Shara is an accomplished economic development professional with a decade of experience designing and executing small business development programs, optimizing commercial space usage, fostering strategic partnerships, and implementing outreach strategies for small and minority-owned enterprises. She has also established programs that help businesses navigate local, state, and federal government contracting and resources.
As a true entrepreneur at heart, Shara founded Caniventures, a consulting firm that assists new cannabis entrepreneurs, and SG Consulting, where she offers grant writing and project management services. Throughout her career, Shara has impacted over 4,000 entrepreneurs in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area and secured over $2.1 million in new funding. Her most notable program, CEO Growth Academy, saw its inaugural cohort collectively acquire $14.2 million in contracts while participating in the program. Additionally, Shara conducts workshops for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in collaboration with local community development organizations.
Shara graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Hampton University and obtained her MBA from Howard University. She currently serves as Program Director for the Women’s Business Center of Richmond and is a member of the young professional BRIDGE Board at the Metropolitan Business League. In her free time, she enjoys attending local festivals and exploring Richmond's picturesque sites.