Erika Troutman’s business, 1202 Beatties Ford, LLC, was named Small Business Enterprise of the Year at the 2022 Crowns of Enterprise Awards. During Women’s History Month, she shares how she supports and mentors other small business owners, especially women, and what the award means to her.
No matter what race Creed you are as Women is very important to to be there For one another and to support one Another My name is Erica Troutman so right now You're standing in historic West End I'm Essentially the Legacy Black Wall Street And back and black Main Street District So you're standing right in that I'm in The heart of that so essentially back in The 1900s this is where black people Were intentionally segregated from a Redlining perspective so when I Originally bought the building yes I Wanted mixed faith I didn't know exactly What that meant when I was saying mixed Face I knew I just wanted a space where People could really thrive in business And grow right now we have a nail Technician in here we have a We have a nail technician we have a Tattoo artist and we also have a lady That does lashes and teeth whitening my Ultimate goal for those women are to one Day have their own real estate so it's Not just about being a landlord right It's more about being captivating and we All learn from each other from a Business standpoint so making sure we Have that safe space in our corridor In our space where we really feel safe Winning the crowns award was against the Real I essentially what I thought I was Doing was just purchasing building
Renovating it that was it so it brought Light to what I was doing for the Community that Vision that I had for the Community and women that looked like me It's intentional for me to make sure When I recruit people to be in here that Their Vibes are good they want or Desires to have that to be that Mentor For the community as well as have many Mentees that will look up to them and Inspire you can see her you can be her Right that's very important here my goal For all the tenants here are to be in a Position where their Nets Go when they Leave here is to own their own land not To go into another facility where They're leasing if I could say anything To anyone watching I would definitely Say Um be a part of the change right be a Part of the the mission of women's Empowerment and women's change and let's Go get it I think we are we are very All-powerful enough to understand the Mission here and let's get it done
Moving to Charlotte North Carolina
Events
Charlotte has an array of events that are happening around the city on a regular basis. From concerts and sporting events to festivals and live performances, there is something for everyone!
Life
One of the best parts about moving to Charlotte is all the great people you will meet. The city is full of friendly people who love living here and are proud to call the Queen City home!
Sports
Charlotte is home to several professional sports teams. The Carolina Panthers (NFL), the Hornets (NBA) and the Knights (MiLB) all have stadiums in the city.
Museums
Charlotte offers a variety of museums for all types of people. From hands-on science displays to classic and contemporary art, there is sure to be a museum that fits your interests!
Food & Drink
There are a number of excellent restaurants in the city that are worth checking out. There is also a thriving brewing industry in the area which means you are guaranteed to find a good local beer when you are here!
Music
The city is known for its love of live music. Whether you are at a bar, coffee shop or large concert venue there is always live music being played in the Queen City.
Weather
The weather in Charlotte is usually pretty mild, and if you want to enjoy the outdoors there are plenty of things to do! You can spend your days exploring the many trails that are found in the city, or you can head to one of the beautiful lakes such as Lake Norman, Lake Wylie or Catawba River.