A WELCOME FROM OUR LEADERSHIP
Dear Friends and Fellow Builders,
Welcome to the Economic Empowerment Innovation Center Summit 2026. We are honored that you are here.
This gathering did not happen by accident. It is the result of a shared conviction held by this community, cultivated through Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation and its Economic Empowerment and Innovation Center that economic empowerment and faith are not separate paths. They are the same walk. Two anchoring Scriptures frame the spirit of this Summit:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
“Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
The theme of this Summit is simple and true: We were built for this. Not simply for this moment as it is uncertain, shifting, and demanding but for what this moment requires of us. Visionary faith. Disciplined strategy. Uncommon courage. The willingness to lay foundations that others will build upon for generations.
At this Summit, you will hear from extraordinary voices. You will engage in conversations and working sessions across three pillars financial education, small business development, and career and leadership growth designed not merely to inform, but to move you to clarity, conviction, and action. You will be challenged. You will be equipped. And we trust that you will leave ready to build.
These words of Scripture are not decorative they are directive. Faith calls us to see what does not yet exist and act as though it will. Courage calls us to move anyway, assured that we do not move alone. We take both seriously. This is not simply a conference. It is a charge.
We are grateful to each speaker, sponsor, volunteer, and partner who made this day possible. And we are especially grateful for you — for choosing to be present, to be engaged, and to be part of a community that understands that the work of economic empowerment is holy work.
Rooted in faith. Driven by strategy.
Built for this moment - together.
With hope and expectation,
Reverend Dr. Matthew L. Watley
Senior Pastor, Kingdom Fellowship AME Church
Board Chair, Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation
Reverend Kendra Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation
KINGDOM CARES CONTENT
Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation
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 of the continued support of 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 support of our mission to provide Workforce Readiness, and Financial Inclusion will help us transform lives and communities for generations to come.
Faith to see it. Courage to build it. “
The EEIC 2026 Summit is a one-day convening designed to gather leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community partners around a shared conviction: that this moment demands spiritual clarity, disciplined strategy, and uncommon courage.
As a signature program of Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation (KGCDC), the Economic Empowerment and Innovation Center (EEIC) equips individuals and communities to advance economic opportunity through financial education, small business development, and career and leadership growth.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:45 AM Check In
9:00 AM Welcome
9:50 AM Keynote Address
10:10 AM Insight Sessions — Choose One
11:15 AM Working Lunch
12:25 PM Workshop — Choose One
1:20 PM Closing Keynote
2:05 PM Momentum Experience + Speaker Stations
3:45 PM Summit Closes
Opening Session
Welcome, opening prayer, and introduction of this year’s theme, followed by the keynote address and Q&A.
Speaker Dr. DeForest Soaries
Concurrent panel and fireside conversations across three focus areas:
• Financial: What Most People Were Never Taught: Financial Moves That Change Your Future
• Small Business Development: Systems & Operations: Running Your Business Like a CEO
• Career Advancement: Calling, Competence and Courage: Aligning Faith With Vocation
Enjoy lunch in the main ballroom with a featured speaker presentation and Q&A.
Speaker: Dr. Cassandra Lewis
Hands-on, application-focused workshops to put insights into action:
• Breaking the Cycle: Financial Strategies That Make a Difference
Financial: Your Next Move: A Financial Clarity
Interactive Workshop
• Small Business Development: Small Business Development: “Scaling Your Business Without Burning Out
• Career Advancement: Networks with Purpose: The Power of Collective Advancement
Speaker: Orlando Ashford
Plenary Speakers
CONTACT
+1-206-604-6365
orlando ashford@nbmbaa org Washington, DC
EDUCATION
Purdue University
Orlando Ashford Sr
ORLANDO ASHFORD, SR.
PROFESSIONAL BIO
Orlando Ashford is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), appointed in February 2025 A distinguished C-suite executive and board director, Ashford brings over 30 years of leadership experience across Fortune 500 companies and global organizations
BS & MS, Organizational Leadership & Industrial Technology
BOARD AFFILIATIONS
Chair - Perrigo Company Director - Array Technologies Director - Azamara Director - Syndio Director - Make-A-Wish
Orlando Ashford brings over 30 years of leadership experience across Fortune 500 companies and global organizations. Appointed Interim CEO of the National Black MBA Association in February 2025, he previously served as Chief People Officer at Fanatics — growing the workforce to 22,000 employees — and as President of Holland America Line, where he revitalized the brand and transformed its culture. Ashford is the author of Talentism and How Did You Get That Job?, and has been named among Black Enterprise’s “Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America” and Savoy’s “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America.” Website”: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oashford/
CEO / C-Suite Executive / Board Director / Author / Advisor
Previously, Ashford was President of Holland America Line, where he revitalized the brand, enhanced the guest experience, and transformed the corporate culture to embrace diversity and innovation His earlier roles include senior leadership positions at Azamara Cruise Lines, Mercer, The Coca-Cola Company, and Motorola, where he led global HR and organizational development initiatives
Ashford is also an accomplished author of two books Talentism and How Did You Get That Job? and a recognized thought leader in diversity, leadership, and talent strategy
His accolades include:
Executive Excellence Award by Seattle Business Magazine (2019)
Named to Black Enterprise’s “Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America” (2017)
Travvy Award for “Most Innovative Executive, Mid-Sized Cruise” (2016)
Multiple appearances on Savoy’s “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” list
Named to the Directorship 100 by the National Association of Corporate Directors (2013, 2014)
Ashford holds both B S and M S degrees in Organizational Leadership and Industrial Technology from Purdue University, where he is a Distinguished Alumnus
Before joining NBMBAA, Ashford served as Chief People Officer at Fanatics, where he led the company through a period of rapid growth, expanding the workforce to over 22,000 employees. He spearheaded a digital transformation of HR systems, launched the Fanatics Foundation, and established a groundbreaking partnership with Make-A-Wish, fulfilling nearly 400 wishes in under a year He also created the Athlete Immersion Program, helping professional athletes transition to post-sports careers.
DR. CASSANDRA C. LEWIS
Dr. Cassandra C. Lewis is an accomplished executive leader, educator, and author dedicated to fostering organizational excellence and empowering individuals to align their professional pursuits with their spiritual values. As a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in senior executive-level administration, she has navigated complex financial, facilities, and personnel management while forging critical partnerships across the private sector, government agencies, and international communities. In recognition of her exceptional leadership, she was awarded the Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Medal from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Joint Staff.
Guided by a passion for holistic success and stewardship, Dr. Lewis is the owner of Brass Ring, LLC, a coaching and leadership development organization, and the co-author of the book, How to Get Rich Without Going Spiritually Broke: 7 Lessons for Money and Life. Through her writing and coaching, she bridges the gap between professional ambition and spiritual groundedness, offering practical strategies for sustainable wealthbuilding and purposeful living.
Dr. Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences/ International Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a master’s degree in Higher Education from Boston College, and a Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park. Committed to cultivating the potential in others, she also holds a multiple executive certificates from Harvard University, a Certificate in Executive Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University and is an accredited Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation.
She is married to Rev. Essentino A. Lewis, Jr., Pastor of Clifton Park Baptist Church, and is the proud mother of three children: Sidney, Simone and Essentino, III.
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ cassandra-lewis-4891338a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ drcasslewis/
2025 Profile Packet for Churches
DR. DEFOREST B. SOARIES, JR.
Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr. is a globally respected architect of transformation at the intersection of faith, finance, media, and public leadership— building movements that redefine what freedom looks like in practice.
organizations and leaders worldwide to design scalable, results-driven strategies that bridge purpose with economic progress—translating vision into measurable impact.
As founder of the DFREE® Financial Freedom Movement, he has catalyzed a worldwide shift in how individuals and institutions approach money—empowering thousands to eliminate debt, build generational wealth, and reclaim control over their financial futures. What began as a faith-rooted initiative has scaled into a global model for economic empowerment, reaching communities across the United States, the Caribbean, and the African continent.
Dr. Soaries is also the recipient of the Black Authors Matter TV Award for Best Non-Fiction Book for his impactful work Say Yes to No Debt, further cementing his reputation as one of the nation’s leading voices on financial freedom, discipline, and economic empowerment.
His influence extends deeply into Africa, where his work has supported community advancement, financial education, and capacitybuilding initiatives for nearly two decades— particularly impacting children and families. In recognition of this sustained commitment, he was enstooled in Ghana by His Majesty the Okyenhene as Nkosuohene—Chief of Development—a distinguished honor that affirms both his global reach and his enduring investment in human potential.
Through DBS Solutions LLC and Corporate Community Connections, Inc., he partners with
A dynamic communicator and minister, Dr. Soaries has inspired audiences from church congregations to corporate boardrooms across the globe. His leadership also spans the highest levels of public service, including serving as New Jersey’s Secretary of State and Chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, where he advanced integrity, inclusion, and innovation in democratic systems.
Expanding his influence into media and narrative ownership, Dr. Soaries is the visionary and host behind the internationally recognized, Telly Award-winning YouTube series Say Yes When Life Says No—filmed in a stateof-the-art, independently owned studio he built and funded. The platform elevates stories of resilience, reinvention, leadership, faith, and purpose—reinforcing his belief that controlling the narrative is essential to shaping outcomes and inspiring transformation.
At his core, Dr. Soaries is a builder—of systems, of leaders, and of possibility. His work is grounded in a singular conviction: that true freedom—financial, spiritual, and communal— is cultivated through faith, discipline, and responsibility.
He resides in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife, Donna, continuing to lead a global movement that challenges individuals and institutions alike to not only envision change—but to execute it.
Breakout Speakers
KENA J. BRYANT
Kena J. Bryant is a Business Strategist, author, and Founder of Nu Solutions Business Services, LLC. With over 25 years of experience in organizational development, tax management, and career coaching, she helps individuals and organizations gain clarity, stay compliant, and achieve sustainable growth. She is the author of Level Up: Climbing the Ladder in Style, a career journal designed to help professionals track their progress and confidently communicate their impact. A proud mother, grandmother, and community leader, Kena is passionate about mentorship, faith, and empowering others to lead with purpose.
DANIELLE BYRD THOMPSON
Since 2006, Danielle has been creating financial strategies for her clients. Danielle works with a client base comprised of individuals, non-profit organizations, public school employees, and business owners. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from Howard University in Washington D.C. She is also a graduate of the master’s Program at Howard University, gaining her degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance.
Investment Focuses
In joining the TPS Financial family in 2014, Danielle established her qualifications in Retirement Planning. With a focus on retirement benefits, Danielle helps her clients ensure their financial future with proactive strategies regarding their present income stream and continuation of funds after retirement. Danielle is committed to excellence in customer service for her individual clients and their employers. She works with them diligently to achieve their financial goals. She holds her FINRA Series 6, 7, 63 and 65 registrations. As an Investment Advisor Representative, she is registered in DC, DE, MD, GA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, and VA.
Danielle is an avid Volunteer in the Washington D.C. area. She enjoys traveling with her husband Brandon and participates in community activities with her sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She is the proud mother to three children, Grant Alan, Emery Elizabeth, and Layne Elizabeth.
HAKIMU DAVIDSON, MBA, CSC
As a Senior Consultant with Nonprofit HR’s Impact Search Advisors, Powered by OneDigital, Hakimu Davidson partners with mission-driven organizations to lead inclusive, valuesaligned executive search engagements. Known for his integrity, discernment, and relationship-first approach, Hakimu brings over 16 years of recruiting expertise across sectors—from nonprofit and social impact to Big Tech and financial services. He specializes in helping clients identify leaders who reflect their communities, champion their missions, and inspire change.
Hakimu’s search work is deeply informed by his lifelong commitment to social justice. With a family legacy rooted in civil rights advocacy—his grandfather, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, was a leading figure in the movement, and his father, Joe Davidson, is a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists—Hakimu has built a career that channels purpose into practice. He has led successful searches for organizations advancing racial equity, environmental justice, public health, education, and economic empowerment, including the Greater Washington Urban League, National Forest Foundation, PolicyLink, Richmond LAND, California Environmental Justice Alliance, and more.
Prior to joining the firm, Hakimu recruited for Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups alike, including Google, ServiceNow, Splunk, and Fannie Mae. Today, he combines that rigor and innovation with a deep understanding of nonprofit culture, governance, and leadership.
Hakimu holds a Bachelor’s and an MBA with honors from Florida A&M University’s esteemed School of Business and Industry. Outside of work, he is a dedicated mentor, volunteer, and food enthusiast, and has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the National Urban League Young Professionals and the Greater Washington Urban League, where he also served as President of GWUL’s young professionals auxiliary, the Thursday Network, becoming the recipient of the first ever NULYP Chapter President of the Year Award in 2013. LINKEDIN
SELENA ROGERS DICKERSON
After being laid off in 2010, Selena chose to search for contracts rather than a job—growing SARCOR, LLC from a one-person engineering firm into a team of engineers and management professionals. She later launched Selene, LLC, specializing in diverse spending tracking and business solutions, and operated a co-working incubator space in Birmingham’s Uptown District.
A Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses graduate and Alabama DOT DBE Consultant of the Year (2017), Selena is a passionate advocate for women- and minority-owned businesses, a domestic violence survivor and advocate, and a featured guest on PBS’s nationally televised show Start Up.
THOMAS ELLIS
Thomas Ellis is a nationally recognized sales trainer, sales coach, and President of EWC Consultants, bringing more than 25 years of real-world sales experience to his work with professionals, business owners, and sales teams. Known for his high-energy and practical teaching style, Thomas helps individuals move beyond pitching and focus on building trust, creating meaningful conversations, and closing with confidence.
He is the creator of the B.U.D. Sales System, a proven framework that helps salespeople position their products and services as better than the competition, unique in the market, and desirable to their ideal buyers. Through his coaching and training, Thomas equips teams with simple, repeatable strategies they can use immediately to strengthen relationships, grow pipelines, and achieve consistent sales success.
DR. ALICIA HODGE
Dr. Alicia Hodge is a licensed clinical psychologist, entrepreneur, and founder of Wellness Reimagined, a business dedicated to supporting high-performers. Dr. Alicia empowers others to examine their relationship with anxiety, rest, and reframing their lives with clarity and purpose.
She is a graduate of Rutgers University (BA Psychology), Bowie State University (MA Counseling Psychology), and University of Hartford (Doctorate of Psychology). Dr. Alicia also runs a virtual therapy practice, serving clients in over 40 states. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Dr. Alicia brings a unique intersection of clinical expertise, entrepreneurial insight, and faith-informed wisdom to conversations.
DARYLE L. JOHNSON
Daryle L. Johnson “The Idea Guy” is the founder and CEO of Ideation To Valuation (i2V) and author of The Growth Engine, a framework and book that helps entrepreneurs, suppliers, and ecosystem leaders turn ideas into measurable economic outcomes.
Across his career, DJ has delivered more than $43.6 million in combined personal sales and program-driven supplier impact, helped 780+ suppliers grow through programs he designed, and contributed to the creation of 141 jobs in underrepresented communities. As former VP of Strategy at Mid-States MSDC, he architected the Accelerate 100+ and ScaleUP / Capital Readiness programs and was named a 2025 Distinguished Business Achiever by Champions of Diversity.
He is a graduate of executive education at Dartmouth Tuck and MIT Sloan, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He lives in Zionsville, Indiana with his family. His work is anchored in Jeremiah 33:3.
JAMES LEBLANC
James LeBlanc is the Director of Community Impact at WorkSource Montgomery and the founder of JML Speaks, LLC, through which he serves as a keynote speaker helping leaders and organizations unlock greater impact.
James’s path into this work is deeply personal. Born an orphan, he navigated years of adversity—including addiction, incarceration, and homelessness—before embarking on a transformative healing journey in 2007. That experience shapes everything he does, both professionally and in his commitment to community service, which includes pastoring a church and serving on the Board of Directors for Samaritan Inns, a recovery community in the Washington, D.C. area.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Leadership from Newburgh College, is an ordained minister, a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP), and the author of the memoir The Miracle. James lives in Laurel, Maryland with his wife, two sons, and their Yorkipoo, Sassie.
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.
SHARIF J. SMALL
Sharif J. Small is a Tax Wealth Strategist, Fractional CFO Accountant, Real Estate Developer and Investor, and M&A Capital Business Advisor with more than 20 years of experience leading a tax accounting, real estate development, and business mergers and acquisitions advisory practice.
Sharif is passionate about helping small, minority, and veteranowned businesses start, grow, and successfully acquire and scale companies. His mission is to empower entrepreneurs to build generational wealth, achieve financial freedom, and leave a lasting legacy through sound financial strategy, ownership, and investment.
Sharif holds an Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Business Administration from the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) and graduated with honors from Towson University, earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accounting with a concentration in Personal Financial Planning.
He is a sought-after speaker on topics including financial literacy, entrepreneurship, tax planning, and real estate investment.
Sharif has served as a Small Business Instructor teaching the two-day SBA VBOC Boots to Business program on military bases for transitioning service members. He has also served as an SBA Thrive Business Coach and SBA Emerging Leaders Facilitator for the U.S. Small Business Administration Baltimore District Office. In addition, Sharif teaches Tax Planning and Business Development workshops through the Baltimore Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the SBA, helping entrepreneurs strengthen their financial management and growth strategies.
Sharif also serves as the Executive Director of Financial Empowerment Movement Inc., a 501(c)(3) community and economic development nonprofit organization focused on reducing poverty and inequity in underserved communities. Through financial literacy programs, entrepreneurship development, and affordable housing real estate initiatives, the organization works to empower individuals and families to achieve economic stability and wealth creation.
MARCUS WEDGE
Marcus Wedge is the Founder of CleanLines Advisory, where he partners with business owners and executive teams to operationalize vision into execution. Marcus establishes the governance, structure, systems, and accountability required to scale.
Drawing on 15 years of experience in corporate operations and executive leadership, he takes a practitioner’s approach to helping leaders see clearly, decide confidently, and grow by design. Marcus leads the Career Development pillar of the Economic Empowerment and Innovation Center, where he builds workforce development programming for the community.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Morehouse College and an Executive Master’s in Human Resource Management from Cornell University.
DR. SHAKENNA K. WILLIAMS
Dr. Shakenna K. Williams is the Executive Director of the Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (F&E CWEL) and the founder of the Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (BWEL) program at Babson College. Currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University, Dr. Williams is a pioneer in integrating clinical mental health principles with entrepreneurial strategy.
Having previously served on the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) advising the U.S. President and Congress, she continues her advocacy through the Women’s Entrepreneurial Institute and numerous non-profit and for-profit boards. Her unique approach empowers founders to build the emotional resilience and psychological safety required to scale sustainable, high-impact businesses.
Dr. Williams is the author of The Mark (excerpt) and the book Hooked: Entrepreneurial Leadership Skills Learned While Fishing with My Dad. She has been honored as the African American Female Professor of the Year and is a recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Changemaker Award.
She holds a PhD from Capella University, an MBA from Oklahoma City University, and a B.S. from Babson College.
DR. DARYL L. WILLIAMS
Daryl L. Williams brings a rare and powerful combination to every conversation about financial strategy: the analytical precision of Wall Street and the institutional wisdom of decades spent building organizations that endure. As a moderator for the Financial Strategies That Make a Difference panel, he draws on a career that spans investment banking, foundation leadership, capital campaigns, and large-scale community development, a career defined not just by the numbers, but by what those numbers make possible.
Dr. Williams began his professional journey at PaineWebber, Inc., where he spent nearly a decade in the Municipal Securities Group structuring complex financial instruments for public sector clients including water and sewer authorities, public power entities, and state pension funds. That early training in structured finance gave him a sophisticated command of capital markets that has informed every role he has held since.
He subsequently served as a Major Gift Officer within the University of Missouri’s $1 billion For All We Call Mizzou campaign, building corporate philanthropic partnerships at scale, before moving to the United Methodist Foundation as Executive Director. There he managed the organization’s investment portfolio, led a district-wide capital campaign, and developed stewardship and planned giving programs for congregations and affiliated agencies across an entire conference area.
For the past two decades, Dr. Williams has applied this financial acumen in institutional and pastoral leadership roles, most recently as a part of the leadership team at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church and the Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation. His approach to fundraising integrates rigorous data analysis, relationship-driven major gift work, and a long-horizon philosophy he describes simply as building things that outlast the moment.
Dr. Williams is also the founder of the Williams Stewardship Institute, a platform dedicated to biblical stewardship, financial literacy, and the development of leaders who build generational wealth and institutional legacy.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Morehouse College, a Master of Divinity from Yale University’s Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
To connect with Dr. Williams or explore his work in stewardship and financial leadership, visit www.williamsstewardshipinstitute.com.
Faith to see it. Courage to build it.