CLE Consulting Firm Helping Companies Get Their Financial Footing

CLE Consulting Firm was birthed in January of 2017 as the two partners, who’ve known and respected each other’s work for many years, decided to combine their areas of expertise in a new venture. The company’s primary business is to support the financial health of small businesses and not-for-profits.

Economic Empowerment at The 100 Black Men of America and is one of Four for the Future programs. Financial literacy programs, reforming laws that allow women to apply for loans without a male relative’s permission, improved genderdisaggregated data, and promoting the development of digital payment systems can all help promote women’s financial inclusion. Cleveland chapter member LaRese Purnell serves as the co-chair for National. Purnell and his business partner Meltrice Sharp started their company, CLE Consulting.

CLE Consulting Firm was birthed in January of 2017 as the two partners, who’ve known and respected each other’s work for many years, decided to combine their areas of expertise in a new venture. The company’s primary business is to support the financial health of small businesses and notfor-profits. Financial experts Meltrice Sharp and LaRese Purnell are in the business of giving back. Through CLE Consulting, the accounting, tax, financial services, and business consulting firm they built, they help individuals and companies get their financial footing. And through their philanthropic activities, they help build up entrepreneurs and families, with a particular emphasis on Greater Cleveland’s Black community. Earlier this year, they established the CLE Impact Foundation Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Cleveland Foundation that will help them support initiatives that advance financial literacy and promote wealth creation that will sustain families and communities for generations. CLE’s team has broad business knowledge and financial expertise, making us valuable, trusted advisers. CLE is one asset you can only afford to do with as you plan, run, and grow your enterprise. CLE can provide all your fiscal needs at a fraction of the cost of hiring someone in-house. CLE’s team of experts and effective leadership can make the difference in you achieving your long-term growth strategy

LaRese Purnell, MBA Managing Partner

LaRese Purnell has 19 years of experience in business management, taxation, and finance. He is the current co-owner of Black Box Fix Restaurant located in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio and the Managing Partner of CLE Consulting Firm, an Accounting, Tax, and Payroll services company located in downtown Cleveland and one of the largest minority firms in Northeastern Ohio. He is a strong innovative financial and strategic leader with instinct and intellect, a formidable combination in the business world. He has served in executive positions within leading businesses and financial departments within multi-million dollar forprofit and nonprofit corporations.

LaRese received his MBA in Finance from the University of Toledo. He is currently pursuing his Master’s in Accountancy in Corporate Taxation from John Carroll University, with an expected completion date of Spring 2024. LaRese is committed to the community and its residents, so he serves on the following Board of Directors; he is currently the ChairElect of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, The Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital, Vice Chair for Cleveland Public Library Foundation, is the current Chairman of the BOD for Step Forward Today (formerly CEOGC), the most significant community action agency in the State of Ohio was recently named the CoChair of the National Board of the Economic Empowerment Program of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc, based in Atlanta, GA, and a board member of Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU). He is also a proud member of 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

He’s the author of Financial Foundations, Building Financial Freedom One Tool at a Time, where he uses everyday language to address the most fundamental questions people have about money. He has traveled to over 35-40+ cities nationally to teach financial literacy at various conventions, seminars, colleges and universities, and other events. He is also the founder and visionary behind The Real Black Friday is responsible for helping to bring awareness and providing access to blackowned businesses throughout Northeastern Ohio, with an over $5.5 million-dollar economic impact. He has been featured in various local and national publications and has appeared on multiple radio and television programs discussing various Financial matters. In 2023, he was named the National Ambassador for Our Money Matters. This organization is focused on creating wealth for students at HBCUs across America and working with organizations and nonprofits nationally to decrease the wealth gap in the black community. He was named one of Cleveland Magazines Most Interesting People, Smart Business 50 and Crain’s 40/40, and many other recognitions. Outside of work, LaRese stays busy spending time with his wife Rashaunda, son (Gaven) and (Mace) and daughter (Gabbi), serving the community, playing sports, and traveling.

Meltrice D. Sharp CPA

Meltrice D. Sharp, CPA, is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a managing partner at Creating Leading Enterprises (CLE) Consulting Firm, an accounting and consulting firm offering accounting, tax, payroll and business consulting services to small and middle-market companies, nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, and individuals. With more than twenty years as a CPA, Meltrice has extensive knowledge and experience in accounting, tax, management, finance, and business consulting. She started her accounting career at Ernst & Young as an auditor. She remained there for four years before joining Forest City Enterprises, where she served in various accounting and finance positions for the next thirteen years. Inspired by a deep desire to use all she had learned over the previous two decades to chart her path, she decided in 2017 to begin her journey as an entrepreneur.

Meltrice received her BBA with a concentration in accounting from Kent State University and her MBA from Baldwin-Wallace University. She is an adjunct instructor at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), teaching various accounting courses. Meltrice is the Founding Member of Women Creating Wealth & Impact, which addresses the education, knowledge, and access gaps with women and finance. She is the president of the Black Professional Association Charitable Foundation (BPACF) and treasurer of the National Association of Minority Contractors, Northern Ohio (NAMC).

Meltrice is a trustee for the Deaconess Foundation and the Women of Color Foundation. She is also a member of the Business Advisory Committee for Tri-C and the Marketing Advisory Committee for JumpStart. Meltrice is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Chapter of Cleveland, Ohio. Meltrice devotes a significant amount of her time civically, giving back to her community.

She attends Faith Fellowship Church and is a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her favorite pastime is hanging out with her family and telling corny jokes. (Her children remind her that her marks are not fun while they are laughing.) Meltrice’s guilty pleasure is vegging out on the couch and watching reality TV shows.