Behind every business

From baristas to craft connoisseurs, Lenovo Evolve Small has been supporting small businesses across North America since 2021.

About Evolve Small

The Lenovo Evolve Small initiative champions minority and woman-owned small businesses. Alongside our partners we’ve supercharged more than 1,200 businesses, providing them with over $2.4M in technology and financial aid, mentorship and community support. And we're not done yet.

Meet Our Evolve Small
Ambassadors

Alexis Cash

As a 7 year member of the Lenovo team, Alexis has a passion for technology and education. She grew up in an entrepreneurial family and is committed to using her skills to advance and support small businesses. As a sales leader, Alexis sends much of her time listening to customers and crafting technology solutions to solve their challenges.

Melinda Douglass

Melinda is an 12-year veteran at Lenovo and has deep experience across the board when it comes to technology and working with customers. As a person who was raised by a small business owner, Melinda has seen firsthand the hard work, patience and dedication it takes to maintain a successful business. She believes that small businesses represent the people and are the core of every city and town.

Nico Garces

Nico has spent most of his 10+ years at Lenovo in front of customers, learning what helps their businesses grow and gaining a strong knowledge about how Lenovo’s various solutions are applied. As a second year Evolve Small Ambassador, Nico is even more energized for the growth of the initiative and seeing how we can leave a greater impact helping the small businesses that add so much value to our communities.

Kaila Woodard

Kaila has been at Lenovo for 7 years and 2 of them have been focused on providing the right product for SMB customers. She thrives on making new connections and building new relationships; it has been her most favorite and most fulfilling aspect of working for Lenovo, while also being in roles that have allowed her to flourish in this area. She is looking forward to being on the frontline with these business owners and learning more about them while also being a resource to them in their journeys.

Yvette Wedow

Yvette likes to leverage her personal and professional experience to help others. Ever since she was a child growing up in South America, Yvette has taken the time to volunteer and help her community. She is always looking for ways to support local small businesses in her community or as she travels across the country. With more than 5 years of experience at Lenovo and 15 years in the tech industry, Yvette is passionate about finding the best solution for each customer she encounters.

Katie Reed

Katie has been with Lenovo for 6 years and has 10+ years in the industry. She has a passion for giving back to her community and teaching her kids to do the same. Katie enjoys working with customers to understand their why – why they do what they do, so that she can create tech solutions that will help them thrive.

Our tech partners

Microsoft and AMD share our vision for Evolve Small. They know every business is unique. So, they ensure every business owner gets the right tech, at the right time. Empower your team with the right tech for each workstyle across your business. Technology solutions including Windows 11 Pro and AMD Ryzen processors work together to deliver smart experiences with powerful security and performance.

Small business grant with Goodie Nation

Since 2021 Lenovo Evolve Small has provided financial grants to more than 90 small business owners across North America. Not for profit partner Goodie Nation is the trusted, multicultural community for post-accelerator diverse founders and social entrepreneurs. Lenovo Evolve Small is excited to partner with them once again to provide more grants and support to small businesses in 2024.

Go to Goodie Nation

Our tech partners

Small business grant with Goodie Nation

Go to Goodie Nation

Chantel Cohen

Chantel founded CWC Coaching & Therapy with the vision to bring a holistic approach to the mental health industry. Through the Become One Again™ Method, her company assists individuals in healing and deepening the three most important relationships in their lives: their relationship with themselves, their relationship with their significant other, and their relationship with their career or business. Together with her team, she provides mental health services with a business coaching lens, aiming to help clients find prosperity in the broader sense of the word. She is particularly passionate about fostering representation among mental health care providers and empowering entrepreneurs of color and women business owners to create the lives they always imagined for themselves.

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Supplier Diversity at Lenovo

Small and diverse suppliers are a natural part of Lenovo's business strategy and these suppliers are an integral part of our supply chain. We are committed to maximizing the inclusion of Minority, Women, Veteran, Service Disabled Veteran, People with Disabilities, HUBZone, and LGBTQ-owned businesses. Find out more here so you can register on Supplier Diversity Registration Portal.

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Evolve Small About

Behind every business

About Evolve Small

Meet Our Evolve SmallAmbassadors

Alexis Cash

Melinda Douglass

Nico Garces

Kaila Woodard

Yvette Wedow

Katie Reed

Our tech partners

Small business grant with Goodie Nation

Our tech partners

Small business grant with Goodie Nation

Chantel Cohen

Supplier Diversity at Lenovo

Meet Our Evolve Small
Ambassadors