Meet The Team

Founder & CEO

DeAnna Allen

Founder, The Brown Sugar Collab & CLT Perfume Bar  Driving Retail Growth & Brand Visibility

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Buyer

Tracie Anderson

Tracie Anderson is a seasoned retail and merchandising professional with more than 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, including buying, regional merchandising, brand development, and customer experience with Nordstrom. As a Buyer for Brown Sugar Collab, she brings a discerning eye for emerging brands, thoughtful curation, and products that resonate with today’s consumer.

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Digital Marketing Director

Amber Echavarría

Amber has years of experience in marketing, brand development, and production for the Brown Sugar Collab and other small businesses. Working as a freelancer has facilitated her other true passions: culture and travel! She also has a degree in linguistics, a minor in Spanish, and is completely fluent in several languages.

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Guest Experience Specialist 

Kim Franks

Kim is a retired school teacher and Charlotte resident of more than 30 years. As a long-time supporter of Queen City small businesses, she decided to join the Brown Sugar Collab to continue providing her excellent customer service skills to the community. This devoted wife and mother enjoys helping customers find their perfect gifts!

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Guest Experience Specialist 

Taciana Pippen

Taciana is a Charlotte, NC-based fashion creative. With a natural eye for creativity and a love for fashion-forward experiences, Taciana hopes to one day create and produce memorable fashion events that bring people together through creativity, self-expression, and culture. At Brown Sugar Collab she enjoys contributing towards a unique shopping experience where customers can discover distinctive products and experiences while feeling valued and connected to the space.

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Guest Experience Specialist 

Aleigha Shears

Aleigha is all about movement, growth, and good energy. You can usually find her training, traveling, or learning something new.  She genuinely believes in fueling life with curiosity and purpose. The world is your oyster! 

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Operations Manager

Danielle Anyasodor-Lafontant

Danielle manages day-to-day operations and leads our Perfume/Cologne Making classes, primarily in Concord. She is also the founder of Bèl Flame Candles, where she creates and teaches candle-making classes.

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Fragrance Class Instructor

Brie Craig

Brie is a Charlotte native, a mom of three boys, and a perfume enthusiast. She loves helping people discover fragrances they'll love and guiding them as they create custom scents that are uniquely their own.  One of her favorite things is being part of a business that invests in our community and uplifts local women- and POC-owned small businesses.

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Fragrance Class Instructor

Monét Freeman

Monét is a lover of all things that smell good, from perfumes to home scents. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, getting lost in a good book, traveling, and exploring different cultures.​​​​​

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Guest Experience Specialist 

Jade Franks

Jade Franks is a junior at North Carolina A&T studying biology. She is 20 years old and has a 15-year-old tuxedo cat named Sarah. Her favorite brand at The Brown Sugar Collab is Divine Purity, specifically the Cocoa Amber and Gratitude scents. She's been working at both locations for over a year now and absolutely loves it!​​

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Guest Experience Specialist 

Raven Rogers

Raven is an educator and creative professional with experience in education, event coordination, and marketing. She enjoys working with people, bringing ideas to life, and creating polished, engaging experiences. She has a particular interest in fragrance and gravitates toward musky, fruity, warm, and feminine scents. She’s excited to explore new fragrances and find unique scent combinations that reflect her style.

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