Amy Peterson, Co-Founder, and C.E.O. of Rebel Nell, a verified social enterprise and women-owned jewelry company with a purpose, employs women with barriers to employment to help them transition from a life of dependence into self-reliance. Living next to one of the city’s most well-known shelters gave Amy the unique opportunity to build relationships with many residents. The inspirational stories many of the women shared of overcoming emotional, physical, and financial abuse were the catalyst for creating Rebel Nell. Amy was adamant about providing women in the shelters an opportunity to lead independent lives. She believes that employment paired with financial literacy, business education, and a focus on life wellness assists them in regaining the confidence they need to lead them on the path to success.
Workforce development is a keystone to achieving independence, as Co-Founder of Teach. Empower. Achieve. (T.E.A.), a 501(c)3, Amy developed an organization that serves as a partner for people, primarily women, facing barriers to employment and aims to be a driver of equitable change. T.E.A. works closely with existing businesses to identify employment needs and job development solutions that support and provide resources for participants’ pathways toward self-sufficiency.
Always with an eye for grassroots projects that serve the community, Amy is also a Co-Founder of The Congregation. Once an abandoned church, The Congregation is a café, coffeehouse, and bar that also serves as a hub for community programming throughout the year, including a popular farmers’ market in the summer.
Before taking over as C.E.O. of Rebel Nell, she served as Vice President of Special Projects and General Counsel for the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) and as the Associate Counsel for the Detroit Tigers. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from Kenyon College, Juris Doctorate from New England School of Law, and Masters of Business Administration from Suffolk University.
Recognized for the impact she has had in the city of Detroit, Amy has been named a Thirty in Their 30s by Dbusiness, Detroit’s Premier Business Journal, and Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year: 2016 Michigan and Northwest Ohio.
