Meet the Founders

William Hightower, known as Chef Will, is the creative vision and culinary force behind Soul 2 Go. As a distinguished head chef and founder with over 20 years of experience in the culinary arts, Will has shaped every aspect of the brand's identity, from the menu and flavor profiles to the culture and experience that keeps guests coming back. Since its founding in 2021, Soul 2 Go has achieved over $10 million in revenue, with expansion plans to four new locations.

Before Soul 2 Go, Will co-founded Buns & Brews, where he earned the title "Angus Architect" for his innovative culinary creations. Known for crafting unique recipes inspired by diverse regions, he built a loyal customer base through imaginative food combinations and a commitment to culinary excellence.

Will's entrepreneurial vision extends far beyond the kitchen. As co-founder and Operations Manager of Club Ice LLC and Club Fire, he launched and managed upscale nightclub operations and executed marketing strategies that significantly increased patronage. Through his membership in PMR Entertainment LLC, he has been involved in film production, salon ownership, real estate, and financial services, producing critically acclaimed films including "Uninvited Guest" and "Jacked Up."

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Will brings that same creative energy and executive vision to Bank on Soul, where his culinary artistry and decades of business experience will define the guest experience from day one.

Keith J.D. Hightower is a distinguished professional with a robust background in the legal field, mediation, and business management. He holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where he received multiple honors, including the Young Alumni of the Year Award, Pro Bono Highest Honors, and the Dean's Award.

Keith is the founder and Chief Dispute Resolution Officer of Resolve it Nevada, where he has successfully mediated over 900 cases involving landlord/tenant conflicts, small claims, and family law matters. His expertise has been recognized by the Nevada Supreme Court, appointing him as a mediator in the Eviction Mediation Program and the Statewide Juvenile Dependency Mediation Program.

At Teach For America, he served as the Director of Corporate & Public Partnership, lobbying for contract renewals, engaging stakeholders, and surpassing fundraising goals. His tenure at the Office of the Governor of Nevada as Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs Director further showcased his ability to manage legislative processes, provide policy analysis, and engage with state legislators and tribal leaders.

Keith's entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his co-founding of K&H Development and Long Range Ventures. Under his leadership, Soul 2 Go achieved $653,243 in revenue within its first year and has generated over $3,350,000 since inception,with plans to expand to two new brick-and-mortar locations.

Kevin D. Hightower is a serial entrepreneur from Youngstown, Ohio with over 30 years of business experience spanning entertainment, hospitality, real estate, financial services, and facilities management. His career is defined by an ability to identify opportunities, build teams, and execute across industries — a rare combination of creative vision and operational discipline.

Kevin's most celebrated chapter is in film. As Co-Founder and Producer of PMR Entertainment, LLC, he produced and secured worldwide distribution through Lions Gate for three independent films: Uninvited Guest (starring Mekhi Phifer and Mari Morrow), Jacked Up (starring RonReaco Lee, Alexis Fields, and Anna Maria Horsford), and Cutthroat Alley (featuring Bizzy Bone). His debut film, Uninvited Guest, swept three major awards in 1999 — the Audience Choice Award at both the Acapulco Film Festival and the Urban World Film Festival, and Magic Johnson's Best of Festival Award. Jacked Up followed with the 2001 Blockbuster Film Award. Kevin is a longtime member of the Producer's Guild of America.

His move into hospitality was equally decisive. As Partner and General Manager of Club Fire and Club Ice — two upscale nightclubs in Downtown Columbus — Kevin managed a full-time staff of 48, negotiated artist and vendor contracts, promoted concerts and celebrity appearances, and earned the 2008 Ohio Hip Hop Award for 'Best of Columbus' and the 2009 #1 Hip Hop Club designation from Columbus Alive. He also earned the NAACP Small Business of the Year Award in 2004.

Kevin co-founded Buns & Brews in 2016 and Soul 2 Go in 2018, managing build-out, licensing, and day-to-day operations for both. As Founder and General Manager of PMI, LLC — a commercial facilities maintenance company operating 24/7/365 — he has built a reliable business that serves clients across central Ohio. His earlier financial services career at Conseco saw him lead a team of 20+ agents and manage hundreds of accounts as State Manager; at Premier Mortgage Funding he consistently generated $14–18K in monthly loan fees.

Kevin brings to Bank on Soul the full weight of that experience — the creative instincts of a film producer, the operational fluency of a nightclub GM, the financial discipline of a licensed broker, and the entrepreneurial drive of someone who has built businesses from the ground up, more than once.

Jerome H. Ross II is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ross Mitchko Registrars (RMR), a certification body dedicated to providing ISO and R2 certification auditing services with integrity, expertise, and a client-focused approach. At RMR, he helps organizations navigate the complexities of ISO standards, electronic recycling certifications, and regulatory compliance to achieve and sustain certification success.

With over 25 years of experience in compliance, auditing, and process improvement, Jerome specializes in management system certification, risk management, and operational excellence. His passion lies in ensuring businesses not only meet certification requirements but also enhance their processes for long-term success.

Before co-founding RMR, Jerome was the President and Founder of Transcendent Group, LLC, a compliance management consulting firm that has helped hundreds of organizations across various industries achieve and sustain management system certifications. His expertise spans ISO standards, R2 compliance, and strategic process improvement.

Prior to the compliance industry, Jerome managed operations for four eCycling facilities, overseeing a $50M business unit with over 200 employees,successfully leading compliance efforts, maintaining multiple certifications, and driving key performance improvements across large-scale operations.

His foundation in leadership was built during 22 years of service in the United States Air Force, where he developed deep expertise in leadership, human resources, and training,experiences that have shaped his ability to lead teams, mentor professionals, and build high-performing organizations.

After a friendship of over 40 years and several business ventures together, Jerome joined the Hightower brothers in 2021. He and Kevin Hightower formed Long Range Ventures,the parent company of Soul 2 Go,where Jerome serves as a Managing Partner. Jerome was one of the primary visionaries behind Bank on Soul, helping to conceptualize the brand, shape its membership model, and position it as Downtown Columbus's most distinctive private members club.