Tuesday, May 23 -
Tuesday, May 23 -
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Regina A. Hairston, AACC President & CEO
Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia, PA
Jovan T. Goldstein, AACC
Board Chairman
Bjorn Henriques, AACC Board
Vice Chair
Anika ‘Niki’ Hawkins, 6abc
Dr. Ashley Jordan, AfricanAmerican Museum of
Philadelphia
Damien Ghee, TD Bank
Phyllis Dickerson, AfricanAmerican Mayors Association
Tiffany Wilson, Office of State Senator Vincent Hughes
Larry Platt, The Philadelphia Citizen
William Carter, Chamber of Commerce of Greater
Philadelphia
Joe Hill, Cozen O'Connor
Angela Val, Visit Philly
JovanGoldstein
BjornHenriques
DaivyDambreville,Esq
KrystalJones
StevenScottBradley
BrianEdmonds
DexterHamilton
DimitriaDavenport
GaryShepherd
GlennBrown
JeffHornstein
JustinCampbell
KarenLewis
KennPenn
KennethScott
KrishnaNarine
LowellThomas
MalcolmIngram
MariaFrizelle-Roberts
Hon ReneeCardwell-Hughes
RichardCottom
Dr RitaToliver-Roberts
RonDavis
RonDutton
RosalindLee
TarikBrooks
TummonaFisher
VerniceLewis
JamesSanders
MeloneaseShaw
RomanMcDonald
TonyPayton,Jr
StokleyTomlinson
JudyWard
FrankScott,Jr. LittleRock,AR Pleasantville,NJ Augusta,GA
HardieDavis,Jr
MartySmall,Sr DarrenBurrell Darby,PA
AtlanticCity,NJ
RasBaraka Newark,NJ Hempstead,NY
WaylynHobbsJr.
DerekSlaughter
DerrickWood Dumfries,VA
Williamsport,PA
HOSTED BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PA, NJ & DE
HOSTED BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PA, NJ & DE
Sharrie joined the Action News team in March 2014 as an anchor of the 5:00 pm newscast and reporter on Action News at 11 Sharrie's work is rooted in strong reporting, both in-studio and live from the scene
From hosting town halls to address gun violence, to the unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic, to an exclusive interview with Will Smith's mother following an unforgettable night at the Oscars, Sharrie believes stories should be told with accuracy and care She anchored on location from numerous Big Stories including the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl appearance in 2023 and the team's historic Championship win in 2018, the Phillies World Series run in 2022, the 2017 NFL Draft, the 2016 Democratic National Convention and Pope Francis' visit to the World Meeting of Families in 2015. She has also traveled around the country, reporting from the first Presidential Debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and the inauguration of President Trump Sharrie was also honored to have the opportunity to interview legendary ABC News host Barbara Walters when she signed off the air for the last time
Sharrie enjoys traveling and has journeyed across the Serengeti in Africa. Sharrie loves live music (R&B, down South rap, gospel, and country are among her favorites) and attending major sporting events A native of Albany, Georgia, she is the product of a close-knit family which includes her parents, three siblings and eight nieces and one nephew Sharrie is an active volunteer for many community groups and charities, and is passionate about mentoring young girls
Sharrie Williams is the co-anchor of Action News at 5 and Action News at 10 on PHL17.A native of Newark, whose family has lived in the City for more than 80 years, Mayor Baraka’s progressive approach to governing has won him accolades from grassroots organizations to the White House With a forward-thinking agenda that reduced crime to its lowest levels in five decades, addressed affordability while maintaining steady growth, lowered unemployment, and returned local control of schools after more than two decades, Baraka has defied expectations since taking office in 2014.
Mayor Baraka’s futurist agenda has included the implementation of a groundbreaking partnership called Hire Buy Live Newark, a program that marks the first time that any US city has sought to transform its economy by combining employment, procurement, and residential strategies
As part of his commitment to strengthen Newark’s position in the expanded technology space, the City launched LinkNWK (pronounced Link Newark) This communications network of sidewalk kiosks provides Newark residents and visitors with free, gigabit WiFi, mobile device charging, phone calls to anywhere in the US, access to municipal services, maps and directions, and real-time local information on city streets at no cost to taxpayers or users.
Mayor Baraka is also recognized nationally as a thought leader in the space of urban revitalization, and his commitment to reducing crime in Newark, reimagining public safety, tackling the city’s housing crisis, and developing innovative and communitydriven approaches to eliminating income inequality has solidified his status as one of the country’s most progressive elected officials.
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Ras J Baraka is the 40th Mayor of the City of Newark
Dr Hardie Davis Jr, the 84th Mayor of Augusta, former State Representative, and former State Senator, is a results- driven elected official with 14 years of experience in local & state government, public relations, economic development, and workforce development Mayor Davis has been recognized by numerous philanthropic organizations and constituent groups for his leadership and contributions to the Augusta community and the state at large The Georgia Bio, The Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Smart Cities New York, Smart Cities Atlanta, and the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education have all heralded the accomplishments of Mayor Davis. He has also consistently been featured in Georgia Trend magazine's annual list of 100 Most Influential Georgians
During his tenure as Mayor, Augustans have seen tremendous economic growth & development, including global recognition for a few of his signature projects Significant accomplishments to date include a reduction to the city’s unemployment rate to under 4%, the establishment of the $126 million Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center, achieving the highest bond rating in city history of Aa2, and the transformative rollout of Open Augusta, the financial transparency database which allows stakeholders direct access to government spending
HOSTED BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PA, NJ & DE
HOSTED BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PA, NJ & DE
On March 16, 2021, Waylyn Hobbs, Jr was elected as Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Hempstead. As a 40-year resident, he has served the village in various capacities. He was first elected in March 2013 as Village of Hempstead Trustee. He works continuously and tirelessly on behalf of the entire community to foster social, educational, economic, and community development During that time he served as Deputy Mayor for two years and oversaw the police department, fire department, DPW, and Parks and recreation committees
Waylyn Hobbs, Jr.'s Motto " I, like you, want to see our Village become a better place for our families to live, work and play Waylyn Hobbs, Jr is a Hempstead Fire Department member, serving as an officer with Truck Company One and EMT-CC with the Rescue squad Acknowledged for his service in aiding others in his line of duty, Waylyn Hobbs received the life-saving star award
Waylyn Hobbs, Jr. brings a wealth of experience to his office and has distinguished himself as a vibrant, passionate Village official He previously held the position as the Supervisor of the Code Enforcement Department for the Inc Village of Hempstead in 1990 Mayor Hobbs has served in various capacities in the community including Commissioner of the Hempstead Housing Authority and board member at Nassau University Medical Center. Currently, he serves on the policy committee of the New York Conference of Mayors. He is also a member of Mayors for Guaranteed Income and Mayors Against Illegal Guns Mayor Hobbs was featured in the 2021 edition of City and State Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential individuals in Nassau and Suffolk Counties
After serving almost 15 years in the Philadelphia City Council, Michael A Nutter was elected the 98th Mayor of his hometown in November 2007 and took office in January 2008 At his inaugural address, Mayor Nutter pledged to lower crime, improve educational attainment rates, make Philadelphia the greenest city in America and attract new businesses and residents to the city. He also promised to lead an ethical and transparent government focused on providing high quality, efficient and effective customer service
With the support of an experienced, professional staff, Mayor Nutter made significant progress on every pledge: homicides were at an almost 50 year low at the end of his tenure; high school graduation and college degree attainment rates increased significantly; Philadelphia added hundreds of miles in bike lanes and trails and launched the first low-income friendly bike share system in America, called Indego; and Philadelphia ' s population grew every year since 2008, including the largest percentage of millennial population growth in the nation He actively recruited businesses to set up shop in Philadelphia, both domestically and internationally with tax reforms, better business services and international trade missions. And, despite the damaging impact of the Great Recession, Philadelphia's economy demonstrated significant growth since January 2014, more than $115 billion of economic development projects have been completed, are under construction or announced
Mayor Nutter made a commitment to strong financial stewardship, vigorously managing the City through the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. As a result, Philadelphia’s credit rating was upgraded to the "A" category by the three major credit rating agencies for the first time since the 1970s
HOSTED BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PA, NJ & DE FORMER MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA, PAKasim Reed is a litigator and politician who served as the 59th Mayor of the city of Atlanta for two terms from 2010 – 2018 His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, as well as public policy, and he brings his formidable experience in both areas to bear for the benefit of his clients
As a champion for Atlanta and the state of Georgia, Kasim served on a number of advisory committees He is the former chairman of the Transportation and Communications Committee of the US Conference of Mayors and former chairman of the Regional Transit Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission He is a graduate member of the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship Class of 2007, Leadership Georgia Class of 2000 and Leadership Atlanta Class of 1998
Kasim’s civic leadership and service have been nationally recognized on programs such as Meet the Press; on news outlets such as MSNBC, CNN, FOX and CNBC; and in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Mayor Reed was a prime-time speaker at the 2016 National Democratic Convention in Philadelphia and he has been a guest speaker at numerous national and international conferences, including The World Economic Forum, Aspen Ideas Festival, Chicago Ideas Week, New York Ideas, New Cities Summit, Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) America and the Gathering of Leaders.
Kasim is a graduate of Howard University in Washington DC, where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees He also has honorary degrees from several other institutions. As an undergraduate member of Howard University's Board of Trustees, he created a fundraising program that has contributed more than US$20 million to the university’s endowment since its inception He was appointed as Howard University's youngest General Trustee in June 2002 and currently serves as a dedicated Trustee Emeriti
HOSTED BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PA, NJ & DE FORMER MAYOR OF ATLANTA, GAKasim Reed is a litigator and politician who served as the 59th Mayor of the city of Atlanta for two terms from 2010 – 2018 His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, as well as public policy, and he brings his formidable experience in both areas to bear for the benefit of his clients
As a champion for Atlanta and the state of Georgia, Kasim served on a number of advisory committees He is the former chairman of the Transportation and Communications Committee of the US Conference of Mayors and former chairman of the Regional Transit Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission He is a graduate member of the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship Class of 2007, Leadership Georgia Class of 2000 and Leadership Atlanta Class of 1998
Kasim’s civic leadership and service have been nationally recognized on programs such as Meet the Press; on news outlets such as MSNBC, CNN, FOX and CNBC; and in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Mayor Reed was a prime-time speaker at the 2016 National Democratic Convention in Philadelphia and he has been a guest speaker at numerous national and international conferences, including The World Economic Forum, Aspen Ideas Festival, Chicago Ideas Week, New York Ideas, New Cities Summit, Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) America and the Gathering of Leaders.
Kasim is a graduate of Howard University in Washington DC, where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees He also has honorary degrees from several other institutions. As an undergraduate member of Howard University's Board of Trustees, he created a fundraising program that has contributed more than US$20 million to the university’s endowment since its inception He was appointed as Howard University's youngest General Trustee in June 2002 and currently serves as a dedicated Trustee Emeriti
Mayor Derek Slaughter was born and raised in Williamsport He attended Williamsport Area School District and graduated from Williamsport Area High School in 1999 Mayor Slaughter earned his undergraduate degree from Penn State University in 2003 where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Sciences & Technology with a minor in Spanish While at Penn State, he also spent a semester studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain Mayor Slaughter completed his Master of Education degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2005 He taught mathematics in the Williamsport Area School District and was also an adjunct professor of mathematics at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Mayor Slaughter was the head coach for the Williamsport High School girls’ varsity basketball team for 10 years.
Prior to becoming mayor, he sat on the City of Williamsport’s Zoning Hearing Board, was a board member of the Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity as well as a board member of the Lycoming County United Way Mayor Slaughter is on the steering committee for the Mayors’ Innovation Project, serves on the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania Municipal League (PML) and is the legislative co-chair of PML. Mayor Slaughter was appointed by Governor Wolf to serve as a Commission member on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Formerly, Mayor Slaughter served as a Williamsport City Councilman prior to becoming mayor He began his tenure as mayor in January of 2020 Mayor Slaughter resides in the City with his wife Vanessa, a Registered Nurse Supervisor at UPMC Susquehanna, and their three children.
Marty Small was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on March 25, 1974. Marty is a lifelong resident of Atlantic City, where he was educated in the Atlantic City Public School System. An elementary school graduate of New Jersey Avenue School, a middle school graduate of Central Junior High School, and a High School Graduate of Atlantic City High School (1993).
In the summer of 1993 Marty enrolled in the EOF Program at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communications During his four year career, he was a stand out basketball player, winning consecutive NJAC titles in ’95-’96, (New Jersey Athletic Conference) and participated in the NCAA Division III Tournament in three years going to one “Elite Eight,” two “Sweet 16” and one ECAC Final (Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference) Six days after graduating, Marty was signed to a professional basketball contract with the Atlantic City Seagulls (United States Basketball League)
On January 1, 2004 at age 29, Marty was sworn in as the Youngest Elected Councilman in the history of the City of Atlantic City Marty served the 2nd Ward as Councilman for 16 Years and was going to start his 5th term January 1, 2020, Marty served as City Council President for the last 4 years Marty achieved a life goal on October 3, 2019, by act of law, becoming acting Mayor for the City of Atlantic City After a unanimous vote by The Atlantic City Democratic Committee and a unanimous vote by City Council, on October 15, 2019 Marty was selected as the 4th African American Mayor in the history of Atlantic City
Marty is married to Dr La'Quetta Small, Superintendent of Atlantic City Schools They have two children, Jada, 15 & Marty Jr. 13.
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Judy M. Ward was born in Atlantic City. She graduated from Oakcrest High School. In 1978 she married William Ward and shortly afterwards settled in Pleasantville She retired from Verizon in 2003 after 30 years of employment In 2004 she ran successfully for 2nd Ward City Council She has served on every council committee and took her positions very seriously She was Vice Chair of Atlantic County Democrats for 2 different chairman. She has also served as the liaison between the school system and the city. Along with being on the Urban Enterprise Zone, she was the Honorary Chairperson of the Pleasantville Cancer Initiative
Judy was Mayor Pro Temp Pore for 4 years before becoming the first female city council president in the history of Pleasantville in 2010 That earned her the honor of being inducted in the Atlantic County Women's Hall of Fame. She served as council president for a total of 7 years.
In 2007 Judy was honored by the Pleasantville Municipal Alliance for Volunteer of the Year She has hosted 3 town hall meetings at the Pleasantville Court House with Atlantic Prevention Resources The topics were, Prescription Drug Abuse, Drinking and Driving, and Date Rape.
Judy was Merit Mother of the year in 2009 and also Mother of Achievement in 2012 Also in the year 2012, Judy was recognized by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and given the Perseverance Award, the Alpha Kappa Alpha
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Derrick is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served for eight years as a budget technician; Founder and pit master of Dyvine Barbecue In Motion, a mobile barbecue catering company and competition team; and an elected two term councilman and now Mayor in the historic Town of Dumfries
Derrick knows how to overcome setbacks. He believes that you have to live your life on purpose and with purpose. He has experiences of having all he wanted, to having nothing at all and has endured Now he is committed to sharing his advice as a speaker, coach, seminar leader and author to help other people overcome and to find purpose in life through life's storms He has work with schools, non-profits, and different clubs organizations sharing his passion to help them expose the greatness that has gotten trapped by the setbacks they are experiencing right now.
BY THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PA, NJ & DEMembers of the African-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) become part of an extensive network of corporations and businesses, and are able to engage with policy-makers and business leaders across the region In addition to exposure to valuable marketing opportunities, members participate in programming that enables them to build a powerful network that helps their businesses grow.
For more information on how to become a member visit our website at aachamber.org/join-the-chamber or contact the AACC office at (215) 751-9501 and ask to speak with our membership services manager.
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