Montgomery entrepreneur carries on family business and father’s legacy

Montgomery entrepreneur carries on family business and father’s legacy

Montgomery entrepreneur carries on family business and father’s legacy

Accelerators: This monthly series spotlights local people of color chasing their business dreams and paving the way for others. These are the stories of the entrepreneurs, trailblazers and risk-takers who are leading the way to the new Montgomery.

It’s 10 p.m. but Carmen Moore-Zeigler is wide awake, on the phone with a stressed-out business owner. If her cell rings, she answers. No matter the time of day.

“My father used to say, ‘nothing comes to a sleeper, but a dream.’ And he hadn’t seen anyone eat off that yet.”

The quick witted, 47-year-old entrepreneur is the owner of the Moore-Zeigler Group, a consulting firm that specializes in growing small minority-owned businesses. She helps entrepreneurs navigate unfamiliar territory, assisting owners with everything from licensing and paperwork to bidding for government contracts.

The phrase, “my father used to say,” is one she repeats often.

Douglas Moore taught her everything she knows about business.

At three years old, Moore-Zeigler and her father launched their first enterprise: Carmen’s haircare and lotion products, manufactured in Birmingham. Like many early entrepreneurs, Moore tried his hand at few different businesses — used cars, restaurant equipment — before he found what stuck. His daughter watched him closely.

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