Thank you for joining us at the inaugural Economic Empowerment and Innovation Center (EEIC) Conference hosted by the Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation (KGCDC) at the Kingdom Worship Center. Your presence reflects a commitment to empowering yourselves and your communities.
This conference embodies our dedication to holistic empowerment, comprising spiritual, financial, professional, and communal growth. In partnership with the T.D. Jakes Foundation, we aim to create pathways to prosperity during these challenging economic times.
Today, you’ll experience the synergy of faith and practical empowerment. This is a unique space where inspiration meets action. As you engage in keynote addresses, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, I encourage you to dive deep—ask questions, challenge ideas, and connect with fellow attendees.
May you leave inspired and equipped to make tangible progress in your lives and businesses. The connections you forge today can lead to impactful partnerships, and the courage you harness here can drive community upliftment.
Let’s work together to build wealth, grow businesses, and empower our communities.
aka Kingdom Cares is a nonprofit community development corporation dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering individuals and families through integrated services, strategic resources and transformative training. We are dedicated to cultivating collaborative partnerships, and creating comprehensive, innovative solutions for thriving communities.
Kingdom Cares began as an effort to meet hunger and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic and has grown into a holistic, community-driven Regional Resource Center serving thousands of families. Through our Client Choice Food Market, East County Hub, Clothing Store, Economic Empowerment and Innovation Center and strategic partnerships with other aligned community organizations we are addressing, Hunger & Food Security, Health & Wellness, Employment, Education and Economic Empowerment.
Together, we are reimagining what care looks like — one life, one family, one community at a time.
THE T.D. JAKES FOUNDATION
We are proud to partner with The T.D. Jakes Foundation, an organization dedicated to Empowering Lives and Transforming Communities through programs that tackle access barriers and creates new opportunities for people.
The Foundation understands that building strong communities requires working on multiple levels— helping individuals develop their skills while also helping people navigate the systems that have been challenging to access. Their mission focuses on improving long-term outcomes for communities and individuals who don’t have equal access to important resources and lifechanging opportunities.
As a major funding partner of our Economic Empowerment and Innovation Center, The T.D. Jakes Foundation has shown strong commitment to our shared goal of creating lasting paths to financial success. Their support of our mission to provide Educational Access, Workforce Readiness, and Financial Inclusion will help us transform lives and communities for generations to come.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
9:00 am Check-In
9:30 am Welcome
9:50 am Keynote Address
10:50 am Mid-Morning Breakouts: Wealth & Opportunity
Rev. Kendra Smith Executive Director, Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation
Tene Dolphin Director, Economic Empowerment and Innovation Center
Rev. Dr. Matthew L. Watley, Senior Pastor Board Chair, Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation
Rev. Dr. Denny Davis
• Show Me the Money: Exploring and Understanding the Different Types of Funding/Creating a Bankable Business
• Blueprint for Financial Resilience
• Designing Your Next Chapter: Unconventional Career Planning for Real-Life Impact
12:10 PM Midday Momentum Lunch is Served Layla Nielsen Founder, Layla Nielsen & Co.
Speaker: Dr. Charles DeShazer
1:15 PM Afternoon: Innovation Labs
• AI + Small Business: Marketing, Efficiency, and Customer Engagement
• AI + Financial Education: Smarter Budgeting, Credit, and Planning Tools
• AI + Career Development: Tools for Upskilling and Job Search Innovation
2:10 PM Building Community & Legacy
Fireside chat
Rev. Dr. Daryl Williams Chief Development Officer, Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation
Speaker: Kelley Cornish
3:00 PM –4:30 PM Activation Expo
KELLY CORNISH
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE T.D. JAKES FOUNDATION
FOCUS: Generational Wealth and Building Community Ecosystems
Kelley is the President and CEO of the TD Jakes Foundation (TDJF), a workforce development and community building foundation committed to improving the lifelong outcomes for communities and individuals who have limited access to resources and opportunities. TDJF has three strategic pillars: financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being. www.tdjfoundation.org
Prior to this role, she served as an Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer at Wells Fargo & Company where she was the primary liaison between diverse segments and various business lines and support partners. Her work included leading planning, implementing strategy and driving accountabilities for all internal functions supporting efforts across the enterprise. Kelley also served as the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion for the TD Bank Group and led Diversity and Inclusion for AmeriHealth Caritas and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Accomplished in her career, in March 2025, Kelley was officially sworn in as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Wiley University, marking a historic milestone as the first woman in the 152-year history of the university to serve in this role. Other recent awards include in 2023, Kelley was recognized as a Women of Influence by SUCCESS Magazine for her remarkable achievements, innovation, and impact in the communities and industries in which she serves as well as in the personal and professional lives of others. In 2022, she received the Woman of the Year Award from iHeartMedia radio recognizing her work in the community and in corporate America. Her leadership gifts and talents have also been recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine, by the Network Journal as one of the Top 25 Influential Black Women in Business, and she was a recipient of the Sojourner Truth Award by the National Congress of Black Women. Kelley was acknowledged for her commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout her career by receiving the Career Mastered Award and has been recognized as a member of the top team of distinction for the American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Banking Award, and as a Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Award winner by Peirce College for the City of Philadelphia.
With nearly 4 decades in the workplace, Kelley shares the importance of resetting, self-care and unplugging as a leader in her podcast, Life + Leadership UNPLUGGED with Kelley Cornish heard on all podcast platforms. In addition, true to sharing her life’s experiences, Kelley speaks around the country about her career climb, her leadership journey, and creating legacy. Kelley also serves on the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and as a People and Leadership committee member for the BAYADA Healthcare Board of Directors.
Kelley obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina - Aiken in Business Administration and her Masters from Webster University in Human Resource Management. She is currently enrolled in the University of California Berkley’s CEO Program, is a Certified Diversity Professional by Cornell University (CCDP) and has completed course work at the Harvard Kennedy School in strategies for leading and building diverse organizations.
Kelley enjoys spending time with two adult sons Avery and Trey whenever possible, her extended family and friends, and exploring new ways to live her best life!
DR. DENNY DAVIS
PASTOR OF ST. JOHN CHURCH UNLEASED AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE GOLDEN GATE FUNERAL HOME
A great pastor must possess both vision and a heart for God and His people. The St. John Church has found both and more in Pastor Denny D. Davis, Sr. He is a pastor with conviction, integrity, and a big heart, who has been shepherding the St. John Church for 30 years.
In August 1984, Pastor Davis accepted his first pastoral position at the Mount Rose Baptist Church in Dallas. In 1991, Pastor Davis was called to pastor the St. John Church in Grand Prairie, Texas. Under Pastor Davis’ guidance, St. John Church has become one church in multiple locations.
Since assuming the pastorate position, St. John has grown exponentially both spiritually and physically. The Lord has blessed and added more than 12,000 new members, and more than 80 ministries within the church.
DR. CHARLES DESHAZER
PHYSICIAN,
EXECUTIVE & HEALTH TECH STRATEGIST
FOCUS: Artificial Intelligence
Dr. Charles DeShazer is a physician-executive and health tech strategist with a proven track record of using data and analytics, digital innovation, and AI to drive clinical and financial performance across payer, provider, integrated delivery systems, and high-tech platforms. He is one of the few physician leaders in the country who has served in the C-Suite as a Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Chief Quality Officer, and Chief Medical Officer— giving him a uniquely comprehensive view of healthcare transformation across clinical, quality, operational, and digital domains.
Most recently, he served as Chief Quality Officer at The Cigna Group, where he led enterprise-wide functions spanning quality, health equity, patient experience, and population health. His leadership accelerated AIdriven process transformation and delivered measurable improvements in outcomes and efficiency. At Google Health, Dr. DeShazer contributed to next-generation global AI platforms powering clinical informatics at scale. As Chief Medical Officer at Highmark Health, he led clinical transformation initiatives for value-based care, achieving over $100 million in medical utilization savings. Today, he advises companies across healthcare and other industries on scalable strategies to accelerate digital transformation, leverage AI, navigate regulatory complexity, and position assets for outsized growth by leveraging technology.
KAYODE O. AJE
Kayode O. Aje is the Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at Brown Capital Management, a 42-year-old investment firm based in Baltimore, MD, with nearly $8 billion in assets under management. He brings more than two decades of experience in financial services, having previously held positions at Chevy Chase Trust, Legg Mason (now part of Franklin Templeton), and JPMorgan Chase.
Kayode earned his MBA from the Yale School of Management, holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is a CFA charter holder.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Kayode is involved in his community. He serves on the board of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore and is a member of the Undergraduate Student Advisory Council at the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business.
TIA N. BUTLER
Ms. Tia N. Butler currently serves as the Chief People for the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), whose mission is to improve the quality of healthcare for all. Prior to joining NCQA in January 2024, Ms. Butler served over 15 years in government, mostly as a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Ms. Butler began her career in public service with the Department of the Navy and held SES positions most recently as the Chief Human Capital Officer for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Prior to joining CMS, Ms. Butler served as the Deputy Associate Director for Retirement Services (DC) at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Executive Director of the Corporate Senior Executive Management Office at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). There, she was appointed by the VA to the White House Advisory Group on SES Reform under President Obama. Ms. Butler has also worked as a Consultant in both the management consulting and public relations/advertising fields.
Ms. Butler has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Virginia and a MA in Education and Human Development, with a concentration in Human & Organizational Learning from the George Washington University. Personally, Ms. Butler is mom to Sophia, a sophomore at North Carolina Central University, and she serves as Co-Chair of the Trustee Ministry at East Friendship Baptist Church.
Kenneth Clarke is a financial advisor with the Peake Financial Group and has been working with them for over 10 years. As an advisor, he has assisted numerous families and small businesses in the areas of financial and retirement planning. He has found that his prior experience as a small business owner and his training as an engineer allows him a unique perspective to design solutions that meet his client’s needs.
Kenneth enjoys sharing information through speaking engagements and has presented to several companies and associations, including the Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, the Robert T Freeman Dental Society, and Howard University Law School, among other groups.
As a native Washingtonian, Kenneth believes in serving the community by volunteering with several boards and organizations. Kenneth resides in Washington, DC and enjoys travel and outdoor activities with his lovely wife and daughters.
KENNETH CLARKE MONICA COST
Monica Cost is a Master certified coach, President of The Core Value Company, author, and speaker. Her mission is simple, “to improve the human connection by improving the human condition”. She recently launched The Good Ole Girls’ Network; an organization focused on helping women reduce regret, liberate from societal labels and ground themselves in their guiding principles for higher levels of confidence.
Her unique trademarked Value Identification Process®, vision and ability to execute in the areas of brand strategy, speaking, facilitation, professional development and communications has enabled her to work with such personalities as actress Meagan Good, vocalist Kenny Lattimore, reality TV star NeNe Leakes, actress & podcast host Melyssa Ford and vocalist Kevon Edmonds, to name a few. In addition, Monica is a highly sought after speaker for organizations such as Reebok, The Trumpet (Awards) Foundation, The TJX Companies, Prudential, John Hancock, JP Morgan, Ernst & Young, The Tom Joyner Foundation, Dunkin Brands, Total Wine & More, State Street Corporation, Odyssey Media Group; as well as other organizations like, Harvard University, The Partnership, Inc., the National Urban League, The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the One Family Campaign and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Southern New Jersey Chapter, among others.
Monica created a powerful link between one’s core values, personal fulfillment and professional success. Having abandoned societal expectations for a journey to her authentic life, she is equipping thousands with the ability to move towards overall life success.
She also communicates her message to individuals through her book, The Things I Used to do to Sneeze: How to live an authentic life, in person and online trainings, keynotes and workshops.
CAMILLE GLOVER
Camille Glover is currently an attorney in Washington, D.C., where she serves as a general counsel. She began her career in banking and finance law, and currently serves on multiple Boards, including a large credit union Board since 2021.
Camille extensive experience in banking, corporate and nonprofit, and cybersecurity law, and she has advised both large Fortune 100 businesses, small business and startups. Her pathway has allowed her to help clients develop pathways for greater financial literacy, fiscal education, and streamlined banking edification and services in marginalized communities. Her life and work have taken her all over the globe.
She holds JD, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees. She is a proud alumna of Howard University, Duke University, and the University of Denver.
In addition to her career and Board service, Camille loves to serve her community through her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and other service organizations. She is passionate about issues affecting the unbanked and the homeless and is grateful for the opportunity to serve her community and world.
DR.
CATHERINE LATOYA GRANTALSTON
Dr. Catherine Latoya Grant-Alston, known as “The Queen Treasurer,” is an award-winning entrepreneur, globally recognized speaker, 3x Amazon #1 best-selling author, certified life coach, co-host of the internationally streamed podcast Kingdom Treasures, Co-Founder of Kingdom Treasures Kids, and host of the Claim Your Throne conference. Catherine is the CEO of ART Financial Solutions, LLC, which offers financial consulting for businesses, emphasizing strategic planning and treasury technology. She is the Co-Founder of Kingdom Treasures, a lifestyle brand that champions love, family, and business in the Black community, aiming to boost financial and generational wealth.
Educated with a BS in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, and an honorary doctorate in Christian Education, Catherine has over 20+ years of experience in finance. As a past executive for a fortune 300 company, Catherine has worked with global companies on cash operations, strategic planning, and centralization of billions of dollars. She has implemented complex world-class systems using her financial and technical expertise earning her distinguished awards such as the TMI Innovation and Excellence Corporate Recognition, the Alexander Hamilton Award for Technology Excellence, and FIS Impact Award for Corporates.
Raised witnessing poverty’s impact, Catherine is committed to public service, particularly youth financial literacy, continuing to serve various community programs and boards. Her dedication has earned her the distinguished Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and accolades like the ACHI 2021 Orator of the Year and 100 Women of Color. As an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, board Treasurer of Kendall Wyche Foundation, and Board Director for Treasury Management Association of New York, Catherine continues to emphasize financial education and community growth.
Catherine lives in Connecticut with her husband and 2 children.
Aimee D. Griffin founded Life & Legacy Counselors with a mission to provide exceptional estate and business planning services that protect families, preserve wealth, and promote legacy with intention. The vision of the firm is to create a world where every family—especially those often left out of traditional planning conversations—can secure their future with dignity, clarity, and confidence.
AIMEE D. GRIFFIN SHANNON HERBERT
As Principal of this firm, Amy leads with the core values of faith, excellence, relationships, service, and trustworthiness. These values aren’t just part of the firm’s brand, they shape every conversation, every plan, and every outcome.
Shannan Herbert is the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif), a nonprofit CDFI advancing inclusive entrepreneurship, equitable economic development, and community wealth building.
Before joining Wacif, Shannan was the Executive Vice President of Inclusive Credit for Stratyfy, a women-led fintech company committed to expanding financial inclusion. At Stratyfy, Shannan led strategy and program design for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and large to midsize community banks.
With more than 25 years of experience, Shannan has held key leadership roles throughout her career, using her expertise to design teams, processes, policies, and solutions that are strategic, human-centered, and built for impact. Her work has guided organizations across the nonprofit, commercial credit and financial services sectors in delivering outcomes with purpose and intention.
Deeply committed to closing capital gaps, she has helped countless small businesses and entrepreneurs gain access to the resources they need to grow and thrive.
An active member of the Washington Metropolitan community, where she was born and raised, Shannan currently serves as the Vice Chair of Rochdale Capital where she chairs the loan committee of this emerging CDFI that provides capital to small businesses and cooperatives. She also serves as a board member the Arc of Prince Georges County. In addition to her community work, Shannan is a member of the Forbes Finance Council, Homeownership of America Advisory Council, the Equitable Bank Standards Advisory Board, Julian Bond Institute Advisory Council, TD Bank CIP Community Advisory Council, and Loyola’s Simon Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisory Council.
An industry leader, Shannan is frequently sought out to join panels, forums, and conferences to share her expertise. Her insightful contributions have been showcased in reputable publications such as Forbes, Next City, Consumer Reports, The Financial Revolutionist, and The Washington Informer. Additionally, she was featured in the book The Banks We Deserve, Reclaiming Community Banking for a Just Economy. Shannan’s outstanding work in financial technology earned her the BAI Global Innovation Rising Star Award in 2023.
Shannan is a proud graduate of Howard University and holds an MBA from Loyola University Maryland.
DARYLE L. JOHNSON
Founder & CEO, Ideation to Valuation, LLC
www.ideationtovaluation.com
Daryle L. Johnson is a nationally recognized business growth and economic development strategist with over 20 years of experience driving revenue, resilience, and results. As the founder of Ideation to Valuation (i2v), he helps entrepreneurs transform bold ideas into scalable ventures. Known as “The Idea Guy,” Daryle blends Ai, business strategy and storytelling to help diverse businesses grow, thrive, and compete in high-value markets.
LONELL JOHNSON
Founder/Executive Director
Lonell Johnson is a dedicated entrepreneurship educator and coach committed to empowering aspiring business leaders. In 2001, he founded Technology Playground, an organization designed to teach young people how to leverage technology as a critical tool for success. Through this initiative, he has mentored over 300 youth, instilling in them the principles of an entrepreneurial mindset. Demonstrating the organization’s continued evolution, Technology Playground is now expanding into artificial intelligence with TechPlayground.io, a service that provides businesses with custom AI employees (chatbots).
Today, Lonell extends his expertise to higher education as a Program Specialist and Adjunct Professor and Coach at Bowie State University’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Center. As a professor, he teaches Entrepreneurship 101, a foundational course that introduces students to business development concepts through the principles of the entrepreneurial mindset. In his specialist capacity, he guides students in developing their business ideas and is integral to the university’s innovation pipeline, working with faculty and staff through the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) I-Corps program. In this role, he instructs them on Lean Canvas principles and the critical process of Customer Discovery to help commercialize their research and translate it into viable market ventures.
Underscoring his expertise, Lonell is a Certified Entrepreneur Mindset Profile Practitioner and a Certified Entrepreneurship and Leadership Initiative Facilitator.
SHOMARI MCCRIMONS
Instagram: @shomac44
Instagram: @dirtydgogscarwash
Shomari McCrimons is a seasoned business executive with deep expertise in strategic leadership, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit management. With a career spanning across both established organizations and entrepreneurial ventures, he has built a reputation for guiding businesses through complex financial landscapes while driving sustainable profitability. His background as a startup seed investor and CFO has equipped him with hands-on experience in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and scaling organizations for long-term value creation.
Beyond the boardroom, Shomari brings a people-first approach to leadership. His work reflects a balance of analytical rigor and practical execution, enabling him to serve as both a financial strategist and a trusted advisor to executive teams and stakeholders. His upbringing instilled in him a deep respect for resilience, discipline, and service—values that continue to shape both his leadership style and his relationships outside the office.
Shomari is a proud husband and father, and he actively seeks to combine professional impact with personal purpose. He draws inspiration from his faith, his family’s legacy, and a commitment to helping organizations and individuals reach their highest potential. Shomari holds a BBA from Howard University and an MBA from Tulane University.
CRYSTAL HILL MCKENZIE
Instagram: crys_mckenzie
Facebook: Crystal HM
Crystal Hill McKenzie is the Chief of Staff to the Chief Information Security Officer at the Department of Homeland Security. In this role, she oversees human resources, strategic planning, communications, operations, and contracts. She has served the Department in a variety of leadership and program management roles for more than 15 years. Prior to that, she worked nearly a decade as a Cost Analyst for the Department of the Navy.
Ms. Hill McKenzie’s board experience includes serving in elected roles such as Financial Secretary and Treasurer for the Nation’s Capital Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. She is also the Treasurer of the Washington D.C. Alumnae Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports community programs for youth, families, and seniors across the District of Columbia.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Statistics from James Madison University and a Master of Science in Mathematics with a concentration in Operations Research from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also holds a certificate in Engineering Management from The George Washington University.
Outside of her professional commitments, Ms. Hill McKenzie enjoys reading, playing the violin, and spending time with her husband and their three children in Washington, D.C.
ALISON T. MCNEIL
www.mcearts.com
@MCEArts - IG
@MsAliTee - IG
McNeil Creative Enterprises on LinkedIn
Alison T. McNeil is a visionary leader, strategist, and advocate dedicated to advancing equity and innovation in the arts and entertainment industry. As the founder of McNeil Creative Enterprises (MCE), she has spent over 20 years shaping policies, developing talent, and leading multi-million-dollar initiatives that expand opportunities for artists, cultural organizations, and creative leaders.
A sought-after expert, Alison has advised major institutions—including the U.S. Department of Education, the Kennedy Center, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation—on fostering equitable opportunities in the arts. She co-founded Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA) and serves on advisory boards for organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts and Step Afrika!
As the host of Cultural Catalysts with Alison McNeil, she amplifies the voices of behind-the-scenes creatives shaping theater, film, TV, music, and dance. A Recording Academy member and contributor to the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, Alison brings a unique perspective as both a performer and industry strategist.
Committed to building sustainable, inclusive creative ecosystems, she continues to drive policy, forge transformative partnerships, and mentor the next generation of cultural leaders.
KEINA NEWELL
Keina Newell is the founder of Wealth Over Now, where she works with professional women and solopreneurs to create new possibilities with their money so they can save more, pay off debt, invest in themselves and stress less about money. She is passionate about her work and finds no greater satisfaction than helping her clients start managing their money with joy because they’ve learned to feel possibility where they once felt shame, guilt, overwhelm, and anxiety.
When she is not coaching, Keina is spending quality time with friends and family and traveling! To learn more about Keina head over to Wealth Over Now and explore her tips to manage your money well.
LAYLA E. NIELSON
Layla E. Nielson is credited as one of the original architects of designing and building the digital sales and programming infrastructure of Urban One, Inc., the largest multimedia company targeting urban audiences in the U.S. During my tenure, She spearheaded the development and launch of radio station websites, audio streaming, social media presence, and the advertising and sales operations. In true boss fashion, her contributions grew their digital footprint to 3M unique visitors a month.
Growing up as the daughter of a legendary jazz club owner, she learned the art of marketing and geo-targeting before they were trending buzzwords and hashtags. Little did she know, her adolescent experiences would catapult her into the purpose and destiny that was awaiting her triumphant arrival.
Layla holds a BA in Communications from Howard University and a Master’s from Georgetown University. She actively creates a space that propels others to succeed and make better business decisions.
NICOLE SCOTT
Nicole Scott is an Information Technology leader, who’s career and expertise has evolved along with the IT landscape for 20+ years. The throughline of her career has been leading and delivering on enterprise-scale initiatives that transform raw data into actionable business insights— bridging business strategy with technical capability. Her technical background is rooted in Data Engineering, Data Science, Business Intelligence and Analytics. She has led cross-functional teams of engineers, developers, and process analysts to build out cloud-based platforms, develop user-friendly business applications, and implement modernized data ecosystems to support use cases for Generative AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now capable of producing some of the same types of workflows previously accomplished by large teams of skilled professionals. Nicole believes that this is a golden moment for individuals to prepare themselves for new ways of thinking and operating. With low barriers to entry and plentiful “how-to” resources, AI is democratizing the opportunity to learn 21st Century skills, to create value, to earn— and to empower.
ROBERT THORNE
D.C. Native, Engineer, and Businessman Rob Thorne brings over 20 years of professional experience. He has served as a general manager for over 25 agencies under the mayor’s authority, a performance officer for DC’s water utility, and a leader in Fortune 500 and start-up companies, with a history of streamlining operations, increasing revenue, and reducing costs to maximize business profits. Rob is a decisive and strategic leader with a demonstrated track record of success in strategic planning, performance management, financial oversight, and business intelligence for the functional areas that makeup the building blocks of a successful organization. As a results-driven professional, Rob has a forward-thinking approach centered on company and community success.
Since 2011, Rob has served as the CEO of Public Performance Management, which delivers IT products and professional services to over 55 government agencies and utilities in the DC Metropolitan Area.
For nearly 20 years, has driven public education reform. In 2004, he cofound Achievement First Bushwick Charter School – Bushwick, a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School, while living in Brooklyn, NY. In 2007, he helped launch the District’s State Education Agency, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, and today continues to support several initiatives throughout DC Public Schools.
Rob is a graduate of DCPS’ Benjamin Banneker Academic Senior High School, where he remains an active alumnus. He received his MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania; MSE in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Rackham School of Graduate Studies at University of Michigan; and BSME from Howard University. Rob lives in NW DC with his wife, Shayleen, and children, Sean and Sasha.
This year, Public Performance Management launched its AI Policy Practice to develop the policies, internal processes, procedures and governance that are required by federal, state and local regulations at government agencies.
These efforts have culminated in an inaugural AI 50 Award to our first client, DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), from the Center for Public Sector AI. CFSA selected us to help develop the policies, internal processes, procedures and governance that are required by federal, state and local regulations. For PPM, this project represents the establishment of the first DC agency to have a governance structure in compliance with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s DC AI Values Mayor’s Order and OCTO AI policy.
DELISLE WARDEN
Delisle Warden is a servant-leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to justice, education, and economic transformation. He currently serves as General Counsel and Vice President for Policy at Howard Community College, where he helps shape the legal and strategic direction of an institution serving over 10,000 students—many of whom are firstgeneration, working adults, and community builders.
Delisle brings a unique blend of faith-rooted purpose and professional excellence. He’s a Harvard-trained attorney and MBA graduate who has led multimillion-dollar initiatives in government, higher education, and the tech industry. At Hewlett Packard Enterprise, he managed mergers and acquisitions totaling over $30 billion, and negotiated technology contracts that directly impacted workforce development and digital access.
He’s also a Certified Information Privacy Professional, passionate about protecting communities in the digital age. Whether advising federal agencies on equitable grantmaking or helping colleges modernize their systems, Delisle’s work centers on empowerment—especially for those historically left out of opportunity.
