For Ylondia Portis, starting BrandHrt Evolution in Ypsilanti was the culmination of decades of experience in market research. Throughout her career, she’s helped companies in the building and auto industries better understand their consumers. These connections helped her business flourish and demonstrated to Portis the opportunity for growth. Through Michigan Women Forward, Portis acquired a small business microloan to help fund her expansion. “We are looking forward to helping more clients get the data they need to make informed decisions and visualize the path to their own success,” Portis says.