Everybody’s Business - Providence Business News

INSPIRED TO HELP: Saikon Gbehan Isijola, owner of the Law Office of Saikon Gbehan LLC in Providence, launched the business in 2010 to represent and advocate for people from “communities that are disadvantaged, disenfranchised or under-resourced.” PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

She’s motivated to balance the scales of justice for people of...

Entrepreneurship 03/03/2023

(Editor’s note: This is the 31st installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

FAMILY MEETING: Andrew Torrado, left, and Luis C. Torrado, second from left, speak with their father, Luis A. Torrado, president of L. A. Torrado Architects Inc. in Providence. Torrado’s sons are project managers at the company. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

An architect with designs on boosting minority firms

Business Services 02/03/2023

(Editor’s note: This is the 30th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

HITTING HIS GOAL: Nic Cortes, owner of Cortes BJJ LLC, leads one of the classes at his jiu-jitsu studio in Warwick, which offers self-defense programs, fitness and strength conditioning. Cortes realized his dream of starting his own academy when he opened his studio in 2017. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s Business: A display of fighting spirit to overcome obstacles

Everybody's Business 01/06/2023

(Editor’s note: This is the 29th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

THROUGH HIS LENS: Xander Monge says he has not experienced overt discrimination in his business dealings since establishing his media services and video production company, but he’s aware of the differences between him and many of the people who hire him.  PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s Business: ‘Oblivious to the risk,’ Monge went off script

Entrepreneurship 12/09/2022

(Editor’s note: This is the 28th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

PBN named ‘Newspaper of the Year,’ honored for minority business series

Economy 12/08/2022

PROVIDENCE – For the third year in a row, Providence Business News has been recognized as “Newspaper of the Year” among specialty publications by...

CREATIVE SPACE: Subham Sett, pictured, launched Ohanga Inc. with his wife, Yuping Wang, as a digital marketplace and gallery for local artists and makers to connect with the public, as well as to connect technology and art, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Last fall Ohanga opened a physical location at Garden City Center in Cranston. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s Business: Forming a marketplace for a diverse arts community

Entrepreneurship 11/11/2022

(Editor’s note: This is the 27th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each is asked their views on...

SEIZING THE MOMENT: After working as a technician in the printing business for more than a decade, Gary Wallace, owner of Hall of GraFX in Providence, jumped at the chance to start his own print shop when one of his customers decided to retire and Wallace purchased his printing equipment for $12,000. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s Business: ‘I had no business plan … I invested...

Business Services 10/14/2022

(Editor’s note: This is the 26th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

LOOKING FOR TIDY PROFITS: Daneshwar “Dan” Persaud, who operates Taj Commercial Cleaning LLC, says the state’s minority business enterprise program that guarantees a certain percentage of state contracts be awarded to minority-owned companies has a lot of room for improvement.  PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s Business: ‘I really feel like I’m alone’

Entrepreneurship 09/02/2022

(Editor’s note: This is the 25th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each is asked about their views...