How I Built This

Jaden Gross

Moderator

Junior Marketing Major, Coppin State University

Jaden Gross is a junior Marketing major at Coppin State University and will moderate the panel, guiding the conversation with our founders.

Brandon J. Hurst

Panelist

Multi-Unit Chick-fil-A Franchise Owner | Founder, Birth of a Dream Ventures

Brandon J. Hurst's entrepreneurship started in grade school with a lunchbox full of candy and a determination to create opportunity. After losing his mother at age 12, he learned that discipline, resilience, and resourcefulness were his greatest assets. A magna cum laude Accounting graduate of Alabama State University with an MBA in Finance, Brandon joined Chick-fil-A's Leadership Development Program before opening his first franchise in downtown Baltimore at 26, the city's first. He later opened the borough's first Chick-fil-A in Brooklyn, NY, across from the Barclays Center, plus a second location in Clinton Hill. Today he leads nearly 200 team members, founded Birth of a Dream Ventures to invest in aspiring entrepreneurs, and speaks nationwide on entrepreneurship, franchising, scaling businesses, and building generational wealth.

Kelly Martin-Perkins

Panelist

Founder of KMP Nails | Maryland-Licensed Cosmetologist | Nail Professional & Educator

Kelly Martin-Perkins is a Maryland-licensed cosmetology professional, licensed since 2012, specializing in the nail industry. Before founding KMP Nails in 2016, she worked in three Black-owned salons, gaining hands-on experience in nail enhancements, nail artistry, natural nail care, wellness pedicures, makeup, and waxing. She founded KMP Nails to give clients professional products and a more intentional approach to nail care, helping them address concerns like breakage, peeling, chipping, and green discoloration while maintaining their natural nail health. Kelly holds certifications in the IBX Strengthen System by Famous Names and CND, along with training in Minx lash services. Today she continues to build KMP Nails with a focus on quality service, client education, and personalized care, with plans to grow her team of beauty professionals and expand educational opportunities.

Susan Clayton

Panelist

Founder & Inventor | WhitePaws RunMitts

Susan Clayton is an entrepreneur, inventor, and founder of WhitePaws RunMitts, a Baltimore-based outdoor apparel company known for its patented convertible handwear. As a volunteer running coach with Back on My Feet, she noticed a fellow runner wearing gym socks over his hands on cold morning runs and set out to create something better. Years of designing and prototyping led to a U.S. utility patent and trademark, and in 2016 she launched WhitePaws RunMitts. The line now includes KiddieMitts for children, AdaptiveMitts for individuals with limb differences, and SweatMitts for athletes. Before founding the company, she co-owned a salon business for 27 years. Her journey has brought multiple pitch competition wins, a feature in GoDaddy's Made in America docuseries, retail placement in more than 100 REI stores nationwide, and a Walmart Open Call Golden Ticket, all while championing American manufacturing.