Lawrence R. Williams Jr.
Chair |
Lawrence R. Williams, Jr. serves on the Board of the Harmony Institute (FL), One World Foundation (Atlanta, GA), and the Osceola County (FL) Industrial Development Authority. He serves as counsel to Millennium Management, a professional sports and entertainment management company in Atlanta, GA and Connectiv Solutions, a business development firm (FL). Mr. Williams was formerly: President of the Osceola County (FL) Black Business Council, a member of the Executive Board of Trustees for the Osceola County-Kissimmee (FL) Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Executive Board of Trustees for the Lake Buena Vista Rotary (Disney), a member of the Board of Directors for the Osceola County (FL) Education Foundation, and also a former member of the Osceola County(FL) Charter Review Committee. Mr. Williams is a licensed attorney in the State of Ohio, and former member of the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Thurgood Marshall Law Society. His area of expertise has been in Mergers and Acquisitions, Charitable Foundations, Corporate Structures, Estate Planning and Civil Law.
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Robert Conners
Vic Chair |
Dr. Conners is Vice President of Infoworks Research, a Tallahassee-based, government and business consulting firm. He received his doctorate from the Florida State University in Counseling Psychology in 1989. Early in his career while employed at FSU, he initiated the university’s National Achievement Program for minority scholars, the first at a predominantly-White institution in the southeastern U.S. During the eighties, he received a $1 million grant from the Florida Board of Regents to develop and implement a pilot program at FSU to increase minority enrollment in higher education. In 1984, he was appointed by FSU’s President to the President’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Student Athlete which made recommendations on behalf of student athletes subsequently adopted by the NCAA. In 1985, he co-authored a book chapter with the late FSU Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Bob Leach, for a Jossey-Bass special edition. Titled Pygmalion on the Grid-iron, the chapter examined the plight of Black student athletes at predominantly-White universities and made recommendations for student services to better serve their particular needs.
As a result of these and other efforts on behalf of minority students, in 1991 Dr. Conners was invited to join the Florida State University’s Black Studies Program faculty where he directed program research and taught both graduate and undergraduate courses on race relations, the dynamics of racism and oppression, inequality and race, and multicultural perspectives in education. From 1991 through 1993, as the Program’s director of research, he supervised a U.S. Department of Justice grant project investigating sources of minority overrepresentation in Florida’s juvenile justice system and worked with Black Studies Program staff to deliver a highly successful, three-year, academic skill development project for African American public school students enrolled in Tallahassee schools. In 2002, he left FSU to join MGT of America, a government consulting firm, where he conducted or participated in 19 disparity study projects investigating state and municipal governments’ utilization of minority-owned businesses in government contracting. He also directed a six year, longitudinal evaluation of the State of New York’s special education services, the most thorough analysis of special education ever conducted at the state level. From 2007 through 2012, he served as Director of Research for the Florida Commission on Human Relations, Florida’s civil rights agency, where he directed research related to majority/minority group inequality in Florida. Dr. Conners is a published author and has been an invited lecturer and speaker, presenting before more than 75 professional bodies and forums around the nation on topics dealing with educational inequality, race relations and social justice. His research and presentations are informed by a theory of the dynamics of societal oppression developed during his tenure with Black Studies. In response to a recent request from the University Press of Florida, he is authoring a manuscript for a book explaining the dynamics of modern race relations and inequality in America, due at year’s end. |
Mark Scovera Secretary Treasurer |
Mark is and Accounting Professional and the former President of the Florida Black Business Support Corporation, and dba, Access Florida Finance Corporation. He is well known in the finance service arena as an avid advocate for micro and minority enterprises. He is constantly sought for his advice and expertise. He serves on several boards of directors and has made significant strides in addressing policy issues that inhibit black business development and growth.
Previously, Mark was the Sr. Vice President/Chief Financial Officer for the Florida Black Business Investment Board, Inc., a public private partner with the state. His twenty years experience in accounting and finance, starting at Arthur Andersen LLP in the audit division, continuing on serving as the controller and Chief Financial Officer for various companies in the Detroit area. Mark is a CPA in the State of Michigan. Mark was born and raised near Detroit, Michigan and now resides with his wife and children in Tallahassee, Florida. |
Lena Graham-Morris Member
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Lena Graham-Morris comes from a legacy of passionate entrepreneurs, her family has sustained and prospered as third generation builders and dominate the Southeastern region of the United States with six offices. She has been instrumental in establishing critical strategic partnerships and securing over $185 Million dollars in contracts.
Her over twelve year not for profit journey includes program and curriculum development for Mothers Rebuilding Atlanta, Director of Community Affairs for Healthy Start, and over six years with PBS/NPR. Director of Business Development and Marketing for the Metro Orlando Urban League and a critical component in bringing 3 Mo’ Tenors for an encore performance and working on the core team that hosted the first National Urban League conference in Central Florida. As Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives for the African American Chamber of Commerce she has facilitated small business programming and events; procurement opportunities and supplier diversity initiatives, produced over fifty events, workshops/ seminars dedicated to the economic development and sustainability of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Lena has also been successful with her business ventures, procuring multiple contracts with companies including Universal Studios, Walt Disney World Resorts, BET, Oxygen & Entertainment Television. She wrote and produced a nationally syndicated talk show Style Check appeared numerous occasions on TV and radio as a recognized beauty expert. Currently a licensed business coach and consultant and who advocates for women-owned business and entrepreneurs. “African American women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs; however in many cases, we lack the support to be successful. It is time to ban together, create some strategic partnerships and leverage our innovation.” Lena is currently completing her first book, Memoirs of an Entreprensita ™ and is the founder of Entrprenista Enterprises LLC. |
Beau Moultrie
Member |
Beau Moultrie is a Leasing Associate with Crossman & Company, one of the largest retail leasing, management, and investment sales firms in the Southeastern United States, with over 22 million square feet of properties located in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Beau leases and sales commercial real estate assets for institutional and non-institutional investors
Beau Moultrie’s previou experience includes: Experience New Horizon Financial, Inc. – Pensacola, FL 2005-2009 Accountable for soliciting business accounts and building strategic alliances Implemented marketing tactics that increased clientele and profitability Counseled investors on financial feasibility and exit strategy of speculative development projects Sunset Mortgage, Inc. - Pensacola, Fl. 2002-2005 Analyzed financial statements to determine the credit worthiness of clients Counsel with clients to help determine correct financial product for their needs Education Florida State University –Tallahassee, Fl. Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance Expected Date of Graduation: fall 2012 Cumulative Grade Point Average -3.22 Northwest Florida State College-Niceville, Fl Associates of Arts Business Graduated Fall 2010 Cumulative Grade Point Average 3.88 Activities President of the Real Estate Society Florida State University Tallahassee, Fl Member FSU College of Business Presidents council Tallahassee, Fl United Way Day of Caring Destin, Fl Coral Reef Rebuild Santa Rosa Beach, Fl Parliamentary Chair Northwest Florida State College Niceville, Fl. Youth minister at Sanctuary of Praise Minister at Zion Hope Primitive Baptist Church |
Eugene Franklin
Member |
Eugene Franklin is the author of the Pan African American Cultural Heritage Initiative and the architect and organizer of the Pan African Cultural Heritage Alliance, anchored by the Pan African Cultural Heritage Institute, Inc., the National Cultural Heritage Tourism Center, and the National Asset Building Coalition, Inc; with the National Black Business Support Corporation serving as the Alliances, Fiduciary Agent. Franklin also serves as the President of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Gene is known internationally as a driving force behind the Pan African American cultural economic development movement. His efforts include the creation and development of cultural programs and infrastructure models that benefit disadvantaged and underserved historic communities. His latest endeavor includes the development of a marketing and promotional e’ commerce network that will promote the culture, history, communities, businesses, and destinations of the People of African Descent, in support of cultural heritage tourism and travel. Additionally, Franklin is an advocate for the arts, and also, teaches on the cultural economics impact of the historic ‘Green Book’.
Eugene was born August 19, 1948, in Ethel, Louisiana and moved to New Orleans in 1953. Gene attended grade school and high school in Metairie, Louisiana. To serve his country and further his educational dreams, Gene enlisted in the United States Navy in 1969, and served a total of 27 years on active duty. Gene retired 1996 in Pensacola, Florida after serving his command tour as Officer-in-Charge of Naval Air Training Management Support Activity at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After the military, Gene founded Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company and worked in the industry for approximately ten years. Gene Franklin currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Washington, D.C., the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, and serves as Chairman of the Board for the National Black Business Support Corporation. He supports his local community by his service as a board member for Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, the Escambia County Health Facilities Authority, and Every Child a Reader in Escambia. Gene previously served as a board member for the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce, the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Administration - Northern Florida Region Advisory Board, and a host of local and state boards and committees. As the President of the Florida Black Chamber, he works closely with over twenty local chambers and in partnership with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Visit Florida. His many awards include being named as one of Florida’s Most Influential People in 2004 and as One of Florida's Most 500 Influential Business Leaders in 2018 and 2019. His other awards are too many to mention. Gene Franklin is also an ordained minister and serves as an associate minister for a local church and as the lead evangelist of a growing community-based ministry. His thirst for knowledge and service continues………! |