Blair Durham President & Co-Founder of Black BRAND Blair Durham is Co-Founder/President and current B-Force Program Director at Black BRAND.
Darius Davenport Managing Partner at Crenshaw, Ware, & Martin, PLC Darius is Managing Partner of Crenshaw, Ware & Martin and Chairman of the Government and Public Sector and Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Practice Groups.
Lauren DeSimone Community Innovation Advisor at Virginia Community Capital
Lauren DeSimone Community Innovation Advisor at Virginia Community Capital Lauren DeSimone is a Community Innovation Advisor with Viginia Community Capital in Richmond, VA. She brings expertise in healthy food access, business development, and creative community engagement. In her professional past she has led non-profit teams, supported business development for startups, and mentored entrepreneurs.
Stephanie Gorham CEO of Volunteer Hampton Roads
Chandra Hurst VP, Economic Equity Small Business Loan Officer at Virginia Community Capital, Inc.
Chandra Hurst VP, Economic Equity Small Business Loan Officer at Virginia Community Capital, Inc. Chandra Hurst, Vice President and Economic Equity Small Business Loan Officer Chandra Hurst is Vice President and Economic Equity Small Business Loan Officer with Virginia Community Capital based in Richmond, VA. In her current role, Chandra is responsible for providing Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) small businesses access to capital and low-cost financing solutions including term loans, owner occupied real estate loans and refinances, working capital lines of credit, SBA loans, and debt consolidation loans. Prior to joining VCC, Chandra served as Vice President and Central/Eastern Virginia Community Relations Consultant at Wells Fargo Bank, where she was responsible for Community Relations initiatives, ensuring Wells Fargo met its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements as well as managing relationships with key government, community, non-profit and business stakeholders. Chandra began her banking career with Jefferson National Bank, now Wells Fargo, in 1992 and has held various roles to include Branch Manager, Licensed Personal Banker, Licensed Business Specialist, Business Development Officer, and forementioned Community Relations Consultant. Chandra earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Fisk University and pursued post-graduate studies in Forensics Science from Virginia Commonwealth University. Chanda is actively involved in the Richmond community and serves on the boards of Homeward; Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Virginia Local Advisory Committee (as Governance Committee Chair); and Richmond American Heart Association (memberof Advocacy and Community Impact Committees and 2021 recipient of the American Heart Association Health Equity Award. Chandra is President of Henrico County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Chandra also serves as a member of the Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) Funding Advisory Group for the City of Richmond Treasurer’s Office, and External Affairs Committee for Better Housing Coalition. Chandra is past member of the National Kidney Foundation Walk and Honors Committees Class and former facilitator for City of Richmond Minority Development Money Smart Program.
JR Locke Vice President of Community Development at EdLogics LLC
JR Locke Vice President of Community Development at EdLogics LLC EdLogics is a digital health communications company which was founded in 2012 in Virginia Beach to help employers improve the lives of their employees and reduce their healthcare costs by engaging and motivating them to learn about important health issues and become better informed healthcare decision makers. Through interactive health games, multimedia educational programs, innovative gamification strategies, and rewards for educational achievement, EdLogics delivers a personalized user experience that uniquely educates employees and their family members on common and costly health conditions and the challenges of interacting with the healthcare system.
Kim Painter CPA
Kim Painter CPA Kim Painter, CPA, is a native of the Hampton Roads area, she graduated with a business administration/accounting degree from Old Dominion University in 1987. Kim’s vast experience combined with her inherent business sense allows her to serve a wide range of clientele, including small business, professional practices contractors and not-for-profit organizations to name a few.
Kate Powell Executive Director of Tidewater Arts Outreach Kate is an arts administrator through and through. She started her career as the Business Manager for the Catoctin School of Music in Leesburg, Virginia. In 2014, she moved back to Hampton Roads to be the Woodwind Teaching Artist with Soundscapes in Newport News – until she discovered fundraising. Since then, she has served as the Development Manager at the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Director of Fundraising and Grants at PORTCO, Inc., and as Director of Development for Tidewater Arts Outreach. She took over as Executive Director in November 2020.
David Proffitt Corporate Development Officer at Sentara Foundation
David Proffitt Corporate Development Officer at Sentara Foundation Accomplished innovative executive, leader in diversified and progressive marketing management, business development specializing in higher education, corporate relations, training and development, strategic marketing & advertising, sales, product development, institutional fundraising and corporate communications. Builder of high performance, cross-functional teams, driven to exceed customer service excellence and product delivery. A strategic problem solver and adept in penetrating new markets, transforming business operations and building top line growth. Experienced at relationship management to C-Suite executives and non-profit, private agencies. Driven toward superior business results and performance targets by creating and executing integrated sales, marketing and operational plans. Flexible, self-motivated with recognized ability to work effectively with diverse levels of management.
Dr. Linda Rice Vice President for Grantmaking at Hampton Roads Community Foundation
Dr. Linda Rice Vice President for Grantmaking at Hampton Roads Community Foundation Linda M. Rice, Ph.D., is vice president for grantmaking. Prior to joining the staff in 2012, she was provost of the Chesapeake Campus of Tidewater Community College. She previously was the founding vice president for workforce development at TCC and served as the inaugural dean of health professions at the college’s Virginia Beach Campus. She also served as special assistant to the president for military affairs and community outreach at TCC. She earned an undergraduate degree in biology/psychology from Randolph Macon Woman’s College and both a master’s degree in education and a doctoral degree in urban studies from Old Dominion University.
Hope Sinclair Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads Over 15 years of combined personnel management and supervision, youth counseling, and administrative experience. Working knowledge of counseling theories and practices and budget management. Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills. Ability to handle simultaneous projects and meet deadlines effectively. Strong documentation and reporting skills
Doug Smith PRESIDENT & CEO of The Hampton Roads Alliance
Doug Smith PRESIDENT & CEO of The Hampton Roads Alliance Doug Smith joined the Hampton Roads Alliance as President & CEO in September of 2019. He oversees the staff of business development, business intelligence and marketing professionals and leads the operations of the region’s economic development organization that represents 11 municipalities and over 70 private sector investors. Doug and the entire Alliance staff work closely with the state and local governments and the private sector to assist international and domestic companies with investment projects, expansions and relocations.
Christin Thorpe Engagement Leader at Thrivent
Christin Thorpe Engagement Leader at Thrivent Christin Thorpe
Kelli Webb CEO of The KBD Group Kelli B. Davis, Principal and Founder
Natisha Wilson Executive Director of Village Family Natisha Wilson is the Executive Director of Village Family, a non profit hunger relief organization that was founded in 2014. The nonprofit aims to to provide outreach resources to those experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity. As a valuable community resource that feeds, clothes and educates, Village Family distributes quality resources from a donated pantry space every 4th Sunday at First Calvary Baptist Church, 813 Henry Street in Norfolk Virginia. With the help of volunteers and community partners, the Village Family committee serves as an empire of great people making huge impact in the community through unity, service, legacy, kindness and commitment”. Village Family is seeking to “continue the legacy our ancestors started through love and the gift of giving.
Jennifer Yarbrough Non Profit Expert / Grant Guru Bio of Jennifer Yarbrough
