state agencies who were very intentional about professional service opportunities and how to network with those agencies. It was a networking event, so it opened doors to those professional services to give us the hope that there are opportunities out here for us.
As small business owners we need to be a little bit more intentional about building those relationships with the city and state officials to let them know that ‘we’re here and we’re ready to work.’
Konah Williams and the LaMar Holliday at the U.S. Capitol. (Photo/The Holliday Collaborative)
Jones: Do you have any tips on how to start building those professional relationships? How can small business owners get started?
Holliday: There are always networking opportunities across the city. The Office of Minority Women Business Development has an email list that you can join. They’re always sending out networking events throughout the year with the state through the Indiana Department of Administration.
Jones: How did it feel to be recognized on a national level for your advocacy work?
Holliday: It was an honor. It was a blessing. But, and I know this may sound cliche, I don’t do it for the awards. It is nice to be recognized and be honored in that way. I can’t tell you how excited I get when I work with small businesses, and we as an agency can make those connections that eventually make an impact in our community. That to me is the award.
But I am so appreciative to the National Small Business Association for the recognition and that they see what we do here at the Holliday Collaborative Agency to really help advocate for small businesses whether at the local, state or on a federal level. We’re doing our part to ensure that small businesses amplify their mission and their message.
For more information on the National Small Business Association, visit nsbaadvocate.org. To learn more about the Holliday Collaborative Agency, visit hollidaycollab.com.
Indianapolis food lovers are in for a treat as His Place Eatery, known for its soul food classics, opens its second location in the city. With a growing reputation for serving up comforting favorites, the new spot offers another opportunity for locals to indulge in the homestyle flavors they’ve come to love.
The original location at 6916 E 30th Street opened in March of 2009 to elevate the world of soul food in the Indy restaurant scene.
“The inspiration was mainly to take soul food and make it chef-inspired soul food,” said James Jones, chef and owner. “People have this image of soul food restaurants being one person in the kitchen laboring over all these different dishes…and I wanted to take that image and let people know that you can have consistency with soul food.”
The second location, 1411 W 86th Street, opened its doors in July and is intended to be a copy of the first His Place Eatery.
“The goal of the second location was to basically keep the His Place eatery experience and keep the food the same but build a facility that was very welcoming and very efficient,” Jones said.
The must have item for visitors, according to Jones, is the chicken and waffles. With options like the churro chicken and waffle, a deep-fried waffle drizzled in cinnamon sugar, caramel drizzle and whipped topping and the peach cobbler chicken and waffle, a waffle with a slice of peach cobbler and ice cream, the dish has many varieties for even the pickiest of eaters.
The menu at His Place Eatery is centered around elevated soul food. (Photo via/His Place Eatery website)
“We’re known for taking soul food and putting our own spin on some of the dishes, so we have things like the fried chicken po’ boy and a fried chicken pot pie,” Jones said.
The expansion will continue in the future, Jones said. Their goal has always been to have multiple locations, it just boils down to making sure the fit is right.
“One of the challenges (in expanding) is to make sure that things are still delivered and taken care of at the other locations that you have and making sure that the customer experience doesn’t alter because we’re growing,” Jones said.
While the location offers Jones and his team a new space, they offer the same excellent service and soul food twists.
“I think both locations are unique to themselves while providing the signature His Place Eatery experience,” Jones said.
For more information and to view hours of operation, visit hisplaceeatery.com.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.
Unique Designs by Michelle specializes in one-of-a-kind, handmade jewelry.
The family-owned business got its start while on vacation in Tennessee, when Michelle Avant wandered into a beading shop and fell in love with making bracelets by hand.
All of the designs offered are handmade by Avant using real silver, gold, metals and gemstone beads. Jewelry is able to be customized for gifts, holidays and special events. Designs start at $5 and increase based on material, time and design.
Currently located in Avon, Unique Designs by Michelle also partners with the family-owned bakery business Marsha’s Specialty Desserts and Tierney’s Catering. Both vendors participate in festivals, markets and pop-up events around Indianapolis, including Juneteenth Foodways Festival, the French Market, Avon Gardens Flower Fest, Circle City Classic Tailgate Fan Fest and more.
Unique Designs by Michelle is located at 10834 E. US Highway 36 in Avon. For more information, or to order a piece of jewelry, visitmichellesjewelry.net. To get in contact, call 317-271-8300 or email michelle@michellesjewelry.net.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.
Black, Hispanic and Latina women are more likely to have started investing in the past few years than investors overall, according to a new J.P. Morgan Wealth Management study. This is the third year J.P. Morgan has surveyed diverse investors to understand how the industry can better serve them.
This year’s survey shows that growing wealth for future generations remains a main reason Black, Hispanic and Latina women start investing, and for the first time, analyzes the behavior of investors by age group.
“Money brings independence,” said Kristin Lemkau, CEO of J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. “Consistently women, and in particular diverse women, are motivated to build wealth to create more opportunities for their children and families. They understand in a time of changing markets that saving isn’t enough. They also need to invest to have their money make money.”
Here are five key takeaways from the J.P. Morgan Wealth Management 2024 Diverse Investor Study:
Black, Hispanic and Latina women investors are more likely to be new to investing.
51% of Hispanic and Latina women respondents and 46% of Black women respondents started investing outside of an employer-sponsored retirement plan less than five years ago, compared to 24% of all respondents
Younger Black, Hispanic and Latino investors take a more hands-on approach to their investing than previous generations.
More than half of Black, Hispanic and Latino millennial investors surveyed prefer to take an active role in selecting the stocks, bonds or index funds that make up their portfolio (52% and 53%), compared to 45% of Black Gen Xers and boomers, 46% of Hispanic and Latino Gen Xers and 37% of Hispanic and Latino boomers.
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Creating wealth for future generations remains a top priority for Black, Hispanic and Latina women investors.
74% of Hispanic and Latina women investors and 69% of Black women investors surveyed say building generational wealth is a motivation to start investing
Investors with a plan fare better than those without one.
Respondents who have a plan for their financial goals are significantly more likely to:
Rate their current financial health as excellent or good (70% vs. 49% for those without a plan)
Say their financial situation is better than five years ago (62% vs. 44%)
Have conversations with their children about finances (52% vs. 29%)
More than half of women are confident about their investing knowledge and three-quarters say they are risk-averse.
55% of women respondents say they’re confident about their investment knowledge, compared to 76% of men
77% of women respondents describe their investment strategy as risk-averse, compared to 58% of men
For this study, J.P. Morgan surveyed 1,000 investors with at least $25,000 in investable assets.
Read the full J.P. Morgan Wealth Management 2024 Diverse Investor Study here.
Read more about the study’s key findings on: The Know
The J.P. Morgan Wealth Management 2024 Diverse Investor Study was conducted June 14 to June 28, 2024. The results are based on a sample of 1,069 American adults aged 25+ with at least $25,000 in investable assets, including oversamples for Black, Hispanic and Latino Americans (399 White respondents, 301 Black respondents and 321 Hispanic and Latino respondents). Respondents were interviewed online in English and Spanish. J.P. Morgan Wealth Management was not identified as the survey sponsor.
About J.P. Morgan Wealth Management J.P. Morgan Wealth Management is the U.S. wealth management business of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a leading global financial services firm with assets of $4.1 trillion and operations worldwide. J.P. Morgan Wealth Management has ~5,600 advisors and $1 trillion of assets under supervision. Clients can choose how and where they want to invest. They can do it digitally, remotely or in person by meeting with an advisor in one of our more than 4,800 Chase branches throughout the U.S., or in one of our offices. For more information, go to www.jpmorgan.com/wealth and follow J.P. Morgan Wealth Management on LinkedIn.
No Bias Streetwear is a vibrant, minority-owned fashion brand pushing the boundaries of modern style with a focus on sustainability and inclusivity.
Founded by creative visionaries, No Bias blends upcycled materials with innovative designs to create fashion that not only looks good but also does good for the planet. As a leader in eco-friendly streetwear, the brand is dedicated to minimizing environmental impact by repurposing materials into stylish, one-of-a-kind garments.
No Bias champions diversity in all aspects of its work.
Their clothing is more than just fashion — it’s a statement. The brand strives to make sustainable fashion accessible to everyone, irrespective of race, gender or background. By using fashion as a tool to address social and environmental issues, No Bias represents a fresh approach to the industry, showing that style and ethics can coexist harmoniously.
In addition to its strong environmental ethos, No Bias has made waves in the fashion industry. They’ve showcased their designs at events like New York Fashion Week, demonstrating that sustainable fashion can be as glamorous and high impact as traditional couture. Their collections reflect their mission — bold, innovative and environmentally responsible.
As a minority-owned business, No Bias continues to uplift underrepresented voices within the fashion world, fostering a space where creativity and sustainability thrive together. Their journey is a testament to the power of thoughtful design and responsible business practices in shaping a better future for fashion.
Contact multi-media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.
Ambrosia Nutrition and Beauty is carving out a niche space in Indy with its unique blend of handcrafted soaps and wellness supplements.
Dedicated to promoting holistic health from the inside out, the shop offers products that nourish both body and skin, becoming a local favorite for those who value natural self-care solutions.
Founded by an all-female POC team, Ambrosia Nutrition and Beauty provides natural and organic products to support overall well-being. On their website, customers can take a quiz to find products that fit their needs.
Homemade soaps tailored for relaxation or energy are available in many scents: almond coconut, cinnamon latte, cranberry spice, mango salsa scrub, silk jasmine, sandalwood rose, strong coffee, turmeric honey and orange, baby powder, orange patchouli, Egyptian musk, mountain air and more.
Ambrosia also offers two supplements: Enhance and ReNew.
The Enhance supplement is an alpha lipoic acid to produce energy, manage blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. ReNew is a dehydroepiandrosterone supplement that can improve hormone regulation, cognitive function, energy levels, immune function, bone health and overall well-being.
Those who wish to reorder products can receive up to 15% off on select products through a monthly subscription.
To view a full list of products, visit ambrosianutritionandbeauty.com. To stay up to date on events, pop ups and markets, visit their Instagram @ambrosianutritionandbeauty.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, click here.
Founded by Ebony Ligon in 2017, Sunflowers Bundles of Joy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping single parents provide for their children.
Sunflowers Bundles of Joy focuses on creating a supportive community for single parents to access resources, guidance and encouragement, according to the website.
Resources range from counseling services, financial assistance programs, employment and educational assistance and community events.
Programming is specialized for parents, youth and seniors to provide the best care and essentials to meet the needs of the community, such as providing car seats, cribs, clothing and pampers to mothers or hosting educational workshops and recreational activities for youth.
Sunflowers Bundles of Joy also hosts a variety of seasonal events including a Backpack Drive, Trunk or Treat and a turkey giveaway. They also accept baby donation drop-offs every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A list of requested items and guidelines can be found on the website.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.If you would like your business highlighted by the Indiana Minority
The Detroit Pistons announce the appointment of Melanie Harris as the new president of Business Operations. In her role, Harris will spearhead the organization’s business initiatives, improve revenue generation and bolster connections with partners, sponsors, ticketholders and fans.
Harris comes to the Pistons from her recent position as vice president and general manager of Nike, Inc.’s Jordan Brand North America, where she led a cross-functional group in managing sales, merchandising, marketing, procedures and strategy for the multi-billion-dollar brand across North America.
Additionally, Harris was also a member of Nike’s Black Community Commitment Task Force.
Pistons owner Tom Gores expressed his enthusiasm to have Harris on board.
“Melanie’s deep brand experience will help grow the business and increase focus with Pistons fans,” Gores said in a statement. “Having spent time with Melanie, I can confidently say she is an experienced leader and innovative executive who will invigorate our business operations. Her fresh perspective on engaging our community of fans, both locally and nationally, is invaluable.”
Gores led the search for Harris, a feat not performed by many NBA owners.
Harris will report to Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem.
“Melanie shares our core values of hard work and commitment to the community,” Tellem said in a statement. “She’s a collaborative leader who will support our current team while bringing fresh ideas.”
Harris is also joyed to have been selected for the role.
“I am excited to work with Mr. Gores and the talented professionals at the Detroit Pistons to strive for excellence and build on the great tradition of this franchise,” Harris said in a statement. “Detroit is a fantastic sports town, and as the organization grows, there is a tremendous opportunity for building business momentum and engagement. I look forward to advancing the club’s success both on and off the floor.”
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.For more news from the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, visit our homepage.
