Nayana Doletta Ferguson (born October 23, 1973)[1][2][3] is an African-American businesswoman. Co-founder and CEO of Anteel Tequila,[4][5][6][7] she is the first Black woman to own and run a tequila company.[4][5][2][8][6][7]
Life
editFerguson was born and grew up in Detroit, Michigan.[9] She graduated from Cass Technical High School.[9][10] Ferguson later had a career in business before launching Anteel Tequila (previously known as Teeq Tequila) in August 2018 with her husband Don Ferguson in Detroit.[5][2][6][7] The company's name was inspired by the Antillean Crested hummingbird, which Ferguson and her husband saw on their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.[4][7] The couple and company moved to Atlanta around 2022.[8] Ferguson's Anteel Tequila products have received numerous industry awards, including SIP Awards,[4][11][12] and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.[13][5][6]
Ferguson promoted her company as a featured guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show on February 17, 2022.[14]
Health
editFerguson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2005 and with breast cancer in 2012.[2] She was involved with PanCan Detroit affiliate of volunteers which is connected with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Nayana Doletta Ferguson's Michigan Voter Registration". VoterRecords.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Post, Erin (2022-04-14). "Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Is First Black Woman to Co-Own Tequila Company". Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/CGsBtV_FzIz/
- ^ a b c d Uwumarogie, Victoria (July 14, 2021). "She Wanted A Healthier Spirit, Now She's The First Black Woman To Lead A Tequila Brand". Essence. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ a b c d Evans, Yolanda. "Meet The Only Black Women To Operate A Tequila Brand". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ a b c d Givens, Dana (2020-04-01). "This Entrepreneur Is Running The Only Black Female-Owned Tequila Brand". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ a b c d Baetens, Melody. "Celebrate National Tequila Day with Metro Detroit's own Anteel Tequila". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ a b Singleton, Isaiah (2022-12-09). "Black-Business Profile: Anteel Tequila is coming to Atlanta". The Atlanta Voice. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ a b Kalil-Barrino, Marisa. "Detroit tequila brand owned by a Black woman is first of its kind". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Celebrating Black Young Professionals Series: Women's History Month | Featuring Nayana Ferguson". Let's Detroit. 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "2022 Results" (PDF). sipawards.com. 2022. pp. 3, 6, 11, 72, 80. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Results 2021" (PDF). sipawards.com. 2021. pp. 3, 5. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Results Search – San Francisco World Spirits Competition" (PDF). www.sfspiritscomp.com. May 2021. p. 6. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Watch The Kelly Clarkson Show - Official Website Web Exclusive: Cancer Survivor Makes History As The First Black Woman To Launch Her Own Tequila Brand - NBC.com, 2022-02-17, retrieved 2023-02-03