 In just a few months, TAP helped Shakeia Brodie, founder of Arise Renewed Counseling LLC, increase new monthly clients by 60%, raise her website conversion rate by 21%, and save $100 per month by subleasing her office space.  Shakeia is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC, LPC) based in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, she launched Arise Renewed Counseling in 2021 to address mental health needs she saw go unmet in her community. A mother of two and the primary earner for her family, she is deeply driven by both personal experience and a desire for professional independence.  As a solo practitioner, Shakeia faced a unique set of challenges common to many independent therapy practices, including:
 TAP consultants focused on highly tailored, achievable solutions:
“TAP helped me view my business from a different perspective to identify my true brand. The most useful was the website feedback/analysis. Since modifying my website I find that each week I find something small to change that improves it based on feedback from my consultants. My work with TAP led to a complete change to my website” – Shakeia Brodie.  As a solo practitioner, Shakeia faces the unique challenge of balancing her role as a therapist with the demands of running a business. TAP’s support helped her thrive in both roles by offering clarity, confidence, and meaningful growth. “My TAP consultants were amazing. They both went above and beyond to help me make my business a success.” - Shakeia Brodie.  Shakeia continues to evolve Arise Renewed Counseling. She is currently managing without an assistant and searching for someone who can also take over billing. Despite broader industry slowdowns, she is staying focused and future-oriented with a stronger foundation thanks to TAP.
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 At TAP, transformative impact starts with aligned minds working toward a common goal. This spring, we were honored to be one of nine New York City nonprofits selected for the 2025 Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge, a pro bono initiative that pairs nonprofits with rising leaders across Morgan Stanley to solve strategic challenges. Over the course of ten weeks, TAP partnered with a cross-functional team of Morgan Stanley professionals from investment management, corporate services, sustainable ventures, and wealth management. The team was tasked with creating a set of recommendations in response to our question, “How best to expand TAP’s reach and impact?” The team conducted in-depth interviews with TAP staff and external stakeholders and analyzed four potential cities for expansion. Their research identified Miami as the most strategic choice. Beyond selecting a location, they developed a broader roadmap to guide TAP’s national growth while deepening local engagement in high-impact communities.  The Strategy Challenge is a standout example of employee engagement done right. These programs do more than support nonprofits. They create growth opportunities for employees, foster collaboration across divisions, and strengthen corporate commitment to social impact. TAP benefited from the team’s diverse perspectives and rigorous analysis. As Morgan Stanley team member Alvin Flete shared: “Together, we tackled a mission-critical strategic question, providing customized analysis and actionable recommendations to support TAP’s mission. A big thank you to Jane Veron and the TAP team for your unwavering partnership and support throughout the challenge.”  The challenge concluded with final presentations from all nine participating nonprofit teams. TAP’s team earned third place, along with a $10,000 grant from Morgan Stanley. “Morgan Stanley’s Strategy Challenge is a testament to how the private sector can support mission-driven organizations in solving critical challenges,” said Jane Veron, TAP CEO. “We are excited to work alongside their top talent to advance our strategies, expand our reach, and maximize our impact on under-resourced small businesses.”  Partnerships with TAP take many forms. Whether you are a corporation, foundation, donor, or government agency, TAP offers tailored, high-impact partnerships aligned with your goals. From CSR and employee engagement to advancing economic mobility and job creation, TAP serves as a force multiplier, delivering measurable results and long-term community impact while expanding our capacity to support small businesses and create meaningful opportunities for professionals. We are grateful to Morgan Stanley for championing the employee engagement model and to the Challenge team members who brought their insights and dedication to the table.  Visit the Strategy Challenge Website  Fill out our interest form here.
Together, we can accelerate small business growth and create a stronger economy.
 At The Acceleration Project (TAP), volunteering is a two-way exchange. Consultants lend their time and expertise to support small businesses in under-resourced communities, offering strategic guidance in operations, finance, marketing, growth, and more. In return, they gain access to a robust professional development platform that includes live trainings, curated resources, peer networking, and opportunities to build both existing and new skills.  All consultants are invited to participate in professional development sessions offered throughout the year. New cohorts receive five dedicated onboarding sessions, while advanced trainings are open to the full consultant community. Recent offerings include:  This hands-on session helped consultants explore how artificial intelligence can be practically applied to small business environments. They learned to navigate generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude and practiced prompt engineering to produce compelling marketing content, analyze spreadsheets, and automate operational tasks. The session highlighted low-cost tools that small businesses can realistically adopt, and included discussions of ethics, privacy, and real-world use cases from the field.  Focused on learning how to protect sensitive data and guard against phishing, smishing, and credential harvesting, this session provided nonprofit-specific context and clear takeaways. Consultants were trained to identify threats, recommend password and data handling protocols, and coach clients on basic cybersecurity hygiene.  In this interactive session, consultants were trained to lead thoughtful discussions around brand identity, positioning, and storytelling. The goal was to help entrepreneurs move beyond generic messaging and build authentic emotional connections with their audiences.  What makes these sessions so effective is TAP’s commitment to consultants training consultants. Each session was led by a fellow TAP professional, reinforcing the power of peer learning within a highly experienced network.
 These trainings do more than strengthen TAP’s consulting impact. They offer consultants a platform for continued growth, whether they are exploring new directions or seeking to stay professionally sharp. “We’ve built TAP to be a place where impact and development go hand in hand,” says Amber Yusef, TAP’s Senior Director of Talent Operations. “Our consultants deliver meaningful support to small business owners, but they also gain confidence, clarity, and real-world experience that supports their own goals, whether that’s returning to the workforce, shifting careers, or staying professionally active.”   TAP has evolved since its 2012 founding as a platform to support professionals reentering the workforce. Today:
 While working with TAP, many consultants discover new interests or gain clarity that leads them to pivot into new industries. TAP provides the structure and stimulation to support these transitions while creating meaningful social impact.  If you are a professional looking for a skill-based volunteer experience that grows with you, now is the time.
Apply to join the next TAP consultant cohortBuild your future while helping others build theirs. [Apply]  As CEO of TAP, I’ve been reflecting on how families are rethinking the future of work. A recent article from Inc.com explores a growing trend: more young adults are choosing to join their family business. In a tough job market, many are discovering that working alongside a parent is not a fallback. It is a purposeful path that offers meaning, connection, and a chance to build something lasting. At TAP, we see this every day. Many of the entrepreneurs we support are not just building businesses. They are building legacies. They involve their children in daily operations, share values through their work, and plan for the future of their companies as a source of strength for the next generation.
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