2ND ACT
WHERE GROWN FOLKS BUILD EMPIRES.
People ages 40–55 are one of the fastest-growing groups of new entrepreneurs. Are you ready? TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026
WELCOME TO YOUR 2ND ACT! You’re here for a reason. This room is filled with people who have done a lot already, built careers, raised families, led teams, navigated change, and survived more than a few pivots. And yet, something is shifting. Not because you failed, but because you’ve evolved. We are living in a moment where layoffs, industry shake-ups, and AI are rewriting the rules of work in real time. For many people, that disruption feels unsettling. But for others, including those who began reinventing themselves in their 30s and those stepping into it now in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, it’s creating something powerful: space to choose again. That’s why reinvention is rising, and why adults 40–55 are now one of the fastest-growing groups of new entrepreneurs. Your 2nd Act isn’t about starting over. It’s about starting from experience. Tonight is about reclaiming your narrative, your skills, and your vision for what comes next. You’ll hear from people who have faced uncertainty, made bold pivots, and built new chapters that reflect who they truly are, not just what they used to do. Some did it earlier, some are doing it now, but all of them chose to stop waiting and start building. Together, we’ll explore: · How to move forward with clarity instead of fear · How to turn experience into leverage · How to design a future that aligns with who you are now This isn’t a motivational speech. It’s a strategic reset. You’re not behind. You’re not too late. You’re not off track. You’re right on time for your 2nd Act. Welcome, let’s begin.
PROGRAM 6:00 pm
Reception (open for the full event)
6:20 pm
Welcome
6:30 pm
The Panel
7:15 pm
Gina B. Ramcharan
Moderator
Adrienne M. Fudge JoAni Johnson Dawn Kelly Rahshib Thomas
40 Dreams Catering JoAni Johnson The Nourish Spot RT Consulting
Fireside Chat Marcus Gonzales
Moderator
Karl Franz Williams
Uncle Waithley’s Beverage Co.
8:00 pm
Networking
8:45 pm
Evening close
WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR PARTNERS AT TD BANK This evening would not be possible without the partnership and commitment of TD Bank. We extend our sincere thanks to Ralph Bumbaca, Regional President of Metro New York, Marcus Gonzales, Vice President, Community Business Development Officer, and Natalie Wulff, Senior Executive Assistant, along with the entire TD Bank team who work behind the scenes to make this partnership not only successful but meaningful. TD Bank’s continued investment in entrepreneurs, career-changers, and business builders reflects a deep belief in economic mobility, inclusive opportunity, and the power of people to write their next chapter. Their support allows spaces like this one to exist, where ideas can grow, conversations can spark, and futures can take shape. We are grateful for TD Bank’s leadership, generosity, and shared commitment to empowering individuals as they step into their 2nd Act. Thank you for helping make tonight possible.
SPEAKERS
ADRIENNE M. FUDGE
Adrienne M. Fudge is the dynamic Founder and CEO of 40 Dreams Catering, Cooking Thyme, and THRIVE in Westfield, New Jersey. Adrienne's story is one of inspiring transformation and entrepreneurial resilience. While her love for cooking began as a bond with her mother at the age of seven, she initially pursued a successful career in Corporate America, earning a Master of Arts in Corporate Communication from Seton Hall University. For years, she applied her skills in human resource management within the pharmaceutical sector. However, after a pivotal moment in 2008, she followed her heart, attended culinary school, and launched her venture. The name 40 Dreams Catering is a nod to the year she turned 40 and stepped into her destiny. A Focus on Impact and Fun Facts Adrienne didn't just create a business; she created a mission. • In 2015, 40 Dreams Catering became the first and only independent company in New Jersey to specialize in preparing and delivering fresh, healthy, gourmet meals to seniors and disabled adults, primarily through a critical Medicaid-funded program. • Her commitment to health means every meal is crafted without added salt or sugar, focusing on being diabetic-friendly and nutritionally balanced. Today, her team cooks and delivers over 2,000 meals a week to senior citizens across Northern New Jersey. And on a more personal note, Adrienne is a woman who clearly thrives on dedication and connection: • Fun Fact: She is a licensed Foster Parent, demonstrating her deep commitment to nurturing the community. • Fun Fact: She also studied ballroom dancing, proving she knows how to pivot and lead with grace —both in business and on the dance floor! Adrienne is not just an award-winning entrepreneur—she is a leader recognized for her resilience, having navigated significant challenges, including successfully crowdfunding to keep her services running for the seniors who rely on her. She is a testament to what can be achieved when passion is put into service.
JoAni JOHNSON
Harlem-grown Model, Certified Tea Blender, Jewelry Creator, and Children’s Book author has been a work in progress, reinventing herself as years continually present opportunities. After a solid 25+ years in corporate advertising and starting her own tea business, she now finds herself in the heart of the fashion world at an unexpected age, disrupting fashion rules. She has graced the runways nationally and internationally and worked with many notables in the entertainment and fashion circles.
DAWN KELLY
Founder & CEO of The Nourish Spot Inc., Dawn Kelly opened the healthy food and beverage haven with her two young adult children in September 2017, after a 35+ year career in public relations and marketing communications. In May 2019, during Small Business Week, The Nourish Spot, which offers customers the opportunity to customize fresh produce into smoothies, salads, cold-pressed juices, sandwich wraps, and more, was recognized by the Small Business Administration as Microbusiness of the Year, NY District. Kelly has received numerous awards for her recent retail business success and community service, including recognition by New York State Senator Leroy Comrie as one of the 2020 Distinguished Women of the Year and selection as 1 of 6 statewide Entrepreneurs of the Year by the New York State ESD and the Queens Economic Development Committee. A graduate of the Interise and Goldman Sachs 10kSB programs, Kelly and her family also partner with nonprofit organizations to serve as a culinary and hospitality internship training ground for community youth and neighborhood fair-wage employers. Before taking the entrepreneurial leap, Kelly spent nearly 16 years at Fortune 500 firm Prudential Financial, where she held several leadership roles in the Global Communications department. During her tenure, Kelly led a team that provided ongoing internal communications and external media relations support for the company’s centers of excellence, including talent, global security, corporate citizenship, veterans’ initiative, and diversity and inclusion. Kelly also held responsibility for developing and implementing award-winning multi-faceted communications strategies for the parent company, the Foundation, as well as the Group Insurance, International Insurance, and Retirement businesses. Kelly also established an internship pipeline between her alma mater, Howard University, and the Global Communications department. Prior to joining Prudential in 1999, Kelly served as the director of public relations for York College/CUNY. Before York, Kelly held key media relations positions with AARP in Washington, D.C., during her 9-year tenure. Kelly, a member of NYC Queens Community Board 12, is also a member of the board of directors for the NYC Hospitality Alliance and the York College Foundation. Kelly also maintains membership in ColorComm, the National Association of Black Journalists, New York Women’s Culinary Alliance, and the Queens Chamber of Commerce, etc. A former sports journalist for the Amsterdam News, Kelly graduated from Howard University with a B.A. in African American studies, and she is also a graduate of the Women Unlimited LEAD program.
RAHSHIB THOMAS
Rahshib Thomas is the Founder and CEO of RT Consulting, a talent development firm that partners with organizations to build high-impact leadership pipelines and cohesive, high-performing teams. With over 20 years of experience shaping HR and L&D strategies within high-pressure, clientcentric industries including luxury real estate and hospitality, where developing talent directly impacts the bottom line, Rahshib now serves as a fractional learning and development leader for companies navigating growth and change. As an executive coach and strategic advisor, Rahshib specializes in translating complex people and organizational culture dynamics into actionable strategies. He works with leaders and teams to improve communication, strengthen collaboration, and implement sustainable practices that drive engagement and retention. His approach is grounded in practical business experience, focused on delivering measurable improvements in organizational effectiveness. Rahshib is a certified Professional Coach (ICF), a Certified Human Resources Professional (SHRM-CP/PHR).
KARL FRANZ WILLIAMS
Karl Franz Williams is a visionary entrepreneur, beverage thought leader, and cultural builder driving the future of beverage and hospitality. With more than 25 years of experience spanning Fortune 50 brand leadership, award-winning hospitality ventures, and community-shaping entrepreneurship, Karl brings a rare, end-to-end perspective on how brands, bars, and cultural movements are built—and scaled. He began his career in manufacturing and brand management at Procter & Gamble and Pepsi, where he helped launch category-defining innovations such as Mountain Dew Game Fuel and AMP Energy Shot, before leaving corporate leadership to build his own ventures at the intersection of culture, commerce, and community. Since 2004, Karl has founded and operated multiple pioneering hospitality concepts that helped define modern Harlem, including Society Coffee, 67 Orange Street—Harlem’s first craft cocktail bar and a nationally recognized institution named one of Esquire’s Top 27 Bars in America—and Solomon & Kuff, a landmark PanCaribbean rum bar and restaurant. He later revitalized the historic Anchor Spa in New Haven, Connecticut, further cementing his reputation for blending legacy, innovation, and placemaking. In 2021, Karl founded Uncle Waithley’s Beverage Company, personally developing the original recipe with bartenders and commercializing it into a fast-growing, award-winning premium non-alcoholic beverage brand. Under his leadership, Uncle Waithley’s scaled from a single SKU to a multi-SKU portfolio, earned multiple taste awards, became a Top 5 finalist for Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize, and was selected for UNFI UpNext and Whole Foods LEAP On the VERGE, ultimately securing an equity investment from Whole Foods Market. Today, the brand is distributed in 400+ on- and off-premise accounts nationwide. A recognized authority in spirits and beverage culture, Karl serves as faculty at B.A.R. 5-Day, where he teaches Tasting, Rum, and Non-Alcoholic Cocktails. He is a frequent speaker and educator at industry platforms, including BevNET Live, Newtopia Now, and the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival, and has been honored as a James Beard Foundation “Iconoclast” Spirits Professional. His work bridges technical mastery, cultural storytelling, and business strategy, making him a sought-after voice on beverage innovation, hospitality entrepreneurship, brand building, and community-driven development. Karl currently serves on the boards of the NYC Hospitality Alliance and the Town Green Special Services District in New Haven, and regularly advises founders, developers, and organizations seeking to build culturally resonant, economically sustainable hospitality and food & beverage platforms.
HOSTS
MARCUS GONZALES
Marcus Gonzales is the Vice President and Community Business Development Officer for TD Bank’s Metro NY area. One of only two such positions in the Bank’s Maine to Florida footprint. Starting his Banking career in 2004 at Commerce Bank (now TD Bank) as a parttime teller while finishing his degree at Baruch College. Throughout his tenure at TD Bank, he has held roles as a teller, customer service rep, administrative assistant, commercial loan rep, and relationship manager, all of which have ultimately helped prepare him for his role as Community Business Development Officer. Born in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrating to the U.S. with his family at the age of 6, he was practically raised by the communities around him in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and Far Rockaway, Queens. Attending P.S. 243, P.S. 104, I.S.53 (which was formerly a prison), and Hillcrest HS afforded him the public-school education he needed to give him the passion to do better. His strong Caribbean upbringing influenced his focus on education in life. He has facilitated career-day programs in schools, conducted College readiness programs with Big Brother Big Sister for high school seniors, and run workshops for business owners to ensure they have the tools necessary to succeed. Marcus works closely with Community, City, and State organizations to ensure that underserved communities receive the support and resources needed. He is focused on advocacy and on positively impacting diverse business communities, and his 18-plus years in banking have made him a trusted advisor to local business leaders and community organizations, partnering on financial empowerment.
GINA B. RAMCHARAN
Gina B. Ramcharan is a nationally recognized small-business strategist, ecosystem builder, and entrepreneurial leader who helps people and companies turn ideas into sustainable, scalable ventures. As Director of the New York Urban League Small Business SOLUTIONS Center, Gina leads one of the region’s most impactful platforms for business education, capital access, and entrepreneurial development, serving hundreds of founders each year through signature programs, pitch competitions, incubators, and corporate-supported initiatives. She is also the Founder and Chief Idea Curator of Idea Manufacturer, a boutique consulting firm she launched in 2013 to help entrepreneurs and organizations think more strategically, build smarter, and grow with intention. Through Idea Manufacturer, Gina has worked across industries, including consumer goods, food & beverage, fashion, beauty, construction, nonprofits, professional services, and technology, guiding clients through branding, financial modeling, growth strategy, and reinvention. Known for her ability to connect people, capital, and opportunity, Gina has partnered with organizations including the New York Urban League, SCORE NYC, Harlem Business Alliance, Harlem Commonwealth Council, the Citizens Committee for New York City, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to design programs that expand economic mobility and support women and BIPOC entrepreneurs. She is the architect and former Program Director of The Lillian Project, Harlem’s first business incubator for African American women. The National Urban League, Women In the Black, and Women of Color for Progress have recognized her for her leadership and impact. A graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Gina brings a rare blend of strategy, storytelling, and real-world business expertise to everything she builds, making her a powerful guide for anyone stepping into their next chapter.
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