Meet Sharon E.A. Coleman | Co-Owners of FIT Enterprises

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sharon E.A. Coleman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sharon, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
Becoming partners with Natalie Rowe played a pivotal role. Combining our talents, skills and vision into one allowed us the opportunity to accomplish more together than independently. Having a partner to strategize with, share the workload, and specifically someone who is stronger in areas that you aren’t makes the process more enjoyable. It also has helped us establish a better work life balance.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are passionate about helping communities and serving people, but the hardest part was starting a business without the full vision. We didn’t intend to go into business, the need found us. We started with a project plan not a business plan, and we were challenged with deciding which of our passions our business would focus on? Food insecurity, community development, women empowerment, and/or art and culture. We decided on them all! We created a plan that would allow us to do everything we wanted to do. We are very faithful. Our joke is we’re pinky, and God’s the brain. We ask him “How are we going to take over the community today God?” We decided on FIT Enterprises.

FIT Enterprises is the parent company of four boutique firms: Artwalk Presents, Askcolestars, Enterprise Empress & SPROUT. Under the FIT umbrella, its firms specialize in services that preserve art and culture, provide organizational support and development, women empowerment, and food insecurity. We help make communities FIT through collaborations and programming. FIT produces sustainable projects by partnering with sustainable entities within the community; We call it our FIT paradigm. We combine community and faith based organizations, government and businesses in projects that better serve the residents of our communities.

Askcolestars is a production company that provides organizations with administrative, management, development, and implementation support.

Artwalk Presents focuses on producing art and culture projects such as community festivals and artistic experiences.

Enterprise Empress (E2) is a women’s empowerment brand created to connect multifaceted women through media, conferences, and e-commerce merchandise. We highlight women from the community, bi-weekly on Miami Community News, during our “Today’s Jackie Show” (the Jackie of all trades, Master of her empire) and monthly in the Gospel Truth Magazine.

SPROUT is a nonprofit that’s combating food insecurity and serving residents through community refrigerators with free groceries, aeroponic gardens, and developing programs on healthy food education.

We don’t want to be put in a box. With the right team, processes and procedures, software, technology, time management, and work ethics, we are able to accomplish so much in this partnership while offering jobs and supporting communities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well of course I’m passionate about South Miami-Dade. There is so much for people to enjoy south that is overlooked. I would take them to experience our local winery & brewery at Schnebly Winery & Miami Brewing Company. The drinks, scenery, and food are worth the drive. The winery gives you a tropical countryside and the brewery is like Wynwood in the Redlands. Plus we plan Artwalk Redlands there, so why not support those who support you! Next we have to try any of Chef Adrianne’s Restaurants, especially Redfish in the historic Matheson Hammock Park or her vineyard in Kendall Town & Country. Then a day in Wynwood for art, dancing, and good food. Love, love, love Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen & Coyo Taco. Most of all we must enjoy the beaches and a massage day. When you work as hard as we do, self care is a must!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Natalie & I didn’t intend to go into business together. We were both separately producing and administering community programs when the newly elected City of Homestead Councilwoman Jenifer N. Bailey’s team contacted me. She heard of my work and wanted help creating and producing an event that would combine her passion for the arts, community based organizations, youth, and education. At that time, I didn’t have a company and when I mentioned the opportunity to my boss Mark Valentine, he said “then let’s start you a company.” He not only helped me start a company but he suggested that I contact Natalie, a former co-worker, to assist. Natalie had a business called ASK that focused on administrative support and eagerly partnered with me to produce the event. That was the beginning of Colestars Production. The project did so well that we not only continue to produce art and culture events for communities, but we decided to combine our businesses and created Askcolestars. Mark’s support, Bailey’s initiative, and our partnership was the beginning of not one but multiple business ventures to come. The best part is the same team of women that volunteered to help us produce the one vision are now our team consultants helping manage and execute the multiple visions. We believe teamwork really does make the dream work!

Website: https://www.fitenterprisesinc.com/

Instagram: fitenterprises; enterpriseempress; artwalkpresents; sharonea2; natalielrowe

Linkedin: fitenterprisesinc; Sharon EA Coleman; rowenatalie

Twitter: @fitenterprises1; enterpriseempr1

Facebook: fitenterprisesinc; enterpriseempress; Sharonea2; natalie.rowe.31

Youtube: Enterprise Empress

Image Credits
Lucho Marquez