Meet the Hustle PHX Team
Oye Waddell
Founder & CEO
Oye Waddell is the Founder and CEO of Hustle Phoenix, a non-profit organization that exists to equip and catalyze under-served entrepreneurs annually with the intellectual, social and financial capital they need to create sustainable business ventures for the common good. Fueled by his visionary style of leadership and the belief that all people have dignity, Oye knows that some of the most innovative entrepreneurs in the United States are in underserved, urban communities.
Prior to moving to Phoenix, Oye served as Executive Director of Eternal Sports Outreach in Los Angeles, which sought to empower young athletes to become business and civic leaders. There he recruited volunteer coaches/administrators, evaluated the effectiveness of development programs and utilized evaluation data to revise instructional objectives and methods.
Once in Phoenix, Oye founded and served as CEO of Gameplan AZ–an athletic consulting company dedicated to providing student-athletes and their families the tools to navigate and dominate the athletic recruiting process. While Oye’s long track record in urban education and entrepreneurship began as a teacher in both Compton and Los Angeles, he continues to invest in students by serving on the American Enterprise Institute with the Ideas Council where he invests in student leaders at universities across the nation. His influence is also present at Arizona State University where Oye is a Venture Mentor for student-athletes who aim to start businesses.
More recently, Oye served as a pastor at New City Church, leading members and the broader community to understand, embrace, and accomplish their mission to develop disciples locally and globally, as well as engage followers in worship, community and ministry.
Currently, Oye Waddell serves as pastor of Sojourn Village PHX–a community dedicated to seeking the flourishing of an urban community known as South Phoenix. With this same passion for families, Oye is also the CEO of the Hustle Real Estate Investment Fund which is designed to serve as a pathway to homeownership for low-income individuals, helping to stabilize low-income neighborhoods and bring stability to families.
Oye was selected by the Phoenix Business Journal as among the city’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Men and Women for 2018. He is also a member of the Camelback Society, an association of men called to the marketplace who intend to live all aspects of their lives before Christ. Conscious Capitalism is a movement that focuses on businesses that have a purpose beyond profit. Oye Waddell has also been a Ted Style Talk Speaker on topics such as “Hustling for the Common Good” at Purdue University as well as a business conference speaker for Balle, an organization that fights for the flourishing of local businesses.
Oye attended the University of Washington on a full athletic football scholarship. He later earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Master of Education from Arizona State University.
Richard Winne
Director of Operations
Crys Waddell
Creative Strategist & COO
Demetrius Lester
Director of Youth Entrepreneurship
Josiah Stewart
Americorps Youth Entrepreneurship Program Member
Josiah is a Youth Entrepreneurship Program (Y.E.P.) associate at Hustle PHX. As a Y.E.P. associate, his role is to support and serve the Y.E.P. program. Josiah is attending Paul Quinn College with a degree in business management. He also writes and produces his own music.
Atujuan Douroux
Americorps Youth Entrepreneurship Program Member
Atujuan is the Youth Program Coordinator at Hustle PHX. As the Youth Program Coordinator, his role is to develop and facilitate entrepreneurial activities, curriculums, and local community orgnization partnerships for the youth in the community. In his free time, Atujuan enjoys fitness, traveling, and public speaking.
Michael Williams II
Americorps Youth Entrepreneurship Program Member
Michael is the Youth Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator at Hustle PHX. As the YEP Coordinator, I work with other opportunity youth (ages 16-24) from underserved communities in the Phoenix Metropolitan area by coordinating and executing curriculum developed from the Hustle PHX 101 Curriculum. One of Michael’s favorite things to do is to spend time with his family by either watching movies, cooking, and playing games.
Basil Ribakare
CDFI Coordinator
Basil is a Youth Program Coordinator at Hustle PHX. As a Youth Program Coordinator, his role is to teach the youth entrepreneurship cirriculum to various partners. Basil is attending Arizona State University earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in criminology. He will be persuing a career in law and public administration.
Randall Defiesta
Program Support Specialist
Randall is the Program Support Specialist at Hustle PHX. As the Program Support Specialist, Randall’s role is to assist the program director with administrative tasks while developing program materials and executing our business development programs. Randall graduated from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor’s degree.
Ezequias Fuentes
Director of Programs
Ezequias is the Director of Programs at Hustle PHX. As the Director of Programs, he ensures that all Hustle PHX programs are delivered effectively to our target communities. Ezequias graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Marketing & Sales and Digital Audiences with a Certificate in Cross-Sector Leadership. Ezequias is one of ten kids.
Nathan Beery
Digital Marketing Manager | Marketing Team Leader
Nathan is the Digital Marketing Manager at Hustle PHX. As the Digital Marketing Manager, Nate leads our marketing efforts on our website with organic SEO, on social media, digital ad spaces, and in our email communications. Nate graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Communications. Outside of work Nate likes weightlifting, JDM cars, and houseplants.
Chris Ward
CDFI Coordinator
Chris is the CDFI Coordinator at Hustle PHX. As the CDFI Coordinator his role is to establish a program that makes it possible for under-served people and minorities to access funding and faith based financial literacy to bring their dreams to reality!
Vanessa May
Americorps Youth Entrepreneurship Program Member
Vanessa is a Youth Entrepreneurship Program (Y.E.P.) associate at Hustle PHX. As a Y.E.P. associate, her role is to support and serve the Y.E.P. program. She completed her A.A. with an emphasis in communications & has her life coach certification. She loves mentoring youth & is a prayer warrior.
Hustle PHX Board of Directors
Oye Waddell
Executive Director
Oye Waddell is the Executive Director of Hustle PHX. Waddell grew up in inner city Los Angeles and has a long track record in urban education and entrepreneurship. He attended the University of Washington on a full athletic scholarship to play football. He later earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Education from Arizona State University. He is the founder of Gameplan International and serves as a pastor at New City Church in downtown Phoenix.
Frank Kitchen
Board Chair - Certified Speaking Professional and Owner of Frank Kitchen Enterprises & Call to Auction
Hello, My name is Frank Kitchen. I’m known as the Mindset Master Chef. I Work with Organizations who want to Create a Workplace Culture their People Hunger For. All of my “Kitchen Inspired” Learning Experiences demonstrate how to flip your mindset and create an environment that ignites retention, productivity and profits.
Cherie Bond
Human Resources & Employee Relations at ADP
I am a growth-focused and results driven professional who thrives on driving strategic people solutions to fuel business success. With a deep understanding of both business strategy and HR implications, I have a proven track record of partnering with senior leaders to align HR strategies with organizational goals.
I specialize in cultivating positive and innovative cultures that ignite high employee engagement, resulting in motivated teams and exceptional performance. My passion lies in leveraging robust analytical abilities to uncover valuable insights from human capital data, enabling me to identify and implement business improvement opportunities.
Jane Dobbs
Hustle PHX Board of Directors
Experienced Financial Services Executive & Consultant with 30+ year history of successfully helping credit unions, banks and non profit organizations improve their performance across all business lines.
I have demonstrated success & experience as an Interim & Turnaround CEO with a laser focus on partnerships and success strategies required for each unique engagement.
Donald Mayes
Hustle PHX Board of Directors
A graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois Teen Challenge Board Member, Pastor of Worship Community Church, Springfield Ministerial Alliance Chaplain, Springfield NAACP Religious Executive Chairman, Springfield Urban League Male Involvement Presenter, Juvenile Corrections Center Bible Teacher, Mentor Hazel Del School, Board Member Springfield Right to Life, Missionary and a Servant Leader, Pastor Mayes loves God by loving people.