Dr. Nicole
When she was 14 years old, she gave birth to her son in a group home setting, and as overwhelming as that seems, it did not hold back Dr Nicole Farmer. “I was living an impoverished life as a single teenage mom, battling homelessness and hunger, but my hunger for my success outweighed my circumstances,” said Dr Nicole.
By 2006, Dr Nicole, also known as the business doctor, became the first African American woman in the United States to own a Tuffy Auto Center. After being successful in that venture which was located in Detroit, she became interested in helping others reach their entrepreneurial dreams by teaching them what she had learned and helping them identify potential funding sources. It was after that when she decided to start Lifeline Business Consulting.
For a number of years, Dr Nicole ran Lifeline from Detroit’s noted Tech Town area.
After helping numerous businesses find funding, expand and grow, Dr Nicole decided to move the growing business to their own one-stop shop for business owners…The Entrepreneur’s Hub. The Entrepreneur’s Hub offers classes for business owners, office space to work, and mentoring. Dr Nicole has since coached thousands of entrepreneurs and helped them realize their dreams of entrepreneurship and receive millions of dollars in funding.
She also has a great love of helping minorities and women who want to succeed in business. LifeLine, a partner with Detroit Micro-Loan Collaborative, is responsible for assisting loan applicants with the preparation of business plans and vetting their business before submitting loan applications. The collaborative oversees funds of more than 11 million dollars designated specifically for minority-owned businesses.
In the year 2015 alone, LifeLine helped 25 entrepreneurs receive more than $1.1 million in funding “The name LifeLine was contrived because every day as an entrepreneur I felt like I was having a heart attack and I felt like I needed resuscitation. I knew others felt the same way,” Dr Nicole said. “LifeLine serves as a conduit for entrepreneurs to assist primarily with business plan preparation and connecting with funding resources. We offer a 15-week course that covers the dynamics of entrepreneurship, one-on-one consultations, workshops, business plan preparation, financial projections, resource referrals, and networking events.”
More recently Dr Keith Farmer, husband of Dr Nicole, has begun working to advance Lifeline and the Entrepreneur’s Hub. The dynamic business couple also appear on their own TV show also known as Lifeline which airs on the Impact Network reaching more than 60 million homes worldwide including Africa and the Bahamas. Their radio show, also part of the Impact Network airs in six markets two in Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix, Atlantic City, and Cincinnati.
Dr. Keith
If there is anyone who truly understands how to take lemons and make lemonade, it’s Dr Keith Farmer.
At the age of 13 while growing up in Detroit, Farmer lost his father and credits a spiritual mentor in the community, Dr Frederick G Sampson, a noted theologian and pastor for helping him stay on track and discover his purpose. “My mom worked in the factory in Detroit and I could have gotten into a lot of trouble, but instead I learned at an early age that I liked helping people, and I credit my association with my mentor who helped me learn that at a young age,”Farmer said. Today, Farmer and his wife Nicole, run the Entrepreneur’s Hub in Detroit, which helps people build businesses through assisting with business plan development, finding funding, and finding ways for expansion and growth.
He also oversees the non profit known as Grand Innovation. Together they have provided an atmosphere which has allowed the company to coach thousands of entrepreneurs on their journey through the day-today ins and outs of running a business. Farmer has always enjoyed working in sales and marketing. “I’ve always been a person who finds great satisfaction in helping others,” Farmer said. “I like to help people see their vision of what they want to accomplish and then help them find the way to bring that to pass.” In 1980, Farmer was called into the ministry and he has followed that path ever since. He has a strong faith that he uses to help all people no matter which religion they follow. Today, he is a bishop with four honorary degrees in the Christian theology. “I was consecrated as a bishop in 2005, “ Farmer added. “I enjoy serving as a pastor.” He has also worked for two schools in Detroit where he focused on student services. “I love to see people successful and happy,” Farmer said. “I truly enjoy motivating and encouraging people to the next level.”
One of the projects Lifeline Business Consulting has focused on is with the Michigan Department of Corrections, where they offer their services to build businesses for those being released from prison. This project is near and dear to Farmer’s heart. “We all have a purpose,” Farmer added. “We didn’t come here to just exist. We came here to thrive in all that the universe gave to us.”
Farmer the father of six children, also cohosts a TV show and radio show with his wife called the LifeLine Show and both programs are part of the Impact Network where they reach approximately 60 million homes including the Bahamas and Africa. The Lifeline Show can be heard on radio stations in Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix, Cincinnati, and Atlantic City and the Lifeline TV Show can be seen at 3 pm Saturday on the Impact Network. Farmer started in television many years ago and worked in both Florida and Georgia producing shows. Both Farmer and his wife believe there is no better time to be in Detroit than now. “Detroit is having a time of growth and a time of opportunity, and it’s the perfect location to start or grow a business,” Farmer said.
Farmer is also the owner of Farmer Holdings Group, 3 Fold Production and Entertainment and 3 Fold Management.