As CRO (Chief Relationship Officer), Bryant Wallace continuously seeks and establish alliances with key stakeholders and decision makers. His natural proclivity as a conduit has eased the process for buyers to fulfill local spend objectives, and presented immense opportunities for local small and mid-sized business owners, their families, and the community-at-large.

 

He is a staunch supporter of small business, and has owned I.T. security company, WallScott Solutions, for over 20 years. His company offers cost-effective cyber security solutions to small businesses in high data breach risk industries.

 

Bryant serves on several community boards and organizations including the Rotary Club, Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and The Chessmen Club.

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“I am an advocate for small business, which is the driving force in the local economic ecosystem. ELM is an inclusive economic ecosystem of institutions interconnected with local small businesses to keep dollars in the local economy.”

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Bryant is a University of Northern Iowa alumnus, and long-time Evanston resident.

 

Clarence  Weaver joined the ELM team in November 2020. He offers over 40 years of IT industry expertise managing, building, implementing, and integrating systems for the insurance, banking, financial markets, and not-for-profit organizations. In his current role, Clarence has focused on engaging Institutional Buyers and Vendors and driving the vision to connect Institutions and Minority and Women-owned businesses together.

 

Clarence is an active member of many organizations and sits on the board of organizations including Black Business Consortium Evanston NorthShore (BBCENS), Youth Organization Umbrella (Y.O.U), The Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club and serves on the Ministerial Team at Second Baptist Church. Clarence and his wife Wendy own C&W Market and Ice Cream Parlor.

 

They have partnered with local organizations to address food insecurity. In doing so, C&W Foundation has been established to drive funding support, create a food pantry and training programs that assist with workforce development efforts for students, seniors, and marginalized resources.

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Clarence is a graduate of Control Data Institute and continues his learning with DePaul & Northwestern University.

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Anita Summers has worked within corporate, legal, private and non profit sectors for over 20 years. Her entre to grantwriting initiated in 2001 while consulting with Streetwise Newspaper in Chicago. Anita's grantsmanship expanded in her role as the first Development Director at the South Side Community Art Center.

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She has effectively liaised with Fortune 500 companies and assisted business owners with funding and earning new business. She continuously establishes and launches new entities for aspiring entrepreneurs and written and managed nonprofit and for-profit grants. She tenaciously works to ensure ELM critical functions within her purview create scalability and sustainability.

 

Anita studied journalism at U of M in Minnesota, Paralegal studies at Roosevelt University, earned a B.A. from Metro State University in St. Paul, MN and an MBA from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA.