By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
East Baltimore native Chris Simon is not only a real estate investor and the co-owner of Harbor East’s urban fine dining restaurant BLK Swan, he’s an innovator in the mental health space. His company BTST Services is on a mission to become a leader and trailblazer in mental health and social work with research, comprehensive programming and training for the next generation of health care professionals.
Most recently, BTST announced an investment by Webster Equity Partners (Webster). The mental health agency is set to become the pillar organization for Webster’s Community Behavioral Health Services platform. The move marks Webster’s first foray into mental health.
“When you find a partner that is excited about your growth and what you’ve been able to do, and they want to grow more with you, it’s a beautiful thing,” said Simon. “This investment will help us expand our service product delivery and our locations, but the real growth will come in through the mergers and acquisitions we’re now able to do. We can find other companies that are doing great work and acquire them to join our platform, helping us impact more individuals.”
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Although a serial entrepreneur today, Simon came from humble beginnings. He grew up on the Alameda before moving to the Cedonia neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore. His mother was an entrepreneur, running a framing studio out of their basement. His dad had a steady job as a probation officer before opening a short-lived soul food carry-out restaurant.
Simon’s early exposure to entrepreneurship engendered a hustle mentality in him. Simon would jump the fence of a local golf course to retrieve what he assumed were lost golf balls and sell them back to putters.
“When they would hit golf balls in the water, I would go in, get them and sell them back. Then, I would try to wash golf clubs, but trying to clean clubs on the 15th hole isn’t really a good idea because there’s only three holes left,” said Simon. “Somebody reported me, and the pro picked me up from the 15th hole and told me I couldn’t do that. However, he gave me a bucket and let me clean clubs by the cart shed.”
This would be one in several experiences that helped to hone Simon’s entrepreneurial skills. He also sold paintings and drawings at holiday festivals with the help of his mother in middle school, and he started a clothing brand called C-note in high school.
But, it was his time on the golf course that led him to dream bigger for himself. He learned how to play golf and had a natural talent for the sport—so much so that some of his opponents thought he was cheating when he won.
A local Black golf association nurtured Simon’s talent, paying for him to have a trainer and to attend various golf tournaments.
“Because of that, I was able to gain a different exposure than most kids on the Alameda or coming from where I grew up. I think that just opened me up to what life could look like,” said Simon. “I would go to my friends’ houses, and they had these big homes and their parents drove Mercedes. I was like, ‘Wow, people actually live life like this, it’s not just on TV.’”
Simon initially pursued fashion merchandising at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), as he was growing C-note. But after transferring to Morgan State University (MSU) and getting a job at a group home, he developed a passion for mentoring young people.
Simon went on to obtain a master’s in social work from MSU, and he established BTST in 2008 to fill the voids he identified in mental health service delivery. The agency has locations in Baltimore, Prince George’s County, Frederick County and Washington County and provides psychotherapy, individual and family therapy, medication management and psychiatric rehabilitation.
It also maintains a nonprofit arm, BTST Cares, to provide more holistic support services for the families they serve, whether through youth enrichment programs or sponsoring families with groceries and gift cards or hosting holiday givebacks.
“Some people do good work and don’t have a voice or presence. Some people have a presence and don’t have a good business behind them. We’re able to do both,” said Simon. “We have great systems, we have great people and we’re built to scale. We not only provide great services, we’re a voice of mental health, and we’re advancing the conversation.”
Kevin Daniels, professor for the School of Social Work at MSU, met Simon while he was enrolled in the program there. Daniels said he noticed Simon’s entrepreneurial spirit instantly, as he was always brimming with new ideas.
“We not only provide great services, we’re a voice of mental health, and we’re advancing the conversation.”
“In social work, our values are service, social justice, dignity, the importance of human relationships, integrity and competence,” said Daniels. “Chris, whether as a student, entrepreneur or professional, has always maintained those values.”
Daniels recalled attending one of BTST’s events at MSU, during which radio host Charlamagne tha God discussed his battle with anxiety and gave away copies of his book, “Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me.”
“He’s always creating a space not just for himself to be successful but for all of us to come along with him and be successful,” said Daniels. “I sing his praises everywhere. I am extremely proud of what he is doing for the profession and field of social work.”
Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.
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