From Corporate Boardrooms to Thomasville’s Spark: Dawn Benton Illuminates the Path for Underestimated Entrepreneurs
- deshaywilliams3
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Tuesday, December 2
7:00 a.m.
Spark Thomasville Executive Director
Some people spend decades chasing purpose. Dawn Benton built hers. ✨
Ever wonder what happens when 15 years in software, a decade in higher ed, and a doctorate in business administration collide with Thomasville’s entrepreneurial spirit?
Meet Dawn Benton—the hardworking founder of Astrapto (“to illuminate” in Latin) and a volunteer presenter at Spark’s current cohort.
She’s the leader who doesn’t just talk about sustainability—she makes it practical for small businesses, stripping away the jargon and connecting it to what entrepreneurs actually care about: saving money, attracting customers, and building resilient businesses.
The Unlikely Journey: From IT to Impact 🌍
Dawn’s story isn’t a straight line—it’s a tapestry of reinvention:
Grew up in Thomasville (moved here at age 6, left at 22)
Earned degrees from Thomas University (AA), Georgia State (BA), the University of South Carolina (MBA in International Business) and Walden University (Doctorate in Business Administration in Social Impact Studies)
Spent 15 years in software, then pivoted to financial services, then higher ed (nearly a decade)
In 2016, her division was sold, and her job disappeared
Launched Astrapto—her sustainability consulting business—nine years ago this month
“I had this little voice in my head for years that said: ‘One day, I want to work in corporate social responsibility.’ At 46, I finally said, ‘What are you waiting for?’”
Why Spark? Because business should be a force for good 💡.
Dawn didn’t just stumble into Spark. She was drawn to it; because she’s spent her career helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into impact.
Here’s what lit her up about Spark’s mission:
✅“It helps people with a dream bring it to reality” no MBA required.
✅It’s practical. “Spark is structured it in a way that’s not just ‘Here’s a loan’—it’s ‘Here’s how to use it.’”
✅It targets genuine community needs. (Like the construction cohort addressing
Thomasville’s housing shortage—or the childcare cohort filling critical gaps.)
✅It’s for the underestimated. “Spark levels the playing field.”
Sustainability Without the Baggage (or Jargon) 🗑️
Dawn’s Spark presentation wasn’t about climate doom—it was about opportunity.
She broke it down for entrepreneurs:
💰Save money (energy efficiency = lower bills)
🤝Attract customers (people want to support businesses that care)
🛡️Lower risk (sustainable practices = resilient operations)
👥Engage your team (employees want to work for companies with purpose)
“I don’t care if you believe in climate change. Do you believe in saving money? Do you believe in feeding your community? Then we can talk.”
Her secret? Meet people where they are.
For Thomasville’s Spark cohort, she focused on practical steps—no acronyms, no guilt trips.
“Dignity in work is everything. Whether you’re a dishwasher or a CEO, you deserve to feel like what you do matters.”
The Spark Connection: A Full-Circle Moment 🔄
Dawn met DeShay through Spark graduate (Angela Murphy, who raved about the program.
“When I heard what DeShay was doing, I was like, ‘I’ve done this before!’ I ran entrepreneurship programs at colleges, mentored startups, judged pitch competitions. This was my jam.”
Now, she’s bringing her expertise back to the town where she grew up—not as a savior, but as a guide.
“I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve got 20+ years of business experience, a doctorate in social impact, and a passion for helping people see their own brilliance.”
Why This Matters for Thomasville ❤️
When experts like Dawn volunteer with Spark:
Underestimated entrepreneurs get real-world strategies (not just theory).
Barriers to business ownership start to crumble.
Thomasville’s economy gets stronger—because diverse businesses = more jobs, more tax revenue, more opportunity for everyone.
“A rising tide raises all boats. Even the people who don’t get sustainability, they get on board and see how much it supports strategy, efficiency, and the bottom line.
Your Turn: What’s Your “One Day”? 🚀
Dawn waited until 46 to chase her dream. What’s yours—and what’s stopping you?
💬 Email me DeShayWilliams@sparkthomaville.com and tell me: What’s one “sustainable” change you’ve made in your business (or life) that saved you money, time, or stress?
P.S. Want to bring Dawn’s expertise to your business or organization? Check out Astrapto—where sustainability meets real-world results.
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