Meet Louisville’s Multi-Faceted Multi-Preneur, Tawana Bain!
As the founder of two companies — American Clean Resources Group (ACRG) and TBain & Co. — Tawana Bain certainly has her hands full. Meet our newest FACE of Louisville!
As the CEO of American Clean Resources Group (ACRG) and founder/advisor of TBain & Co., she has her hands full with work that encompasses everything from environmental causes and philanthropy to hospitality and events. Meet New York native, longtime Louisvillian, and this month’s FACE of Louisville — Tawana Bain!
Tell me about ACRG and TBain & Co.
ACRG controls about 1,200 acres of property in a Nevada city that used to be alive and well but is now a ghost town. The property is situated in a pre-permitted solar energy zone, and we’re working to reincorporate that city. In addition, we want to build an industrial park to help clean up pollution from previously closed mines. The park would process the pollution — known as tailings — by extracting the good stuff and properly discarding the bad stuff so that America can become self-reliant again. We think of ourselves as a third stool in the American supply chain.
I was named CEO in September 2023, and to have a minority female leading this charge is kind of unthinkable. I am excited and nervous — I have all the feels — but we’re going to get it done!
TBain & Co. is really a portfolio of brands with a mission around social impact. The backbone is about asking ourselves, “How can we inspire people to do better by each other?” It includes the restaurant and bar Black Jockeys Lounge, which attracts people from different walks of life who enjoy various genres of music.
At the same time, we’re hyper-focused on the Black jockey’s history, which tends to attract a Black, professional demographic. When you fuse all those different walks of life together, you have a very diverse backdrop of people breaking bread and shaking a tail feather together.
There’s also Derby Diversity Week, which is designed to bring people from different walks of life together to experience various cultural experiences during the week of the Derby.
There’s Today’s Woman magazine, which I purchased to drive authentic sisterhood amongst women of all backgrounds while simultaneously uplifting, inspiring, and empowering women to be their best selves. We don’t shove it down people’s throats, but we’re extremely intentional about highlighting and exemplifying every woman.
There are also other things we’ve done over the years that have had a heavy environmental component. These include providing back-office support to engineering firms responsible for environmental products or software applications, educating the public on environmental risk factors, and coordinating community outreach.
I like to say that TBain & Co. is a for-profit business that makes a serious impact on both people and the planet.
That’s a lot! What advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurship can seem so sexy when things are going well. I’ve seen people in business thrive when things are great — but if you’re going to be an entrepreneur or a business owner, you have to sign up for the ugly times. You have to ask yourself, “How ugly will I allow it to get before I throw in the towel?”
If that scares an entrepreneur, my best advice is that you’re probably better off working for someone because you will absolutely hit ugly times. You will absolutely have people walk out, turn their backs, and be upset. But at the end of the day, it is your name on the line, and you have to make a decision on whether or not you’re just going to quit.
I watch a lot of people jump in, assuming it’s going to be easy and that it is always going to be fun, but that is the farthest thing from the truth. Real leaders have the ability to go through the storm, withstand all the ugly that comes with it, and understand that it is just another page in this chapter or another part of the journey in which they’re leaving their mark.
If you are serious about building a legacy and you feel very passionate about changing the slice of the world that you exist in, it is important to understand that your dreams must scare you. The biggest reward is being able to look something that roars dead in the eye. With each of my projects, I felt that roar and was eventually able to say I tamed that tiger.
Where are your favorite places to eat, shop, and play around Louisville?
One of my favorite places to eat is Black Jockeys Lounge, obviously. I also love River House, which is just a hop, skip, and jump away from my home. Every now and again, my husband and I will head to Harrods Creek Tavern, which is a fun little spot. You never know who you’re going to meet or see or whose voice you’ll be blessed with on the karaoke mic. I also really love Repeal and Brendon’s Catch 23.
For play, if I’m with my children or grandchildren, it’s Malibu Jack’s or Glow Worm Cafe & Play, which I am in love with. Fun for me is inviting a group of women over for wine or dinner. I’m getting more into online shopping, but as far as boutiques are concerned, I love Mamili.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Stay laser-focused!” That came from Rosa, an entrepreneur I know who now generates hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue every year. I remember having this business opportunity that I was really excited about but didn’t land. Rosa looked me dead in the eye and said, “Laser focus.”
That advice has stuck with me because regardless of what’s happening around me — when there is a project or an objective — I remember to laser focus. It’s so easy to get distracted or be talked out of something, but when you’re on a mission that you know is for you, you just have to laser your focus.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?
I would say a good vegan snack because I’d lose my mind if I didn’t have something sweet. I also couldn’t live without the ability to travel. I love to travel, and I typically always find a way to do a little bit of work and a little bit of play. And I cannot live without a purpose. I need a reason to justify why I throw myself into things in a very laser-focused manner, as I often do.
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Lennie Omalza
Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.