From Surviving to Thriving: The 7-Figure Success Journey

Facilatator:

John Schoeniger brings over 25 years of experience in community development finance, including 18 years as Loan Fund Manager at Detroit Development Fund. In that role, he was instrumental in facilitating the financing of hundreds of small businesses and affordable housing units throughout Detroit.

Before transitioning to community lending, John owned and operated a construction company and developed residential real estate, giving him hands-on insight into the challenges entrepreneurs face. He also served for a decade on both the Board of Directors and the Loan Committee for ProsperUS, helping shape strategy and expand access to capital for historically underserved entrepreneurs. He is also a founding Board Member of the Detroit CDFI Coalition.

Panelist:

Tanya Saldivar-Ali, Business Development Director and co-founder of AGI Construction in Southwest Detroit, brings over two decades of experience as a respected community leader committed to equity, sustainability, and opportunity for Detroiters. Alongside her husband, Luis Ali, she launched AGI in 2008 as a service-disabled veteran-owned, Native American–owned, minority-owned general contracting firm, which grew from $180,000 in revenue in 2015 to an estimated $1.2 million by 2018. Saldivar-Ali recently founded DFO313, AGI’s social impact arm focused on building capacity and connecting tangible opportunities for local contractors. Her background in corporate administration, fund development, real estate, and construction management—shaped by her inner-city upbringing—guides her mission-driven, relationship-based approach to design-build projects that center community health and long-term sustainability over competition.

Panelist:

Donald Bryant Jr. is the founder of The Alden Group (dba Alden Oils), a certified Minority Business Enterprise and international supplier of specialty Non-GMO and organic cooking oils—including avocado, sunflower, and canola oils—to major clients such as Frito Lay, Unilever, Mondelez, Biscoff Cookies, and Papa John’s Pizza. Founded in 2007, the company operates with a dedicated team of about 10 professionals, with offices in Michigan and South Dakota, refining and co-packing operations in Iowa, and warehousing in Michigan. With estimated annual revenue of around $10 million, Alden Oils has carved out a strong niche in the global oil supply chain. Donald, a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the Broad School of Management, also serves as a guest lecturer at MSU and is a proud father of three—Kennedi, Isaiah, and Payton.

Panelist:

Hamissi Mamba, co-founder of the award-winning East African restaurant Baobab Fare in Detroit, is a former asylum seeker from Burundi whose journey reflects resilience, cultural pride, and community impact. Alongside his wife, Nadia Nijimbere, he arrived in Detroit as a refugee (Nadia in 2013, Hamissi in 2015) and launched food pop-ups in 2017 before opening Baobab Fare in 2021. Their work quickly gained national recognition—earning a spot on Eater’s list of “11 Best New Restaurants in America” in 2021, while Hamissi won Chopped in 2022 and became a James Beard Award semifinalist multiple times. Baobab Fare won $50,000 through Hatch Detroit in 2017—and also received substantial business support services. In addition, the Michigan Good Food Fund awarded them part of a $100,000 grant to grow their vision, contributing roughly $10,000 in Catalytic Investment Awards; later expanding into ventures like Waka and Soko to create opportunities for immigrants and first-generation entrepreneurs. Mamba’s story is rooted in flavor and purpose, turning challenge into a platform for empowerment.

Host or Publisher SpaceLab Detroit