BJ Murray

BJ is the Principal Partner and COO for Business Focus, Inc., an IT consulting and staffing firm, and She also owns the Brooklyn Coffee Tea & Guest House in Smith Hill, Providence, a hub for community and civic-minded activities. With more than 39 years of experience and a Six Sigma Black Belt certification, BJ leads implementations of large-scale enterprise IT applications and helps clients streamline business processes to manage risk and achieve greater returns. She also owns the Brooklyn Coffee Tea & Guest House in Smith Hill, Providence, a hub for community and civic-minded activities. Her latest venture is partnering with Blaze Eastside’s Executive Chef, Phyllis Arffa, to open a new upscale bistro at the Brooklyn called Blaze Smith Hill. An active member of the RI community through her board service and grassroots initiatives, BJ is an outspoken advocate for creating inclusive work environments and works to provide entrepreneurial opportunities to women of color.

Kim Anderson

Kim is the co-founder of Plant City, a plant-based food hall and marketplace in Providence that focuses on sustainability and reduced climate impact. Her prior company, Teapots & Tassels, Co., earned her SBA’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award in 1991 and “Citizen of the Year” in 2005. In 2009, with her 15-year-old daughter, Kim co-founded Ava Anderson Non Toxic, the safest full line of personal care and home cleaning products. A longtime advocate and investor for social impact and environmental stewardship, Kim is a board member of Lincoln School and Social Enterprise Greenhouse, a judge for Rhode Island Business Competition, and mentors many socially responsible entrepreneurs. She is also the fifth Rhode Islander to be inducted into the RI Entrepreneur Hall of Fame by the Met Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Kaitlyn Szczupak

Kaitlyn Szczupak is the owner of S&S Transmissions and Auto Repair in Tiverton, and was named this year’s Rhode Island Young Entrepreneur of the Year by SBA! Growing up in the business, Kaitlyn was in awe of her father’s technical abilities and fell in love with the automotive industry. After graduating high school, she knew she wanted to take over the family business one day. She decided to obtain a degree in business management, and continued to spend hours outside of school at her father’s shop, gaining insight into operating an automotive facility. Then, in 2016, Kaitlyn’s father unexpectedly passed away. That’s when 20-year-old Kaitlyn stepped up and took over ownership of S&S—increasing its success even while finishing her degree. Today, Kaitlyn continues to expand the business while giving back to the community.