The Business Consortium
Who We Are
TIM FRAY
TAF INDUSTRIES INC. - Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO of TAF Industries. TAF focuses on multiple initiatives which are TFIT Hospitality Pro where they help black businesses achieve impeccable customer service by providing the most effective certification training and development courses for their staff.
TAF has special expertise in working with corporate brands for over 35 years, knowing exactly what their businesses require and he has developed and trained their key players within the hospitality industry .
Representing Executives PowerUp, TAF identifies, analyze and qualify businesses who are ready for scaling through investment, branding and marketing whether it's through franchising, corporate development and supply chain solutions
416-949-1633
ROK CONSULTING - COO
Ryan Knight is serial entrepreneur a social enterprise expert and a champion for black entrepreneurs.
He is the President and Co-Founder of the Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN), created in 2018. The ACBN works to unify and educate Black entrepreneurs in its network of more than 3,000 businesses, and in early 2021 began working on a research partnership with the Pilon School of Business to identify the needs of Black entrepreneurs and develop recommendations and resources to help build their business capacity.
A 2013 recipient of the Emerging Entrepreneur Award from the Toronto Board of Trade, Knight was named to the Brampton Board of Trade’s Top 40 Under 40 list in 2017.
647-225-3309
RYAN KNIGHT
WAYNE HARRIS
WORLD FINANCIAL GROUP - CIO
Wayne is a highly experienced and skilled individual who has dedicated his life to uplifting Black families and communities across Canada. With three decades of training and development, Wayne has honed his ability to understand people and their situations through emotional and cultural intelligence. He has coached and mentored teens and adults in basketball, afterschool programs, and career paths, with a special passion for connecting with young Black men from single-parent homes.
With a background in Information Technology and 25 years of experience in Cybersecurity technology and solutions, Wayne has also developed young adult programming at various organizations. He holds a Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration from the University of Leicester and several IT Security related certifications. Wayne works in the Financial Services industry today, helping families and businesses optimize their succession planning and estates. He is also a licensed insurance agent and a certified coach with the Certified Coaches Federation.
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416-721-7604
FHH ENTERPRISES INC. - CTO
Patrick Cole
BA, Comp Sc.
Visionary & Strategist
Founder with over 30 years of business & technology leadership experience. Patrick has held different technology and management roles in various industries over his career. He is known for his strategic thinking, marketing saavy, strong business acumen and solutions-oriented approach to challenges. Patrick is passionate about the continued development of Black Communities and has pivoted his company to helping Black Canada achieve its ambitions sooner. He has been a principal and partner in two (2) business startups.
416-414-6151
PATRICK COLE
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MARIA OLEN
EPU - BUSINESS ANALYST
Maria is a dedicated Business Analyst with extensive experience in diverse industries including health and wellness, healthcare, marijuana, hospitality, entertainment, agriculture, transport, finance, construction, education, daycare, cleaning, fashion, real estate, CBD, relocation, and logistics.
She offers services to support startup businesses, small business owners, nonprofit organizations, and established businesses seeking loans/investors grants. Maria's services include analyzing potential markets, identifying potential investors, developing a dynamic marketing plan, and creating a financial plan.
She uses charts, graphs, and pictures to effectively communicate forecasts and provide a comprehensive view of the business. Her professional business plan includes an executive summary, company summary, products and services, complete market analysis, strategy and implementation summary, and management summary.
Her financial plan includes 5-year sales forecasts, 5-year income statement projections, 5-year balance sheet, 5-year cash flow statement, and break-even analysis. With her diverse industry experience, Maria is well equipped to help businesses achieve their goals and succeed.
647-689-6145
RRI MARKETING & COMMUNICATION - CMO
Randy Reid is a recognized leader in community-led media solutions, currently serving as the President of the National Community Radio Association and CEO/GM of VX3 Exchange. With over two decades of experience across public, private, and community media, he excels in creating culturally relevant content that engages and includes racialized communities. In addition to launching VIBE105, a popular black music and ethnic radio station, Reid founded One80 Youth Media Group, one of Canada's largest youth civic journalism initiatives. Known for pushing broadcasting boundaries, his specialties include fiscal accountability, broadcast media production, civic media consultation, branding, and social media networking.
416-816-7056
RANDY REID
ANICK SILENCIEUX
ASI - TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Anick Silencieux is a seasoned professional with a deep focus on cybersecurity, business development, and philanthropy. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Support Black Charities (SBC), a global nonprofit that partners with over 120 organizations to boost Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused entities. Anick is also an entrepreneur, fundraising expert, and ambassador for ShopPal.ca, an online platform that aids charities in fundraising. She's passionate about youth mentorship and uses her skills in digital marketing and data recovery to drive change and empower individuals and communities worldwide.
647-689-6145
NOTIONHIVE - WEBSITE DEVELOPER/DESIGNER
Affan Mahmud Chowdhury is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 14 years of diverse industry experience spanning digital marketing, hospitality, and business development. Serving as Co-founder and CEO of Notionhive, a full-service creative digital agency with a workforce of 60, Affan offers comprehensive digital solutions to clients worldwide. With roots in HR at Standard Chartered Bank, his career evolved into entrepreneurship, leading to the establishment of businesses across multiple sectors. As an Independent Business Advisor and Startup Mentor at Invest Ottawa, he guides startups towards success. Affan, an MBA and BBA holder from the University of Dhaka, is passionate about exploring "blue oceans," or untapped markets. Outside work, he enjoys reading about leadership, revisiting MacGyver episodes, and family time.
AFFAN MAHMUD CHOWDHURY
