Tanesha Sims-Summers

Co-Founder of Naughty But Nice Kettle Corn Co.

Best Advice: The best advice I’ve ever received, is enjoy the process and doubt your limits.

Tanesha Sims-Summers, an award winning graduate from UAB, where she studied marketing and Spanish, has always had a passion for people and community. After nearly 15 years in a corporate career in investment banking and later digital marketing, she decided that the time had come to pursue her passion of entrepreneurship. While kettle corn was never on her radar of pursuits, it has become a fun endeavor that has been the catalyst to the work she feels God has called her to do. She co-owns and operates Naughty But Nice Kettle Corn Co. with her rock and ride or die partner in business and in life, husband Clem Summers. Her joy is in raising her four extraordinary children.

NBNKC, based in Birmingham and established in 2014, has coined itself as Birmingham and Beyond’s Favorite Snack, specializing in unique sweet and salty kettle corn blends. Their small batch kettle-to-hand process allows for the freshest snack possible. The high quality flavorings keep “Popheads” (customers) coming back for more. NBNKC helps people celebrate life’s sweet moments whether it’s weddings, employee engagement celebrations or a family movie night.

It’s not just popcorn with NBNKC; the brand is fun, fresh and festive and exists to make the world a sweeter place to live.

“We are a proud Top 40 Under 40 Recipient 2020 recipient. Minority Business of the Year Recipient 2021; Goldman Sachs 10KSB Graduate 2021; SBA Emerging Leaders Graduate, 2018; Trufund EmpowHER Graduate 2019; CARA Graduate 2021 and 2022; Co Starters Graduate 2015; PNC Bank Big Pitch Winner 2015; Renasant and Roots Accelerator with Birmingham Business Resource Center Graduate, 2019; Small Business Council for the City of Birmingham 2019 to present; I3 Academy Board Member, 2019; Jones Valley Teaching Farm Board Member, 2022; UAB Excellence in Business Top 25, 2022; and BADD Women 2023 Recipient.

Growing up as the village child, Tanesha sees the value in receiving support from the community as well as offering support. She is a mother of four extraordinary children—sons Jaylen 18 and Amir 17, and daughters Jacee 7 and Janaah 6, as well as fur baby Merry—who are her complete pride and joy, daily motivation, and one of the most important roles in her life.

Greatest Influence: Since I was the village child my major influences were my grandmother, dad, grandfather, my aunts and uncle, oh, and Oprah. They influenced me because they showed me daily the meaning of family and love. I learned sacrifice and the importance of serving. I watched Oprah as a young girl during some of my toughest times. We share similar stories regarding our maternal relationships and I have admired how she was able to grow and thrive and embrace this part of her life. I hope to be on her list on Oprah’s Favorite Things.

Greatest Influence- My greatest influence is my mom. She taught me to do everything with excellence and if I cant give it 150 percent don’t do it all. And that everything in life is mind over matter.

Ursula Smith

Founder and CEO of Ursula Smith Dance Company

Best advice: The best piece of advice I ever received was by a man named Willie Oneal, Jr. He told me to A.I.M for all things concerning your destiny!

(A) analyze, seek what your gifts are

(I) innovate create the platform for those gifts

(M) market your gifts to the masses and forever strive to make room for those gifts.

Ursula Smith has developed a unique track record as a choreographer who infuses together styles from many continents. Traces of dance from all over make up the essence of her namesake dance company, Ursula Smith Dance.

With more than two decades of dance experience, Ursula credits her diverse style to creative individuals who’ve come before her. Ursula Smith is both proud and humbled to have studied with amazing instructors during her creative and professional journey.

A true visionary and modern renaissance woman, Ursula Smith is the creator and developer of Dance N2 Destiny, Ursula Smith Dance (formerly Quantum Leaps Dance Company), and Feet That Preach. Through these programs, Ursula organizes and conducts annual workshops, conferences, and productions. Additionally, she now hosts annual pro-bono dance classes through an inspiring virtual program called “Rise: Rhythm Inside Experience.” Ursula is a pioneer for her generation, a respected teacher to many, and an inspiration to those that she encounters.

Ursula is determined to continue to fulfill the principal goal—to empower, impact, inspire and cultivate the artistic capacities of individuals. She does so through the art of dance, dance education, motivational speaking, and professional development workshops.

Most recently, Ursula transcended the holiday culture in Birmingham by introducing a massive holiday musical to the city scene that features a primarily African-American ensemble in a whimsical re-imagining of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Her now highly successful annual event is deemed “The Brown Sugar Nutcracker.” The production to date remains a sold-out favorite among audiences now for six years in a row.

Ursula is noted for quoting “To dance with destiny is to live in purpose,” a mantra that she resolves to embody in her daily living. A native of Birmingham, Ursula hails from a region of change-makers and innovators. This background coupled with her unrelenting faith fuels her overwhelming passion and pursuit to use dance as a source of inspiration, education, and communication for people of all ages.