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OUR TEAM

Get to know

OUR PEOPLE

On the surface, we are just a few people who want to use our gifts, talents, and insights to inspire change.
Fundamentally, we believe in one of the core tenets of the American spirit: the power of a dollar and a dream

OUR staff

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Join the movement.

A lot goes into building a community, and we wouldn’t be where we are now if we’d tried to go out and do it alone. There’s still a lot more that we want to do, so we’re always searching for more people to build with us. Click the button below to see out latest career opportunities.

OUR PARTNERS

ALLEN WOODS

CoFounder & CEO

Allen Woods is a devoted husband, father, and entrepreneur – in that order.

A brand strategist & business consultant who has worked with brands around the globe, Allen is a lifelong Midwesterner who’s never allowed the size of his city to place a limit on the size of his dreams. Woods cofounded MORTAR in 2014 with the mission of designing a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem for marginalized business owners in Cincinnati, Ohio. What was initially created to benefit small businesses in a singular neighborhood – soon became an impressive local success story that has become the blueprint for a regional expansion that will have a physical MORTAR presence in 15 cities across the United States by 2024.

Woods has participated in fellowship programs presented by Echoing Green and New Profit and been recognized as a Cincinnati Business Courier 40 under 40 Business Leader, John F. Barrett Entrepreneur Vision Award recipient, and in 2020 & 2021, Cincinnati Magazine named Allen one of the Cincinnati 300, an annual list of the city’s top 300 business leaders described as ”the most influential, the most powerful, or most impactful forces who’ve shaped the region”.

When Allen isn’t at MORTAR, he can often be found behind a camera, specializing in both digital & analog photography. The award-winning portrait photographer who has a special love for black & white film and the usage of natural light has recently added “Documentary Director” to his resume and is looking forward to doing more creative storytelling in the near future.

Allen Woods is a sought-after public speaker who has shined on the TEDx stage and has been featured on NBC Nightly News, the Black Enterprise Podcast, PEOPLE Magazine, and in INC. Magazine.

ALLEN'S FAVORITE THINGS

GREEN LABEL ART X MOUNTAIN DEW COLLECTION

I remember back in 2007 when I bought my first bottle at a random gas station in Indianapolis. I loved the usage of these new "canvases" and the way that Mountain Dew was shining the light on new artists. I now have the full collection of about 30 bottles on display in my home. Art should be accessible.

AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF 'SONGS OF MY PEOPLE'

I got his on the day that I met Gordon Parks. We talked, he signed my book - but he did so much more than that.. he sparked something in me that made me want to pursue becoming a photographer.

SPIKE LEE

Next to Gordon Parks, this man has provided the most creative inspiration for me. To this day, Do the Right thing is still my favorite movie, but what I like most about Spike is his fearlessness. The ways that he's used his films to challenge traditional narratives is brilliant. I look forward to the day when he and I will be working together on a film.

OFF-WHITE CAROLINA JORDAN 1s.

First of all, the Jordan one is one of my favorite shoes of all time (also the LeBron 15, but this isn't about that). This specific version of the shoe was a collaboration with Virgil Abloh, who has been making quite a name for himself in recent years and continues to change the game in the art & streetwear worlds.

SONY A7III

I've been shooting with Canon cameras since I was a kid, so for me, switching over to a new system was a big deal. I have to say that I haven't regretted it for ONE second. I love what this camera has allowed me to do with my portraiture, and look forward to diving into shooting more film work soon.

SONY GALAXY WATCH

I'm lightweight a techie - but a minimalist too. I find a good piece of tech and I hold on to it for a while, avoiding the trap of getting the new whatever everytime they drop one. I do, however, really enjoy having my Samsung Watch. It's helped me to eliminate the desire for having too many watches - and I like that it's a separate stand-alone device that doesn't have to be connected to your phone.

THE JOURNEY

Traveling is kind of a new thing for me. I love to hop on a plane and connect with different people, foods, places, cultures.. (did I say foods?) I also enjoy making time to get away with my wife, Kyla, (and sometimes we might invite our kids lol) so we can create new memories.

Strategic Director

Shannon Hooten is a Cincinnati native passionate about breaking oppressive racial stereotypes and creating and promoting safe spaces for black people to create authentically and freely. A lifelong learner, Shannon enjoys trying new things, visiting new places, and writing about them. Passionate about the creative arts, she has experimented with multiple forms of creative expression, including YA fiction writing, poetry, and copy editing. Her lifelong dream is to become a published author and open her own publishing house to support other black science fiction and fantasy writers. She is currently working on her debut novel.

As Strategic Director, Shannon Hooten is thrilled to manage MORTAR’s Strategic Plan and projects across the organization. Being a stickler for organization and thorough processes, Shannon realizes her talents for coordinating projects and reasonable timelines to guarantee success. Her current career objective is to create efficient and succinct processes to help MORTAR’s national growth.

SHANNON'S FAVORITE THINGS

DISNEY

Being a creative, I always enjoy stories that take me to another world and make me invest in fantastical characters. When it comes to creating stories like that, Disney can't be beat.

READING

My first love was reading. It's like having your own personal movie play out inside your head. The words become worlds taking shape around you and only for you.

WRITING

Reading created worlds and characters for me that I could fall in love with, root for, dislike, and cry over. My dream is to write stories that create that same experience for my fellow book lovers.

SLEEP

Ain't nothing better. Get rest, sleep when necessary, and make your bed so it's cool when you slip in at night.

TACOS

I've loved tacos way before the Taco Tuesday trend began. Now EVERYBODY likes them? *side-eye*sucks teeth* I could eat them everyday and would never get tired of them.

ELLIE

I despised dogs up until the moment we met Ellie. She's my bestest friend who loves me unconditionally, gets excited everyday when I come home from work (or a 5-minute store run), and follows me around like I'm the most important person her life (which I guess I am :) ).

EXPLORING

New places, new people, cultures, ideas, religion... I'm interested in learning about it all. Especially with my man or my girls by my side.

Indianapolis Program Manager & Facilitator

Diamyn is a Mortar Alum, Business Consultant, Gemologist and Entrepreneur. Her mission is to help others live a less-stressful life with the helpful energy of mindfulness, crystals and intention setting. She runs and operates her own retail and online business, Diamyn’s Crystal Bar and co-owns a collaborative retail space, Pause, located in Cincinnati, OH. Diamyn combines her knowledge of learning, business consulting and entrepreneurship to help guide and support others on their journeys.

She’s a Northwest Indiana native and Indiana University Alum that has worked throughout the Midwest in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois.

Diamyn has created learning and educational tools primarily for fortune 500 and fortune 10 companies, along with nonprofits and local small businesses. Her mission is to educate and provide people with the tools they need to execute and understand their jobs and roles within any organization. She’s a champion for diversity and inclusion through her commitment to drive change that invites all people on the journey to personal and economic growth and sustainability.

DIAMYN'S FAVORITE THINGS

BEANZ

Some people have kids and I have my dog Beanz. I consider him one of my greatest accomplishments. He’s the most loving, sweet, and kind dog you could ever have. He just knows how to put a smile on your face, and he actually smiles back!

FOOD

The moment I wake up, I immediately start planning my favorite meal, breakfast. I MUST have breakfast and I always encourage others to do the same. I also bake a family famous pound cake that changes lives. It’s an age-old recipe my granny passed down and it’s still going strong.

CRYSTALS

Fun fact, I am named after the Diamond Head Mountains in Hawaii, and I study crystals and minerals. I consider myself a self-taught gemologist and rock collector. I can identify over 250 different crystal and mineral specimens.

OUTDOORS

I love being in nature. I am super active and enjoy rock climbing, hiking, biking, kayaking and swimming.

COFFEE

Life is better lived with a drink in hand!

MUSIC

I love to throw on some old-school jams and get lost in music.

Events & Special Projects Manager

Lexie Grimes has a love for the creative process of entrepreneurship, and for cultivating spaces where others can pursue their dreams through this process as well. She believes deeply in the pursuit of equitable economic ecosystems, where all people can pursue their unique ideas and contribute to the holistic development of their communities.

She was initially drawn to small businesses through the avenue of local coffee shops. In these spaces, she found a place where neighbors could come to learn, gather, play, and dream. Throughout college, she dreamed of starting her own community development-focused coffee shop, and over the last several years has worked in many coffee shops in both barista and management capacities.

Lexie graduated from Johnson University with a degree in Entrepreneurship. She now lives in Cincinnati with her incredible husband, Johnny, and their dorky dog, Winston. She looks forward to starting a business someday!

As an Operations Coordinator at MORTAR, Lexie will work across all departments to assist in the implementation of our strategic objectives in the midst of rapid growth. She is excited to join in the vision and work of MORTAR!

LEXIE'S FAVORITE THINGS

WINSTON

Winston may be entirely incapable of regulating his emotions… but we love him! He could play fetch for hours on end and must always know what his humans are up to. He also makes an excellent park companion.

SOUL!

This movie quickly became one of my favorite animated films. I love how it (and many recent Disney/Pixar films) challenge societal norms and ask tough questions. I tend to really nerd out while unpacking movies that offer new ways of seeing the world around us, especially ones that communicate deep themes even through childrens’ movies!

COFFEE

I’ve been a barista for about five years, and I just love the craft of coffee. As much as the beverage itself, I love the experience of coffee shops. Any time my husband and I are exploring a new city, one of the first things we find is a favorite local shop!

OBSERVING NATURE

It may be an unpopular opinion…but I think birds are so cool! During quarantine, I developed a habit of keeping a close eye on my family’s birdfeeder and taking note of the variety of species that would visit. I also just love being around trees and plants, whether that’s through gardening or going on a hike. I feel like I’m always learning through metaphors when I take time to enjoy nature.

FOOD

I love trying new foods! I also enjoy cooking and usually find it to be very grounding. My family was always experimental with foods and spices, so I think that helped diversify my palate! I also have a tattoo of broccoli, but that’s more a story of friendship than a story of food (:

Design & Communications Manager

A born and raised Cincinnatian, Cassandra graduated from Cincinnati State with a degree in Web and Multimedia Design in 2019. Fascinated by the countless ways content can be arranged to tell stories, she’s been honing her web skillset ever since. From wireframing to user testing to ideation, she is committed to creating digital content that seamlessly meets and exceeds the user’s needs and expectations. A firm believer in user advocation, she aims to anticipate and solve the question before the visitor has to ask it.

Cassandra began her relationship with MORTAR as an intern while still a student at Cincinnati State and is now proud to be brought onboard as a Design & Communications Manager. She is happy to part of a team advocating for entrepreneurs who aim to build strong, equitable communities.

When she’s not working on design, you can find her snuggling her dogs and being indecisive about what to have for dinner.

CASSANDRA'S FAVORITE THINGS

FRENCH PRESS COFFEE

I love my morning ritual of waking up, filling the kettle with water, placing it on the stove to boil and grinding my own beans.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE

A timeless anthology series that reveals a truth about humanity in every episode. Unfortunately, some of the things that writers tried to warn us about still exist in American culture. People are still suspicious of their neighbors. Differences are not always celebrated. And we’re frequently more concerned about what we’ve got than helping others. Maybe that’s why the show keeps coming back; every generation needs to learn its lesson.

HAND WRITTEN LETTERS & POSTCARDS

Having instantaneous text/online communication is great and all but there's nothing like receiving a handwritten note or a postcard.

MY DOGS

I have two tiny dogs; Echo and Valentine. They are my babies, my travel companions and my favorite little buddies!

TRAVELING WITH LOVED ONES

I love a spontaneous road trip, or a long vacation in a far away place. Lately, my husband and I have been into woodsy camping/hiking trips with our two dogs.

CANDLEMAKING

I took up candle-making a couple of years ago and fell in love with it! I love crafting scents, cutting and weighing the wax, and designing the packaging. My house smells amazing now!

Program Manager

Sean is a Cincinnati native from North Avondale. Thanks to his Montessori education, Sean has always had a passion for community service, exploration and relationship building. These passions led him to venture to California where he served in the AmeriCorps NCCC program as a Team Leader. This life changing experience opened his eyes to the world of nonprofits and the impact he can make within the social sector.

After graduating with his Masters in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Wright State University, he returned to Cincinnati where he has worked in multiple industries. Through all of his different experiences, he always knew he wanted to jump back into the world of nonprofit leadership. He now serves as a Program Manager for MORTAR where he will help shape the entrepreneurial landscape for marginalized business owners.

When he is not working with MORTAR Sean enjoys bartending, spending time with his broke four-legged best friend Milo, trying new locally owned restaurants and kicking it with the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated.

SEAN'S FAVORITE THINGS

MUSIC

Music - I own several bluetooth speakers, multiple pairs of headphones, a surround sound system and a record player that are all used in rotation. My weekend rituals usually consist of a trip to Shake It Records in Northside.

COFFEE

I love visiting locally owned coffee shops and sampling the various espresso blends they offer. My current favorite is Drip Lounge in Camp Washington.

FOOD

One thing about me, I’m gonna eat! There is always room in my budget for eating outand I love supporting local chef owned restaurants.

TRAVELING

The most difficult part of the pandemic for me was not being able to travel as frequently as I like. I got my passport in the mail exactly one month before the stay at home order, but I’m quickly making up for lost time.

MY NINTENDO SWITCH

I’m not a big gamer anymore, but I still enjoy evenings playing the Nintendo staples such as Legend of Zelda and Smash Bros (anyone can catch hands in that!)

SNEAKERS

I don’t know when or how it started but I am an avid sneaker collector! Some of my best memories are from standing outside of the stores overnight waiting for my favorite drops, even in -20 degree blizzardous conditions…

Expansion Director

Shannon Cheek has spent the last 13 years in the insurance industry in various sales roles, including owning her own agency, but realized her chosen career path lacked fulfillment and purpose. As a person who has a heart for service and values authenticity, Shannon was drawn to the MORTAR movement. She chose to marry her high performing sales skills with the desire to help increase opportunities for black and female entrepreneurs.

A Georgia native with roots in rural Mississippi, Shannon remembers hearing stories about how her Great Grandfather was given, by his master, the land on which he was enslaved. This created opportunities and paved the way for her Grandfather to graduate from Talladega College, an HBCU, in 1932. As a young adult, Shannon truly began to realize the significance that exposure and resources can have on one’s trajectory, especially for those who are considered marginalized.

As Expansion Director, Shanon Cheek is excited to utilize her talents to extend MORTAR’s footprint to new cities throughout the country as well as build a strong community of leaders and partners in those respective cities to continue to support our Alumni.

When not challenging the status quo, Shannon can likely be found exploring new restaurants, or spending time with her partner, D’Angelo and son Kameron.

SHANNON'S FAVORITE THINGS

FASHION

A self proclaimed “Stylist by Gift”, one of my favorite pastimes is scouring through luxury consignment and thrift stores to find that one-of-a-kind “must have” piece. I also enjoy working with female or minority designers to create something unique!

MOVEMENT

Whether it’s rehearsing for a dance performance, a healing hatha yoga session, strength training, or cycling, I have to have some type of movement daily to maintain my sense of self.

COFFEE

There’s nothing better than a hot cup of coffee (french press or pour over please) from a local, independently owned coffee shop! Whenever I travel to a new city, one of the first things I do (after finding the good food), is locate the best ones to visit.

FOOD

I consider it a personal challenge to find the best places to eat, and will plan travel around it! It’s a bonus to find a good vegan or plant based restaurant that takes cuisine to the next level.

FAMILY

My family is my “why”... period! I’m beyond blessed to be able to do life with them.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

While domestic travel can be enjoyable, there’s something special and often life changing about experiencing other cultures. I have a few favorite countries already, but I’d love to travel to Indonesia, Spain, and Greece in the near future.

ALL THINGS OUTDOORS

Most people are surprised to find out how much I love the outdoors. Camping, hiking, canoeing, walking barefoot in the dirt, gardening, just being surrounded by nature brings me a sense of peace.

Board Member

Shantel Routt is an energetic, results-oriented professional with a solid foundation of experience highlighted by accomplishments. Highly innovative, driven, and organized with a history of developing effective strategies for overcoming challenges and improving results. Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills that result in productive internal and external relationships. Independent self-starter and natural leader that fosters collaborative efforts toward goals. Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management skills with proven success in handling multiple responsibilities and projects in fast-paced environments.

Shantel has over a decade of experience in the financial industry and is currently a Participant Services Manager at Fidelity Investments. She has had several roles within the financial industry such as a treasury Management Specialist, Consumer Supervisor, and a Commercial Manager to just to name a few. She is also deemed a competent communicator through Toastmasters International. Shantel has gone through a variety of leadership training and was also appointed to Officer in her previous role. Shantel is passionate about being the change she wants to see. She understands leadership is more than a title it’s the actions you take daily and helping to uplift others in the process.

Shantel is the owner and lead event producer for Tailored Confetti. Tailored Confetti is your one-stop shop for all your social and corporate event needs. She specializes in event décor, floral décor, clothing customization, and more. Shantel has led and oversaw a variety of corporate events in her time in the financial industry which has provided her with the necessary experience needed to contribute to her current business. Those events included planning a Sustainability event at the Cincinnati Zoo, The “QCYPA” (Queen City Young Professional Accolades), and more. With the events she led, she partnered with P&G, Kroger’s, Ernst & Young, GE, and more to implement this on behalf of her financial institution at the time. This also shows the strong network she has built within her professional experience and within the community.

Shantel is a MORTAR Gold Alum and was the “Judges Choice” winner for her cohort in July 2020. Shantel is active in the community and has led and served in a variety of roles over multiple non-profit events such as Pro Kids Run, Paint the Town with Give Back Cincinnati, Artswave Sing-off, The United Way Carnival and more. Shantel has a passion for organizations such as Mortar and that’s what inspired her to not only be a part of the program and graduate but to continuously be active within the organization. Shantel has a love for the Arts and has been a part of several films and plays here in the Tri-state.

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