Devon Moody’s first conversations about scaling, pivoting and profit margins began at age 10.
“I grew up in a small-business home,” she said. “My dad is a cobbler, and my mother was a cosmetologist.”
Moody’s childhood role models inspired her dream to bring fellow entrepreneurs together for conversations she’s having today as the owner of The 89th Collective, East St. Louis’s first member coworking space.
In 2019, those same entrepreneurial influences led her to apply for the Inner City Capital Connections workshop in St. Louis sponsored by Regions Bank. Moody is a Regions business and personal customer.
What is ICCC?
Conducted by the nonprofit Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), ICCC provides small-business owners in under-resourced communities with tuition-free training, personalized coaching and a powerful peer network.
Moody, also a nonprofit founder and leader, joined 100-plus fellow entrepreneurs, including Julius B. Anthony and Keisha Mabry Haymore, to gain valuable business insights during that St. Louis program seven years ago.
As Regions looks to bring ICCC back to the Gateway City this September, Moody offers an immediate suggestion to those considering applying:
“Do it.”
Access the ICCC St. Louis application
Why?
Because seven years later, Moody still relies on both the relationships and lessons she gained through ICCC.
“I met so many people I still keep in touch with from that day,” she said. “ICCC provided me with the community resources and platform to help build a sustainable business and help reach the impact of my business ventures.”
Moody shares some additional business insights from those early conversations, thanks to the ICCC workshop and through her own lived experience.
Think Big. Then Think Bigger.
The 89th Collective is a coworking space. But to Moody, it involves something far more.
“I call it a legacy launchpad,” she said. “We offer rental space for community events and trainings, along with virtual mailboxes, but this is a laidback place where founders and creators can bounce ideas and be together. It’s about creating a solid foundation – because if you don’t have one, you’re really not getting the information you need. We’re creating an ecosystem for resource sharing.”
Some of those resources include technical assistance materials, nonprofit collateral and free Regions NextStep® financial wellness information.
Timing Really is Everything
The 89th Collective just celebrated its one-year anniversary. Establishing a coworking space was on Moody’s radar for over a decade. Why did things click this time?
“When I first thought about doing this 12 years ago, I wasn’t ready,” Moody said. “I’m very glad I didn’t do it then. I didn’t realize how big of an undertaking it would be until I did it.
In 2016, a friend had a space in St. Louis and let me use it. I launched for six months, but it still wasn’t the right time or the right fit.
“Establishing The 89th Collective has been more intentional, because it aligns with my belief entrepreneurs shouldn’t have to leave East St. Louis to connect with other creators and community leaders. The space has allowed me to bring for-profits and nonprofits together. Waiting to open is an example of how everything comes full circle. I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”
‘The Numbers Don’t Lie’
While Moody is in the people business, an ICCC instructor’s observation about numbers has remained with her since 2019.
“Pay attention to the numbers,” she said. “The numbers do not lie. Sometimes, hard decisions have to be made when you have a big mission. Making hard decisions based on the numbers earlier prevents you from having to do it later.”
Being an entrepreneur takes years; there’s no overnight success in it. It’s an investment of your time, talent and treasure – and we often need additional treasure to make it sustainable.
Devon Moody, founder and owner of The 89th Collective
Sometimes, You Need a Job While Building a Business
Moody has built The 89th Collective while working full-time as a business strategist.
“Being an entrepreneur takes years; there’s no overnight success in it,” she said. “It’s an investment of your time, talent and treasure – and we often need additional treasure to make it sustainable.
You have to still live while you’re building this big dream. You have to be able to take care of yourself while you’re building something bigger than yourself. It’s important for entrepreneurs to talk about this.”
You Also Need a Cheering Section
Moody credits people she’s met along the journey with helping support her small-business and nonprofit dreams.
“Entrepreneurship is lonely,” Moody said. “I think you have to be a little crazy to do all these things in community. I care that other people have a better quality of life. I know that impact means something. And I know that I’m in purpose because of the doors that have opened and the way things moved.
I met Eric (Madkins, Regions Community Development Officer) through the Regional Business Council’s Leadership 100 program. He is awesome, he’s always rooting for me and my success.”
That success is no surprise to Madkins.
“Devon has a gift for bringing people together, opening doors and helping others see what’s possible,” he said. “Whether she’s connecting entrepreneurs to new resources or creating opportunities that help the community thrive, Devon is making a lasting difference for people, families and businesses in East St. Louis. And she does it all with passion and heart.”
Moody knows the ICCC team is also rooting for her.
“They constantly have people following up and asking how they can help,” she said. “That’s what community looks like. ICCC believes in the work you’re doing, and they want other people to know about it. I’m glad to do anything that helps move their mission forward.”
Devon has a gift for bringing people together, opening doors and helping others see what’s possible.
Eric Madkins, Regions Community Development Officer