Rebuilt, Rebranded, and Digitally Ready: How NBIC Helped a Veteran Entrepreneur Start Again with Confidence
Rebuilt, Rebranded, and Digitally Ready: How NBIC Helped a Veteran Entrepreneur Start Again with Confidence For more than 20 years,
Rebuilt, Rebranded, and Digitally Ready: How NBIC Helped a Veteran Entrepreneur Start Again with Confidence For more than 20 years,
When Celisa Webster first joined the Nashville Business Incubation Center’s (NBIC) Groundwork program in 2020, she didn’t just want to build a cleaning company; she wanted to build a community of excellence. She already had purpose: a passion for excellence, integrity, and community. But what she needed was proof: systems, structure, and measurable growth. Her vision for Luminary Cleaning Services was never just about cleaning spaces; it was about creating opportunities for Nashville residents and modeling what good business looks like when integrity leads the way.
From Small Town Fields to Strong Foundations
Brandon Mason’s construction roots go back to his family’s Kentucky farm, where he learned discipline and labor early. Surrounded by relatives in residential construction, he developed a strong foundation in materials, timelines, and accountability. That hands-on experience led him to earn a Construction Management degree from Western Kentucky University and manage large commercial and infrastructure projects, ranging from $5 million to over $500 million.
In 2019, Brandon launched BCMason Group, focused on industrial and infrastructure projects. While the firm gained a reputation for performance, operational complexity increased with contracts, from estimating and financial controls to project tracking and client communication.
In construction, growth isn’t just about breaking ground on bigger projects. It’s about building smarter behind the scenes. For Brandon Mason, founder of BCMason Group, real progress came from operational clarity, profitability alignment, and support from the Nashville Business Incubation Center (NBIC).
From Small Town Fields to Strong Foundations
Brandon Mason’s construction roots go back to his family’s Kentucky farm, where he learned discipline and labor early. Surrounded by relatives in residential construction, he developed a strong foundation in materials, timelines, and accountability. That hands-on experience led him to earn a Construction Management degree from Western Kentucky University and manage large commercial and infrastructure projects, ranging from $5 million to over $500 million.
In 2019, Brandon launched BCMason Group, focused on industrial and infrastructure projects. While the firm gained a reputation for performance, operational complexity increased with contracts, from estimating and financial controls to project tracking and client communication.
In construction, growth isn’t just about breaking ground on bigger projects. It’s about building smarter behind the scenes. For Brandon Mason, founder of BCMason Group, real progress came from operational clarity, profitability alignment, and support from the Nashville Business Incubation Center (NBIC).
From Small Town Fields to Strong Foundations
Brandon Mason’s construction roots go back to his family’s Kentucky farm, where he learned discipline and labor early. Surrounded by relatives in residential construction, he developed a strong foundation in materials, timelines, and accountability. That hands-on experience led him to earn a Construction Management degree from Western Kentucky University and manage large commercial and infrastructure projects, ranging from $5 million to over $500 million.
In 2019, Brandon launched BCMason Group, focused on industrial and infrastructure projects. While the firm gained a reputation for performance, operational complexity increased with contracts, from estimating and financial controls to project tracking and client communication.
In today’s fast-moving economy, staying competitive means more than just working harder – it means working smarter. And for entrepreneurs in their 30s, 40s or 50s, sometimes life looks like juggling a full-time job, raising a family, and running the business on the side. But what if the key to your success was found at the click of a button or the stroke of a key?
At the Nashville Business Incubation Center (NBIC), we’ve spent nearly four decades guiding entrepreneurs through the real-world challenges of building scalable businesses. Now, more than ever, the biggest threat to growth is falling behind in the digital-first world.
In today’s fast-moving economy, staying competitive means more than just working harder – it means working smarter. And for entrepreneurs in their 30s, 40s or 50s, sometimes life looks like juggling a full-time job, raising a family, and running the business on the side. But what if the key to your success was found at the click of a button or the stroke of a key?
At the Nashville Business Incubation Center (NBIC), we’ve spent nearly four decades guiding entrepreneurs through the real-world challenges of building scalable businesses. Now, more than ever, the biggest threat to growth is falling behind in the digital-first world.
Charlotte Peacock, Vice President at Republic Bank, is a dedicated NBIC volunteer whose passion for service has transformed countless entrepreneurs’ journeys. Her involvement began with leading E-Myth mastermind sessions, quickly expanding to panel discussions, loan committee participation, and one-on-one mentorship.
When the tornado, the pandemic and economic uncertainty disrupted small businesses, many entrepreneurs struggled to pivot online. NBIC, a longtime champion of business growth, faced a critical challenge—how to continue supporting entrepreneurs when traditional, in-person programming was no longer possible.
The answer came through the expertise of Millennials and Gen Z. As digital-first generations, they helped NBIC and small business owners embrace technology, ensuring businesses could not only survive but also scale in a new economic landscape.
In 2018, Aleyda Sanchez founded Central Care Counseling Services with a singular mission: to provide culturally competent mental health services to the Hispanic and Latino communities. She started as a solo practitioner, driven by a desire to break down the significant taboos surrounding mental health within her community. However, as her practice grew, so did the challenges of scaling while maintaining high-quality, personalized care.
Sierra Henley Ashburn joined NBIC in December 2024 as a Special Projects Manager consultant. She now serves full-time as an Outreach Coordinator, focused on building community partnerships and supporting event and program execution. In this role, she works across NBIC’s Construction Consortium and the Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) Emerging Contractors and Mentor Protégé programs. She also serves as the staff liaison for the NBIC Young Leaders Board.
Beyond NBIC, Sierra is the founder and lead operations strategist of Amplified Innovation, a fractional operations firm serving nonprofits and mission-driven service businesses. She partners with leaders and teams to translate impactful visions into clear, actionable systems, helping organizations thrive in their zone of genius by aligning internal infrastructure with core values.
Sierra is an active member of Nashville’s nonprofit community, a Young Leaders Council graduate, and currently serves on the board of From Your Father as Systems and Operations Lead.
She is a strong believer in NBIC’s approach of meeting entrepreneurs where they are; equipping them with the tools and support to grow, create community impact, and build a lasting legacy.
Patrick Walker-Reese, MPA is an established and celebrated speaker and educator. Patrick Walker-Reese, or Mr. Reese, as his students commonly refer to him as has dedicated his work to serve his own community. He has motivated and encouraged youth and adults alike to dare to dream and to strive for greatness every day.
Patrick Walker-Reese is the epitome of resilience. Directly translating in his teachings, his ability to make powerful connections and impacts on each individual who attends a workshop or speech he gives. He made it and is living the life of his dreams. This message is especially powerful to youth who are lacking ambition and guidance. Patrick attended Tennessee State University. Although school never came easy for Patrick, whose knack was always for speaking but not the traditional educational curriculum, he graduated from Tennessee State University with a History degree in 2010. His educational pursuits did not end there. He received his Masters from Tennessee State University in Public Administration in 2014.
In 2012 he formed ASPIRE LLC, an Educational Consulting Firm. Aspire specializes in highly interactive motivational presentations, workshops, curriculum, and literature. ASPIRE has worked with varied reputable organizations and companies such as The National Urban League, Caterpillar Financial, Metro Nashville Public Schools, YMCA, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, Clemson University, University of DC. The list of who ASPIRE has worked with has continued to grow. Now including, 100 Black Men “100 Kings” program, Oasis Center, The Educate ME HBCU College Tour, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, Boys And Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, and a host of professional athletes.
Patrick has authored two books on self-help and socio-emotional development. Patfacts Volume 1: From One Dreamer to Another and Patfacts Volume 2: More Than a Dream. The latter of which was self-published through his newest business venture Aspire Publishing. Designed to turn dreamers into published authors.
Victor Tyler serves as a Digital Asset Specialist at NBIC, where he manages, organizes, and creates digital media resources that support the organization’s storytelling. In this role, he ensures that NBIC’s growing online presence remains cohesive, engaging, and aligned with its brand identity.
Before joining NBIC, Victor built a career in art direction and content production, leading campaigns that combined strategic storytelling with result-driven creative. His experience spans brand development, media production, and digital marketing.
Victor is passionate about using creativity to bridge artistry with strategy to help ideas come to life. Outside of work, he enjoys drawing, running, and exploring new places to eat, often finding inspiration for his work in the world around him.
Dr. Contrecia “Dr. T” Tharpe joined NBIC in November 2025 as Marketing and Communications Manager, bringing more than 15 years of experience in brand strategy, marketing, and communications leadership. A visionary strategist known for her creativity and results-driven approach, she leads NBIC’s brand, storytelling, and communications efforts with a focus on amplifying the voices of entrepreneurs and positioning NBIC as a leader in inclusive business growth.
Before joining NBIC, Dr. T built an impressive career spanning entrepreneurship, consulting, and organizational leadership. As Founder and Chief Brand Strategy Architect of FayeVaughn Creative, a full-service agency serving startups through Fortune 500 companies, she has helped organizations across industries craft powerful narratives, elevate visibility, and drive measurable results.
Her expertise bridges creativity and strategy, combining data-driven marketing with authentic storytelling to strengthen brand trust and engagement.
Beyond her role at NBIC, Dr. T serves as President of Nashville Cable, the region’s premier network for women in leadership. A sought-after advisor and speaker, she is passionate about helping others build brands that mean business, strengthen communities, and reflect the power of purpose.
Dynamic, forward-thinking, and unapologetically authentic, Dr. T embodies NBIC’s mission to inspire innovation and empower entrepreneurs to grow, scale, and thrive.
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Octavia Wilson-Simmons brings more than 20 years of diverse industry experience to her role at NBIC, where she drives operational excellence, grant compliance, and technological innovation. She began her career in the oil and gas sector in 2000 as a Contract Analyst, where she developed expertise in contract negotiation, trading operations, and stakeholder management.
Over the course of her career, Octavia expanded her skills across account management, operational optimization, and project coordination, gaining cross-industry experience that includes consulting and healthcare. Her transition into consulting in 2021 further honed her ability to streamline logistics and operations for business growth, while her work in healthcare deepened her customer-first approach and adaptability.
Since joining NBIC in 2022, Octavia has been a driving force behind key operational improvements, data-driven decision-making, and program support initiatives that empower small businesses to scale. She leverages platforms such as Zendesk, Looker, and Salesforce to optimize workflows, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and enhance service delivery for entrepreneurs.
Passionate about creating efficient systems and sustainable impact, Octavia’s expertise in operations management, compliance, technology integration, and strategic support ensures NBIC’s entrepreneurs have the foundation needed for long-term success.