About Us

The Austin Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed Ed Coleman as its Executive Director. Coleman has been engaged in board and economic development consulting since retiring as Founding CEO of West Side Forward after 2023.

After years of engineering and management experience in Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, as well as entrepreneurship activity, Ed has held leadership roles in nonprofits for more than a decade. When he joined Bethel New Life in 2012 as Chief Innovation Officer, he was charged with establishing economic development initiatives that would benefit local community residents. These programs ranged from entrepreneurship  training for startups and existing companies, career preparation and skills development in such high-demand industries as advanced manufacturing, and working with various entities to deploy investments that would create wealth-building opportunities for local residents. Ed became CEO of Bethel in 2016, and then spun-off West Side
Forward as a focused economic development entity in 2019.

Coleman holds degrees from DePaul University (Master of Business Administration, Finance) and Purdue University (Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering). As a senior at Purdue, Ed was one of six students and one professor/advisor credited with founding the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

A well-recognized impactful contributor to society, Coleman current participates in the boards of directors of West Side Forward, mHUB, SparkShop, Interfaith Housing Development Corporation, and Community & Youth Development of DuPage County. Ed is also a member of the Austin Coming Together Executive Leadership Council, and both the City of Chicago Development Fund Advisory Board and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund Advisory Committee.

At Gone Again Travel & Tours we are your experts for Black Heritage Travel Worldwide. Group airfare and resort packages customized just for your needs. We are certified agents for Autism Travel, Accessible Travel, Africa and the Holy-land. We are the first African American owned storefront travel agency on the westside of Chicago in the Austin community, Our mission is to be the change we want to see in the world by educating groups on the adventures that await them whether they are closer to home or worldwide. Providing options that enable everyone to stress less and travel more with flexible payment options and expert planning services. We also founded a non-profit, Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures to educate youth on worldwide cultures with free field trips to local cultural centers and yearly Birth Right journey to Ghana West Africa.

Tax Professional/Advisor/Instructor with over 36 years experience in individual income tax preparation, small business returns and 30 years experience as an income tax instructor. In addition, 27 years experience as a Financial Administrative Assistant focusing in account reconciliation, accounts payable and accounts receivables.

Socially conscious driven leader passionate about empowering and restoring communities of color.

I consult, coach and strategize with entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profit organizations and entrepreneurial leaders on operational and marketing solutions to optimize their performance in a compressed timeframe without sacrificing their sanity.

What I know for sure is your end goal drives your strategy, your desired user experience drives your tactics and your sustained success drives your rhythm.

Specialties: Business consulting, strategy consulting, performance optimization strategies, new business development, change management initiatives, building and managing high performing teams, new program development, startup coaching, turnarounds strategies, outsourced operations management, outsourced project management, multi-level revenue development strategies, new initiative launches, nonprofit board development, nonprofit board governance, nonprofit management

As a Chicago-based executive, I bring a wealth of experience in change management, sales/service delivery, operations, and customer transformation across industries such as Cannabis, Food & Beverage, Utilities, and CPG. I have successfully guided Fortune 100 companies, local governments, and regional clients in achieving critical business objectives through economic development initiatives and strategic consulting.

Beyond corporate strategy, I am deeply committed to small business mentorship and development, helping entrepreneurs and small business owners navigate operational challenges, scale efficiently, and build sustainable business models. As a co-founder of Bitoy’s Sweet Treats, I have firsthand experience in growing a business, securing community engagement, and driving brand success. This work has fueled my passion for advocating for small business growth, fostering economic empowerment, and creating opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

With deep expertise in organizational transformation and high-impact program delivery, I specialize in building high-performing teams, strengthening business ecosystems, and leveraging innovative management consulting practices. My approach ensures that both large enterprises and small businesses enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and unlock new growth opportunities.

Whether through mentorship, strategic business development, or advocacy, my mission is to empower entrepreneurs, support small business growth, and drive meaningful economic impact.

Ed Whitaker is an experienced 6-year officer in the Chicago Police Department. He currently serves as a Community Policing Officer in CPD’s 15th District, where he develops community-based strategies involving law enforcement and nonprofit partners. Edward is a Chicago native who was born on the city’s Westside in the West Humboldt Park community and is now a resident of Austin. He is a graduate of George Westinghouse HS and North Park University.

At the heart of his philosophy to positively impact the lives of Chicagoans, is creating a culture of legacy. The goal is to provide a tangible example to the youth he mentors. In community policing, the goal is to employ social justice as a violence prevention strategy. Addressing issues of access, equity, rights, and participation that has yielded positive results in both reducing violence and improving the quality of life for residents in some of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods.

Edward was named Illinois Fatherhood Initiative 2021 Community Father of The Year. Edward also serves as a coach and mentor for the Chicago Westside Police and Youth Sports Conference.

Proudly serving the City of Chicago as a law enforcement frontline first responder and as an advocate for community empowerment.

As a wife, mom, sister, colleague, disruptor, visionary, and warrior, I’m on a mission to:

➜ Dismantle structural injustices
➜ Transform the health sector by eradicating inequities
➜ Bridge the health equity gap
➜ Realize better health outcomes

In essence, I’m dedicated to being a part of the solution for people who look like me.

Throughout my career, I’ve crafted systems, developed impactful programs, forged strategic partnerships, and advocated for policies to enhance the health of untapped communities. There’s no greater joy for me than restoring hope and changing lives through innovative solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges.

My passion and advocacy extend well beyond formal career appointments. As an ardent champion for diverse leadership in the healthcare sector and a sought-after speaker on health and racial equity, I routinely share my public health expertise and perspectives through my consultancy, UnTapped Consulting.

If you share similar passions or need a dedicated public health expert to join your cause, I’d love to connect with you. Feel free to reach out via direct message or email at cody@untappedpmconsulting.com.

🚀 Let’s make a difference together!
___

Strategic Partnerships | Program Design | Impact Evaluation | Project Management | Community Engagement | Healthcare | Philanthropy | Public Health | Population Health