Creative Mornings | ENDURANCE: Audience Takes The Stage

Inspired by her personal experiences and heritage as a black and Native American woman of color, Kat ventured into the coffee industry with a vision to transform her community of Grove Park on the west side of Atlanta, Georgia. Purchasing a home in this historical neighborhood in 2018, she noticed the lack of access to quality coffee and decided to take matters into her own hands.

Kat’s journey as an entrepreneur has been marked by remarkable achievements and milestones. She became the first woman to be named President and CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce in 2014, followed by her appointment as the Executive Director of the City of Atlanta’s WorkSource Agency by Mayor Kiesha Lance Bottoms in 2019. Currently, Kat serves as the Director of DEI for a National Law Firm, where she leads the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.

As one part of the visionary force behind HOT COFFEE and Bankhead Coffee, Kat and her business partner have created more than just coffee shops; they are inclusive spaces that celebrate community, culture, and creativity. Her commitment to sustainability, fair trade, and social responsibility has garnered recognition, with Bankhead Coffee earning five-star Google reviews and being named one of the top 25 Black-Owned Coffee Shops in Metro Atlanta by the Atlanta Voice. Recently announced Bankhead Coffee is one of three finalists for Atlanta Magazine’s Best of Coffee Shops Edition for 2023.

Storytelling is the heartbeat of her company, OffThaRecord.com (OTR), a creative content agency headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. At OTR, Sam has built a network of multicultural creatives who use their talents and technology to tell raw, uncensored and authentic stories to uplift pertinent social issues and work with purpose-driven brands, nonprofits and change-makers.

Through her work, Sam addresses topics she is passionate about, including economic justice, immigration, reproductive justice, and mental health in communities of color. She has produced original work for clients which are among the nation’s most influential brands and organizations including The Nature Conservancy, FWD.us, Stacey Abrams, and more. She has become a highly sought-after speaker on college campuses and at conferences addressing the topics of entrepreneurship, immigration, gender equality, and identity. As a proud, Mexican-born DREAMer, she is also a vocal advocate of U.S. immigration reform.