Panelists

Brandi Simpkins

A native of Germantown, Philadelphia, Brandi Simpkins was raised by her father with much influence from her older siblings.  This set the stage for her family style of management.  The B. Lynn Group is one big family, as stylists share responsibilities, jobs, clients and most evenings, dinner. Brandi’s management style fosters an atmosphere analogous to that of a small family.  By being an “ear” for personal and professional matters, Brandi’s hands on approach enables her to create an environment of loyalty and commitment.
  
Brandi graduated from Howard University with a Degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing.  She pursued a career in Corporate Sales at the Xerox Corporation, and after a short and very successful stay Brandi decided to pursue her dream to be an entrepreneur.  Building on her marketing experience and business savvy, Brandi joined with fashion stylist Crystal Streeets to create The B. Lynn Group. 

Brandi built The B. Lynn Group on the philosophy that the customer’s needs must always come first.  B. Lynn’s client roster represents the “who’s who” of the entertainment world.  She counts Will Smith, Jay-Z, Naomi Campbell, Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx, Nia Long, Sean Combs, Nas and Rihanna among her clientele.  B. Lynn has become one of the most highly sought after stylist agencies in New York.  With stylists clamoring for position to have their careers guided under her auspicious leadership, Brandi manages her business by representing a select group of stylists – the best the industry has to offer.

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Justin Steel (HBS MBA 2009)

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Desiree Reid

Desiree Reid is one of the leading industry experts in global cosmetics, skincare, and fragrances. The Pace University alumna was born in Jamaica and raised in the UK, which has influenced the international and multicultural perspectives that she brings to the beauty industry.  She currently serves as Senior VP and General Manager for IMAN Cosmetics.

With a degree in marketing and a natural passion for beauty, Reid began her career with industry giant, Revlon. There, she spent almost a decade spearheading product development for leading brands such as Charlie, Borghese, Max Factor, Revlon Color and Revlon Skincare. She later worked as Director of Product Development with Parfums Stern/Avon where the concentration of her efforts were on the successful Oscar de la Renta brand.

In 1990, Reid took a brief entrepreneurial hiatus, started a family and later returned to the industry as VP of Fragrance Marketing for Felton Fragrances Worldwide. Among her many accomplishments, she is proud to have been on the front lines of the early research, development and marketing of the industry’s movement towards “all natural” cosmetics.
 
In 1995, she joined forces with fashion industry icon, IMAN, for her newly launched multi-cultural beauty line. Reid was responsible for the brand’s total P&L and development into the first multi-ethnic global brand leader in the prestige market. Reid successfully launched IMAN into Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Returning briefly to her roots in fine fragrances, Reid joined the Estee Lauder Company in 2004 to lend her expertise in the development of the Sean John fragrance, for music/fashion mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.

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Jeffrey Tweedy

Jeffrey Tweedy knows that product drives a fashion company.  Since 1999 he has carefully but aggressively catapulted the growth of Sean John from an urban label into a $450 million brand at retail.  Conceptualizing and launching a lifestyle brand based on Sean "Diddy" Combs' image, Tweedy pioneered a sophisticated urban brand...a concept now used as a benchmark by its competitors.  Tweedy's vision for Sean John tapped into a new market niche and evolved into the first urban brand marketed by high fashion rather than capitalizing on its roots in the music media.

After studying Design and Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Tweedy began his fashion career with Britches of Georgetown and Neiman Marcus in Washington, DC as well as Bergdorf Goodman in New York.  Starting as a stock boy and sales associate, he gained invaluable experience in every aspect of the fashion industry, from senior management to design, sales, merchandising and production.  Jeffrey Tweedy has emerged as an influential leader who focuses on the mission of a company, truly understanding the vision and lifestyle that distinguishes each brand.  He has demonstrated this expertise for the past 20 years, building high profile brands from Sean John to Polo Ralph Lauren, Alexander Julian, Hugo Boss, Cross Colours, Karl Kani Jeans, and Spike's Joint.

Tweedy’s unique combination of business savvy and an intuitive ability to successfully predict trends and customer tastes has earned him numerous accolades in the menswear industry.  DNR listed Tweedy in "The Power 100" for 3 consecutive years, he was selected by MR Magazine as one of the most fascinating men in fashion, and he received the BRAG Business Achievement Award.

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Kelvin Releford

Kevin Releford is currently the General Manager for the Target Distribution Center in the Sacramento area.  In this position since November 2006, he has proven to be a skilled operator and strong service leader of the one thousand employees in the 1.5 million square-foot facility.  He has worked as a college admissions officer, served as an officer for the United Nations Command Honor Guard leading units from four countries, conducted economic development projects in Hawaii and the Marshall Islands, and interned as a NASA programmer.  He led tank and mortar units for the U.S Army in Korea and directed all maintenance and supply for 137 vehicles valued at $240 million in a large military organization.

Mr. Releford has led successful start-up and turnaround operations.  He led and directed a warehouse department that served 62 retail stores in Iowa.  His department ranked first in level of service and quality while he was part of a team that received the honor of “Best Start-up Distribution Center” in history of the company.  Mr. Releford serves on a local United Way board, has been a youth counselor for the Ron Burton Village for disadvantaged inner city youth in Massachusetts, and played rugby football for several clubs.

Mr. Releford holds an M.B.A from the Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point.  He lives in Sacramento with his wife and son.

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James Brown

James Brown returned to CBS Sports as host for NFL pre-game show, THE NFL TODAY, and as play-by-play announcer for the Network’s coverage of college basketball including the NCAA tournament in 2006.  Brown will again anchor THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Boomer Esiason, Charley Casserly and Bill Cowher.  He hosted the Network’s Super Bowl pre-game show in 2007 for its coverage of Super Bowl XLI in Miami. Brown served as host of “FOX NFL Sunday” for 12 years prior to returning to CBS Sports.  He joined FOX Sports in June 1994 after a decade with CBS Sports. 

Throughout his career he has earned numerous awards, including the 1998 and 1999 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Host for “FOX NFL Sunday.” Brown also received the first annual Pat Summerall Award in 2006, at Super Bowl XL in Detroit, and in 2007 Maxwell Football Club’s Excellence in Broadcasting Award and the Dallas All Sports Association Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism.

Brown, captain of the Harvard University basketball team received All-Ivy League honors three times. He was selected as a fourth-round draft pick by the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.  In 1996, Brown was inducted into the Harvard Hall of Fame.

Brown is also part-owner of the Washington Nationals baseball team and co-founder of Brown Technology Group.  Through his JB Awards, in partnership with NFL Players, he annually raises in excess of one million dollars for Special Olympics DC.

He resides with his wife Dorothy in Maryland.  He has one daughter, Katrina.

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Beverly Bond

A true music connoisseur, Beverly Bond’s passion for music and uncanny ability to read the crowd has solidified her as one of the premier DJ’s in the world. Over the last seven years, Ms. Bond, a former Wilhelmina model, has brought her versatile talents to the most exclusive events in the world with performances at the VH1 Fashion Awards, ESPN, X-Games, The U.S. Open, and for myriad celebrity clients including Prince, Jay-Z, P. Diddy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Martha Stewart, and Michael Jordan.

An activist and “budding” philanthropist, she founded BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc., a non-profit youth empowerment, mentoring organization for young women of color. Love Heals, a leading foundation for AIDS education, recognized Bond naming her one of “New York’s Fifty Fabulous Females” and Vibe Magazine named her “A Future Urban Icon.” Bond has served as a panelist on a number of community summits on hip-hop music and culture. Ms. Bond was recently invited to speak at the 2007 ESSENCE Music Festival “Empowerment Seminars” in New Orleans along with Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Cornell West, and others. 

Ms. Bond is on the cutting edge of urban music and culture—a rare influencer of cultural zeitgeist,Her wide range appeals to crowds from underground backpackers to jet-set fashionistas. With such diverse talents combined with an unparalleled and passionate devotion to music, its little wonder that Ms. Bond has emerged as a force in the DJ world and a powerful and respected voice in the music community.

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Wendy R. Credle

Wendy R. Credle is the founder and managing partner of the entertainment law practice Credle & Associates, PLLC.  Credle & Associates provides advice and counsel to recording artists, producers, songwriters, musicians, managers, dancers, production companies, publishing companies, models, authors, independent record labels, and record label executives. 

Wendy Credle is one of the most respected entertainment attorneys in the country and is well-known nationwide for her ability to recognize talented new artists and executives.  Credle has represented several multi-platinum artists and producers including Rodney Jerkins, Anthony Hamilton, Ne-yo, Mario Winans, Lil Mo, Antoine Fuqua, Stephanie Mills, Andre Harrell, Nu America Advertising Agency, The Black Girls Rock Awards Show and Foundation, Fonzworth Bentley, Precision (R-Kelly and Jay-z), No-ID (G-Unit, Common, Kanye West) and Shea Taylor (Chris Brown, Neyo, Beyonce, Janet Jackson). 

Her work in the music industry over the past twenty-one years includes four years as the Director of A&R at MCA Records, and associate work at the prestigious law firms of Grubman, Indursky & Shire, P.C., Carroll, Guido & Groffman, LLP, and Rudolph & Beer, LLP. 

Credle graduated from the University of Michigan and Fordham University School of Law.  During her free time, Credle enjoys competing in national horse shows, yoga, meditation, and spending time with her thirteen year old son.

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Barry H. Caldwell

Barry H. Caldwell is responsible for leading Waste Management's government affairs, communications, community relations and public sector services activities. He is a member of the Company's senior leadership team and reports to Waste Management Chief Executive Officer, David Steiner.

Waste Management, Inc. is North America’s leading provider of comprehensive waste management and environmental services. Based in Houston, Texas, it is a FORTUNE 200 company with revenues of approximately $13 billion and nearly 50,000 employees.

Barry joined Waste Management from CIGNA Corporation, the Philadelphia-based health insurance provider, where he was Vice President, Government Relations. Before CIGNA, he was Vice President, Federal Affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the trade association representing the research based pharmaceutical companies.

Prior to PhRMA, Barry served as Chief of Staff to United States Senator Arlen Specter. Caldwell is a lawyer and began his career as an associate with Kutak Rock & Campbell and then Cole Corette & Abrutyn, both Washington, D.C. law firms.

Barry also serves as Chairman of the Board of Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement network, and on the boards of Environmental Industries Association (the trade association for the private waste services industry); the National Association of Manufacturers; Washington Metropolitan Scholars; and Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas.

Barry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.

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Charles H. Allison, Jr.

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Robert Sirleaf

Rob Sirleaf is a Managing Director in the Fixed Income Sales and Trading division of Wachovia Securities. In 2002, Mr. Sirleaf was named the sales manager of the Generalist/Middle Market Fixed Income Sales group. He is also Co-Head of Wachovia’s Capital Markets Retail Marketing team based in New York. Prior to this role, he was a salesman in Fixed Income Sales of Wachovia Securities (legacy First Union). Mr. Sirleaf also worked as a Director in Fixed Income Securities at SunTrust Bank and Director of Corporate Finance at Utendahl Capital. Mr. Sirleaf began his Wall Street career at Salomon Brothers (Citigroup) in 1984.  Mr. Sirleaf is Co-Head of Wachovia’s Corporate & Investment Bank African- American Network.

Outside of the corporate arena, Rob funded the creation of an orphanage in Dixville, Liberia, housing more than 300 orphans and a missionary school for the deaf and hard of hearing in Barnersville, Liberia.  In 2003, Rob was named America’s Promise Mentor of the Year for his tremendous mentoring efforts.  Rob also serves as the Chairman of the Advisors board of the Liberian Education Trust (LET), a charitable trust formed to harness American support for the restoration of basic education in post-civil-war Liberia.  LET's mission is to build and rehab 50 schools; train 500 teachers; award 5,000 scholarships principally to girls to enroll in school and to stay in school; to support women to enter teacher training colleges; and, to enroll market women in literacy programs.  Mr. Sirleaf is a graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

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Shon Gables

Shon Gables, a recent Emmy Award Nominee for On-Camera Achievement with more than 12 years broadcasts journalism experience, currently serves as host of Black Enterprise Magazine’s new nationally syndicated program “Black Enterprise Business Report.” 
Most recently, as co-anchor of “CBS 2 News This Morning” from 2003 to 2006, Gables covered some of New York City’s most profound events, including the historic New York City Subway Centennial Celebration; the Republican National Convention; the Summer Olympics bid; the Twin Towers Memorial; the NYC Transit strike; and the Blackout of 2003.

Gables launched her broadcast journalism career at KWCH in Wichita, KS, where she reported and anchored the station's public affairs program.  She then moved on to KWTV-Oklahoma City, promoted from associate producer to news anchor. Next, Gables became morning news anchor/general assignment reporter for WDIV-TV Detroit. There, she covered breaking stories with all three US Automakers and served as spokesperson for the American Cancer Society's Southwest Michigan

Deeply committed to community service, Gables is on the board of Eagle Academy, an all boys public school in the Bronx, New York; she serves on the advisory board of EthiDolls, an Ethnic specialty doll manufacturer; has teamed with Goldman Sachs for its annual youth awards program; and she is an honorary member of the Sarcoma Foundation of America.

Gables graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in economics, and served as United States Army Reservist for seven years.
Just recently, Gables went behind camera, and executive-produced her first film, Lord Help Us, released nationally in May 2007.

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Jacque Edmonds Cofer

Jacque Edmonds Cofer is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Princeton University, graduating with an A.B. in Politics, with certificates awarded in Urban Studies, the program in Political Economy, and African-American Studies.  She then attended Harvard University’s School of Graduate Business Administration.  While at Harvard, she performed analyses of the network television industry that culminated in the post-graduate publication of case material for the Harvard Business School on the creation of the Fox Broadcasting Company.

After receiving her MBA, Ms. Cofer was selected to participate in the Walt Disney Writers’ Fellowship Program.  Following a year at Disney she got her first television-writing job on “Martin.”  Within two years, she had risen to supervising producer.  After “Martin,” she was the co-executive producer of Fox’s “Living Single.”  Ms. Cofer then joined Paramount Studios, where she served as the executive producer of “Moesha” and later the co-executive producer of “Abby,” “All About the Andersons” and “Cuts.”  She also created two pilots for network television and is responsible for the production of over 220 sitcom episodes.  Currently, she and her husband James Cofer, Jr. are producing faith-based films under the banner “ChristianCinema.”

Ms. Cofer’s professional work has garnered her an Image Award, a PRISM award from the National Institutes of Health and the Entertainment Industries Council, two SHINE awards for depiction of adolescent sexuality and health, and a President’s Award from the Alliance of Black Entertainment Technicians.

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Richard Gay

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Erica Kennedy

Erica Kennedy, a freelance magazine writer who covers fashion and entertainment, began her first novel in 2002 the day after attending a $25 Media Bistro called “How to start your novel”.  The book, a hip-hop satire called “Bling”, was released in 2004 and became a NYT bestseller.  Translated into five languages, it was optioned for film by Harvey Weinstein and it is currently in development at Weinstein Co.  Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons who happens to be a long-time friend of Kennedy’s (his blurb on the back of the book read “Just for the record this is not based on me.”) is attached as producer. 
 
Kennedy’s second novel, Feminista, a romantic comedy which addresses the modern women’s work-family dilemma, is currently being shopped to publishers and Hollywood producers.

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Charles Allison

Charles H. Allison, Jr. CO-CEO, Interstate Biofuels L.L.C. is a senior executive with more than 25 years of financial services and general management sector experience, including alternative energy initiatives; community and economic development; and agribusiness.  Mr. Allison has industry knowledge of and experience in private equity and venture capital fund management, commercial banking, investment banking, mergers & acquisitions, and economic development finance. 

He has worked with small, medium and large businesses, business at different stages of development from start-up to mature, and businesses implementing various strategic growth initiatives.  Mr. Allison's Wall Street career has included J.P. Morgan; Merrill Lynch & Company and Merrill Lynch Investment Banking; James D. Wolfensohn, Incorporated; The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.; and Barclays Bank plc.  In addition, he was a founding partner of New Africa Advisors, Johannesburg, South Africa, and the Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Umbono Investment Corporation, Johannesburg, South Africa; and he is also a Principal of Vision Consulting Associates L.L.C. and a founder of Poverty Reduction through Agriculture and Renewable Industry.

Mr. Allison received his A.B. in Geography and Environmental Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; and received his M.B.A. in Entrepreneurial Finance and General Management, Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts. He has participated as a board member or observer on several corporate boards and fund investment committees.

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Harriette Amissah-Arthur

Mrs. Amissah-Arthur has twenty five (25) years of working experience; out of which nineteen (19) was spent serving in various capacities with the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana's Power Generation and Transmission Utility. She has extensive experience in power generation and transmission equipment operation and maintenance. She has also spent many years in strategic and business planning, maintenance/spare parts planning and management support to a number of departments and units of the VRA.

She has since May 2000 managed the African Rural Energy Enterprise Development (AREED) Program and has considerable experience in enterprise development especially with respect to small and medium scale energy enterprises. She has championed, promoted and managed a number of development projects in the areas of Energy and the Environment including Energy, Gender and Poverty issues as well as KITE's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) portfolio.

 Mrs. Amissah-Arthur holds an MBA (Finance) degree from the University of Ghana, Legon and a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology also in Ghana. She is a Partner of Arthur Energy Advisors, an advisory services firm that provides professional technical expertise and support to project owners, developers and investors in Energy Sectors across Africa. Mrs. Amissah-Arthur served for several years on the Council of the Ghana Institution of Engineers and had special responsibility for Women in Engineering (WINE).

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Carlton Brown

Carlton A. Brown is a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer of Full Spectrum. He is a 1973 graduate of Princeton University - School of Architecture and Urban Planning and has studied real estate finance at New York University. He worked for architecture and planning firms until he joined AT&T as a manager in the real estate division. During his 10-year tenure at AT&T, he directed the development and construction of over $2.0 billion of real estate for the company.

Mr. Brown has used his educational and corporate experience to shape Full Spectrum’s real estate development activities. He has been responsible for the development, deployment and implementation of high performance and sustainable building technologies and strategies. Mr. Brown is a long term proponent of sustainability. In 1990, he led a multi-disciplinary consultancy to the Cape Verde Islands, West Africa  that developed an approach for sustainable development projects.

Mr. Brown has served on several boards including the NY Chapter, AIA; the Business Resource & Investment Service Center (BRISC) of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone; BEN Asset Group; and is the current board chair of 651 Arts. In September 2006 Mr. Brown was the only developer appointed to NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s Sustainability Advisory Board. This board’s mission is to address the important environmental issues that face the entire City and to a large extent will determine the viability of NYC as a community by 2030.

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Omar Freilla

Omar Freilla has been named one of "The New School of Activists Most Likely to change New York City" by City Limits magazine (2000). Raised in the South Bronx, where he continues to live, he has gained international recognition as an outspoken environmental justice activist who has dedicated himself to seeking solutions to the disproportionate environmental impacts faced by low-income communities of color. He is the founder and director of Green Worker Cooperatives (GWC), an organization dedicated to the creation of worker-owned and environmentally friendly businesses in the South Bronx. Through GWC, he is working to develop ReBuilders Source, the first worker-cooperative reuse center for building materials that will help create a new generation of "green collar" jobs and help reduce the generation and export of waste. Prior to founding Green Worker Cooperatives Omar served as program director for Sustainable South Bronx, where he dedicated himself to challenging corporate and governmental environmental abuses while promoting development projects capable of improving the environmental and economic health of South Bronx neighborhoods.  His writing on community opposition to transportation racism in New York City was published in 2004 by South End Press in the book "Highway Robbery: Transportation Racism and New Routes to Equity" edited by Robert Bullard. 

Omar has received numerous awards for his work including the Open Society Institute's New York City Community Fellowship, the Union Square Award for grassroots activists, the Environmental Leadership Program fellowship, and the Jane Jacobs Medal for New Ideas and Activism.  He holds a Masters degree in Environmental Science from Miami University of Ohio and a B.S. from Morehouse College.

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Greg Watson

Greg Watson is Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Technology within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Vice President for Sustainable Development with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.  He serves as the administration’s point of contact for the clean energy entrepreneurial community.

Greg comes to us from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, where he most recently served as Vice President for Sustainable Development and Renewable Energy. In that capacity, he directed the Cape & Islands Offshore Wind Public Outreach Initiative and MTC’s Offshore Wind Energy Collaborative (OWC).

From 1995 to 1999 Watson served as executive director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), a resident-driven community planning organization in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Watson had been Director of Educational Programs for Second Nature, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing systems thinking and sustainable development as the centerpiece for educational programs at all levels.

Prior to joining Second Nature, Watson was Director of The Nature Conservancy's Eastern Regional Office.

Watson served as the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture from October 1990 to June 1993.

Prior to becoming commissioner, Watson was the Executive Director of the New Alchemy Institute. The New Alchemy Institute was a non-profit research and education center dedicated to developing environmentally sound approaches to agriculture.

In 1983, Mr. Watson was appointed Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Affairs, a post he held until 1989. From 1983 through 1986 he also served as Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Centers of Excellence Corporation.

He attended Tufts University where he majored in Civil Engineering.

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Robert Lewis Jr., Vice President for Program at The Boston Foundation

Robert Lewis Jr. is the newly appointed Vice President for Program at The Boston Foundation.  Robert is a seasoned civic, community and nonprofit leader, most recently serving as Executive Director of the Boston Centers for Youth and Families, the City of Boston’s largest youth and human service agency. He is a former President and Executive Director of the National Conference for Community and Justice in Boston, which runs LeadBoston, one of the city’s premier executive leadership programs. Prior to that, Lewis was Senior Vice President of City Year’s national operation and Executive Director of City Year Boston. He has deep experience with grassroots community organizations in Boston as a former Director of Community Initiatives for the Boston Housing Authority, a Director of the Streetworkers Program for the Boston Community Centers, and a Youth Program Manager with Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion.

Lewis has been widely honored for his commitment to Boston and to the youth of the city. He was appointed to a life term as Board Chair of South End Baseball in 1998 in recognition of his service to that sports organization and its impact on city youth. He serves on a number of area boards, including the Boston Private Industry Council’s Community Advisory Board; the Children’s Hospital Community Advisory Board; the Pine Street Inn’s Board of Directors; and the Oversight Committee of the Black Ministerial Alliance.
Lewis lives in the Roslindale section of Boston with his wife and two children.

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John H. Jackson, Ed.D., J.D., President and CEO of The Schott Foundation for Public Education

On July 2, 2007, Dr. John H. Jackson became the President and CEO of The Schott Foundation for Public Education.  In this role, Dr. Jackson leads the Foundation’s efforts to ensure a high quality public education for all students regardless of race or gender. Dr. Jackson joined the Schott Foundation after seven productive years in leadership positions at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He served as the NAACP Chief Policy Officer and prior to that as the NAACP's National Director of Education.

Dr. Jackson also served as an Adjunct Professor of Race, Gender, and Public Policy at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.  In 1999, President William Jefferson Clinton appointed Dr. Jackson to serve in his administration as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Jackson possesses a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Xavier University of Louisiana; A Master of Education in Education Policy from the University of Illinois' College of Education; and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois' College of Law. In addition,
Dr. Jackson received a Master of Education and Doctorate of Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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Rev. Gloria Elaine White-Hammond, M.D., M.Div., Co-Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Boston, MA

Rev. Gloria E. White-Hammond, M.D. has been the Co-Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Boston, MA since 1997 and a pediatrician at the South End Community Health Center since 1981.

Rev. Dr. White-Hammond has a long history of involvement in community service. In 1994, she founded a church-based creative writing/mentoring ministry called “Do The Write Thing” for high-risk black adolescent females which now serves over 550 young women.  In 2003, Rev. White-Hammond became the Co-Convener of The Red Tent Group with Rabbi Elaine Zecher of Temple Israel bringing together Christian women and Jewish women for small group Torah/Bible study.

 Dr. White-Hammond’s work as a humanitarian has achieved global impact. She has worked as a medical missionary in Botswana, Cote D’Ivoire and South Africa.  In 2002, she co-founded My Sister’s Keeper (MSK), a humanitarian women’s group that partners with women of Sudan in their efforts toward reconciliation and reconstruction.  She recently served as the National Chairperson of the Million Voices for Darfur campaign and currently is the Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur.

 Rev. White-Hammond is a member of the Board of Trustees of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Board of Overseers for the Tufts University College for Community and Public Service and the Board of Christian Solidarity International. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Boston University, a Doctorate of Medicine from Tufts Medical School and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School.  Rev. White-Hammond is married to Rev. Ray A. Hammond, M.D., founding pastor of Bethel AME Church.

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Deborah C. Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Mass Bay

Deborah C. Jackson is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay, and the Regional Executive of the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts, one of the largest units in the national network of local and regional Red Cross units. Covering 127 cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts, the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay provides a complex array of services including disaster relief and preparedness; hunger relief; health care job training; and health and safety education and training to 250,000 people annually.

Jackson’s career in urban policy and community services has spanned more than 30 years. During this time, she has held a number of executive positions in health and human services including Vice President of the Boston Foundation; Senior Vice President of Boston Children’s Hospital; and President and CEO of Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. Jackson began her career at Abt Associates, Inc. a public policy and consulting firm, where she held the position of Deputy Director of the Health Care and Income Security Group.
Jackson has served on numerous Boards, commissions and special tasks forces including the Mayor’s Task Force to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, the Boston Stock Exchange, the American Student Assistance Corporation and Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan.

She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the YWCA Boston Academy of Women Achievers; the Boston Celtics “Heroes Among Us” award; the Women’s Business Hall of Fame inductee; and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Pinnacle Award for Achievement in Non-Profit Management. 

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Gary L. Lampley

Gary L. Lampley has held many positions throughout his career as a retail executive, a fashion stylist and in various showrooms.  What all of these positions have in common is they’ve allowed for the examination of dress, adornment and appearance.  As a faculty member in the Fashion Merchandising Management Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and in the Fashion Department at the Laboratory Institute of Technology (LIM), Lampley has inspired others to explore the meaning of clothing and choices in dress within society.  His current research involves the study of fashion as social history, with a focus on exploring African American style influences across the landscape of visual and material culture.

As President-elect of The Black Retail Action Group (BRAG), Lampley is best known for his work with the organization’s internship program – an action-packed program with executive level work responsibilities, seminars, workshops, retail math classes and a business case study, which he co-authored. In 2001 BRAG formed its first college chapter at FIT where Lampley serves as faculty advisor. BRAG’s college expansion continues today under his leadership with chapters at Howard University and the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising. Finally, he has co-chaired the organization’s Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner Gala for the past several years.

Lampley is a graduate from the University of Tennessee and holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Empire State College, State University of New York (SUNY). He currently resides in the New York metro area.

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Mark Sanders

Mark Sanders is a Partner and Co-Founder of Emerald Rose Boutique www.emeraldroseboutique.com The boutique opened in December of 2006, after the ownership group, which includes Mark's wife Omeka, and brother Craig, spent 18 months fine-tuning the concept. Emerald Rose is designed to be a fashion experience in which individuals who like to toe the line between edgy and classic are able to find wares that stand out from the crowd.
 
Mark's prior experience is in finance, real estate, and education.  Ultimately he plans to combine his interests in business and education to do large-scale community and economic development.   By day, Mark works as a Real Estate Analyst doing financial modeling for POKO Partners, a real estate developer in Port Chester, NY.
 
Prior to his time at POKO, Mark spent three years teaching middle school mathematics in Brooklyn, NY, and three years working in the Structured Equity Solutions Group (Equity Derivatives) in the Equities Division of Goldman Sachs.  While holding these jobs, Mark spent five years concurrently renovating, managing, and selling his personal real estate holdings.
 
Born in Philadelphia, PA, Mark graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Public Policy.  He also holds a Master's Degree in Education (Secondary Mathematics) from Pace University in New York City.  While at Stanford, Mark was a scholarship member of the football team and President of the Stanford NAACP.

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Joyce M. Roche, President and Chief Executive Officer, Girls Incorporated

Girls Incorporated is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls thorough building their confidence and leadership skills while also  advocating for an equitable society. 

Before joining Girls Inc., Roché served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Carson Products Company, and Vice President of Global Marketing at Avon Products, Inc. 

Roché is a graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans and holds an MBA from Columbia University.  She currently sits on the Board of Directors of AT&T Inc., Tupperware Corporation, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Macy’s Inc., and the Underground Freedom Center.  She also chairs the Board of Trustees of Dillard University.

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Kelvin Boston

Kelvin Boston, the distinguished financial journalist and best-selling author, believes that financial education is the key that unlocks the doors to financial success. Boston is the executive producer and host of the Moneywise with Kelvin Boston public television series. He is also the author of the best-selling book, Smart Money Moves For African Americans (Putnam). The New York Times referred to Boston as an “outspoken voice for economic empowerment.  Kelvin Boston grew up in the public housing projects of South Wilmington, Delaware. After graduating from Lincoln University (PA.), he returned home to organize a housing counseling service to assist low-income families in becoming homeowners. Today, the South Wilmington Housing Counseling Service is one of the leading community housing development organizations in Delaware.

In 2000, Moneywise with Kelvin Boston became an official PBS series and began airing on public television stations nationwide. Today, Moneywise with Kelvin Boston is considered public television’s (PBS) premiere multi-cultural financial affairs television series. In 2003, Moneywise was distributed to more than 83 million households nation wide. Today, in addition to airing on public television stations, Moneywise also airs on the Armed Forces Television Network where it reaches 800,000 military households in 177 countries around the world.  On March 14, 2003 Kelvin Boston was awarded the National Community Reinvestment Coalition’s (NCRC) annual award for promoting economic justice. Boston’s won the “Color of Money” award for producing the Moneywise PBS series. The “Color of Money” award recognizes the nation’s best news, editorial or documentary coverage of economic justice issues.

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Alicia Davis

Alicia Davis is the first African-American woman to be appointed to plant manager at a GM vehicle manufacturing plant. As plant manager of the General Motors Arlington Assembly plant, Ms. Davis is responsible for providing plant leadership to assure business objectives are met or exceeded in all areas including safety, people, quality, responsiveness and cost initiatives. 

Ms. Davis began her GM career in 1994 as a Manufacturing Engineer at the Midsize/Luxury Car Division in Warren, Mich.  In 1997, she was promoted to Senior Manufacturing Engineer in the division.  In 1998, she transferred to GM's Detroit-Hamtramck Plant where she held several positions of increasing responsibility.  In 2002, she was promoted to General Assembly Area Manager at the facility.  Ms. Davis moved on to become Area Manager of the Paint Shop at Fort Wayne Assembly in 2004, Area Manager of the plant’s Body Shop in 2005, then Assistant Plant Manager at in 2006. She was promoted to her current position of plant manger in October of 2007.  Ms. Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

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Troy Johnson

Troy Johnson is a technology expert and industry leader in marketing books on the World Wide Web. Mr. Johnson is the founder and webmaster of AALBC.com, LLC (The African American Literature Book Club). AALBC.com was launched in 1998, and is now the largest and most frequently visited web site dedicated to books by and about black people. Johnson is also shareholder and Senior Book Editor, of the 4 year old, Harlem World Magazine. In addition, to his entrepreneurial ventures, Mr. Johnson has over 20 years of corporate experience; in roles ranging from designing wide area networks to managing international projects.

Mr. Johnson has been recognized in articles that have appeared in Publishers Weekly, Essence Magazine, The New York Times, The Amsterdam News, Black Issues Book Review, Emerge Magazine, Black Enterprise and many other publications. He has also made numerous radio and television appearances including C-Span2’s Book TV and The Black Family Channel’s Literary Living.

Mr. Johnson has served on numerous boards and committees including the advisory boards of Black American’s in Publishing and New York is Book Country. He is currently a board member of the Literary Freedom Project, and an advisory board member of the Harlem Book Fair.  Mr. Johnson holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University, an MS from Polytechnic University, and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He lives in Harlem, New York, with his wife and two daughters.

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Dan Reed

Dan Reed, President of the NBA Development League (D-League), oversees all D-League basketball and business operations. Reed was most recently the NBA Senior Director of Team Marketing and Business Operations, where he worked closely with NBA teams on all business initiatives, including ticket sales and service, customer relationship management, sponsorship development and marketing. Reed has been instrumental in many key NBA accomplishments, including all-time league records in overall attendance, ticket sales revenue, season ticket retention, sponsorship sales and database growth.

Reed, an Ann Arbor, Michigan native joined the NBA from the Harvard Business School, where he received the prestigious Dean's Award for outstanding leadership in 2004. Prior to business school, Reed worked for A.T. Kearney in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., where he served as a management consultant to diverse clients list, assisting both start-up and Fortune 500 companies’ strategic development, sales and marketing planning, and operation redesign. Reed also earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and American Studies from Northwestern University.

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Steven Rogers

Professor Steven Rogers teaches Entrepreneurial Finance at Kellogg and is the Director of the Larry and Carol Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice. Before joining the Kellogg Faculty, he owned and operated two manufacturing firms and one retail operation. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Mr. Rogers worked at Bain and Company, Cummins Engine Company and UNC Ventures, a venture capital firm.

Professor Rogers has been named to the Faculty Honor Roll in every quarter he has taught at Kellogg and has received numerous teaching awards. He has received numerous teaching awards, including the 1996 and 2005 Lawrence G. Lavengood Outstanding Professor of the Year. Steve Rogers is the only professor in Kellogg's history to have received this award more than once.

Mr. Rogers currently serves on the Advisory Boards of Private Equity firms SB Partners, Smith Whiley, and O’Connor Partners. He also serves on the Board of Directors of SC Johnson Wax, W.S. Darley, SuperValu, Oakmark Mutual Funds, and AMCORE Financial. He is also a member of JP Morgan Chase's Capital Investment Committee. His non-profit work includes board membership for The A Better Chance Program and Urban Prep High School. Mr. Rogers is also a Trustee of Williams College and a former member of the Harvard Business School Visiting Committee.

In 2000, he received the “Bicentennial Medal for Distinguished Achievement” from Williams College. In 2005, he received AASU’s “Bert King Award for Service”.

He has been quoted in many financial publications and in 2002 published his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Finance and Business.
He received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College.

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Laurence C. Morse, Ph.D. Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Fairview Capital Partners, Inc.

Laurence C. Morse began his career in venture capital in 1983 at UNC Ventures, a Boston-based venture capital investment firm which managed the largest pool of institutional private equity capital in the United States focused on investing in minority owned or controlled companies.  In 1988, he joined Equico Capital Corporation, a venture capital investment subsidiary of The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, as Vice President.  In 1992, Dr. Morse participated in the privatization of Equico Capital as a founding principal of TSG Ventures, the inaugural investment fund of TSG Capital Group.  In 1994, he co-founded Fairview Capital Partners, an investment management firm that creates and manages private equity fund-of-funds investment vehicles for institutional investors.

As a general partner of Fairview’s fourteen managed funds aggregating $2.5 billion, Dr. Morse has participated in the investment of over $1 billion.
He is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Investment Companies, a member of the boards of directors of Webster Financial Corporation and the Princeton University Investment Company, a member of the national board of The English Speaking Union of the United States, and Chairman of its Luard Scholars selection committee.   In January, 2003, he was named one of “The Top Ten Minds in Small Business” by Fortune Small Business Magazine. 

Dr. Morse graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Howard University with a B.A. in Economics, having spent his junior year at The London School of Economics and Political Science as a Luard Scholar.  He earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Economics at Princeton University and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University.

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James Reynolds, Jr., Chairman & CEO, Loop Capital Markets

James Reynolds, Jr. is founder, Chairman and CEO of Chicago-based Loop Capital Markets, an investment banking and brokerage firm.  He is responsible for all investment banking, trading and institutional sales activity at the firm.  Loop Capital Markets is the largest minority-owned investment banking firm in the United States.

Mr. Reynolds has worked in the financial services industry for over 20 years. Early in his career, Mr. Reynolds served as Assistant Vice President at Smith Barney in municipal sales.  Later, Mr. Reynolds established the Midwest Municipal Bond Sales desk at PaineWebber in Chicago.  Mr. Reynolds also lead  sales in the Corporate and Institutional Client Group at Merrill Lynch, where he managed the municipal sales team responsible for the distribution of all tax-exempt products to institutions in the Midwest.  In 1997, Mr. Reynolds collaborated with Albert Grace to form Loop Capital Markets.

At Loop Capital, Mr. Reynolds’ influence has established an informal motto: “to provide client service beyond the expectation.” Mr. Reynolds exemplifies the motto; he works hard, helps others, and knows it is for the common good. Mr. Reynolds zealously participates as a board member of the Chicago Historical Society, Chicago Summer Business Institute, Chicago State University, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, among many others.  Additionally, Mr. Reynolds is a member of the CFA Institute, Chairman of the board for the Chicago Urban League, serves as Past-President of The Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE), and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Levy Institute/Kellogg School of Management.

Mr. Reynolds holds an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse

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Christopher J. Williams, Chairman & CEO, The Williams Capital Group

Christopher J. Williams is Chairman, CEO and founder of The Williams Capital Group, L.P. and Williams Capital Management, LLC.

Mr. Williams began his career with Lehman Brothers in New York as Senior Vice President with responsibilities in debt capital markets, derivatives and fixed income securities trading. In 1992, Mr. Williams formed Williams Financial Markets, a division of Jefferies & Company, which specialized in structuring debt financing for investment grade corporate investors. In 1993, he was published in two academic textbooks, The Handbook of Derivatives & Synthetics and Advanced Interest Rate and Currency Swaps.

Since 2000, Williams Capital has consistently ranked among the top 20 most active underwriters of corporate debt. From January through November 2007,the firm served as lead or co-manager on approximately 100 corporate debt, agency and equity offerings with a total face amount of over $125 billion. Mr. Williams was selected by both "Fortune" magazine and "Crain’s New York Business" as one of the most powerful minority business leaders in America. Additionally, "Black Enterprise" magazine has ranked Williams Capital as the #1minority-owned investment bank in 2007, and in five of the six preceding years.

Mr. Williams serves on the board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores and Harrah's Entertainment as well as several not-for-profit organizations including Partnership for New York City; National Association of Securities Professionals; Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Mr. Williams is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and The Economic Club of New York.

Mr. Williams holds a Master of Business Administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University.

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Tina Byles Williams

Tina Byles Williams, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer has 24 years of investment experience and a 12 year tenure with FIS Group. Ms. Williams chairs the firm's Investment Committee, overseeing all investment strategy, managing search and disposition decisions. Prior to founding FIS Group in 1996, Ms. Byles Williams was a principal and senior consultant at WHP, Inc., then the nation's first and only full-service minority pension investment consulting firm.

Before joining WHP in 1994, Ms. Byles Williams served as Chief Investment Officer of the $2.5 billion City of Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement. During her tenure at the Board, the Philadelphia Pension Fund had an annualized performance of more than 15%, saved more than $1 million per annum in fees paid to financial service providers by internalizing several investment management functions, and increased the amount managed by minority firms by 337%. Previously, Ms. Byles Williams was Chief Investment Officer for the $300 million Philadelphia Gas Works Pension Fund, developing and overseeing one of the earliest minority manager "farm-team" programs in the nation. She worked as a financial analyst at the Prudential Insurance Company, the New York City Finance Department and for U.S. Senator Don Reigle in his capacity as a senior member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

Ms. Byles Williams is a recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Award for Excellence in Business and sits on several boards, including the State of Pennsylvania's $50 billion Public Schools Employees' Retirement System and the Methodist Home for Children Foundation. Ms. Byles Williams completed her undergraduate work at New York University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned her Master's degree from Harvard University.

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Paul E. Viera

Mr. Viera is the founder of EARNEST® Partners, an investment firm responsible for overseeing over $20.0 billion for municipalities, states, corporations, endowments, eleemosynary groups, and universities.  He developed Return Pattern Recognition®, the investment methodology used to select equities at EARNEST Partners.  He has a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.  He was a Vice President at Bankers Trust in both New York and London.  He later joined Invesco, where he became a Global Partner and senior member of its Investment Team.  He is a member of the Atlanta Society of Financial Analysts and has over twenty-five years of investment experience. He serves on several boards, including North Carolina Outward Bound.  He is also a commentator for several news organizations, such as CNBC, Radio WallStreet and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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