ABOUT EMERGE

Welcome to Emerge Innovation Hub – Where Dreams and Opportunities Align

At Emerge Innovation Hub, we are West Michigan’s launchpad for entrepreneurs. We are where vision meets action, and small businesses find the resources to succeed.

We offer a clear pathway from idea to scalable success, providing our members with mentorship, funding opportunities, and business support in a collaborative environment. Whether you’re starting fresh or looking to expand, Emerge is where creativity, strategy, and opportunity come together.

Here, hard work is met with real solutions, and entrepreneurs don’t have to build alone. No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, you belong at Emerge—where businesses grow, partnerships form and success is built.

Let’s build together.

Our story

Our story

“With so many opportunities to work for someone else, why aren’t there any trusted resources to help people start businesses for themselves? Why isn’t there a place where entrepreneurs can access real guidance, funding, and connections to build businesses that sustain families and communities”?

That question, in 2020 sparked the creation of Emerge Innovation Hub.

Our president, Andrew Robinson, didn’t set out to create another program, he set out to create opportunity. He listened to entrepreneurs, gathered community leaders and corporate partners, and built a space where small business owners could find real solutions. What started as an idea has now become a movement of economic empowerment.

At Emerge, we believe that entrepreneurship is a path to freedom, ownership, and generational wealth. That’s why we provide a full suite of resources designed to meet business owners where they are and help them grow.

🔹 Programs That Drive Business Growth

  • Emerge Fellows Program – A year-long accelerator for entrepreneurs ready to scale.

  • The Catalyst Program – Hands-on coaching and strategic mentorship.

  • Microloan Program – Access to capital for businesses that need financial backing to grow.

  • One-on-One Mentorship – Business owners connect with experienced professional coaches and peer mentors to navigate challenges.

🔹 Events That Build Connections & Create Opportunities

  • Monthly Hangouts & Networking Events – A space to connect, collaborate, and grow.

  • Launch Pitch Fest – A competitive event where entrepreneurs secure funding to launch or expand.

  • Small Business Expo – Showcasing local businesses and providing direct access to resources.

  • Show Me the Money Day – A financial literacy event open to the entire community, providing guidance on funding, credit, and wealth-building.

  • Weekend Business Intensives – Quarterly deep dives into specific aspects of running a business.

🔹 Supporting the Next Generation

  • Youth Entrepreneurship Program – Preparing young innovators to build their own businesses.

Emerge is not just a place, we are a call to action. It’s where business owners take control of their futures, build sustainable companies, and strengthen their communities.

Your business deserves real support. Your ideas deserve the right opportunities.

OUR MISSION & VALUES

OUR MISSION & VALUES

Emerge exists to empower and equip underresourced and small-town businesses in Michigan with the tools, coaching, and resources needed to help them scale, create new jobs, and build new relationships that drive sustainable economic development and renewal within their communities.

Innovation

It takes thinking outside the box to disrupt the status quo. We welcome new and fresh ideas in any form.

Entrepreneurial Excellence

We must equip entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, and resources to build sustainable, thriving businesses. Success isn’t just an outcome; it’s a process we cultivate every step of the way.

Integrity

Trust and accountability are the foundation of great businesses. We lead with honesty, transparency and a committment to ethical business practices that build long term success

Collaboration

We believe it takes a village to raise an entrepreneur. Emerge is always looking to partner with any individual, group or organization wanting to invest in our ecosystem.

Economic Empowerment

Entrepreneurs are the bedrock to economic changes, and we empower every entrepreneur to not only become a business owner but a community leader that has the tools to create lasting economic impact, one business at a time.

Meet the Team


  • President and CEO

    Andrew Robinson is the President/CEO of Mosaic CCDA, a 501c3 organization focused on the revitalization of Benton Harbor, Michigan through workforce development solutions.  In this capacity, Andrew provides visionary leadership to Mosaic’s various social enterprises and programs, including the Transformational Center, an initiative focused on galvanizing businesses, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, and municipalities to create pathways of success for community residents. Also, he is the President/CEO of an entrepreneurial support organization (The Emerge Innovation Hub), in partnership with Whirlpool Corporation and other businesses and organizations, to foster the growth of BIPOC small businesses/enterprises in Southwest Michigan. He serves as the board president for Jubilee Impact Fund, Inc. and an adjunct faculty member of Cornerstone University and Moody Bible Institute. He is completing his doctoral degree in organizational leadership and development from Cornerstone University.


  • Executive Director

    Ambie Bell serves as the Executive Director for Emerge Innovation Hub. She is the founder of Sustainable Solutions & Company®, a marketing firm that specializes in strategically developing the upskill of entrepreneurs. Through her network Ambie and her partners equip clients with real-time solutions to protect and grow their businesses on the front end. Additionally, she consults entrepreneurs across the field on best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion to effectively serve its customer base and continue to help advance financial security for underserved communities. She sits on various executive boards throughout Southwest Michigan and serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Benton Harbor. She enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures and spaces.


  • Benton Harbor Hangout Coordinator

    Jasmnika, born and raised in Benton Harbor MI, graduated in 2018 from Michigan State University. She returned home to teach. Her expertise in Communication and Entrepreneurship led her to hosting our hangouts for the Benton Harbor Location. Her goal is to guide business owners as they develop their businesses and brands. 

    Jas is also a business owner, specializing in family friendly drinks, lemonade, slushees, fresh fruit smoothies, and more! She hopes to create her own line of hydration drinks and weight loss herbal teas. Outside of teaching and running a business, she is also a real estate agent. 

    Ms. Jasmnika Newbern has a profound love for the community of Benton Harbor and has many plans to improve the overall experience of its citizens.


  • Niles Hub Director

    Hailing from Niles, MI, Kyna Johnson, fondly known as KC, is a seasoned practitioner and leader renowned for her strategic methodologies in individual transformation and professional growth. With over 15 years of devoted expertise in workforce development, career readiness, and advancement, her focus centers on socially and economically disadvantaged populations, striving to dismantle barriers and ignite success. 

    KC, holds a certificate in Women's Entrepreneurship from eCornell, further enhancing her prowess in fostering entrepreneurial endeavors. Additionally, her CRM certification equips her with the tools to develop resilience in individuals and communities, augmenting her mission to empower others and make a meaningful impact.  As the CEO of Kingdom Business Consulting E.T.C. and Niles Hub Director of Emerge Innovation Hub KC leverages her background in coaching and consulting to empower individuals and teams, cultivating leaders and nurturing entrepreneurial spirit. 

    Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds joy in simple pleasures like reading, art, continuous learning, exploring new destinations through travel, cherishing moments with her husband of 12 years, family and nourishing her faith. 


  • Photographer & Marketing Assistant

    Nicholas Gunn is a Berrien Springs High School graduate attending Andrews University, majoring in communication with an emphasis in public relations.

    In 2022, Nicholas was awarded Andrews University's full tuition George Floyd Scholarship for his leadership and dedication to community service. In 2023 he also received the The Spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Award from Lake Michigan College for his outstanding contributions to the community as someone who exemplifies unity and leadership


  • Marketing Director

    A native New Yorker with a passion for helping small business owners thrive + build their business with purpose. She started the agency in 2020 and has worked with a variety of service providers, coaches influencers and multi-passionate entrepreneurs. The face and heart of Juniper Marketing, as the founder Jasmin makes it her top priority to create an amazing environment for her team & clients to thrive in. She's currently building a tiny home with her husband and loves spending time outdoors

Emerge Board Members

Senior Director, Global Legal Operations and Asst. Corporate Secretary, Whirlpool Corporation

Secretary

Scott Dorfman

Vice chair

Vice President of OEM Partnerships, e-Emphasys Technologies

Lewis Scott

AVP and Treasurer

Community Reinvestment Officer, Horizon Bank

Alexis Harris

Jeff Wright

President/CEO, Urban Ministries, Inc.

Alexandre Czesnat

Vice President, Refrigeration, Whirlpool Corporation

Andrew Robinson

Ex Officio Member

Phill Swanson

Expert in Residence, Centrepolis Accelerator

Matias Soto Castillo

Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Andrews University