Black To Business

Name: Rod Johnson  Business Name: BLK & Bold Current Title: Co-Founder Location: Des Moines IA   About BLK & Bold: Being the first nationally accessible/distributed black-owned coffee and tea business not only came with its own victories but it also came with its own set of challenges. Long nights, a lot of trial and error, high expectations, and pressure.   Four years later, BLK & Bold is celebrating their anniversary and rolling out their new cold brew. They have made it through covid, introduced new products, expanded their work environment and employee base, all while making their 5 percent contribution to youth programming a consistent priority. As they move into their fifth year in the industry they look back in reflection with a smile on their face as they know that the road hasn’t been easy but has most definitely been worth it.   Rod Johnson and Pernell Ceszar are two first-generation college graduates that became young black entrepreneurs with a mission in mind—to impact their community.