Our Founder & CEO

After more than 30 years working in enterprise technology, operations, service delivery, and automation, Akiena (“Kie”) Bordain-Dodds founded GDA Enterprises, LLC in May 2026 with a clear purpose:  To help developing entrepreneurs and growing small-business owners build stronger businesses through wisdom, strategy, operations, technology, automation, and systems designed for sustainable growth.  Kie believes small-business owners deserve access to the same level of strategic thinking, operational structure, professional technology, and customer-focused systems that help larger organizations operate effectively—implemented in ways that make sense for the size, stage, and goals of a small business.

The story behind GDA Enterprises began years before the company officially launched.  Kie's cousin, Tiffany Houser, brought more than 30 years of experience in the beauty industry along with an educational background in Information Technology. Through decades of working alongside beauty professionals and building her own entrepreneurial journey, Tiffany recognized a recurring problem: talented people could be exceptional at their craft while still struggling with the technology, business systems, operational structure, and professional infrastructure needed to build sustainable businesses.

Motivated by that need, Tiffany developed an early IT consulting concept called Software Chickz, initially envisioned to help beauty professionals better navigate technology and business systems.  Eventually, Tiffany brought the concept to Kie.  Their conversations revealed something much larger:

This wasn't simply a beauty-industry problem. It was a small-business problem.  Across industries, entrepreneurs can possess tremendous talent, expertise, passion, and determination while still needing guidance to build the business behind what they do.  That realization became part of the inspiration for what would eventually become GDA Enterprises.

Drawing upon more than three decades of enterprise experience, Kie expanded the original idea beyond technology support or any single industry.

GDA Enterprises was built on the belief that entrepreneurs need more than software, websites, social media, or the latest business tools. They need to understand their businesses, strengthen their operations, make informed technology decisions, create effective systems, develop strong customer experiences, and prepare for sustainable growth.  Today, GDA serves developing entrepreneurs and growing small-business owners at different stages of that journey.  For the developing entrepreneur, that may mean transforming talent, knowledge, or an idea into a structured and professional business.  For the growing small-business owner, particularly those navigating the critical early years of business growth, it may mean strengthening operations, improving technology, implementing automation, creating better customer experiences, and developing systems capable of supporting what comes next. The philosophy behind the work is simple:  Wisdom before tools. Strategy before technology. Systems before scale.

Tiffany remains an important part of GDA's story, but the original collaboration has evolved.  Today, Tiffany leads   Ohana Academy, and GDA Enterprises and Ohana Academy work together through a strategic partnership centered on entrepreneur education, development, business operations, technology, and growth. The relationship that helped inspire GDA has therefore grown alongside both organizations—from an idea focused primarily on helping beauty professionals use technology to a broader commitment to helping entrepreneurs develop themselves and build stronger businesses.

For Kie, Business Independence doesn't mean doing everything yourself.

It means developing the knowledge to make informed decisions. Building the structure to operate professionally. Implementing technology with purpose. Creating systems that support the business. Strengthening direct customer relationships. And building something capable of adapting and continuing to grow.  Whether an entrepreneur is just beginning to build or has already spent several years growing a business, GDA Enterprises exists to help answer an important question: What does your business need next?  Let GDA Enterprises help build the wise path forward.