Landing Ceremony Fall 2022 Cohort

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Save the dateDecember 13, 20221:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EST) Add to Calendar

Venue Location

Norfolk Waterside Marriott

East Main Street 235
Norfolk, Virginia

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Organizer

Organizer: Black BRAND

Phone: +1 7573711478

Contact Person: B-Force Accelerator

Email: bforce@blackbrand.biz

Speakers

Alex Askew

Community Relations Coordinator at Sentara

Alex Askew

Community Relations Coordinator at Sentara

The Honorable Alex Q. Askew was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Alex
matriculated through the Virginia Beach public education system, including College Park
Elementary, Brandon Middle School, and Tallwood High School, before attending
Hampton University. After graduating, Alex worked for over a decade on a variety of
local, state-wide, and national campaigns and projects.

Alex currently serves as the Community Relations Coordinator at Sentara Healthcare
where he is responsible for coordinating and implementing community outreach
campaigns. He also serves as a relationship manager with ambassador populations and
assists in identifying opportunities for key memberships, sponsorships, scholarships,
and grant giving.

Prior to his current role at Sentara, Alex was a member of the Virginia House of
Delegates where he represented the 85th District in Virginia Beach. During his term, he
saw many legislative successes, including the passage of 14 bills.

Outside of work, Alex remains engaged in his community. He is an active member of
New Jerusalem Ministries, where he mentors and tutors’ local youth. He is a founding
board member of the New Leaders Council Virginia, as well as a board member for the
Progressive Turnout Project, a 2018 graduate of the University of Virginia's Political
Leaders Program, and on the Foundation Board of Green Run Collegiate.

Mark Johnson

Vice President, Community Development Manager at Truist

Mark Johnson

Vice President, Community Development Manager at Truist

Mark is the Vice President & Community Development Manager at SunTrust, now Truist. In this role, Mr. Johnson is responsible for overseeing the Community Development activities in the state of Virginia.
An exemplary steward of community service and champion of philanthropic efforts in the Hampton Roads community, he is consistently working to align the bank with charitable organizations and initiatives that promote positive change within the community. Mark’s continued efforts have been recognized through several awards, such as the Hampton Roads Inside Business Top 100 Power List - the people who shape and influence Hampton Roads, the Urban League of Hampton Roads Silver Star and MLK Community Leader Awards, which recognizes leaders who have made a difference in their communities; the SunTrust Bank Performance Excellence Award, which recognizes the outstanding performance of teammates in both sales and non-sales roles who demonstrate exceptional achievements in support of the bank’s guiding principles (the first professional in his position to receive the award); the National Association of Leadership Program’s Distinguished Leadership Award, which recognizes exemplary service and commitment to the community (only 1 of 15 professionals that received the award across the country in 2015) and the Hampton Roads Community Action Program’s Community Builder’s Award (given to recipients based upon their proven track record of outstanding leadership, exemplary service and advocacy for positive change). Mark was also the lead visionary in the creation, planning, and organization of SunTrust Bank, Hampton Roads first annual of Diversity and Inclusion Awards Celebration in the Greater Hampton Roads Community in 2011 and led the effort that brought the cast members of the hit nineties TV show A Different World, which emphasized the value of higher education and the value of HBCUs – Historically Black Colleges and Universities to Norfolk State University in April of 2015.
Prior to his arrival to the Hampton Roads area, Mark made significant inroads in the Buffalo, New York, and Washington, DC, metro areas. He received the 40 under 40 Award from Business First Magazine in his role at United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, the Trailblazer Award from the Buffalo Educational Alliance, and the John H. Garber, Jr., Award from United Way of Worldwide (formerly United Way of America) – one of the youngest United Way Professionals to ever receive this particular honor.
In a 2017 and 2018 leadership endeavor, Mark was a Co-Chair of the Hampton Roads UNCF Mayors’ Masked Ball in Norfolk, VA. More than 800 people attended both events that raised over $200,000 to support scholarship efforts within the Hampton Roads community.
Mark serves on number of boards and committees, including, Life Enrichment Center of Norfolk, American Diabetes Association, WHRO, LISC Richmond and Hampton Roads Advisory Boards, Tidewater Community College Education Foundation Board, Hampton Roads Workforce Council (Co-Chair of the Board), the VA UNCF Advisory Council, the Green Run Collegiate Foundation Board and the Hampton Roads Chamber Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DE&I)
Mark resides in Virginia Beach with his wife, Shonder, and his two children Imajae’ and Mark II. He is a graduate of Canisius College, in Buffalo, NY, and the ExecuStep Program, United Way Worldwide, formerly United Way of America.

Sean Washington

Assistant Director, Department of Development at City of Norfolk

Sean Washington

Assistant Director, Department of Development at City of Norfolk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-m-washington-5a9a3550/

Sean Washington is a results-oriented business professional who excels in attracting, retaining, deepening and developing business relationships in the Hampton Roads community. As a senior business development manager for the City of Norfolk, Sean helps bridge the gap between Norfolk businesses and the various financing options available with the goal of solving their capital needs.

Before joining the City of Norfolk’s Department of Economic Development in 2017, Sean helped small businesses grow as an Assistant Vice President with BB&T Bank. During his seven-year tenure at BB&T, he managed a $34.5 million deposit portfolio and a $15 million lending portfolio.

Sean balances his passion for helping small businesses thrive while giving countless hours of his time to the community. Currently, Sean serves on the board for Parents Against Bullying VA and he is a past president of the Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals and past co-chair for BB&T’s Multicultural Committee. Sean has also volunteered with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Roc Solid Organization, THRive, Toastmasters International, and Norfolk’s Bank-on Your Success Program. Sean holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Hampton University. He spends his downtime reading, exercising, and traveling with his wife of 3 years, Jessica Larche Washington.

Sponsors and Partners

Black BRAND cordially invites you to join us as we recognize our dedicated entrepreneurs for their completion of B-Force Accelerator.

Alex Askew

Community Relations Coordinator at Sentara

Mark Johnson

Vice President, Community Development Manager at Truist

Sean Washington

Assistant Director, Department of Development at City of Norfolk

Organizers

Thank You for Supporting B-Force Accelerator