by Lauren Sloan

FRANKLIN
2018 is proving to be bustling with innovative businesses and fresh ideas at the Franklin Business Center. Since the start of the year, five new tenants have begun their entrepreneurial journey within the program and receive business support both in-house and community wide. The new tenants are as follows: Charles Cooper with US Express; Shay Lankford of Upstar LLC; Sasha Ridley with Heart to Heart Consulting; Angela Smith with Harlem World Characters and More; and Steph Wood with 2Give Management.

Charles Cooper runs US Express with his brother, Jackie Robertson.

The company serves to haul different variations of freight products (bark, peanuts, timber, etc.) for locally owned trucking companies. Cooper and Robertson focus solely on local trucking businesses, which further supports the local economy of the region. To contact US Express, call 653-6239.

Upstar LLC specializes in helping clients achieve their personal goals and improving their overall competence, capacity and productivity. The services Lankford provides falls into three categories — teaching, growing and inspiring. Clients have access to a myriad of online retail inspirations and motivational products. For more information on Upstar LLC, visit www.upstarexperience.com.

Heart to Heart Consulting specializes in small business coaching, training and overall business management. Ridley works with each client to reclaim original values while empowering them with a modern twist. The business offers logo design, social media management, web design, and business empowerment coaching. For more information on Heart to Heart Consulting, visit www.hearttoheartconsultingllc.com.

Harlem World Characters brings all the excitement and fun for adolescent parties and events.

Services such as popular character costume rentals, popcorn machines, face painting services and other various party amenities are offered. Contact Angela Smith at 334-0054 for more information.

2Give Management provides full-service business and non-profit development and management services. For over 17 years, CEO Steph Wood has been launching, relaunching and managing successful and thriving businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The company works to help visionaries live their gift and to put their ideas into a working reality. The company serves companies in a wide variety of both size and divisions. For more information on 2Give Management, visit www.2givemanagement.com.

Know a start-up, expanding, or growing business in need of office space and business support? Contact LAUREN SLOAN at lsloan@franklinsouthamptonva.com.