the founder

Tranice Watts founded The Absurd Institute in 2017. Under her direction, the organization provides strategic guidance and support to businesses and decision-makers. Ms. Watts is hands-on with assisting clients in comprehensive business plans, grant proposals, and procurement opportunities. She is also the executive director of Audible Staffing & Workforce Solutions, a small business services and consulting group; and cofounder of Lifting Lucy, an organization dedicated to supporting Black, Indigenous, and all Women of Color in beer education and networking opportunities. 
 

With over 20 years of hands-on experience, Tranice offers invaluable knowledge and insight acquired throughout her career, volunteering, and networking with experts. Ms. Watts' proficiencies are as diverse as her resume, which includes being a small business owner, leading the secretariat office for an international science agency, assisting Nobel Laureates and royalty, and being the first Black woman in Maryland to co-own and operate a brewery (2017). She was also appointed co-chair of the 2021 Charles County Maryland Economic Development Advisory Board's Business Outreach Council.

  

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Tranice assisted with proposal packages at NGOs for over $8.01M in committed funds. Her past accomplishments also include serving as a chief of staff in the Maryland House of Delegates where she co-drafted legislation currently used by the State of Maryland, such as MBE graduation requirements, restricting payday/title loan predatory lending, consumer's choice for energy, and the weatherization program in Maryland. 

Ms. Watts is an alumni of The Ohio State University. Her interests include communicative association, singing, fermenting kombucha and makgeolli, meeting new people, and homeschooling her 11 year old daughter.