Mission Partners, a D.C.-area agency, announced a Social Entrepreneur in Residence program as part of our agency’s ongoing commitment to shift $2.5M to Black and women-led organizations by 2025. The Social Entrepreneur in Residence program, states the agency, specifically invests in Black entrepreneurs as they grow and scale their businesses and is aimed at addressing the racial disparity in communications agency ownership.

Mission Partners’ inaugural Social Entrepreneur in Residence is Ryan Pintado-Vertner, pictured above, a Chicago-based activist and strategic marketing impact expert with two decades of experience guiding Fortune-level brands, building startups, and leading nonprofit organizations. He is the CEO and founder of Smoketown, a boutique brand consultancy, where empathy, purpose, and vision are at the heart of his work. As the inaugural recipient of this Residency, he will help shape the growth and future of the program and be involved in the selection of future awardees.

The Social Entrepreneur in Residence program is a nine-month application-based position, designed for entrepreneurs with less than five years of experience as an agency business owner. Throughout this residency, the entrepreneur will receive executive level coaching and financial support to grow and scale their company. In return, the Social Entrepreneur in Residence will provide skilled expertise in their respective area of focus to Mission Partners’ employees and clients.

PHOTO: Smoketown