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Board of Directors

Dr. Robert Conners

Director of ResearchFlorida Commission on Human Relations

Juan Pablo Chávez was born and raised in Mexico. When he was a teenager, he came to the United States in search of better opportunities. In 1992 he started to organize youth groups as a Catholic volunteer in the Archdiocese of Chicago. In 1998 he became a Professional Community Organizer with the Southwest Organizing Project in Chicago, a member of Industrial Areas Foundation through United Power for Action and Justice, a large faith-based community organization on the Southwest side of Chicago.  See more...

Sokoya Finch

Founder and Executive DirectorFlorida Family Network, Inc.

Ms. Sokoya Finch is the founding executive director and CEO of Florida Family Network, Inc. Ms. Finch has been working with minorities across the southern region of the United States for over 20 years in the following areas of disparities: public health, education, incarceration, poverty and wealth. She is a foot solder in keeping the conversation of disparities going in the light that engages diverse key stakeholders, promotes capacity building opportunities, and creating a natural flow of collaborative partnerships resulting in outcomes and positive impacts.   See more...

Gena Gunn

Project Director

Dir. of Asset Building in States and Coalitions Center for Social Development

George Warren Brown Sch. of Social WorkWashington University in St. Louis

Gena Gunn serves as Project Director and Director of Asset Building in States and Coalitions at the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University's Brown School.


Ms. Gunn has extensive project management, program development, and policy advocacy experience in the areas of asset-building, asset policy coalition development, and workforce development assistance for low-to-moderate-income-households and marginalized populations.   See more...

Dr. Conners directs agency research and assists in formulating policy for the Florida Commission on Human Relations. He holds a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology and Human Systems from Florida State University and has more than two decades' experience working for and consulting with numerous public and private sector institutions and agencies in matters ranging from institutional research to race relations. 

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Carolyn Ford

Founder and Executive DirectorNorth Florida Educational Development Corporation

Carolyn Ford is the founder and Executive Director of the North Florida Educational Development Corporation, based in Gretna, the chairperson of Florida Black Chambers of Commerce, and the former mayor of Quincy, Florida. She is a former teacher in Gadsden County and a former instructor at Florida State University. In addition, she has served as program supervisor at Apalachee Community Mental Health Services, Inc.

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Melba Furlow-Herrington

MPA, Ph.D. (candidate)

Northeast Florida Community

Action Agency

As a teenager, Melba was appointed to Mayor Teen Volunteers by former Mayor, Tommy Hazouri. In 1987, Melba earned both the Silver and Silver Leadership Awards. They were both presented by former Governor Martinez's wife at the governor's mansion in Tallahassee, Florida. In 1991, Melba was recognized by former president George Bush, Sr. when she earned both, the Gold and Gold Leadership Awards. This award was recognized by the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Auxiliary,  See more...

Eric M. Kelly

Regional Vice President

Palm Beach Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc.

Eric M. Kelly is a graduate of Florida State University. At Allegany Franciscan Ministries he directs the foundation's grant-making and community engagement efforts in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties, with a focus on promoting culturally competent access to healthcare to improve the health status of persons in poor and marginalized communities. 

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Dr. Carlton Robinson

President

First Coast African American Chamber

of Commerce

Independent Researcher/Consultant

Dr. Carlton Lamar Robinson is a native Floridian (St. Petersburg), veteran of the United States Army, and resident of Northeast Florida (Clay County) since 2000. During his nine-year tenure with a Fortune 50 financial services firm he worked in multiple communities in the areas of employment, business development, and underwriting. At the end of that tenure (2005) he focused on the final year of his doctoral studies in the area of management and workplace diversity.   See more...

Mark Scovera

President

Access Florida Finance Corporation

Mark is currently the President of Access Florida Finance Corporation. Previously, Mark was the Sr. VP/Chief Financial Officer for the Florida Black Business Investment Board, Inc., a public private partner with the state. He has nineteen 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.

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Karen Landry

Executive Director

War on Poverty - Florida, Inc.

Karen L. Landry is President/Executive Director of the War on Poverty - Florida, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Florida nonprofit organization. Karen is a Principal with Organizational Development Resources, Inc. and Village Architects, Inc.

Karen's experience as a practitioner in the asset development and community development arena has provided a fresh perspective in community revitalization; implementing customized strategies "asset building blocks," Turning Points and Assets for Change Forums for building wealth in target communities in Florida.    See more...

Fred Seamon

Senior Partner

MGT of American, Inc.

MGT of America, Inc., is a national, public sector, management consulting and research firm headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, that specializes in helping to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations in the public sector. Prior to joining MGT as a partner he was on the faculty of the School of Social Work, the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy and the Pepper Institute on Aging at Florida State University where he taught graduate courses and conducted research in several areas related to human services and organizational development.  

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Toni Shamplain

Manager

Downtown North CRA Panama City

Toni Shamplain, currently is the Downtown North Program Manager for the City of Panama Community Redevelopment Agency; the CEO of System Navigators Enterprises, Inc, ( a not for profit) has conducted many state and national workshops, seminars in cultural diversity, management information systems, community development, community redevelopment and community collaboration to list a few. She has earned a vast number of certificates in management, budgeting, community organization, program evaluation, etc.   See more...

Larry Williams

Founder and Executive Director

Simeon Resource and Development

Center for Men, Inc. (SRDCM)

Mr. Williams currently serves as Founder and Executive Director of a community-based nonprofit organization in Orlando, FL -- Simeon Resource and Development Center for Men, Inc. (SRDCM). SRDCM provides an array of services for males, 12 yrs. and up, in an effort to assist them in becoming productive citizens. Prior to assuming the role of Executive Director at Simeon, Mr. Williams served as the Director of the Office of Minority Health for the Orange County Health Department.    See more...

Dreamal I. Worthen, Ph.D

Professor

College of Engineering SciencesTechnology and Agriculture (CESTA)Florida A&M University

Dreamal Worthen is a professor in the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture at Florida A & M University. One of Dr. Worthen's areas of concentration is in the field of Agricultural Research, an interdisciplinary field that focuses on multiple areas of agricultural and rural research. Dr. Worthen's research has focused on environmental justice, the elderly, poverty and health issues in rural communities of color.  

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Feliciano Zayas

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Feliciano Zayas brings to Florida Asset Building Coalition his experience of accounting and fiscal management.
Feliciano was born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico and grew up in the rural areas of the island. In the early years of childhood his parents were self supported thru the farming business. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration; Major in Accounting; University of Puerto Rico; and completed one year of post graduate studies in Financial Planning at City University; Bellevue, WA.   See more...

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