VOTE NOW

August 25th, 2011

Vote For the 2011 Impact Leader of the Year

IL: Traci O. Blunt

June 2nd, 2011

Congrats to June IMPACT Leader of the Month Traci Otey Blunt, a veteran media, political and public affairs specialist, is Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs. In this role, she is responsible for media strategy and communications, government relations and public affairs activities on behalf of The RLJ Companies. Traci, who recently served [...]

IL: Ryan Mack

October 16th, 2010

President of Optimum Capital Management, Ryan Mack: Mr. Mack has a life mission to build and develop a durable financial empire geared towards educating his community and beyond.

August 2010 Alisha Thomas Morgan

August 31st, 2010

Alisha Thomas Morgan is respected throughout her home state of Georgia, and throughout the United States, as an impassioned political leader, rousing motivational speaker, fearless ambassador for youth and role model for female leaders and young professionals. Ms. Morgan is also our IMPACT Leader of the Month for August!

July 2010 Darius Graham

August 31st, 2010

Darius Graham is author of the award-winning book, Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World. Darius received a B.A. summa cum laude from Florida A&M University in 2006 and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley – School of Law in 2009, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Berkeley Journal of African-American Law & Policy and as an editor of the California Law Review.

June 2010 Natalie Cofield

August 5th, 2010

Natalie Cofield is President of the NMC Consulting Group a boutique consulting firm that specializes in business development, program management and public affairs. She operates her company with the mission of increasing entrepreneurship and business development opportunities and improving business programs for people of color, women and youth. Her firm has worked with clients including Carnegie Mellon, University of Rochester, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and the United Negro College Fund, among others.

May 2010 Joshua Moore

August 5th, 2010

Hailing from Port Saint Lucie, Florida Joshua Moore is a 26 year-old Medical Student at the University of Miami Miller School Of Medicine. Mr. Moore is the epitome of an IMPACT Leader. He is dedicated to empowering communities of color through his work in the medical field. He is passionate about working to eliminate health disparities among Black Americans and other marginalized groups, especially in regards to cardiovascular health. After medical school, he plans to pursue a career in Cardiothoracic Surgery and eventually plans to one day open a total heart health clinic providing care to the disadvantaged and medically underserved.

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April 2010 Jonathon Prince

August 5th, 2010

Jonathon Prince, the youngest of three boys, was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. The product of a single mother household after the divorce of his parents, Prince excelled academically, earning acceptance into Clark Atlanta University (CAU). While at CAU, Prince became homeless, was robbed at gunpoint and was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. In spite of these challenges, Prince refused to give up on his dreams of entering the television and film industry.

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March 2010 Melanie Rousell

August 5th, 2010

Melanie N. Roussell is currently serving as the Press Secretary for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan. Specializing in crisis communication and management, Roussell has spent nearly seven years inside the Beltway crafting messages and developing communication strategies for political principles.

Roussell first came to Washington, DC as a CBCF intern in 2001 for former Rep. William Jefferson and returned as his staff assistant in 2002. She later served as Public Information Director for the New Orleans District Attorney, where she began to specialize in daily crisis management.

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February 2010 Bizunesh Scott

August 5th, 2010

Bizunesh “Biz” Scott provides strategic legal advice and counsel on general business matters, corporate compliance, cost-reductions, litigation, contracts, electronic discovery management, document retention, talent management, and diversity initiatives. She has specific experience in the retail, financial services, entertainment, and professional consulting industries. Ms. Scott frequently speaks at legal seminars and conferences on issues ranging from compliance to diversity and mentoring.

She is currently serving as Interim General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOLF). At Golfsmith, she manages all legal functions of the business including oversight of legal issues related to retail real estate, contract drafting and negotiations, human resources, securities and governance, intellectual property, compliance, and overall corporate strategy.

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January 2010 Alvin D. Vaughn

August 5th, 2010

Alvin D. Vaughn, Jr. – Director of Policy and Communications for Ubuntu Green Alvin brings a wealth of public policy and media relations experience to Ubuntu Green. He began his career in Washington, DC on Capitol Hill as a staffer in the U.S. Senate. There he specialized in an array of issues, including transportation policy. He then worked at a major Washington government relations firm where he advised local government clients on a range of public policy issues. Alvin’s career in media relations includes a stint at a major technology public relations firm and in corporate public relations. Most recently, Alvin has served as a lobbyist in the California State Capitol, specializing in transportation, land use, and energy issues. He also serves as a member of the City of Tracy Transportation Advisory Commission. Alvin is a graduate of the University of California at Davis, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science/Public Service.

December 2009 Christian S. Johansson

August 5th, 2010

Secretary Christian S. Johansson leads the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) with an accomplished background in economic development, management consulting, technology and healthcare.

Before joining DBED, Christian served as managing director of Continental Equity, where he focused on investing in diverse-owned companies and teams. Prior to that, Mr. Johansson served as president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore (EAGB), the region’s private/public partnership responsible for promoting economic growth.

November 2009 Mikaila Brown

August 5th, 2010

Mikaila Brown, Ph.D. is committed to raising awareness about issues around the world, especially those impacting African people throughout the Diaspora. A trained anthropologist, Mikaila’s passion for people and developing sustainable communities has guided her academic and creative pursuits.

Mikaila received a doctorate in Anthropology and Education from Columbia University in 2007. She has over five years of work experience with domestic and foreign non-profit organizations and has held managerial positions with nonprofits that catered to children living and attending school in impoverished communities. Inspired by the ability of these communities to thrive, Mikaila began exploring a more artistic approach to raising awareness to these experiences. After years within formal systems of community reformation, fashion became the basis for her next approach.

October 2009 Heather M. Hudson

August 5th, 2010

Marian Anderson was heard saying, “Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” Many would argue that age and experience are among the most important virtues of leadership. But for this daughter of an attorney and retired teacher, the most important quality in a [...]