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Brenda
A. Collins
Brenda
A. Collins is the wife of Pastor James E. Collins, and
First Lady of Eagle Heights Church, in the Revere area
of Boston, Massachusetts. Established on the foundation
as a woman of great virtue, Brenda’s powerful leadership
ability has influenced the masses both within the church,
and in the secular world.
Brenda
knows what it takes to face a challenge and come out
victorious. Adopted as a child, she was raised
in a “religious” family of demoralizing
hidden abuse. Though living in the natural consequence
of rebellion, God supernaturally intervened through the
meeting of a man who would later become her husband. She
would first experience the healing hand of a Father and
His delivering power, not in the traditional church setting,
but rather sitting under a tree while studying Elementary
Education in Chicago, Illinois. The simplicity
of God’s love touched her, and the new relationship
with Christ changed her. Instead of a predator, she now
had a protector. She experienced for the first time the
reality of living without the pain of physical and sexual
abuse. The rebellious spirit gave way to the Spirit
of God. The former life now in the past, the new Brenda
would emerge.
God
has turned what was once Brenda’s misery into her
ministry. Her concern for the plight of women and
children, warrant her as a powerful influence in Mentoring
Women, and as the Events Coordinator at Eagle Heights
Church.
While
obligations and responsibilities to ministry commitments
are plentiful, this First Lady makes certain her most
important relationships are nurtured. She humbly
serves as her husband’s helpmate and as the loving
mother of their two beautiful daughters: Jessica and
Shawna. |
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Ms.
Edith A. Silva
Executive Director of State Office of Minority & Women
Business Assistance
Eydie Silva has played a key role in helping worldwide companies
define their business strategy and has been instrumental
in building the operational infrastructure that drives sustainable
business performance. In June 2007, Ms. Silva joined the
Patrick Administration and was appointed to the position
of Executive Director of The State Office of Minority and
Women Business Assistance. Prior to her appointment, Ms Silva
served as a member of the Executive Management team of Virgin
Life Care Inc. (part of the Virgin Investment Group). She
served as an Executive Vice President for the Tower Group
(a financial services research and advisory consulting firm)
and has held management positions with Fidelity Investments
and Price Waterhouse’s management consulting group
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Dr.
Evelyn D. Watkins
Co-Founder - Women of Influence
Evelyn D. Watkins is a lover of Christ whose ministry
call was made evident some 12 years ago. She is a
graduate of Fanning College and Brenau University. She
is submitted to Pastor Creflo A. Dollar, Jr. of World Changers
Church International where she has been a member for twelve
years and from which she received her license to minister
the Gospel. Evelyn is the co-founder of Watkins Ministries,
Inc. and The Women of Influence. She is a teacher,
evangelist and author whose mission is to compel women
to walk in wholeness. Her deliverance from abuse,
poverty and obesity has enabled her to speak candidly to
the issues of today’s over-achieving women.
She is the wife of Robert Jeffrey and the mother of Gabrielle
Joy and Noelle Jasmine.
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B-2-B
Symposium Panelists
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Jean
Burke
Representative
Primerica Financial Services
Jean Burke is a representative with Primerica Financial
Services a member of the Citigroup Corporation. Since 1997
Jean has helped countless families get on the road to becoming
Debt Free and Financially Independent.
A founding member of the Sanctuary Bookstore Management
team, a ministry of Jubilee Christian Church the largest
church in New England. Jean served as the Senior Book buyer
as well as Manager of their flagship store in Needham, MA.
While at Sanctuary Books, Jean founded the organizations “Monthly
Book” club. Jean was also instrumental in Sanctuary
Book store going from one location to three locations.
Jean has been a board member for the Christian Economic
Development Association (CEDA) since 2003. The CEDA organization
is a multi-cultural, multi racial, interdenominational faith-based
financial concepts organization. The mission of the CEDA
organization is to increase individuals and organizational
financial value by providing events and communication services.
Jean is also a board member of Worship and Wealth ministries,
which has a mission to inspire individuals to experience
their covenant of wealth through faith and the implementation
of sound financial principles.
Jean lives in Hyde Park, Massachusetts with her three children
Ayana, Xandria and Marcus.
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Ms.
Carmen Diaz-Jusino
Business Development and Training Specialist - The Center For
Women & Enterprise
Carmen Diaz-Jusino is a Business Development and Training
Specialist at the Center for Women & Enterprise in Providence,
RI. Carmen joined the CWE team in October 2006. She provides
services to women in the start-up phase of business development
and currently coordinates and plans community entrepreneur
and start-up workshops. She maintains partnerships and collaborations
within the Providence community and introduced CWE services
to the Latino community in the greater Providence area. In
providing this service, she works closely with Latino leaders
and translates resource materials for the community.
In the past, Carmen worked for Goodwill Industries as a
job developer, Cranston Print as manager of the color card
department, and owned her own learning center in the Dominican
Republic, where she was born. Carmen is married with two
sons, both of whom attend Times 2 Academy in Providence.
Her husband, Luis Jusino, works for Lifespan.
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Ms.
Jacqui Conrad
Principal - De la Cruz Communications
Jacqueline Conrad is a bilingual professional with over
15 years of marketing and communications experience. She
specializes in strategic marketing, communications, public
and community relations for organizations interested in marketing
to multicultural markets.
In 1998, Jacqui founded delaCruz Communications, a consulting
firm that specializes in cause-related, health awareness
and strategic marketing campaigns for ethnic audiences, such
as the African American and Latino population. Additional
services include event management, public relations, media
relations, branding and facilitation of conflict resolution
workshops for Hispanic employees and managers. delaCruz Communications
partners with highly skilled and creative professionals to
provide quality services that enable clients to effectively
deliver their message across diverse platforms. Jacqui’s
focus on cross-cultural markets and organizations targeting
diverse markets results from managing a variety of projects
where culturally sensitive strategic communications with
Latinos and other communities of color is essential.
In addition to her consulting work, Mrs. Conrad speaks at
business roundtables, seminars, and graduate classes on the
subject of small business development, urban entrepreneurship
and home-ownership. She also facilitates monthly entrepreneurial
workshops on behalf of the Small Business Development Center
at UMass Boston. Jacqui is nationally certified to teach
entrepreneurial and business start-up classes from NxLevel™,
a well-recognized preeminent entrepreneurial training program
in the United States.
Partial list of clients include the Boston Public Health
Commission, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Judge Baker Children’s
Center, Whittier Street Health Clinic, Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals,
Madison Park Development Corporation, Dimock Community Health
Center, and Associated Early Care & Education.
Jacqui received a B.S. from Suffolk University and a Masters
Degree in Communications Management from Simmons College.
Mrs. Conrad sits on several boards including the Latino Professional
Network (LPN), the Simmons Club of Boston, Latino After-School
Initiative (LASI), and the Christian Economic Development
Association, Inc. (CEDA). A native of New York, Mrs. Conrad
resides in Milton, MA with her family.
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Ms.
Susan Coronella,
Manager, Member Service Delivery,
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Susan Coronella is an established manager in the Member
Services Department of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
She has worked in customer service all of her professional
life, and has been in a leadership role within the Service
Division at BCBSMA for five years. Susan is pursuing her
degree in Business Management through the School of Professional
and Continuing Studies at Northeastern University in Boston,
MA.
Susan is a creative and innovative
leader with over seven years in the health care industry.
Instilling BCBSMA’s
Corporate Promise "To Always Put Our Members' Health
First," she uses motivation, innovation, organization
and critical thinking to ensure her team is continuously
developing professionally and equipped to provide superior
service as well as meet personal, divisional and corporate
goals.
Susan enjoys spending her free time with her family which
includes her husband, her ten year old son and eight year
old daughter. They like to play tennis, go to the movies
and vacation in Maine. |
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Ms.
Linda Diggs
CEO/owner - “Word Up!” Enterprises
Linda Diggs, is CEO
and business owner of “Word
Up!” Enterprises established in 1998. “Word Up” a
promotional products business, focus is to send a “positive
message” visually through screen-printed and embroidered
clothing and promotional products. She has developed her
own line of Custom-made shirts, as well as, promoted and
produced uniforms and corporate apparel for numerous businesses’,
organizations, churches and groups through out the city. “Word
Up” is a city and SOMBWA certified business, and is
now in its’ 10th year of providing excellent promotional
goods and services to it’s clientele. In addition,
Ms. Diggs has established a non-profit organization, which
she has utilized to promote music and the arts to inner-city
youth. Her future plans are to provide multi-faceted motivational
programs and trainings for youth.
As a Licensed Social worker,
Linda has over 25 years of experience in the Human Service
Field. Her expertise and interests range from work in the
areas of vocational rehabilitation in mental-social health
and mental retardation, teen pregnancy and parenting, to
counseling & advocacy for high-risk adolescent and
women’s
issues. She has written and implemented a parenting curriculum
for Cognitively delayed parents and works part-time, providing
Case Management & Parenting Workshops for high-risk parents.
She is also a Certified counselor of the American Association
of Christian Counselors.
Linda holds a Bachelor of Science
degree from Northeastern University in Education.
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Ms. Debra Farrell
President - Diverse Resources
Debra Farrell launched Diverse
Resources in June 2004, to assist businesses with their marketing
and business consulting needs. Diverse Resources provides
bilingual services (English/Spanish) in the following areas:
• E-mail
marketing
• Small business start ups
• Supplier diversity development
• Market and demographic research
• Special events
• Development and execution of promotional and marketing
programs
• Human Resources management
• Newsletter preparation
Debra holds an MBA from Simmons School of
Management (2002) and a B.S. in Marketing from Boston University.
Growing up in the former Panama Canal Zone and having previously
worked at Centro Presente in Cambridge, has given her the
bicultural experience often needed in order to effectively
serve the Hispanic market.
Since starting Diverse Resources,
Debra assisted a Hispanic woman with becoming the first Latina
salon owner on Newbury Street (article featured in the July
8, 2005, edition of the Boston Business Journal). She currently
serves as a consultant for Signature Breads, Inc. (formerly
General Mills), located in Chelsea, MA, Zia Clothing Outlet
(Belmont) and Liberty House (two retail stores in Falmouth
and Woods Hole) and has become a business partner with Constant
Contact, offering free e-mail marketing training sessions
to the business community, in both English and Spanish.
Diverse
Resources is certified as a minority woman-owned business
enterprise (M/WBE).
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Ms. LeeAnn
Fatalo
Financial Planner - MBRN Financial Services
Lee Ann Fatalo joined financial services
industry in 1999 after a successful career as a Construction
Manager, specializing in retail construction project financial
projections and budget management for a large retail organization. “My
experience in developing financial plans for major organizations
and building relationships was a natural fit for the financial
services industry.”
In 2004, she formed her own company, MBRN Financial Services,
dedicated to developing solutions for all the professional
business needs of minority business enterprises.
MBRN is a group of trusted industry professionals; such
as, financial advisors, business insurance professionals,
CPAs and Attorneys. As a team, we help design unique solutions
for the minority business community to overcome challenges
and maximize opportunities.
Lee Ann is a graduate of Burdett College and also attended
Northeastern University. She is a member of The Commonwealth
Institute, Massachusetts Minority Contractors Association
and the National Association of Securities Professionals.
She is also a member of the African-American Producers Advisory
Council for MetLife.
Lee Ann is a licensed insurance agent
in Massachusetts and is a licensed non-resident agent in
Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Maryland,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Illinois,
Arizona and New Mexico. She is also a Financial Planner
with New England Securities, holding Series 6, 66 and 7
licenses and has obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation.
Lee Ann currently lives in Randolph, MA with Peter, her
husband of 26 years.
“Although it is our continual
desire to be up to date on the latest strategic financial
techniques which is of tremendous value to our clients,
it’s by listening
to our clients dreams, goals and concerns, that we are able
to address their needs successfully.”
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Mr. Tom
Fondon, COO
Ms. Janine Fondon, President & CEO
Unity First.Com Direct
UnityFirst.com/African American Newswire, a distributor
of diversity-related e-news, is one of the nation's leading
online news services reaching over 4,000 members of the diverse
press and some two million consumers of color (African Americans,
Africans, Caribbeans, Asians, Hispanics/Latinos and others).
The company has been covered in publications
such as FORTUNE, Black Enterprise and ENTREPRENEUR magazine.
Recently, UnityFirst.com founders, Janine and Tom Fondon,
released a new book, “The
Practice of Power: Finding Success in a Diverse World.”
Since the founding of Unity First
some 10 years ago, the Fondons have inspired hundreds of
diverse businesses and collaborations to achieve excellence
and bottom line success. She and her husband has received
several national awards, such as FraserNet’s PowerNetworking
(George Fraser) National Entrepreneurial Excellence Award,
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Regional Entrepreneurial Award,
National Council of Negro Women's Regional Women of Conviction
Award and the Madam C.J. Walker Award (New England Black
Chamber), Framingham (Massachusetts) Human Relations Commission
recognition and the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus
Abigail Adams Leadership Award and others.
Janine was born and raised in New York, and attended New
York University, M.A. Communications/Business (1984) and
Colgate University, B.A (1982). She has worked for companies
such as ABC- TV, CBS-TV and the Digital Equipment Corporation.
In March 2005, Janine Fondon was named one of the 25 Influential
Black Women in Business by The Network Journal (TNJ), a Black
professional and small business magazine based in New York
City.
Tom, born and raised in Water Valley, Mississippi, is a
former U.S. Marine who has served four years in the military,
including terms in Italy, Africa and Japan. His resume
includes a 15 year career with IBM. Tom is a computer engineering
graduate of Boston’s Wentworth Institute of Technology.
He has also completed studies in Electronic Engineering
at Northwest Junior College in Mississippi and taken proprietary
IBM technology training courses on various IBM products
and platforms.
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Mr.
Pedro L. Fontes
Second Vice President, Wealth Management
Citi Smith Barney
Pedro Fontes joined Smith Barney in July of 2004 and is
the Second Vice President of Wealth Management. Pedro provides
wealth management and liquidity management to high net-worth
clients who have a minimum of $1 million dollars in invest
able assets. His clients range from working professionals
to business owners.
Pedro graduated from Brandeis University with a BA in Political
Science and also in African and African-American Studies
with a minor in Legal Studies. Pedro sits on Smith Barney's
Branch Council and also serves as the Diversity Coordinator.
Pedro is a two time recipient of Smith Barney's prestigious
Blue Chip Council.
Pedro works with several non-profit organizations where
for one of the organization he serves as both the Treasurer
and also as the Chair of the Finance Committee. He also works
with members of the Transitional Year Program at Brandeis
University as a mentor and is also a member of the Brandeis
University Minority Alumni Association . He devotes much
of his free time teaching financial literacy to underserved
communities in the Boston area.
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Ms.
Betty Anne Fortunato
Senior Franchise Consultant - MatchPoint
Franchise Consulting Network
etty Anne’s business and life experiences have prepared
her well for the role of independent franchise consultant
for MatchPoint. Teaching, training, managing, coaching, mentoring – all
have been roles she was drawn to and excelled at, using her
innate skills of relating to people and their needs.
Betty Anne has been a sales and marketing executive for
almost 20 years. Early on in her career she identified the
franchise marketplace as a tremendous opportunity for the
products and services she represented. She set out to become
an expert in franchising, developing franchise marketing
strategies for companies who service the franchising industry.
In this capacity, she has given seminars for Fortune 500
companies to increase their understanding of the franchise
marketplace.
Betty Anne established her expertise as a sales and marketing
professional, starting in the early 1980’s working
for Radio Shack as a trainer for both corporate and franchise
store managers. She held successively increasing positions
of responsibility in marketing and sales over the next 15
years at Data General Corporation, Motorola and Gartner Group,
where much of her time was spent working with the independent
business owner reseller partners of these companies.
In 1996 she joined ARAMARK Corporation’s Uniform and
Career Apparel Group as Director of Sales, responsible for
setting strategy to increase sales to small and medium sized
businesses. In this role, Betty Anne worked intimately with
franchise companies and their franchisees, insuring that
the products and services ARAMARK offered them supported
their companies’ business goals. During this time,
sales for her business unit more than doubled. In 2000, Betty
Anne was promoted to Vice President of QSR Managed Accounts,
responsible for all activity to support sales to the franchisees
of McDonald’s Corporation, Wendy’s International,
Southland Corporation (7-11), El Pollo Loco, etc.
Betty Anne has been an independent Franchise Consultant
with FranChoice, Inc. since 2003, joined MatchPoint in March
of 2008, and has been highly successful in placing people
in franchise businesses across the country.
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Ms.
Brent Harding
CEO - TheBhardingcompanies
Ms. Brent Harding owns and manages
three individual businesses - TheBHardingCompanies (BHCo).
Her flagship enterprise, www.TravelBizOnline.net, a “franchise” on-line
marketing firm, sells travel, leisure, and entertainment
websites for the brand YTB International (YTBLA). Her second
business, is a private label travel company, www.GoTravelDeals.net,
(courtesy of the YTB brand) that allows customers to purchase
vehicles, book travel packages such as spa vacations, tennis
or golf packages, honeymoon specials, buy flowers, concert
tickets, schedule attractions, get a passport, visa, foreign
currency, and much more! Additionally, Ms. Harding is a
veteran real estate investor and manages her own commercial
real estate portfolio throughout Massachusetts.
After graduating from Fisher College with a degree in
Business Management, Brent continued her education at the
University of Oklahoma and graduated from the Mike Maroney
Aeronautical Center as a certified Air Traffic Controller.
Brent has participated in the development
of the Federal Bank of Boston publication, “Closing the Gap: A Guide
to Equal Opportunity Lending.” She has also given
testimony before the Congressional subcommittee on General
Oversight and Investigation.
Ms. Harding has been featured in
Women’s Business
Boston, Unity First, and Bay State Banner. She has had
articles published in Boston Business Journal, Banker and
Tradesman and Bay State Banner. And she has hosted radio
talk shows on money and mortgage industries on WILD1090
and Touch 106.1 FM.
Among her other accomplishments, Ms. Harding has been,
both, a featured speaker and panelist for the Federal Reserve
Bank of Boston and CEDA. Additionally, she has spoken at
various community and social organizations events and still
finds time for speaking engagements. She serves as a paid
public speaker and welcomes such opportunities.
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Ms.
Ann Hunt,
Lead Lender Relations Specialist, U.S. SBA
Anne Rice Hunt has been employed by the
U.S Small Business Administration since 1981. Ms. Hunt
currently manages the Agency’s financing programs
for the state of Massachusetts. Over the past five
years, the Massachusetts office provided more than $1.5
billion dollars in loan guarantees to over 13,500 small
businesses in participation with over 110 lending institutions.
Ms. Hunt had worked as a loan officer for
12 years before assuming the position of Finance Chief in
1995.
Ms. Hunt received an MBA degree from Salem
State College as well as a BA degree in Sociology from the
Massachusetts School of Liberal Arts.
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Ms.
Sangita Joshi
Associate - The Bulfinch Group
Sangita helps professionals, families and business owners
build and preserve their wealth by bringing focus and clarity
to their financial lives. Through an in-depth analysis, she
works to develop economically-sound financial strategies
that enable her clients to help achieve their financial dreams
and goals. She does this by providing exemplary client service
and products to her clients, utilizing the resources available
with The Bulfinch Group, as well as the extensive network
of trusted legal, accounting and investment professionals
she has developed alliances with over the years.
Sangita believes in being active personally and professionally.
She sits on The Board of the Network of South Asian Professionals,
The Commonwealth Institute, and is an active member of the
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
Sangita has been in the financial services industry for
nearly 10 years, as a Financial Advisor and Marketing Director.
She received her Bachelors Degree from Boston University
and her MBA from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business
at Babson College in Wellesley, MA. She currently lives in
Natick and enjoys listening to live music, participating
in outdoor activities, and playing with her nephews
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Ms.
Daphne Lawson
Personal Banker - Citibank
C. Daphne Lawson is a Personal Banker with Citibank. Her
undergraduate degree in Hospitality Management was received
from Boston University and her MBA with a concentration
in Finance was received from Boston College. The mixing
of the two disciplines makes her a personable and more
zealous Personal Banker. To that end, a good portion of
her time is spent engaging groups in financial education.
She is working with city leaders as well as affordable
housing administrators to enlighten the under-banked population
of Boston to the benefits of budgeting and fiscal responsibility.
Daphne enjoys her personal time doing home improvement
projects and spending time with her family, friends and
church community.
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Ms.
Raquel L. Mullaney
President - Comfort Keepers
Company
Raquel Mullaney is a proud alumnus
of Bridgewater State College where she received her Bachelor
of Arts in Psychology. She enjoyed her years working with
the Department of Mental Health and in residential group
homes. At this early stage in her career, Ms. Mullaney
new a “home-like” setting
was the most therapeutic place for an individual to thrive.
In 2002, Raquel & Robert Mullaney became the proud owners
of a Comfort Keepers franchise. They initially began serving
the Plymouth county area, but quickly grew to service the
entire South Shore, Cape Cod & the Islands by purchasing
two more CK franchises.
In addition to owning three Comfort
Keepers’ franchises,
Raquel & Bob purchased a geriatric case management company,
Senior Health Services in 2004. The marriage between Comfort
Keepers and Senior Health Services was a match made in heaven.
When non-medical home-care met medical case management the
sparks began to fly; they are now a one stop shop for all
home-care needs. From Lifeline’s® emergency response
system to companionship and medication management; there
is nothing a family or client could need that these two companies
couldn’t provide!
The Mullaney’s have recently opened a 7500 sq. foot
corporate headquarters in Plymouth, MA equipped to provide
home health care training to their 200 caregivers and support
their growing office staff. Raquel believes the key to success
is “Play hard & love what you do”.
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Mr. Reggie Nunnally
City
of Boston
Boston Business Assistance Center
Mr. Reginald Nunnally (more commonly known
as Reggie) has been involved in economic development for
the past 15 plus years, initially as the Executive Director
of the Grove Hall Neighborhood Development Corporation that
spearheaded the redevelopment efforts on Blue Hill Ave.
Reggie was the first Executive Director for the Enhanced
Enterprise Community responsible for processing $44 million
of federal funds for Empowerment Zone economic development
projects. His career highlights include facilitating the
process for financing the Mecca Mall in Grove Hall, the South
End Health Center, Merengue Restaurant on Blue Hill Ave,
the Best Western Round House Suites and the Hampton Inn Hotel,
(the first African American owned hotel in Boston and the
first hotels to be built in Roxbury since the turn of the
century.)
Currently he is Deputy Director for external affairs for
the Department of Neighborhood Development that includes
oversight of the Boston Business Assistance Center. As part
of his oversight duties he has created a micro loan program
geared for existing business and individuals aspiring to
start a business within a special geographical area within
the city of Boston
He is a graduate of Providence College and Boston University
as well as received training at Harvard Kennedy School of
Government.
Reggie is also a past recipient of
the Small Business Administration’ s
Minority Small Business Advocate of the year award for both
Massachusetts as well as all of New England.
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Ms.
Lynda Morris Parham, Ph.D.
Director of Couples and Family Therapy at the Danielsen
Institute of Boston University
Dr. Lynda Morris Parham is a Psychologist,
presenter, and teacher, in the areas of clinical, family,
and community psychology. Dr. Lynda is the Director of
Couples and Family Therapy at the Danielsen Institute of
Boston University and has her own private practice. Her
holistic approach integrates behavioral science practices
with faith-based insights in her work with individuals,
couples, families, churches and community organizations.
For several decades, Dr. Lynda has provided
leadership, mentorship and motivation to women from diverse
racial, economic and religious populations in urban, suburban,
rural and international settings. She received her ministerial
training from Jubilee Christian Church (formerly New Covenant
Christian Church) in Boston where she is a Charter Member
and serves as a minister and consultant to Chosen Vessels
Women's Ministry, Covenant Counseling Ministry, and the Prayer
Ministry. She is committed to international ministry and
cultural exchange by serving on the Board of the Walker Center
in Newton, as a Scholar with the North America Chinese Scholars
Association, and has mentored a generation of national and
international female boarding school students at Dana Hall
School.
Dr. Lynda and her husband Tony (www.TKGweb.com)
are trained marriage counselors who co-present on a variety
of topics to strengthen couples and families. The couple
lives in Boston and they have three children. For more information
about Dr. Lynda, please visit her website at www.DrLynda.org
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Ms.
Holly Rose
Principal
Holly Rose is the founder and former CEO of the highly
successful Creative Movement & Arts Centers, headquartered
in Needham, Massachusetts. For over 25 years, Holly has
been a pioneer in the field of health, fitness and education.
In 1998, the Creative Movement & Arts Centers were
acquired by Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the nation's
leading work/life balance and corporate child care provider,
with centers both nationally and internationally.
A nationally recognized expert in the field of health, fitness
and education for start-up companies and businesses who are
experiencing periods of high-growth, Holly has lectured and
presented seminars and workshops at Babson College, Wellesley
College, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Yale University
and Quaker State Oil. She has appeared regularly on the "Family
Channel" as well as on numerous local and syndicated
radio shows across the country. Holly has a particular focus
on business operations, marketing, business development,
recruitment and retention, education and training professional
development and has worked with start-up companies to successfully
launch their businesses as well as many established businesses
that are ready to take their company to higher and more profitable
levels.
Holly attended Lesley College, C.A.G.S. program and Harvard
University where she majored in Business Leadership and Human
Development. Holly has competed in 4 Boston Marathons and
2 New York City Marathons and has decided to "slow down
the pace" with a couple of "mini "triathlons.
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Mr.
Fernando Ruiz
Creative Director
- Potter Ruiz Advertising
Fernando Ruiz is the Creative Director
for Potter Ruiz Advertising and Communications, a company
he founded with Susie Potter in 1997. Potter Ruiz specializes
in creating and implementing advertising programs aimed
at the US Hispanic markets. Fernando leads the company’s
creative efforts and is responsible for campaign strategy,
direction and production.
When it comes to understanding
people and cultures, Fernando thinks like an anthropologist-
he is a savvy analyst with a keen ability to comprehend
peoples’ psyches. He has the ability to extract crucial
information with which to build campaigns. Fernando knows
research and data are important, but it’s the human
touch and ability to communicate and creatively transfer
knowledge that connects people to products. Fascinated
with the human mind and emotional patterns, Fernando thrives
on getting to the core of what makes people different;
drawing out feelings and attitudes that can only come from
direct interaction.
Fernando is an award-winning producer
and sound designer, with 16 years of industry experience.
He has garnered numerous national and international awards.
He is a well respected pioneer of Hispanic advertising
and production. With more than 16 years guiding companies
to greater enlightenment and opportunity, he is adept at
designing communication programs for both recent immigrants
to the U.S. and highly acculturated Hispanic Americans – a
specialized and wide reaching marketing advantage.
Potter
Ruiz’s high-profile client roster includes McDonald’s,
Arnold Worldwide, Stop & Shop/Giant, Mullen, NSTAR,
Bose Corporation, The Department of Justice, Subway, MMB,
ENERGY STAR, and The History Channel en español.
Before launching Potter Ruiz, Fernando
established Fernando Ruiz productions in 1992. In addition,
he worked for WGBH Boston as a staff audio engineer where
he was involved in producing a wide variety of public radio
programming and live broadcasts.
He serves on the board
of Independent Broadcasting Associates, an award winning
non-profit production company that creates programs for
National Public Radio and the BBC.
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Ms.
Susie Potter
President - Potter Ruiz Advertising
Susie Potter is President of Potter Ruiz
Advertising & Communications, a company she founded
with Fernando Ruiz in 1997.
Potter Ruiz specializes in
advertising strategies that reflect a deep understanding
of the Latino mind-set, heart, needs and purchasing drivers.
Using cultural insight and language fluency, Potter Ruiz
delivers effective communication campaigns that make an
emotional and binding connection between Hispanic consumers
and client brands.
She leads the company’s business
development efforts, strategy, client services and operations.
Passionate about connecting companies to the growing U.S.
Hispanic markets, Susie closely follows trends and nuances
in the Latino landscape using an extensive knowledge base
to help define strategic objectives.
With more than 16
years of industry experience she effectively puts her knowledge
to the test by helping clients develop communications programs
that intelligently market to Hispanics.
Potter Ruiz’s
high-profile client roster includes: Arnold Worldwide,
Stop & Shop, Mullen, NSTAR, McDonald’s, The Department
of Justice, ENERGY STAR, MMB, Subway and The History Channel
en español.
Prior to Potter Ruiz, Susie was a founding
member of Sound Techniques, a Boston-based broadcast production
company that worked with recognized advertising agencies,
major cable television networks and independent filmmakers.
As head of the marketing department, and staff producer,
Susie helped the award winning company grow to number two
in a thriving and competitive marketplace.
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Ms. Josefina Silva
Loan Officer
Community Development Finance Corp.
Josefina B. Silva holds the position of
Loan Officer at Massachusetts Community Development Finance
Corporation, a thirty year quasi-public agency funded by
the State of Massachusetts to provide loan and assistance
to businesses in LMI communities.
Silva had a very successful career in the banking industry
for almost twenty years. She held the position of Vice President
and Loan Officer at Bank of America and its predecessors,
Fleet and Bank of Boston. Silva was chosen specifically to
launch the community development and outreach programs at
Bank of Boston and was the initial officer hired into the
newly formed unit in July 1994. She was a top performer and
received several awards, including person of the year award.
Silva’s career also includes
the not-for-profit sector, and in 1993 she received an
award from the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership
(MBHP) for her work toward residence empowerment and development
of community leaders as an organizer at Dorchester Bay
Economic Development Corporation.
Silva is a graduate of Instituto Superior de Economia, Universidade
Tecnica de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal. After graduating in
1983 Silva relocated to the Boston area and began her professional
career in the banking industry. She received a diploma in
Trust Business from the New England School of Banking in
1991 and in 1997 she received a diploma from Bank of Boston
Loan Officer Development Program.
A native of West Africa’s Cape Verde Islands, Silva
is now a resident of Malden, MA. She is the mother of three
children, Awara (20), Kaiysa (19) and Ywina (17). Silva is
very involved in the community activities and was a co-founder
of Boston’s Capeverdean Association and the Capeverdean
Professional Network. She is on the Board of Massachusetts
Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS), a loan committee
member of the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Loan
Fund, and a member of Dorchester Bay Economic Development
Corporation loan committee. To complement her many other
talents, Silva is fluent in five languages.
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Ms. Jeanette Simmons
Community Branch Manager - Sovereign Bank
Jeanette Simmons is currently a Sovereign
Bank Branch Manager and Vice President working out of the
Fields Corner Office in Dorchester. She has been with the
bank for over 10 years after earlier having a successful
career in the retail industry where she was a store manager
and honored in 1996 as a Black Achievement Award winner.
Her current duties include providing leadership, managing
the sales culture, bringing in new business, ensuring branch
integrity and implementing strategies to reduce overhead
and improve efficiency. She was born in Savannah, GA and
raised in Boston, MA where she participated in the Big Sisters
program and served on the Special events Committee of the
United Negro College Fund for 11 years. She was on the committee
for the Cambridge Y.W.C.A. Empowerment Conference for Women
of Color.
When she was branch Manager in Chestnut
Hill MA she was on the “Second Step” board which is a home for
abused Women and children. And now currently serves on two
boards in Dorchester MA “Close To Home” and “Fields
Corner Main Streets”.
She loves spending her free time with her family. Her son
Roger and her two grandsons Kai and Khoury Jeanette Currently
resides in Dorchester
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Ms. Ronia Stewart
Branch Manager - Citizens Bank
Ronia Stewart is the
manager of Citizens Bank’s
Dudley Station branch, which is located at 2343 Washington
Street in Roxbury. Stewart is responsible for overseeing
branch staff, directing branch activities and continuing
to deliver exceptional customer service at the Dudley Station
location.
Prior to joining Citizens, Stewart worked
at MFS Investment Management in Boston and Garden of Eden
Ministries, Inc , a nonprofit organization in Dorchester.
An
important aspect of her life is her three children (Rasheida,
Ronia and Clifford). She enjoys spending time with her family
and friends, entertaining, traveling and shopping for shoes.
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Ms.
Deborah Todd
Financial Services Associate - Prudential
Deborah has worked in the financial services industry
for over 25 years. She has a strong background in the design
and delivery of financial systems that provide business
solutions and has worked for several large financial institutions
including Bradford Trust Co., Fidelity Investments and
Bank of America. Deborah is currently with The Prudential
Insurance Company of America where she is licensed to offer
Life, Health, Disability and Long Term Care Insurance in
both CT and MA. She holds securities registrations Series
6 and 63 and is a registered representative with Pruco
Securities, LLC headquartered in Newark, NJ. Deborah holds
a B.A.S. in Business from Boston University and an MBA
in Finance from Suffolk University.
Deborah works diligently with each of her clients to make
sure that they have financial solutions that will help
them reach their insurance and financial goals and dreams
and that will provide the foundation for building a good
financial future by providing strategies to assist them
in growing, protecting and preserving their wealth.
Deborah has been happily married since 1966. She and her
husband, Jonathan, have two married children, two grandsons
and another grandchild on the way.
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Ms.
Stacey Williams
Deputy Director
Small & Local
Business Enterprise Office
Stacey Williams is the Deputy Director and
Certification Manager of the City of Boston Small and Local
Business Enterprise Office.
Ms. Williams was born and raised in
Boston. She graduated from Emmanuel College, earning a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management and Spanish.
After working for 2 ½ years
in the private sector for an advertising and direct mail
firm, Ms. Williams went to work for the City of Boston.
When Ms. Williams began working in
the Small and Local Business Enterprise Office, it was
just a program within the Purchasing Division. Over the
years, she has helped minority and woman business owners
obtain City of Boston certification for their companies;
learn about the City’s contracting and bidding
procedures; and encouraged working relationships between
City departments’ contracting representatives and the
certified business owners through trade fairs, as well as
individual introductions. In accomplishing these tasks, the
SLBE Office has been able to increase the number of minority
and woman owned businesses receiving contracts with the City
of Boston, as well as help them seek and secure contracts
with privately owned companies and organizations, both in
the Greater Boston area and nationally.
Ms. Williams oversees certification and maintains the database,
which currently includes over 900 certified vendors.
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