Te'Jal Cartwright, owner and lead story coach
Te'Jal Cartwright has a strong background in media and journalism. In 2018 she created a digital platform called "What's the Biz with TJ", that tells the stories of Black-owned businesses in communities across the nation. Under Te'Jal's leadership, What's the Biz has helped increase the visibility and brand awareness of more than 100 Black-owned businesses in Dayton. Te'Jal has 4 completed seasons, has garnished over 72,000 views in season 3 alone, and has partnered with major organizations like the Greater West Dayton Incubator and Launch Dayton to connect local Black owned businesses to much needed resources. Te'Jal has also interviewed legendary artists like, Jo Jo Brim and Christopher "Play" Martin from Kid N' Play.
Te’Jal Cartwright has been a natural advocate for storytelling and joined the LORE team in 2018 as a digital marketing strategist. Te'Jal was an engaging host and a proficient technologist that kept the LORE Storytelling Workshops moving smoothly during the 2020 pandemic. In June 2021, Te'Jal decided to take on the role of a story coach. Learning the art of Storytelling has improved every aspect in her life so she's enthused to share these tools with the world. Her love for storytelling is ever evolving. In 2023, Te'Jal accepted the role as Lore's co-owner and lead story coach. In 2024, she officially stepped into full ownership of Lore. Her mission is to focus on combining storytelling and media in the next Lore era!
She is a passionate community advocate and a true champion of community development in Dayton. With a B.A. in English from the University of Dayton and a professional track record of implementing digital media to execute innovative, high-yield fundraising and community outreach strategies, she is committed to using her skills and talents to uplift Dayton as well as the global Black community and creating a better world for her children.
Bridget Flaherty, Story Consultant
Bridget Flaherty has a successful career in Information Technology and Business Process Improvement and she is a Storyteller. Odd combination? Yes. And it makes her uniquely qualified to teach storytelling for business.
The first time that Bridget got on stage to tell a story, she won the competition. Instantly, she was hooked. She began traveling to share stories across the Midwest, including cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Louisville, Cincinnati and Dayton.
Quickly, Bridget recognized how a captivating story can impact business success through effective leadership, captivating marketing, increased sales and clarified company culture. It was a natural fit. Marrying her more than 20 years of experience in business leadership with her passion for storytelling, Bridget developed a curriculum that makes sense for business professionals and she began to share the art of storytelling. LORE was born.
Bridget led storytelling workshops, small group sessions and provided one-on-one coaching for business professionals that desire to tell a captivating story. In 2024 Bridget stepped down as the owner of Lore to focus on the next chapter of her life. She still consults closely with the Lore team to support with workshops and continue her love of story sharing.
Taera Works, Efficiency Consultant
Taera Works is Lore’s Efficiency Consultant and a proud Lore graduate. She believes in the power of connecting through storytelling, a value she carries into both her professional and personal life. Born and raised in Dayton, Taera cherishes her community and finds joy in creating beautiful floral arrangements to share with friends and family.
In addition to her role at Lore, Taera works as a school-based therapist, where she is dedicated to supporting the emotional well-being and healing of students. Her deep commitment to social justice and equity drives her efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health care within the Black community.
Taera seamlessly blends her organizational skills and genuine care for others in everything that she does. Her ability to hold space for healing and connection makes her an invaluable asset to our team. We are thrilled to have her as part of Lore, where her dedication and passion continue to inspire us all.
