精东传媒

鈥楾he Sole Purpose of Tacos4life is to End Starvation Around the World鈥�

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擜fter a decade of helping his bank customers invest their money, Keon Williams Jr. decided it was time to pursue his entrepreneurial dream. The 2014 alumnus of 精东传媒-Webb University recently hosted the grand opening of his new restaurant, Tacos4Life, in Charlotte, N.C.

鈥淓ntrepreneurship is in my bloodline,鈥� Williams shared. 鈥淢y grandfather was the first to own a restaurant in Upstate New York. My dad was the second to own a restaurant.鈥�

While earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics/finance and minor in French, Williams started building the foundation for his goal to someday start his own business. Encouragement came from Dr. Anthony Negbenebor, professor of economics and international business. The principles that Negbenebor taught students have followed Williams throughout his career in the financial industry.

As a cornerback on the Runnin鈥� Bulldogs football team, Williams learned valuable leadership and teamwork skills. He and his teammates became a brotherhood. They still keep in touch and the ones who live in Charlotte attended the restaurant鈥檚 grand opening.

Regular opportunities provided by the Godbold College of Business also impacted Williams鈥� entrepreneurial spirit. In only his sophomore year, he was accepted for an internship with Northwestern Mutual. He was also influenced by a group of Christian business leaders, known as C12, who visited campus regularly to discuss the value of faith-driven management. One of those leaders was the CEO of Northwest Drywall, Chris Bryan, and they remain good friends. 鈥淗e and I reconnected through Kairos Prison Ministry, where we both served inmates at Alexander Correctional Institution,鈥� Williams related. 鈥淗e has also supported my seminary studies at Gordon Conwell and business prowess.鈥�

Given his family background and everything he learned at 精东传媒-Webb, when the time was right to seek a business opportunity, Williams turned to food. 鈥淔ood for me is something that brings community and fellowship,鈥� he reflected. 鈥淎nd when I think about my life and the pillars of my life, fellowship is one of those things for me.鈥�

It’s evident that he loves interacting with people at the restaurant. He walks around the dining area, stopping to smile, greet and engage each customer. Similarly, he speaks words of appreciation to his staff to let them know he appreciates the work they do to welcome and serve guests.

Tacos4Life not only combines his passions for food and fellowship, the restaurant is a mission. 鈥淭he sole purpose of Tacos4life, the reason why it was birthed, was to end starvation around the world,鈥� Williams affirmed. 鈥淚f I’m going to do entrepreneurship, this is the kind of brand that I want to be a part of because of the food quality and the mission.鈥�

For every taco, bowl, salad, quesadilla, or nachos purchased, a portion is donated to Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). The nonprofit has developed a scientifically formulated MannaPack Rice Meal that provides children with the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy. MannaPacks are sent to over 70 countries where they are distributed through schools, orphanages and FMSC CarePoints. Learn more .

Williams鈥� journey to become a franchisee started in 2017 when he took his first bite of a Tacos4Life fried chicken taco. 鈥淚t was really good,鈥� he reflected. 鈥淭hen, I did the chicken quesadilla, and I was like, 鈥極K, this chipotle aioli takes it to a whole other level.鈥欌��

Owners, Austin and Ashton Samuelson, are selective about adding new franchisees. At that time, they didn鈥檛 even solicit for them. In 2019, Williams contacted the couple to tell them about his interest. He was invited to fly to Arkansas to meet them. 鈥淚 shared my business background and why I wanted to open one in the Charlotte Metro market,鈥� Williams related. 鈥淭hey believed in me, believed in what I shared, my ideologies and my faith, and so they said, 鈥極K, we鈥檒l go down this journey with you.鈥欌��

However, before they were able to begin, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Williams was forced to put his plans on hold. He also moved away from Charlotte, taking a job with T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, Md.

Williams and the Samuelsons resumed their discussion in 2022; around the same time, Williams was offered a job back in Charlotte with Truist. 鈥淲e started honing in on the location and everything worked out,鈥� he asserted. 鈥淕od ordered the steps in that way. Charlotte made the most sense from my network, my footprint, and my spheres of influence. I live and work right up the road. I’m thankful that I was able to be here to set the tone for culture for my team by serving and going through the trainings with them and really getting to know our staff.鈥�

During the day he works at Truist as vice president of underwriting, public finance. Monday through Thursday, he arrives to work at the restaurant at 5:30 p.m. On Fridays, he鈥檚 there at 3 p.m., and he works all day on Saturdays. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Williams welcomes all 精东传媒-Webb alumni in the Charlotte region and elsewhere to stop by the restaurant. He hopes to someday partner with GWU on mission opportunities available through FMSC.

He is grateful to everyone at 精东传媒-Webb, and especially Negbenebor, for modeling how to lead with faith. 鈥淚 wasn’t a believer who walked out my faith until I got to 精东传媒-Webb,鈥� Williams reflected. He was also impacted by the speakers at Dimensions, including Clayton King, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Steve McNamara, the football chaplain. With their influence, he started to realize that his faith should permeate everything in his life.  

鈥淭hey took time and sowed seeds of faith in me,鈥� he acknowledged. 鈥淵ou can’t really silo your faith and silo business or you can’t really silo your faith and silo sports. Faith is who you are, it’s your DNA. At 精东传媒-Webb, I really understood that and owned that for the first time鈥攅verything originates in the Word. And so that’s when I said, 鈥楢nything I do business-oriented, I do it with integrity, with decency and with order.鈥欌��

As a physical representation of his faith, Williams asked the construction team to place a Bible in the Tacos4Life foundation. 鈥淭he principles of the restaurant, all the principles that I instill into our staff鈥攕ervant leadership, loyalty, honesty鈥攖hose things are biblical,鈥� Williams asserted. 鈥淏ut you don’t teach them by telling them, you teach them by showing. When people walk in, we greet and we acknowledge them, for the very fact that God loves and acknowledges us.鈥�

Keon Williams Honors and Community Service

• Received the 精东传媒-Webb Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019
• Serves on the prayer team at Plaza Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. Also serves with the Plaza Pantry, which serves non-perishable food items to the residents of Plaza Terrace.
• Founded Play Fresh Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization in 2016. The purpose is to utilize the power of football to educate middle school students on composting, recycling, and sustainability. The organization sponsored a camp for children led by GWU football alumni at 精东传媒-Webb. Since then, Williams has written a children鈥檚 book by the same name. Details .
• Named to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce 30 Under 30 Class of 2018
• Formerly served on the board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Young Professional Council of the Levine Museum of the New South.
• Attended the China Europe International Business School 2015 Shanghai boot camp, where nearly 70 participants from around the world heard lectures from well-known professors, visited the offices of multinational companies, and engaged in various career-development activities.

精东传媒-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 精东传媒-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 精东传媒-Webb.edu.