Today we’d like to introduce you to Chevonne N. Boyd.
Hi Chevonne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Chevonne Boyd. I am the founder of The Hive on Loockerman (The Hive). The Hive is a business and creative event center dedicated to supporting small business and nonprofit founders. Unlike traditional incubators, co-working spaces, and social event venues, The Hive offers a comprehensive business experience for entrepreneurs seeking the space, tools, resources, and even access to industry professionals that can help them expand their brand, broaden their impact, and simply…do business better.
As a project manager and event planning professional with almost 15 years of experience, I have had the opportunity to work on projects ranging in location, genre, and size. From birthday parties to conferences, my network has always leaned on me for support in executing their celebration and event planning needs. However, within the past few years, I have taken an interest in supporting professionals seeking a platform to help them expose their message, product, or brand in fun and impactful ways.
As a black woman, raised in New York City, with a Title I education, and immigrant parents, I fully identify with many of the barriers presented to young entrepreneurs, especially from marginalized communities. The lack of education, training, and access we face, often presents a myriad of challenges that, if avoided, could lead to thriving, sustainable, legacy-building ventures. Yet despite the odds, I was graced with a dynamic support system that helped me to find my way. It was through exposure, connection, and representation that I was able to circumvent many of the barriers I faced growing up.
In high school, I was given the opportunity to work alongside the founder of one of the largest education and equity foundations in the US. It was there I learned the value of exposure. Fast forward 12 years, and I am working as a Project Manager, leading anti-drug campaigns for teens across the state of Delaware. It was there I learned the power of access. Today, I manage the marketing, public relations, and special events for a school-to-work transitional program, under the leadership of a State Senator. It is through her leadership that I’ve learned the significance of connection.
I’ve come to learn that my life’s work is encompassed in helping and serving others. Though The Hive is a business, I love this venture because it gives me the opportunity to marry my professional abilities with my passion for helping others succeed.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been relatively smooth so far?
Smooth? Absolutely not! I’ve been in the event and project management space for almost 15 years, therefore I have a solid grasp of my industry. However, leveraging my experience to start a business is a completely different story – especially when opening a brick and mortar. Entering into this new space has been difficult because I don’t know, what I don’t know. Some of my mistakes create life lessons that make me better and others create a whole in my pocket! Access to capital is an ongoing battle. There is permitting, construction, zoning, repairs, safety additions and that’s before we get to the tables, monitors, and overall equipment to become functional.
I would recommend that new entrepreneurs find a mentor who can guide them along the way and offer insight on how to navigate the space they are entering before they leap. Before buying our building, I spent years vision casting, researching, and listening to other owners who made it seem like getting started was a smooth process. I failed in connecting with a mentor who was already operating in the lane I wanted to enter and in a market that was similar to mine. Had I done that, it would have saved me a lot of time, energy, and money.
We’ve been impressed with The Hive on Loockerman, LLC. , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Hive uses a member-based model to support entrepreneurs and non-profit founders with the space, equipment, resources, and professional networks necessary to position their businesses for growth and long-term success.
Our primary offerings include hourly space rentals, business essentials (e.g. virtual mailbox, public notary services, document copying, printing, and secure shredding, etc.), and event planning services. Photographers, videographers, and podcasters are also finding their home away from home in our Maker Space – a room dedicated to creatives.
As the event industry shifts towards providing more personalized and unique business and event experiences, our team is passionate about creating a safe space where founders can take risks, increase exposure, and challenge the possibilities of their brand. We believe that by supporting local entrepreneurs and change-makers, we can promote small business development, community engagement, and a more vibrant and sustainable economy for Kent County.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that Dover makes way for dreamers to walk boldly into the pursuit of financial freedom by providing the support we need to succeed.
Both the City of Dover and the State of Delaware offer layers of financial and economic development support through programs with the United Way of Delaware, Small Businesses Development Center, SCORE, Launcher, Downtown Development District, and more. There are grants, incentives, and tax credits designed for small businesses, women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses. This is key because starting a business is tough! Then, when you add working a full-time job, with a husband and two busy kids, the journey becomes even tougher. Nevertheless, Dover makes jumpstarting the journey possible.
On the flip side, when it comes to sustainability and small business success, we know that 20% of new businesses will fail within the first year, 30% by the second year, and by the 5th year, 50 % will shut their doors for any number of reasons [Bureau of Labor Statistics].
This is a problem, especially when 41% of small business owners belong to marginalized groups, such as minority-owned or women-owned, and it’s an even bigger problem when our failure is caused by the systems put in place to help us succeed.
So while my super mom, save-the-day mentality wants to wave a wand and fix it all, I know that I can’t – not alone. Therefore my goal is to identify and support legislators and community change agents who can turn the tide and create a more equitable sector for small business owners, particularly women, in our city.
We need legislation that mitigates barriers to small business growth and sustainability; we need policies that protect the investments small business owners are making to change the trajectory of roadblocks that grossly impact communities of color;
We need streamlined regulations that simplify and reduce the administrative burden imposed on small businesses;
We need local tax incentives specifically tailored to small businesses that can alleviate financial burdens; and…
We need transparent platforms that make this information accessible and easy to understand.
This is an area of improvement that I am becoming very passionate about.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thldover.com
- Instagram: @thldover
- Facebook: @thldover
