THINK BIG
About Us
Our team at Think Big! is a diverse group of passionate professionals dedicated to empowering minority-owned businesses
Meet The Founders
DR. SHEILA HILL
Co-Founder
Sheila has made it her personal mission to teach others to live their lives with purpose.
Dr. Sheila Hill is a Rockford native, entrepreneur, and community leader with a passion for business development and leadership. She is the Co-Founder of Think Big Corporation, a nonprofit minority business accelerator supporting the growth of minority and women-owned businesses. Dr. Hill is also the Co-Founder of Women & Wealth, a leadership initiative dedicated to cultivating women’s personal and professional development. With more than 25 years of business experience, Dr. Hill has trained over 5,000 entrepreneurs and leaders, including internationally in Nairobi, Kenya. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Life Christian University, a Master of Science in Business from Cardinal Stritch University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Leadership from Judson University. She is also a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Member. Dr. Hill has received numerous honors for her leadership and community impact, including being presented the Key to the City of Rockford and a proclamation naming October 29 Sheila Hill Day.
DUNTAI MATHEWS
Co-Founder
Duntai Mathews is the example of channeling your passion and knowledge into a profit.
Duntai L. Mathews, President of DLM Wood Manufacturing, was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois. As a teenager working at McDonald’s to help with family expenses, he was inspired by the company’s support of minority-owned businesses. After attending college in Atlanta and returning to Rockford, Duntai began working at a local wood manufacturing company where he learned many aspects of the business. When the opportunity arose to purchase the company, Duntai presented his plans to several banks and institutions but was unable to secure funding. With the support of Gressco Limited, a furniture company in Waunakee, Wisconsin and a longtime customer, he was able to acquire the company, Expressions in Wood, and rename it DLM Manufacturing. Under his leadership, the minority-owned company expanded its business with McDonald’s, helping develop counter storage units, magazine racks, and dispensers for restaurants and hospitality spaces. Known for “better than perfect” craftsmanship, DLM Manufacturing delivers high-quality wood products through skilled craftsmanship and CNC machining capabilities. Duntai credits God, his family, and his grandmother, who inspired him throughout his life, as well as the team at Gressco for believing in his vision.
Martesha Brown
Strategic Partner
Martesha Brown, a proud Rockford native and MBA graduate of Rockford University, is the Director of Community Economic Development at Midland States Bank and the founder of MB Strategic Solutions, where she shares her expertise in strategic planning, leadership, and organizational development. With past leadership roles at RACVB, Rockford Park District, and Alpine Bank, she brings a deep passion for economic development, marketing, and community engagement. Martesha has served on numerous boards and committees, including Goodwill of Northern Illinois, Habitat for Humanity, and the Governor’s Capital Development Board. She made history in 2021 as the first Black woman elected to the Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners and now serves as its President. Her many accolades include Rockford’s “Forty Under 40,” Soul News Network’s “25 Black Leaders to Watch,” YWCA Woman of Achievement, and Northwest Quarterly’s “25 Most Interesting People.” Rockford grown and Rockford committed, she remains a driving force for positive change in her community.
Matthew Simpson
Strategic Partner
Matt Simpson is a father, entrepreneur, and Development Strategist based in Rockford, Illinois. He earned a Master's of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University, and has 15 years of experience working in economic development and neighborhood-level community development, as well as city and state government leadership/public administration. Simpson is a partner in the investment firm Eight Fifteen Capital, LLC., and is co-founder of the nonprofit Wabongo Leadership Council. He also serves as the Worshipful Master for Master Builders Masonic Lodge #33. Today, Simpson serves as Director of Economic Impact for Think Big and is the "Dean" of the Think Big School of Business!
Khaneidra Horton
Strategic Partner
She operates and owns Khay Renee Enterprises LLC, a consulting firm for small businesses, where she assists entrepreneurs in catapulting their businesses. Khaneidra “Khay” Horton was born and raised in Rockford, IL. She is currently Vice President, Special Assets Manager at U.S. Bank and was previously a Mission Integration Program Manager at Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois and Director of Operations at Hill and Hill Enterprises Inc. With a passion for business, she is a Doctoral candidate for her Doctorate in Business Administration at Capella University. Khaneidra also received a Master of Business Administration from Rockford University, a Bachelor of Science from Hampton University, and a Women’s Entrepreneurship Certificate from Cornell University. She operates and owns Khay Renee Enterprises LLC, a consulting firm for small businesses, where she assists entrepreneurs in catapulting their businesses. She has volunteered at Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, Think Big, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, Solid Rock International Ministries, and Oceana Ocean Conservation Group. Khaneidra is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Member.
Malasia Heyward
Financial Coach
Malasia Heyward is a financial professional and community leader based in Rockford, Illinois. She is the CEO and founder of Heyward Financial Group Inc., where she provides bookkeeping, financial consulting, and QuickBooks training to help small businesses strengthen their financial systems and achieve growth. Malasia also serves as a part-time Accounting and Business Instructor at Highland Community College. She is actively involved in the community as a board member with Winnebago CASA and a volunteer dance coach with the Boys and Girls Club of Stephenson County. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Accountancy at Northern Illinois University, expected December 2025. Through her work and leadership, Malasia is committed to helping individuals and small businesses build strong financial futures.
Ann Johns
Business Coach
Ann Johns is a Rockford native with 35 years of experience in business development, grant writing, certifications, marketing, and government contracting. After her tenure as the County’s Purchasing Director, she now focuses on supporting local businesses and 501(c)(3) organizations. With a strong commitment to empowering others, Ann uses her professional expertise to help individuals achieve their goals and objectives.
Mercedes Joyner
Marketing & Branding Coach
Mercedes Joyner is the Chief Branding & Communications Officer of JMC Strategic Consulting, a speaker, entrepreneur, and community leader based in Illinois. She partners with businesses, nonprofits, public leaders, and organizations to clarify their message, amplify their visibility, and build brands rooted in purpose, strategy, and measurable impact. She believes your story is your strategy — and your brand is your power. With a strong foundation in public affairs, marketing, and community engagement, Mercedes specializes in strategic storytelling, brand architecture, communications strategy, and social media positioning. Her work spans government, healthcare, education, nonprofit organizations, and community initiatives — guiding leaders and institutions through growth, transition, crisis communication, and expanded public influence. Mercedes is known for helping individuals and organizations move from unseen to undeniable. Grounded in her philosophy that “you are your brand,” she empowers clients to own their narrative, lead with clarity and confidence, and build legacy-driven impact that extends beyond visibility into meaningful, sustainable influence.
Kervin Thomas
Business Coach
Kervin Thomas is an audio professional, AV consultant, and multimedia storyteller with over 20 years of experience in audio production and system installation. His work spans acoustic treatment, live sound engineering, podcast production, and selecting and integrating professional audio equipment to create clear, comfortable listening environments. Kervin holds Level 1 and Level 2 Dante certifications and a Media Production Certificate from Rock Valley College, and he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Media Production at Northern Illinois University. Through Traveling Macco Media and his community work in Rockford, Illinois, Kervin is passionate about helping creators and organizations understand sound in practical, accessible ways.
Phillip Williams
Marketing & Branding Coach
Philip Williams is a seasoned digital marketing expert, the proud owner of SermoSuite, and a certified specialist in copywriting and social media marketing. With over a decade of experience in helping small businesses thrive, Philip excels in developing comprehensive marketing solutions, including CRM systems, lead generation automation, and digital strategy implementation. His passion lies in empowering entrepreneurs to achieve measurable growth through innovative tools and expert guidance. As part of the Think Big coaching team, Philip brings his technical expertise and strategic insights to support entrepreneurs in overcoming challenges and achieving their business goals.
Craig Sockwell
Board President
Craig Sockwell was born in Rockford, Illinois and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1978. He served in the United States Army in Germany from 1978 to 1981 as an operator and repairman of electronic equipment before receiving an honorable discharge. After returning to the United States, he attended Burlington College in New Jersey and later earned a Certificate in Business Management from Rock Valley College. Craig worked for eleven years at Pitney Bowes as a Technical Customer Service Representative, earning numerous awards for customer service excellence. He later worked at Motorola Cellular Division in Harvard, Illinois, where he specialized in preventative maintenance, diagnostics, and calibration of chip-placing equipment while assisting engineers with improvements to manufacturing processes. In 1996, Craig co-founded Rockford Transport, Inc. with his wife, Glenda Sockwell. The company provides commercial and residential hauling and container rental services throughout the region, and Craig oversees sales and operations. Rockford Transport was named Minority Business of the Year by the Northern Illinois Minority Company Association in 2004. Craig has also served as Treasurer for the Northern Illinois Minority Company Association and the Northern Black Chamber of Commerce and has been active on several community boards.
Nathaniel Jordan
Treasurer
Nate Jordan is an ambitious business professional and SIUC alumnus who holds a B.S. in Plant Biology and is a proactive member of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as well as the SIU College of Marketing's External Advisory Board. A firm believer in social impact and innovation, Nate founded Sprekk Technology Services in 2018, an on-demand phone repair company committed to community philanthropy. He also co-founded Sprekk Supply Group in 2020, a medical device distribution firm specializing in cutting-edge non-invasive pain management solutions for chronic pain patients. His expertise in creating and executing robust business plans, optimizing processes, and navigating commercial real estate transactions make him an invaluable asset for companies looking to scale and succeed. Nate's consulting capabilities are further bolstered by his Go-To-Market experience at Cleo.com, a leading SaaS B2B EDI & API integration provider, and at ToroTMS, a SaaS company focused on streamlining operations for logistics organizations. His background in diverse industries enables him to apply best practices and innovative solutions to meet the unique challenges faced by companies, ensuring they thrive and accomplish their strategic goals.
.png)
Tino Gordan
Board Member
I started in financial services in 2015. My goal at that time was making sure my clients had enough money for a funeral. My grandmother gave me the idea to pay attention to the stories of my clients because that is their true legacy. Some of the stories my clients told are stories they haven’t shared with anyone else . After attending a few funerals and remembering the stories, it became clear. Making sure their finances were secure is only part of my duty. The other part is making sure their legacy lives on. Over time, I began adding other tools to my belt such as wealth building, retirement planning, and Medicare. The goal is to help each of my clients live a great life while pursuing their dreams in every phase of life. Your legacy is my mission!