Presenter: Pernell Cezar, founder of BLK & Bold Date: February 5, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Come and listen to the stories of entrepreneurs, small business owners and community members making their mark in Iowa. As you create your own story, treat yourself to this time each month to rekindle your entrepreneurial spirit and connect with others. In February listen to the amazing story of Pernell Cezar, founder of BLK & Bold. About our speaker Pernell Cezar is the CEO and Co-Founder of BLK & Bold, the first-ever black-owned nationally distributed coffee that makes social impact a priority. Pernell is an accomplished sales executive, successful entrepreneur and leader with more than 10 years of leadership success, significantly in retail. His diverse portfolio which spans from merchandising and negotiations at Target Corp, sales and business development at SheaMoisture, and more, highlights his ability to influence and build brands at scale whether start-ups or multi-national brands. As a longstanding sales executive and advisor to other emerging packaged goods brands, Pernell continues to change the way black-owned brands and consumer dollars are respected and supported by retailers. The entrepreneur now has his sights set on his own company, BLK & Bold. BLK & Bold is founded in his core values: social impact, quality product and community. Pernell takes much of his inspiration from his own upbringing where philanthropy and community programming helped his widowed mother take care of Pernell and his sister. Pernell earned his Bachelors in 2010 at University of Northern Iowa, with majors in Finance and Marketing. BLK & Bold recently achieved 2019 Des Moines NAACP Small Business of the Year.